Internal Medicine

Radha J. Sarma, MD, FACC, FACP

Dr. Sarma is Professor of Internal Medicine and Founding Chief of the Division of Cardiovascular Disease. Prior to coming to WesternU, she was Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine and and served as Director of Cardiac Rehabilitation and Associate Director of the Echocardiography Laboratory at LAC+USC Medical Center. Dr. Sarma was formerly Director, Cardiac Exercise Lab at LAC+USC Medical Center; Chief of Cardiology at USC-Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center; Medical Director, Cardiology, Critical Care and Vascular Laboratory at Northridge Hospital Medical Center; and Associate Director, Echocardiography Laboratory at Martin Luther King/Drew Medical Center. Since 1980, she received 39 research grants and published dozens of manuscripts in peer-reviewed medical journals. She is a global authority on heart disease and has lectured at international conferences in Spain, China, and India. She is a pioneer in cardiac rehabilitation, preventive cardiology, and the innovative concept of organizing patient-centered integrated practice units around medical conditions such as diabetes.

• MBBS, Andhra Medical College, India
• Residency, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan
• Cardiology Fellowship, LACUSC Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA

Rucha Mehta, MD, FACP

Dr. Mehta is Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism. She was graduated with honors from Seth G.S. Medical College in Mumbai, India, and completed her Internal Medicine residency at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Dr. Mehta completed fellowship at The University of Texas Health Sciences Center in San Antonio. Following that, she helped establish a diabetes continuity clinic at the University-affiliated Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital. Her research interests include the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes mellitus and pre-diabetes. Since 2002, Dr. Mehta has published a dozen original research articles in several peer-reviewed endocrinology and diabetes journals.

• MD, Seth G.S. Medical College, 1999
• Residency, University of Illinois at Chicago, 2004
• Fellowship,  The University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, 2008

Airani Sathananthan, MD

Dr. Sathananthan is Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism. She was graduated from the University at Buffalo, SUNY, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and stayed on there to complete her internal medicine residency. Dr. Sathananthan completed her fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, where she investigated and described the effects of GLP-1 on insulin secretion in non-diabetics. Her current research interests are directed towards the development of management protocols and community-based treatment of diabetes.

• BS, Cornell University, 1998
• MD, University at Buffalo, SUNY, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, 2003
• Residency, University at Buffalo, SUNY, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, 2006
• Fellowship,  Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 2009

Andrew S. Pumerantz, DO, FACP

Dr. Pumerantz is Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and serves as Department Chair and Division Chief of Infectious Disease. He was graduated from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his internal medicine residency at the Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City. Subsequently, he served on the faculty of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine as Beth Israel’s Medical Chief Resident. Dr. Pumerantz completed his fellowship in infectious diseases at the Yale School of Medicine, and continued on as Clinical Instructor in the Section of Infectious Diseases.  His active research interests involve the epidemiology of MRSA infections and the evaluation of new liposomal vancomycin formulations to overcome emerging glycopeptide resistance.

• AB, Occidental College, 1984
• DO, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, 1988
• Residency, Beth Israel Medical Center, 1992
• Fellowship, Yale School of Medicine, 1995

Nishita Patel, MD, FACP

Dr. Patel is Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine in the Division of Infectious Disease. She was graduated with honors from NHL Medical College in India and completed her Internal Medicine residency at the University of Illinois at Chicago. As a senior resident, she was awarded for her final presentation on Primary Pulmonary Hypertension.  Dr. Patel completed her fellowship in adult infectious disease with particular emphasis on tropical diseases and travel medicine at the Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans. She is also continuing her graduate work towards a Masters degree in Clinical Research from Tulane. Dr. Patel successfully completed several research projects during residency and fellowship and her active research interests surround antimicrobial resistance and diabetic foot infections. Her current clinical interest is in HIV care and diabetic foot infections.

• MD, NHL Medical College, 1999
• Residency, University of Illinois at Chicago, 2004
• Fellowship,  Tulane University School of Medicine, 2010

Edward V. Barnes II, MD, FACP

Dr. Barnes is Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine in the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension. He served in the United States Army for a decade and is a Veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During his service he earned the Army’s Meritorious Service Medal for exemplary work as the Dialysis Director at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.  Dr. Barnes held several leadership positions during his time in the military, and is now serving on the College of Osteopathic Medicine’s Admissions Planning Committee, and is active with the Pomona Chamber of Commerce.  His research interests include the use of biomarkers as an indicator for progression of chronic kidney disease and early intervention to halt the progression of diabetic nephropathy. Ed Barnes is dedicated to preventing and slowing the progression of chronic kidney disease, through patient-oriented and compassionate care.

• BA, Whittier College, 1996
• MD, University of Kansas School of Medicine, 2001
• Residency,  Brooke Army Medical Center, 2004
• Fellowship,  Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC, 2008