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News Feature

2026 Top Docs

Words matter: Hundreds of VCU Health providers named ‘top’ in the state

More than 370 VCU Health team members were included in the 2026 edition of ‘Virginia’s Top Doctors’ by Virginia Business

January 5, 2026

This article was originally published on the VCU Health News Center and has been edited to highlight physicians from VCU’s Department of Internal Medicine.

topdocs-2026

This year's list recognized more than 1,300 doctors from across Virginia. (Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

By VCU Health Public Relations

Compassionate. Respectful. Trustworthy.

These are just a few of the words used to describe our doctors, care teams and hospital staff at VCU Health. And words matter when it comes to finding the best people to care for you and your loved ones.

Of the 1,310 providers who made the list, we are proud to share that more than 370 VCU Health team members are considered "Virginia’s Top Doctors" by Virginia Business. The publication’s 2026 list is compiled from peer nominations of high-quality health care professionals among 87 specialties. 

As the health system connected to Virginia Commonwealth University, the largest producer of health science graduates in the state, we acknowledge the important role we play in training current and future health care workers to combine clinical expertise with compassion, ensuring each patient is supported with personalized care. We are grateful that our team members are recognized for their unwavering dedication to our patients and community.

The Department of Internal Medicine has 93 physicians listed as "Virginia’s Top Doctors" for 2026:

Cardiology

  • Hem Bhardwaj, M.D.
  • Wendy Bottinor, M.D., MSCI
  • Richard H. Cooke, M.D.
  • Kenneth Ellenbogen, M.D.
  • Zachary Gertz, M.D.
  • Gautham Kalahasty, M.D.
  • Michael C. Kontos, M.D.
  • Jayanthi N. Koneru, M.D.
  • Jordana Kron, M.D.
  • Barbara D. Lawson, M.D.
  • Ajay Pillai, M.D.
  • Keyur B. Shah, M.D.
  • Sangeeta Shah, M.D., FACC, FASE
  • Melissa C. Smallfield, M.D.
  • Deepak P. Thomas, M.D.
  • Cory Trankle, M.D.
  • Jeremy Turlington, M.D.

Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism

  • Trang N. Le, M.D.
  • Grace Prince, M.D.
  • Angeliki Stamatouli, M.D.
  • Edmond P. Wickham, M.D., FAAP

Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition

  • Stephen J. Bickston, M.D.
  • Doumit BouHaidar, M.D.
  • Arun Sanyal, M.D.
  • Richard K. Sterling, M.D.
  • Ravi K. Vachhani, M.D.

General Internal Medicine

  • Jessica Allen, D.O.
  • Amanda George, M.D., Ph.D.
  • Danielle Johnson, M.D.
  • Jeffrey T. Kushinka, M.D.
  • Bennett B. Lee, M.D.
  • Megan Lemay, M.D.
  • Devon Wojcikewych, M.D.
  • Darren S. Witte, M.D.

Geriatric Medicine

  • Arline D. Bohannon, M.D.
  • Brittany L. Craven, M.D.
  • Sarah Hobgood, M.D.
  • Kathryn M. Rackson, M.D.

Hematology, Oncology & Palliative Care

  • Erin Alesi, M.D. 
  • J. Christian Barrett, M.D.
  • Vikrant Brar, M.D.
  • Mary Helen Hackney, M.D.
  • Khalid Matin, M.D.
  • John Melson, M.D.
  • Asit Paul, M.D., Ph.D.
  • Andrew S. Poklepovic, M.D.
  • Masey Ross, M.D.
  • Hetal Vachhani, M.D.
  • Victor Yazbeck, M.D.

Hospital Medicine

  • Stephen Biederman, M.D.
  • Aimee Collins, M.D.
  • Alan Dow, M.D.
  • Adam Garber, M.D.
  • Margaret Guy, M.D.
  • David Jessee, M.D.
  • Pete Meliagros, M.D.
  • Kimberly Pedram, M.D.
  • Manish Pradhan, M.D.
  • Evan Ritter, M.D.
  • Dennis Damian Wixted, M.D.

Infectious Diseases

  • Gonzalo M. Bearman, M.D.
  • Michelle Doll, M.D.
  • Megan Morales, M.D.
  • Laura Pedersen, M.D.
  • Jillian E. Raybould, M.D.
  • Julia E. Reznicek, D.O.
  • Sangeeta R. Sastry, M.D.
  • Nicole Vissichelli, M.D.
  • Nathaniel Warner, M.D.

Nephrology

  • Yahya Imran Fatani, M.D.
  • Todd W. Gehr, M.D.
  • Gaurav Gupta, M.D.
  • Layla Kamal, M.D.
  • Jason M. Kidd, M.D.
  • Dhiren Kumar, M.D.

Pulmonary Disease & Critical Care Medicine

  • Lisa Brath, M.D.
  • Alpha A. Fowler, M.D.
  • Daniel C. Grinnan, M.D.
  • Catherine E. Grossman, M.D.
  • Thomas C. Iden, M.D.
  • Kristen B. Miller, M.D., MS
  • Sammy Pedram, M.D.
  • Apostolos Perelas, M.D.
  • R. Wes Shepherd, M.D.
  • Aamer Syed, M.D.

Rheumatology, Allergy & Immunology

  • Rabi Gill, M.D.
  • Neha Gupta, M.D.
  • Anne Marie Irani, M.D. (Dept. of Pediatrics, DoIM Emeritus Faculty)
  • Beth Rubinstein, M.D.
  • Nehal R. Shah, M.D.
  • Huzaefah J. Syed, M.D.
  • Christopher M. Wise, M.D.
  • Wei Zhao, MD, PhD, FAAAAI, FACAAI (Dept. of Pediatrics, DoIM Allergy and Immunology Fellowship Program Director)