Surgery
Edgar B. Rodas, MD, FACS
Dr. Edgar B. Rodas was born and raised in Cuenca, Ecuador. Inspired by the humanitarian activities of his father, a philanthropic Ecuadorian surgeon and his mother, a compassionate American nurse, he obtained his Medical Degree from the University of Cuenca in 1995. He then moved to the U.S. to pursue surgical training. Initially he conducted research in laparoscopy and telemedicine, followed by cell physiology and molecular biology in Yale University, where he additionally spent a year as an intern in general surgery. He then completed his surgical residency in General Surgery in Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia and was Dr. Rao Ivatury’s first fellow in Surgical Critical Care.
Dr. Rodas then joined private practice in Fort Lauderdale, Florida for 6 years as a general surgeon, trauma surgeon and surgical intensivist with Broward Surgical Associates. He returned to Ecuador where he spent 5 years implementing a Trauma and Acute Care Surgical Service in a Public Hospital.
In 2016 he was recruited by Virginia Commonwealth University and joined the Faculty as an Associate Professor of Surgery, and is Co-Director of VCU’s Program for Global Surgery. Dr. Rodas has been involved in providing access to surgical care to underserved and remote populations in Ecuador as a founding member of the CINTERANDES foundation, a non-profit institution with 25 years of service which he now leads. In addition to his passion for trauma and acute surgical care, he is devoted to Global Surgery efforts that seek to provide equitable surgical care to vulnerable populations. Furthermore, Dr. Rodas has been committed to the evaluation and development of trauma systems in the Americas with the Panamerican Trauma Society.
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Rachel Fielding, MD
A global perspective on local womens’ health
For Rachel Fielding, MD, caring for women means more than delivering babies or performing medical procedures — it’s about seeing the bigger picture. From leading breast cancer screening initiatives in Central Virginia to teaching maternal health on a global stage, Fielding has built a career that blends patient-centered care with passion for teaching and a commitment to underserved communities both locally and worldwide.
A board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist, Fielding joined the VCU Health Women’s Health team after serving as a partner physician at Virginia Women’s Center since 2017. There, she was the lead for women with high-risk breast health and implemented a universal screening program for hereditary cancer syndromes. She has a special interest in laparoscopic and vaginal hysterectomies.
As a professor at the VCU School of Medicine Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology (where she has served as an affiliate professor since 2020), she lectures medical students, supervises residents, has delivered grand rounds, and participates in panel discussions through the ACCESS program. She is excited to be part of the team with the goal of being deeply involved in teaching and mentorship, while still taking great care of patients.
Global health has been a defining thread in her career. Fielding has provided care and taught in Cambodia, Zambia, Honduras, Tanzania, India, South Africa and Costa Rica She has led cervical cancer screenings, supervised students and midwives on labor and delivery, taught surgical techniques, lectured and mentored young physicians in resource-limited hospitals.
Fielding was a Robertson Scholar at Duke University, one of only 20 “change makers” to earn a full-tuition scholarship. She earned her medical degree from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill School of Medicine and completed her OB/GYN residency at UNC, where she received the Golden Tar Heel Resident Teaching Award for exemplary teaching of medical students and was awarded scholarships for her international work.
But even with those honors, she says, “My favorite recognitions are cards I get from past students and baby announcements from patients.”
Fielding has a 4-year-old son, a greyhound dog, and a cat. She enjoys time with friends and family, walking and hiking, swimming laps, vegetarian and vegan cooking, historical fiction, yoga, art, and dance.
Advice to patients: “Ask questions until you understand and work with your provider until you reach a treatment plan that suits your needs.”
Anesthesia
Olga Suarez-Winowiski, MD, MSc
Dr. Olga Suarez-Winowiski has been serving as an Assistant Professor Department of Anesthesiology since 2010. She is also involved as an Obstetric Anesthesia core faculty, resident advisor, documentation committee chair, and PACE Clinic Medical Director, where she precepts MS3 students during their Ambulatory Clerkship.
