CavaliER Digest Vol 1. Summer 2026
Chair’s Corner From the desk of Dr. Andrew Muck, Chair & Professor of Emergency Medicine: What is the most exciting thing happening in the department right now? The best thing happening in the department is all the successes in each of the divisions and teams. I have a view of all that is happening and there is so much good. Our education team is doing a wonderful job through innovation and creativity. From research to ultrasound, global health to community engagement, and everything in between, our work is having impact. Operations continues to find success in a challenging environment. We are finding daily wins and it feels wonderful to see it all happening.
What goals do you have for your team? I want us to get the diagnosis right on ED boarding; it’s not patient volume driving our crowding, it’s boarding, and I’m working to make that case clearly to leadership. I also want every faculty member to feel genuinely supported in their career, whether that’s a promotion letter, a mentorship conversation, or just someone in their corner. We are all in it together and I want all to see this in our shared values and mission. After three years as Chair, what has been the best part of the job? What is the hardest? Best part: watching faculty succeed and achieve their goals. The most difficult part of the job: watching boarding steal joy from our providers at the wonderful work they are doing. What is your favorite dad joke? I’m reading a book on anti-gravity. It’s impossible to put down.
Inside This Issue
Find your favorite feature! 2 2 3 3 4 4-5 5 6 6
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Class of 2029 Interns In the Family Meet Ups Class of 2026 Graduates National Trends - Kratom Spotlights Kenyan Exchange Students Free Webinar: Vape Shop Trends Be a Part of Our Story
all-resident retreat
Our team is committed to creating a healthcare environment that respects, understands, and serves the unique needs of all individuals. We embrace a multitude of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences and believe that this fosters empathy and excellence in emergency care for our community. 1
Class of 2029 - Welcome! Where did you go to med school? Mollie Ahn, MD, MBA The University of Texas Medical Branch Hani Aljuboori, MBChB Kufa College of Medicine
Eric Odermatt, MD, MBA Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University Ahkar Phyo, DO Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - Virginia Campus Tyler Prusisz, MD, PhD Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans
Carmen Fahlen, MD The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University Carly Hall, MD Medical University of South Carolina Rachel Heynen, MD University of Virginia School of Medicine Margaret Holstege, MD University of Virginia School of Medicine Farhan Khan, MD The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University Kristina Mathis, MD University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville Devin O’Piela, MD Ohio State
In The Family Do you have an exciting announcement that you would like to share? Here is a perfect place to announce an engagement, wedding, adoption, birth, or other noteworthy events. We look forward to sharing your news! Scott Jones, MD “Scott Jones has not yet been disbarred.”
This could be you! Send your announcement to: sd2cv@uvahealth.org
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Meet Ups Our faculty and residents regularly attend state, national, and international conferences. Colleagues and alumni can find them at various upcoming conferences -- including MHSRS in Kissimmee, FL, EUSEM European Emergency Medicine Congress in Paris, France and ACEP26 National Assembly in Chicago, IL.
Class of 2026 - Congratulations! Where are you headed?
Jennifer Loehner, MD Emergency Medicine Attending Physician Centra Lynchburg General Hospital - Lynchburg, VA
Matthew Britton, MD Emergency Medicine Attending Physician Atrium Health - Charlotte, NC
Nicholas McKean, MD Emergency Medical Services Fellow University of Virginia - Charlottesville, VA
Michael Carter, MD Emergency Medicine Clinical Informatics Fellow University of Virginia - Charlottesville, VA
Mahmoud Morsy, MBBCh Emergency Medicine Attending Physician UVA Prince William Medical Center - Haymarket, VA
Gabriella Dean, MD Emergency Medicine Attending Physician Atrium Health - Charlotte, NC
Jaihoon Nawzadi, MD Emergency Medicine Attending Physician INOVA Fairfax Hospital - Falls Church, VA
Ola El Kebbi, MD Pediatric Emergency Attending Physician Lincoln Medical Center - Bronx, NY
Ethan Smolley, MD Emergency Medicine Attending Physician UNC Health - Boone, NC
Paul Kim, DO Emergency Medicine Ultrasound Fellow Emory University - Atlanta, GA
Sigal Tavel, MD Emergency Medicine Attending Physician/Assoc. Clinical Faculty Indiana University Health South Group - Bloomington, IN
Michael Larsen, MD Emergency Medicine Attending Physician Sentara Princess Anne Hospital - Virginia Beach, VA
Pedro Torres Gutierrez, MD Emergency Medicine Attending Physician Atrium Health - Charlotte, NC
