Faculty ScholarsJohn P. McGovern Academy of Oslerian Medicine
The John P. McGovern Academy of Oslerian Medicine was founded to recognize physician faculty who provide highly compassionate care and to encourage the teaching and practice of such care to medical students. Faculty Osler Scholars have been selected because they exemplify the Oslerian principles of compassion and of humane care in their clinical practices and because they model these qualities in their teaching. These Scholars are nominated when a call for nominations is made by the President of the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston. Nominations can be submitted by students, residents, faculty or staff of the UTMB, but not by funded Osler Scholars. The President chairs the selection committee which consists of the Dean of Medicine, an active Osler Scholar, and an Osler Student Scholar. Once the committee has reviewed the candidates and has made its selection, the President notifies the newly selected Scholar. A total of eight (8) faculty Scholars are actively funded at any given time.
In 2026, nominations are being accepted beginning at 8am, March 27, 2026 through 5pm, May 1, 2026. For additional details, click HERE.
» Click on an image to reveal mini biography
Ashraf M. Aly, MD, PhD, MSc, FACC, FAAP, FASE
Ashraf M. Aly, MD, PhD, MSc, FACC, FAAP, FASE
Dr. Ashraf Aly is a professor of in the departments of Pediatrics and Ob/Gyn at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston Texas. He is the director of Pediatric Cardiology and fetal Cardiology programs. He received his M.D. from
Cairo University School of Medicine in Cairo, Egypt and completed his Pediatric residency at Penn State University, Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania and Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship at Michigan Children’s Hospital,
Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. He received his Ph.D. in Genetics from the George Washington University in Washington DC. He also received two master’s Degrees in Biochemistry and Microbiology.
Since his arrival at UTMB in 2003, Dr. Aly has been busy rebuilding a thriving Pediatric and fetal Cardiology programs that provide clinical services to patients with congenital heart diseases from fetal life throughout adulthood. He is
very passionate about teaching medical students and pediatric residents many of whom choose a career in Pediatric Cardiology and are currently practicing throughout the country. He received many teaching awards such as: Excellence
in Clinical Teaching Award; established by UTMB’s John P. McGovern Academy of Oslerian Medicine, Educator of the Month Award, Excellence in Medical Student Education Award and Outstanding Mentorship of Resident Scholarly Project
Award. He is also one of America’s Top Pediatric Cardiologists. He has about 40 peer reviewed publications and over 100 presentations in national and international conferences. He is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology,
American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Society of Echocardiography.
Dr Aly is a member of both the UTMB Academy of Master Teachers and the Academy of Master Clinicians, in addition to the faculty Senate, admission
and academic progress committees. He is well travelled to the four corners of the world and had been involved in many medical and educational missions in Egypt, Jordan, Kenya, and other countries. He was recently inducted and a faculty
scholar in the John P. McGovern Academy of Oslerian Medicine.
Norman Miles Farr, MD, MPH
Norman Miles Farr, MD, MPH
Dr. Farr is a native of Louisiana, graduating from Louisiana State University with a degree in Finance and an Internal Audit minor. He worked in business prior to completing his M.D. / MPH Dual Degree at the University of Texas Medical Branch. He completed his residency through the Harvard Medicine-Pediatrics program at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Farr is an Assistant Professor practicing Internal Medicine and Pediatrics and plans to pursue research in health care delivery models in community settings and practice medical education.
Medical/Professional School:
University of Texas Medical Branch - Galveston, TX, MD, 2011
Public Health, University of Texas Medical Branch - Galveston, TX, MPH, 2011
Residencies:
Internal Medicine - Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard - Boston, MA, 2015
Certifications:
American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
American Board of Pediatrics, Pediatrics
Amy L. Gonzalez, MD, FAAP
Amy L. Gonzalez, MD, FAAP
Dr. Amy Gonzalez is a Pediatric Hospitalist and Associate Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB). In June 2025, she was appointed Assistant Dean for Admissions and Recruitment in the John Sealy School of Medicine (JSSOM), where she provides oversight of the medical school admissions process and leads strategic recruitment efforts to attract and select a highly qualified and well-rounded student body.
Dr. Gonzalez earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Texas A&M University and subsequently moved to Galveston to earn her medical degree from the John Sealy School of Medicine, where she is a proud alumna of the Class of 2013. She remained at UTMB to complete her Pediatrics residency, where she also served as Chief Resident. She is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics in both General Pediatrics and Pediatric Hospital Medicine.
In addition to her clinical work improving the efficiency and quality of care for hospitalized children, Dr. Gonzalez is deeply committed to medical education. She has been actively engaged in teaching across all four years of the medical school curriculum, blending interactive small-group and bedside instruction with medical simulation to enhance clinical skills. She previously served as Co-Director of the Doctoring and Clinical Skills and Transition to Residency courses and continues to teach and mentor medical students and residents longitudinally throughout their training.
