Leadership
Executive Leadership
Brigham C. Willis, MD, MEd, FAAP
Founding Dean
Torry Tucker, PhD
Associate Dean, Research
Emmanuel Elueze, MD, PhD, MPA(HCA), FACP
Associate Dean, GME & DIO
Dr. Emmanuel Elueze obtained his MD degree from University of Ibadan Medical School, Nigeria and PhD in Pharmacology from University of London, United Kingdom. Completed residency in Internal Medicine, from St. Luke’s Medical Center (Case Western Reserve University), Cleveland Ohio. He is a Primary Care Internal Medicine doctor with Board certification in Internal Medicine, Addiction Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Care Medicine. He also has a certification in Pain Management.
Dr. Elueze joined The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler in 2011, as the founding program director of the Internal Medicine residency program at Longview and also served as Chair of the Department of Medicine from 2014 to 2018. He was appointed Professor of Medicine in 2014. He received the UT Regents Outstanding teaching Award in 2014 and is a member of the UT Kenneth Shine Academic of Healthcare Educators. He is currently the Designated Institutional officer and Vice President for Medical Education and Professional Development, with oversight over Graduate Medical Education, Undergraduate Medical Education and Continuing Medical Education.
Steven Cox, MD
Associate Dean, Clinical Affairs
Dr. Cox is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and has been treating patients at UT Health North Campus Tyler for more than 15 years. He specializes in a wide range of laparoscopic surgeries, including breast cancer surgery and malignancies of the gastrointestinal tract. Most importantly, he is committed to providing state-of-the-art surgical care.
Sue Cox, MD
Associate Dean Accreditation, Strategy and Quality Improvement
A nationally recognized leader in medical education, Dr. Cox previously served as planning dean and now is the associate dean for accreditation, strategy and quality improvement. An obstetrician-gynecologist by training, Dr. Cox has shaped medical education for 30 years and currently serves as executive vice dean of academics and chair of the Department of Medical Education at Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin. The lead designer of curriculum for Dell Med, Dr. Cox co-chaired the accreditation steering committee.
Last year, she received the 2019 Association of American Medical Colleges Robert J. Glaser Distinguished Teacher Award, recognizing faculty for distinguished contributions to medical education nationwide. Dr. Cox has received many awards for leadership, distinguished teaching and clinical work, including being listed among the Best Doctors in America.
Dr. Cox is known for emphasizing leadership skills, collaboration, innovation, problem-solving and cross-disciplinary teamwork with a focus on value-based healthcare.
Gisele Armond Abron, PhD
Associate Dean, Admissions
Gisele Armond Abron has been appointed associate dean of admissions and assistant professor for the School of Medicine at the University of Texas at Tyler Health Science Center, effective May 23. She joined the university in 2020 as university registrar in the enrollment management division.
A native of North Carolina, Dr. Abron holds a bachelor’s degree in English from North Carolina State University, a master’s degree in technology education from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University and an educational specialist degree in educational leadership from Liberty University. She earned a Ph.D. in leadership studies from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University in 2019.
Dr. Abron is responsible for overseeing the processes of communication, application, selection, financial aid, and matriculation of students into the M.D. and combined programs for the School of Medicine at the University of Texas at Tyler Health Science Center.
Crystal Bryce, PhD
Associate Dean, Student Affairs
Dr. Bryce received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology, and PhD in Family and Human Development from Arizona State University. Prior to joining UT Tyler School of Medicine, she served as faculty member at Arizona State University, where she worked with undergraduate students within the classroom and as the Director of Undergraduate Student Affairs within her department.
She also has extensive experience conducting and publishing research that focuses on individual and contextual factors that influence well-being, hope, and academic outcomes, and advanced statistical approaches to examining salivary biomarkers.
Dr. Bryce is excited to work with and support medical students as they navigate medical school.
Rebeca Racataian Gavan, MD
Assistant Dean, Clinical Competence & Integration
Director, TOPS
Gary Beck Dallaghan, PhD
Assistant Dean, Evaluation & Assessment
Gary L. Beck Dallaghan, Ph.D., is the assistant dean for evaluation and assessment and professor of medical education at the University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine. Dr. Beck Dallaghan collaborates with faculty and staff to develop program evaluations and assessment strategies for the medical students.
Dr. Beck Dallaghan has nearly three decades of experience in medical education. For over 20 years, he was at the University of Nebraska College of Medicine, completing a masters in mathematics and doctorate in educational psychology. He served as their assistant dean for medical education for five years. In 2018, he joined the University of North Carolina School of Medicine as director of educational scholarship.
Nationally, he is actively involved in several medical education organizations, including the Alliance for Clinical Education, Association of American Medical Colleges, and Council on Medical Student Education in Pediatrics.
Jeffrey M. Pearl, MD
Assistant Dean, Structure & Simulation
Faculty and Staff
Jarett Berry, MD
Professor and Chair, Department of Medicine
Cheryl McCullumsmith, MD
Professor and Chair Dept. Behavioral Health
Jamie Librizzi, MD
Department Chair, Children's and Women's Health
Philip Pippin, MD
Associate Professor of Family Medicine
Demidmaa Tuvdendorj
Associate Professor of Family Medicine
David Rice, MD
Director, Phase 1 Curriculum
Christiana Guthrie, MPA
Director of Academic Affairs
Christiana Guthrie’s background in healthcare management has prepared her to be a leader in a higher education setting and taught her the importance of professionalism, leadership, and ethical standards. All these aspects are truly important to Christiana, not just personally, but as skills to be practiced and honed daily in her position as Director of Academic Affairs. Additionally, she loves meeting and working with people and believes her 14 years of experience in patient care allows her to communicate with and relate to people efficiently.