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Research Updates National Trends in Kratom-Related Poison Center Exposures Two members of our medical toxicology faculty, Dr. Christopher Holstege and Dr. Rita Farah, recently published a study in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) examining national trends in kratom-related poison center exposures which made national news and the results are being used to argue for improved legislative controls on the sales of these products. The study highlights a concerning increase in kratom-related poison center reports across the United States. Between 2015 and 2025, reported exposures increased by approximately 1,200%, rising from 258 to 3,434 cases, with the largest surge occurring in 2025. This sharp increase coincides with FDA data documenting a record-high volume of imported kratom-containing products (FDA Import Alert 54-15) and the emergence of high-potency, semi-synthetic formulations containing 7-hydroxymitragynine. Almost two third (62%) of exposures involved kratom alone. However, patients who used kratom in combination with other substances—including opioids, benzodiazepines, alcohol, stimulants, cannabis/cannabinoids, and antidepressants—experienced worse outcomes. These patients were more likely to require hospitalization, and accounted for nearly 80% of kratom-associated deaths. While young adult males remained the most commonly affected group, reports among adults aged 40–59 years increased rapidly, suggesting that kratom use is expanding across demographic groups. For healthcare providers, these findings underscore the importance of routinely screening for kratom use, particularly in patients presenting with overdose, altered mental status, substance use disorders, or psychiatric emergencies. Early recognition of kratom use may improve clinical assessment and patient management. Towers EB, Thomas YT, Holstege CP, Farah R. Increases in Kratom-Related Reports to Poison Centers - National Poison Data System, United States, 2015-2025. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2026 Mar 26;75(11):139-145. doi: 10.15585/mmwr.mm7511a1
Leadership Spotlight
This September, we will welcome Dr. Daniel Kaminstein as our new Vice Chair of Education. He is currently a Professor of Emergency Medicine at Augusta University and holds several executive leadership roles with the university’s Medical College of Georgia. He has over 18 years of clinical and educational experience. Dr. Kaminstein is a recognized expert in point-of-care ultrasound, experiential learning, curriculum integration, and global health.
Daniel Kaminstein, MD, MSED
He brings experience in faculty, resident, and student mentorship and remains committed to ensuring that medical education advances.
A warm welcome to all of our newest hires! Recently started: 4 research staff, 12 residents, 6 fellows, & 4 faculty. 4
Emergency Medicine Welcomes Kenyan Exchange Students Our Global EM team is excited to share that two Kenyan medical students from our partners at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, John Lewis and Peter, will be arriving in Charlottesville soon! Their international rotation dates here at UVA will be August 17 – September 25. You will likely see them in the Toxicology and EM offices, shadowing in the ED, out and about around the hospital, at conference, etc. during their six weeks with us.
Peter- “I’m a medical student from Kenya with a strong interest in clinical research and global health. I’m eager to gain hands-on experience in a high-acuity setting and learn from the UVA emergency medical team. I’m particularly interested in neurosurgery and surgery in general, but I remain flexible and eager to explore how emergency care interfaces with surgical management.”
John Lewis and Peter are among the top rising 5th-year students from Moi University School of Medicine in Kenya, a small group that is selected for rotations at AMPATH partner institutions in the US. This is our department’s third summer hosting two students from there and we’re thrilled to have these two join us! John Lewis- “I’m a passionate medical student. I’m a gaming enthusiast and future entrepreneur. My clinical interests include Surgery.”
Alumni Spotlight
Job title (staff physician, medical director, etc): Assistant Chief of the Emergency Department, Hospital Chief of Quality Favorite memory of residency? My amazing co-residents and teachers/mentors Most useful thing you learned in residency: Teamwork and collaboration not only within the ED but also throughout the hospital and various specialties
Kristen Cadden Swann, MD, MBA & family Current location (city, state): Marin County, California Current practice location (name, type of environment ex academic or county or concierge): Kaiser San Rafael, community hospital
What you wish residency would have taught you: I feel like our residency education was comprehensive, but if I had to pick something to have learned more about, I would say the business of medicine going on behind the scenes, but then again who has time for that in residency! Current non-work obsession? Tennis and pickleball 5
Photos (top-bottom): Kenyan ED, SAEM fair table, & APPs on helipad
Dr. Avery Michienzi currently splits her time between the Emergency Department and Medical Toxicology. She is the assistant program director of the Medical Toxicology fellowship and an Assistant Director of the Blue Ridge Poison Center. She has a particular research interest in novel substances of abuse, including vape shop drugs, and has been featured in the local, national, and international news for her work.
Be a Part of Our Story For more than 20 years, generous community donations have fueled the impactful initiatives of UVA Emergency Medicine. Your support has played a vital role in advancing medical education, fostering groundbreaking research, and enhancing technological innovation. Thanks to contributions like yours, we’ve also expanded our international partnerships, allowing us to make a difference on a global scale. Join us in continuing this important work and help us transform lives through exceptional emergency care.
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