Her dedication to education has been recognized through numerous honors. She is a graduate of the UTMB Scholars in Education program and received the Pediatric Educator Award for Excellence in Medical Student Education in 2022. She was also inducted into the UTMB Academy of Master Teachers in 2022. In 2023, she received the John P. McGovern Academy of Oslerian Medicine Excellence in Clinical Teaching Award. She was named an Osler Scholar in the John P. McGovern Academy of Oslerian Medicine in 2024. In 2025, she received the James W. Powers Memorial Award from the graduating class as well as the Lockhart Above and Beyond Award, the Department of Pediatrics’ highest honor.
Dr. Gonzalez is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society and serves as a faculty advisor for the Gold Humanism Honor Society and the Latino Medical Students Association. An "Islander by Choice", she remains deeply engaged in the Galveston community as a sustaining member of the Junior League of Galveston County and as a member of the Board of Directors for the Galveston Education Foundation, and was recognized as one of Galveston’s 40 Under 40 in 2022.
Sunil K. Jain, MD, FAAP
Sunil K. Jain, MD, FAAP
Dr. Jain is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Neonatology. He received his M.B.B.S. from Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sevagram, India. He completed his Pediatric Residencies at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh, India and Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL. He completed a Neonatal Fellowship at the Royal Women's Hospital & Mercy Hospital for Women, Melbourne, Australia and B.C.'s Children's Hospital, Vancouver & Foothills Hospital, Calgary, Canada.
Dr. Jain assumed the role of director for UTMB's Academy of Master Clinicians (AMC) effective Sept. 1, 2022 and will serve for a three-year term. He has been a member of AMC since its inception.
C. Joan Richardson, MD
C. Joan Richardson, MD
Richardson has served UTMB as an instructor, clinician, administrator and researcher for more than 26 years.
She maintains an active schedule at the university, serving as medical director for Inpatient Services of UTMB hospitals, vice chair of the Pediatrics Department , director of the Neonatology Division and medical director of the Infant
Special Care Unit and Newborn Nursery. Richardson is also the UTMB institutional emergency preparedness officer and holds the John Sealy Centennial Chair in Neonatology and is a professor of Pediatrics and Obstetrics & Gynecology.
She has been honored for her teaching enthusiasm, receiving the Golden Rattle Award for Excellence in Teaching, Pediatrics Department, in 1979 and 2000. Richardson received the Nicholas and Katherine Leone Award for Administrative Excellence
in 1996 and was listed among the "Best Doctors in America, 1996-1997." She also was the keynote speaker for the 1999 UTMB "White Coat Ceremony," when incoming students receive white coats to symbolize the start of their medical education.
Arsalan Saleem, MD, DABR®
Arsalan Saleem, MD, DABR®
Dr. Arsalan Saleem is an Assistant Professor in the department of Radiology at the University of Texas Medical Branch. He is the Program Director of the Integrated Interventional Radiology Residency Program and Associate Program Director the Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program respectively.
Dr. Saleem earned his medical degree in Punjab, Pakistan. He completed his General Surgery Internship at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation before joining the Radiology Residency program at UTMB in 2016. During his time at UTMB, Dr. Saleem has been awarded many honors, including but not limited to: The John P. McGovern Academy of Oslerian Medicine Thayer Award for Excellence in Teaching (2020), Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Award (2021), John P. McGovern Academy of Oslerian Medicine Excellence in Clinical Teaching Award (2022).
Lindsay K. Sonstein, MD, FACP
Lindsay K. Sonstein, MD, FACP
Dr. Lindsay Sonstein is the Program Director for the IM residency program, Vice Chair of Graduate Medical Education and the Clinical Vice Chair for the department of Internal Medicine. She joined the faculty in 2008, after completing her medical school, residency and chief residency at UTMB in Galveston.
She has a passion for quality and gained training in the field of health care quality by attending MD Anderson cancer center clinical safety, effectiveness course and AAMC teach for quality program. She has presented her quality work locally and regionally and has won awards for her work at the UT System Building Bridges conference as well as received funding from the UT system for development of a Train the Trainer Education model for QI.
Her interests and current projects focus on quality of care, patient satisfaction, innovative health delivery systems and residency education. She is a member of Association of Program Directors in Internal Medicine and has been an active member of the program planning committee since 2018. Additionally, she is a national member of the PD advisory board for NEJM knowledge +. She has won numerous teaching and educational awards and was inducted as a member of the UTMB Academy of Master Teachers in September 2012 and UTMB Academy of Master clinicians in 2018.
She currently attends on the wards in Jennie Sealy Hospital and is a faculty preceptor. She was inducted as an Osler Scholar in the John P. McGovern Academy of Oslerian Medicine in 2024.