As Director of Academic Affairs, Christiana assists with planning, implementing, and advancing strategic priorities for the Office of Academic and supports efforts to streamline office operations. Christiana also leads the Office of Faculty Affairs efforts in promoting data-driven and holistic initiatives to improve faculty recruitment and development.
Christiana earned her Bachelor of Applied Arts from Stephen F. Austin State University. She then earned her Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Health Care Administration from the University of Texas at Tyler.
Jaema Krier, MSHRD
Director of Faculty Affairs
Jaema Krier received her BS in Mathematics from UT Tyler and taught high school before beginning her career at UT Tyler in 2009. She started with the University as part of a NASA-funded Earth science education program for students in grades K-12 (GLOBE). This position had her assisting teachers/trainers in 112 countries and across the U.S. by hosting trainings and serving as a Research Support Specialist. When the grant ended, she transitioned to the University Academy, the university’s K-12 charter school, at the start of their second year in operation. Her initial role was as PEIMS Coordinator, collecting and compiling all student and staff related data for reporting to the Texas Education Agency (TEA). The following year she was promoted to Director of Administration where she served for the next 8.5 years.
This role involved overseeing District/Business Office operations including Governance, PEIMS, Finance, Personnel, Food Service, Transportation, and many other functions related to reporting and compliance under the direction of the charter’s Superintendent. She had the pleasure of helping the charter expand from grades 3-7 to K-12 and assisted with graduating the first four senior classes. Jaema recently earned her MS in Human Resource Development from UT Tyler in 2020 and is excited to put the knowledge and skills she has accumulated over the years to use with the School of Medicine as the Director of Faculty Affairs.
In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her husband on their small ranch where they have raised registered Texas Longhorns for over a decade. They have a son and daughter-in law and love spending time with them when they can.
Andrea Cooley, DO, FACOS
Medical Director, Simulation
Director of Phase 2& 3 Clerkships
Assistant Professor of Medical Education
Andrea Cooley, DO, FACOS is an Assistant Professor of Medical Education, Director of Phase 2 and Phase 3, and Medical Director of Simulation. She is a board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon by training and is a Harvard Macy Institute Scholar (Program for Educators in Health Professions 2022, Leading Innovation in Health Care and Education 2023, Systems Approach to Assessment in Health Professions Education 2024). Andrea's areas of professional interest include the integration of master adaptive learning, assessment of noncognitive skills, and operationalizing change through technology and innovative strategy.
Dr. Cooley earned her bachelor of arts in sports medicine from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, and her doctor of osteopathic medicine from AT Still University of Health Sciences in Kirksville, Missouri.
Jeffrey L. Levin, MD, MSPH, DrPH, FACOEM, FACP
Director for Population Health and System Science
Wesley Lockhart
Operational Director, Simulation
Pamela Lucchesi, PhD, FAHA
Director of Faculty Development
Amanda Midgett
Director of Special Projects
Passionate for systems, logistics, strategy, and operations, Amanda Midgett is right at home as the Director of Special Projects for the UT Tyler School of Medicine. Originally from Southwest Michigan, Amanda has worn numerous hats in the event management industry, beginning as a production assistant for touring country music artists. She spent many years traveling the country, executing events for corporations such as Hilton Worldwide, Mitsubishi, Toyota, and Samsung.
She received her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Middle Tennessee State University and master's in Industrial Management from The University of Texas at Tyler. Amanda is analytical, open-minded, and a dedicated supporter of the team. Her greatest strength is remaining calm under pressure and greatest weakness is chips and salsa.
Michelle Salge
Executive Assistant
Office of the Dean
Sarah Buchanan
Manager, Marketing & Communications
Roland Williams
IT support partner
Corey Landers
Senior Data Analyst
Ronica Harper, MBA
Program Manager
Undergraduate Medical Education
Takova Wallace-Gay, PharmD, BCACP, TTS
Associate Professor and Director, Interprofessional Education
Takova Wallace-Gay is an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine for the Tyler School of Medicine (TSOM) and the Department of Clinical Sciences with the Fisch College of Pharmacy (FCOP) at The University of Texas at Tyler. Dr. Wallace-Gay is also the Director of the Interprofessional Education Curriculum for the TSOM. She currently serves as core faculty for the SOM and coordinates pharmacology. She also coordinates the endocrine module and teaches various cardiology and health literacy topics for the FCOP. Additionally, she maintains a practice site within the Family Medicine Clinic at UT Health North Campus in Tyler where she accepts fourth year pharmacy students and co-precepts Family Medicine residents.
She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Tuskegee University then a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Auburn University in 2014. After graduation from pharmacy school, she completed her 2-year residency training with the Central Alabama Veterans’ Affairs Healthcare System in Montgomery, AL and Columbus Regional Midtown Medical Center (now Piedmont Health) in Columbus, GA. She is a Board-Certified Ambulatory Care Pharmacist and certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist.
Her professional interests include primary care with a focus in diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and patient education. Her current research interests include pharmacist involvement in cardiovascular risk reduction, health literacy, improving health outcomes in underserved populations and interprofessional education.
Dr. Wallace-Gay maintains professional memberships in the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists, Texas Pharmacy Association (TPA) and serves as the local Student National Pharmaceutical Association Advisor. She was the 2020 TPA Bowl of Hygeia Awardee and was awarded the Distinguished Young Alumnus Award from Auburn University College of Pharmacy in 2021.
Michelle Mwazae
Sr. Program Coordinator, Phase 1
Karen Lewis, PhD, MAEd, CHSE
Director of SP Program & Clinical Skills
Megan Pazos
Clerkship Curriculum Sr. Coordinator
Joshua Pazos
Simulation Operations Specialist
Rebecca Sims
Administrative Specialist, Academic Affairs
Yvonne Valentine
Program Coordinator, SMILE Center