As part of her involvement with medical student education, Dr. Suarez-Winowiski also leads the Introduction to Perioperative Medicine, conducts QA/QI projects, and works to submit abstracts for presentation at several meetings and conferences. Furthermore, she is the Director of Global Education Program. This Program’s curriculum includes three main topics: (1) ERAS fundamental concepts and applications (2) Ultrasound-guided training on transthoracic echo, intravascular access, and regional surgical blocks (3) Simulation training
Lastly, Dr. Suarez-Winowiski helped coordinate the current agreement with three residency programs in Toluca, Mexico. The agreement facilitates the exchange of clinical knowledge and skills by enabling anesthesia residents to spend two weeks at either Toluca, Mexico hospitals (OBGYN or Children hospitals) or VCU Medical Center.
Emergency Medicine
Megan Donohue MD, MPH
Dr. Megan Donohue, MD, MPH is a dual board-certified physician in Emergency Medicine and Internal Medicine, and Assistant Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine. As a graduate of Drexel University’s MPH program she assisted in collating decades of medical research for the Malawi Longitudinal Study of Families and Health. As a medical student at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, she led a research initiative to examine perinatal mortality in rural Ghana. She served as Chief Resident of a rigorous combined training program in Emergency and Internal Medicine at the University of Maryland Medical Center and created a global health elective to work in a township on the outskirts of Cape Town South Africa.
Since joining the VCU faculty in 2020, she has distinguished herself as a global health leader, clinician-educator and researcher. She currently serves as the lead faculty member for ACCESS-EM's third year curriculum and Global Health Track advisor for the Emergency Medicine residency. Dr. Donohue’s global health engagement spans more than a decade, has been recognized at conferences nationally and internationally, and includes continued partnerships with the University of Cape Town and Stellenbosch University in graduate medical board preparation. Through her leadership in ACCESS-EM, she has fostered sustainable international education platforms, delivering virtual lectures to trainees in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sub-Saharan Africa. In April 2025, she was honored as a plenary speaker at the Stellenbosch University Emergency Medicine Symposium, where she presented her work on telehealth integration to improve post-discharge access to care. Her portfolio reflects a deep commitment to equitable, evidence-based, and globally connected health systems. Dr. Donohue brings to the global health stage a vision rooted in collaboration, mentorship, transformative medical education, and the integration of scholarship with frontline care delivery.
Critical Care
Aamer A. Syed, M.D.
Dr. Aamer Syed received his MD degree in 2006 from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). He did his Residency in Internal Medicine at VCU and stayed to complete his Fellowship training in Pulmonary Diseases and Critical Care Medicine. Afterwards, Dr. Syed joined VCU as an Assistant Professor.
Throughout his medical training, Dr. Syed has been recognized for his dedication to teaching and has received many awards including the Recipient of the Department of Internal Medicine Excellence in Teaching award. He was also nominated by the medical students and subsequently inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. He is a two-time recipient of the Orhan Muren Fellow of the year award. He has also been teaching critical care courses in Rwanda and recently received a Presidential Citation from the Society of Critical Care for his efforts.
Dr. Syed’s research primary focus has been on improving disparities in health care in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the local and international level. This has been the common theme underlying his research of Sarcoidosis, low-cost Vitamin C for Sepsis, and the development of low-cost medical devices.
Since starting as a faculty in 2012 he has been almost continuously funded by various grants including the NIH, DOD and most recently the Presidential Quest Grant for his work in Rwanda. He continues to publish steadily and serves as a reviewer for Respiratory Care Journal. He has been the recipient of the Department of Internal Medicine Distinguished Research Award
Dr. Syed serves as an attending in the medical respiratory intensive care unit and general pulmonology consult service. He has also developed and co-manages the unique multidisciplinary Sarcoidosis clinic. The World Association of Sarcoidosis and other Granulomatous Diseases (WASOG) has recognized this clinic as a Center of Excellence. Dr. Syed most recently has been the recipient of the Department of Internal Medicine Excellence in Clinical Practice Award.
Pediatrics
Miheret Yitayew, MD, MPH
Dr. Miheret Yitayew is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Neonatologist at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU. Born and raised in Ethiopia, she completed her medical degree at the University of Gondar, Ethiopia followed by a Master of Public Health at WVU, a pediatric residency at John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County in Chicago, and fellowship training in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine at VCU. She currently care for critically ill newborns in the Children’s Hospital of Richmond NICU, serves on the neonatal air and ground transport team, and follows patients through the regional Neonatal Continuing Care Program. Her research focuses on preterm infant nutrition to optimize growth and neurodevelopmental outcomes, and she leads quality improvement efforts in the NICU’s Small Baby Care Program.
