Ken Urish MD, PhD

Ken Urish MD PhD is a fellowship trained Adult Reconstructive and Arthroplasty Orthopedic Surgeon. He completed his fellowship at the Massachusetts General Hospital and was an Instructor at Harvard Medical School. As an Associate Medical Director at the Magee Bone and Joint Center, his practice focuses on primary and revision hip and knee arthroplasty (joint replacement). He has extensive experience with minimally invasive techniques, robotic surgery, and managing complications from failed or painful hip and knee replacements.

Dr. Urish is Director of the Arthritis and Arthroplasty Design Laboratory. Funded by the National Institute of Health, the group’s focus is on early arthritis prevention and optimizing joint replacement outcomes. He has published more than 50 articles, book chapters, and abstracts. He is actively involved in medical student, resident, fellow, and engineering graduate student education. He is considered an expert on robotic surgery, implant infection, corrosion, and optimizing joint replacement outcomes in the active adult.

Originally from the Pittsburgh area, he graduated with honors from Penn State with a degree in Chemical Engineering and completed medical school at the University of Pittsburgh, both, under full scholarship. His PhD is in Bioengineering at the University of Pittsburgh where his research focused on using adult stem cells for regenerative medicine. He completed residency in Orthopaedic Surgery at Penn State. He holds additional appointments with the University of Pittsburgh Department of Bioengineering, Clinical & Translational Science Institute, and Carnegie Mellon University Department of Biomedical Engineering.

Dongzhu Ma MD, PhD

Dongzhu Ma’s current research is focused on periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). PJI is one of the most severe complications in arthroplasty procedures. Biofilm has a high tolerance to antibiotics. Bacterial persisters play an important role in the formation of biofilm and may escape the effects of antibiotics without undergoing genetic change, but they do not grow in the presence of antibiotics. Toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems are involved in biofilm formation and persisters cell formation. These systems may be important regulators of the switch from the planktonic to the biofilm lifestyle as a stress response by their control of secondary messenger. Dongzhu Ma’s research looks at bacterial persisters regulated by TA systems providing biofilm with high antibiotic tolerance.

Beth Knapick

Dr. Rekha Arya PhD

Dr. Rekha Arya specializes in microbial pathogenesis, anti-infective therapies, and host-pathogen interactions, with more than 13 years of research experience. Her current work in the AAD Lab focuses on understanding the role of bacteriophage therapy in joint infections. She earned her Ph.D. in anti-virulent drug development from SASTRA University in India and previously served as a Research Professor at Sungkyunkwan University in South Korea. Her research has resulted in numerous publications, patented therapeutics, and two National Research Foundation of Korea grants focused on combating antimicrobial resistance.

Victoria Wong

Victoria (Vicky) Wong is a 4^th year medical student at the University of Pittsburgh and aspiring orthopaedic surgeon. She joined the AAD lab as an MS1 and is interested in clinical outcomes of total joint arthroplasty. Outside of medicine, she enjoys running, lifting, traveling, and trying new restaurants.

Christian Cisneros

Christian Cisneros is a fourth-year medical student at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine with a strong interest in orthopaedic surgery. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, with a minor in Religious Studies, from Rhodes College. In the lab, he studies outcomes in periprosthetic joint infection, with a focus on comparing treatment modalities like DAIR and two-stage exchange arthroplasty, research he has presented at multiple conferences, including at the national level. Outside of research, Christian volunteers as an assistant youth lacrosse coach and mentors pre-medical students through coursework, MCAT prep, and applications. In his free time, he enjoys working out, trying new restaurants with friends, watching anime, and listening to house music.

Andrew Gordon

Andrew was born in Maryland and grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Pittsburgh and is now a medical student at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Outside of the lab, he enjoys going to the gym, golfing, and staying active. He is also a fan of steak, soccer, and basketball.

Jewelia Rempuszewski

Jewelia Rempuszewski is a research technician at the AADLab and has been with our group since 2022, when she initially joined as an undergraduate bioengineering student. Since graduating from Pitt in 2023, she has become deeply involved in our clinical bacteriophage work and has spent her time studying the evolution of S. aureus in response to a novel antimicrobial peptide. Outside of the lab, Jewelia enjoys spending time outdoors, reading, crocheting, and hanging out with her cat, Blade.

Anvi Tatkar

Anvi Tatkar is an undergraduate student at the University of Pittsburgh studying Molecular Biology with a minor in Studio Arts and Chemistry with a Conceptual Foundations of Medicine Certificate. She has spent her time working on bioreactor experiments and is now excited to explore how bacteriophages can be incorporated into the model. Outside of research, she works as a tutor and teaching assistant, helping students in biology, chemistry, and organic chemistry. In her free time, Anvi enjoys trying new restaurants, thrifting, and exploring new places around Pittsburgh.

Dhrupad Ponnamaneni

Dhrupad Ponnamaneni is an undergraduate student at the University of Pittsburgh’s David C. Frederick Honors College, studying Public Health with a minor in Chemistry and a Certificate in Bioethics. His research is focused on bacteriophage discovery from Pittsburgh wastewater samples, and he has also worked on antibiotic and bacteriophage synergy. Outside of research, he runs a youth-led nonprofit that provides educational resource kits to students in need. In his free time, Dhrupad enjoys going to the gym, playing tennis, and hiking.

Amanda Locker

Amanda Locker is a medical student at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and a student researcher in the Musculoskeletal Oncology Laboratory. She earned her B.S. in Biology from Virginia Tech and M.S. in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Pittsburgh. Before medical school, she served as a Clinical Research Coordinator for the Musculoskeletal Oncology Laboratory, managing the Musculoskeletal Oncology Tumor Registry and Tissue Bank (MOTOR). Her research interests include sarcoma, cancer metastasis, translational research, and using clinical and imaging data to improve cancer diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment.

Gabriela Alba

Gaby is a third-year medical student at the University of Pittsburgh with a strong interest in orthopedic surgery. After graduating from Boston University, she worked as a clinical research coordinator in the Orthopedics Department at Boston Children’s and hopes to continue contributing to clinical research that advances orthopedic care. In her free time, Gaby enjoys cycling, pickleball, and long distance running but only in preparation for the annual Pittsburgh half-marathon.