UMKC Fellow Scholarship
and Placements
2018 – 2021
Maha Abu Kishk, MD, 2017-2019
Post-Fellowship Position: Assistant Professor, University of Missouri-Kansas City and University Health Truman Medical Center, Kansas City, MO
Research Project: Thyroid dysfunction due to iodine deficiency in chronic parenteral nutrition.
QI: Project: EMR documentation of the diabetes foot examination
Honors and Awards: UMKC GME Research Presentation Travel Award to attend the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists Annual Meeting, April 24-28, 2019
Presentations/Publications:
Abu Kishk M, Weide L. ROHHAD Syndrome case with challenging management of sodium and water imbalance secondary to hypothalamic dysfunction with thirst dysregulation. American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists Annual Meeting, May 2018
Abu Kishk M, Fogg G, Cabandugama P, Weide L. Thyroid cancer progressed to anaplastic after five years of tracheal deviation on chest-X-Ray as an Incidental finding. .American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists Annual Meeting, May 2018
Abu Kishk M, Dhuse J, Sand LR, Davis AE, Drees B. Implementing EMR documentation tool to facilitate and standardize foot exam among patients with diabetes at Truman Medical Center (TMC). 6th Annual Vijay Babu Rayudu Quality and Patient Safety Day. Kansas City, MO. May 10, 2019
Abu Kishk M, Drees B, Hellman R. Acute Suppurative Thyroiditis in An Adult Causing Thyroid Storm. American Assoc. Clin Endocrinologists Annual Meeting. Los Angeles, CA. April 24-28, 2019
Abu Kishk M, Drees B, Weide L. Iodine Deficiency Causing Hypothyroidism in an Adult on Chronic Parenteral Nutrition. American Assoc. Clin Endocrinologists Annual Meeting. Los Angeles, CA. April 24-28, 2019
Drees B and Abu Kishk M. Diabetes Foot Examination. Pediatric Endocrine Division, Children’s Mercy Hospital. Jan 26, 2018.
Abu Kishk, M; Paraganglioma and ROHHAD; Joint Conference with KU, UMKC, and CMH; March 3, 2018
Sophia Galustian, MD, 2018-2020
Post-Fellowship Position: Endocrinologist and Associate Program Director, Internal Medicine Residency John’s Episcopal Hospital-South Shore, Far Rockaway, New York
Research Project: Evaluating diabetes complications in patients of Samoan descent
QI: Project: Optimizing insulin pump at the Kansas City Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Presentations/Publications:
Galustian S, Cabandugama P. Thyroid hormone resistance pattern ( elevated free T4 and free T3 with nonsupressed TSH) with Afib and Heart failure; 28th AACE Annual Scientific and Clinical Congress, Los Angeles CA, April 2019
Galustian S, Loku Galappatty S, Jahav K, Cabandugama P. New onset adult idiopathic primary hypoparathyroidism concomitant with severe aplastic anemia. Endo2020 Abstract. Journal of the Endocrine Society, Volume 4, Issue Supplement_1, April-May 2020, SAT-335, https://doi.org/10.1210/jendso/bvaa046.340
Loku Galappatty S, Havaldar N, Galustian S, Jadhav K, Cabandugama P, Fox-Worth J. An interesting case of hypocalcemia with primary hypoparathyroidism of unknown etiology. Missouri ACP 2019 Charper Meeting.
Galustian S, Touza M. Optimizing Insulin pump therapy in outpatient setting at Kansas City Veterans Affair Hospital. 7th Annual Vijay Babu Rayudu Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Conference. Kansas City, MO. May 29, 2020 (Virtual Conference)
Varundeep Rakhra, DO, 2019-2021
Post-Fellowship Position: Private Practice Endocrinology, St. Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City, Kansas City, MO
Research/QI Project: Diabetes screening in women with a history of gestational diabetes
Presentations/Publications:
Rakhra V, Patel P, Cabandugama P. Life-saving management of thyrotoxicosis with a single session of plasmapheresis. Endo2020 Abstract. Journal of the Endocrine Society, Volume 4, Issue Supplement_1, April-May 2020, SUN-497, https://doi.org/10.1210/jendso/ bvaa046.224
Rakhra V, Riley M, Jordan S, Allsworth J, Drees B. Postpartum Screening for Diabetes in Women with a History of Gestational Diabetes. 7th Annual Vijay Babu Rayudu Quality and Patient Safety Day. May 2020, Kansas City, MO
Riley M, Rakhra V, Jordan S, Allsworth J, Drees B. Accuracy of Documentation for Gestation Diabetes in the Electronic Medical Record. 7th Annual Vijay Babu Rayudu Quality and Patient Safety Day. May 2020, Kansas City, MO
Rakhra V, Riley M, Jordan S, Bulchandani S, Allsworth J, Drees B. Postpartum Screening for Diabetes in Women With A History Of Gestational Diabetes. Abstract at 81st Annual Meeting of the American Diabetes Association, June 2021 (Virtual).
Rakhra V, Galappaththy SL, Bulchandani S, Cabandugama PK. Obesity and the Western Diet: How We Got Here. Mo Med. 2020 Nov-Dec;117(6):536-538. PMID: 33311784; PMCID: PMC7721435.
Sean McCalmon, DO, 2020-2022
Post-Fellowship Position: Pending completion of fellowship
Research Project: Topical analgesia during fine needle aspiration
QI Project: Postoperative hypoglycemia with below knee amputation
Presentations/Publications:
Mccalmon S, Galappaththy SL, Bulchandani S, Cabandugama PK. Fasting off “The COVID-19”. Mo Med. 2021 Mar-Apr;118(2):164-167. PMID: 33840861; PMCID: PMC8029627.
Reda Asad, MD, 2021-2023
Post-Fellowship Position: Pending completion of fellowship