Passionate about global neonatal health, Dr. Yitayew partners with the University of Gondar Hospital in Ethiopia to strengthen newborn care through training, advocacy, and sustainable, low-cost interventions.. She mentors medical students through the summer Jack Scholar Program at VCU that she co-directs. Drawing on her expertise in clinical care, quality improvement, and global health, Dr. Yitayew provides strong leadership to the ACCESS Pediatrics track, advancing global health training for future physicians while promoting equitable care for all, regardless of setting.
Dr Yitayew has two young children and enjoys playing table tennis and spending time with her family.
Country of focus: Ethiopia
Neurosurgery
David D. Limbrick Jr., MD, PhD
David D. Limbrick Jr., MD, PhD joined the VCU Health and CHoR faculty as chair of the Department of Neurosurgery in 2023. Prior to joining VCU Health, he served as the T.S. Park Chair and Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery, and Executive Vice Chair of Neurological Surgery at Washington University. Dr. Limbrick is internationally regarded for his expertise in treating disorders of the craniovertebral junction, including the Chiari malformations, neuro-endoscopic treatment of hydrocephalus, and pediatric brain tumors. He has received the Public Service Citation from the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Congress of Neurological Surgeons for international neurosurgical relief work, the Humanism in Medicine Award from Washington University School of Medicine, and the Innovator Award from the Hydrocephalus Association.
Dr. Limbrick’s primary research focus is on cerebrospinal fluid disorders, where he is active in basic, clinical, and translational research. He serves as Principal Investigator for two major multicenter randomized controlled trials: Posterior Fossa Decompression with or without Duraplasty for Chiari Type I Malformation and Syringomyelia and Endoscopic Versus Shunt Treatment of Hydrocephalus in Infants. He is Chair of Biospecimens and Neuro-Imaging for the Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network and has been the Principal Investigator for the Park-Reeves Syringomyelia Research Consortium since its inception. His research has been continuously funded by NIH, PCORI, and other federal agencies since he joined the faculty in 2008. Most recently, he was the recipient of a program project award (PPG) and an R25 educational grant with a long-term goal of increasing the diversity of the pediatric neurosciences workforce.
Dr. Limbrick has authored more than 250 peer-reviewed journal articles and 15 book chapters and has given more than 150 national/international presentations. He has edited two books and serves on the Editorial Board of Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics, Fluids and Barriers of the CNS, and Neurosurgery Practice, where he is the section editor for Pediatric Neurosurgery. He serves as Treasurer of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS)/Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) Joint Section for Pediatric Neurosurgery, Treasurer of the Accrediation Council for Pediatric Neurosurgery Fellowships (ACPNF), and Research Chair on the Executive Committee of the American Society of Pediatric Neurosurgeons (ASPN). He is a member of the Academy of Neurological Surgeons and the Society of Neurological Surgeons and serves on the National Advisory Committee of the Neurosurgeon Research Career Development Program (NRCDP). Nationally, he serves on the boards of Cure Hydrocephalus, Bobby Jones Chiari & Syringomyelia Foundation, Rudy Schulte Institute, and the Hydrocephalus Association, including the HA Washington Advocacy Committee.
Student Leadership Teams
Class of 2022
- Noah Hillerbrand
- Karishma Popli
- Kyle Alexander
- Sierra Stingl
- James Dittman
Class of 2023
- Oumaima Bougazzoul
- Anna Gibson
- Hunter Hewlett
- Gillian Gardiner
- Mary Namugosa
Class of 2024
- Ali Verster
- Lauren Carroll
- Emily Dunbar
- Justin Davis
- Benjamin Cassidy
- Prattyak Mukhopadhyay
Class of 2025
- Mariam Hammad
- Helen Query
- Vik Seshadri
- Becca Deitch
- Annie Chen-Carrington
- Mariam Samuel
Class of 2026
- Aashish Batheja
- Thérèse (Tess) Weidenkopf
- Jane Choi
- Habeebah Vohra
- Naomi Ghahrai
- Sam Matthesen
- Yasmin Alamdeen
- Tiffany Ho
Class of 2027
- Megan Mc Caughey
- Konrad McKalip
- Perri Nelson
- Rachel Fry
- Nancy Beinlich
- Holly Caboti-Jones
- Shivani Mullapudi
- Bahira Ahmed
- Raghav Saravanan
- Shreya Muscu
- Jonathan Huaman