Wright State surgery professor Priti Parikh selected for prestigious academic medicine leadership fellowship

Priti Parikh is professor of surgery and vice chair of research education and professional development at Wright State’s Boonshoft School of Medicine.

Priti Parikh, Ph.D., professor of surgery at Wright State University’s Boonshoft School of Medicine, was selected for the highly competitive Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) Fellowship at Drexel University College of Medicine.

She is one of only 100 women across North America named an ELAM fellow for 2025–26.

Parikh, who is also vice chair of research education and professional development, will work closely with leaders at Wright State and the Boonshoft School of Medicine as well as national academic medicine leaders during her fellowship.

“Through the ELAM program, I hope to strengthen my leadership skills, gain a deeper understanding of institutional strategy and learn from a diverse network of leaders, both within my institution and across the national academic medicine community,” she said. “I aim to apply these insights to promote the success of our learners and to support meaningful growth at Wright State.”

Parikh credited Gregory Toussaint, M.D., senior associate dean of academic affairs, Randy Woods, M.D., associate professor and chair of surgery, and Amelia Salazar, Ed.D., former vice president for student success, for nominating her and supporting her application.

The ELAM program is the only longitudinal professional development initiative in North America dedicated to preparing professionals for senior leadership roles in academic medicine, dentistry, public health and pharmacy. The program develops the professional and personal skills required to lead in today’s academic and health care environment, with attention to the challenges facing women in leadership positions.

The program was developed for senior women faculty at the associate or full professor level who demonstrate the greatest potential for assuming executive leadership positions at academic health centers within the next five years.

Parikh, who joined Wright State’s Department of Surgery in 2012, has made significant and sustained contributions to the success of Boonshoft School of Medicine students and residents through her work in medical and research education, professional development and mentorship.

At the national level, she is an active leader in the Association for Surgical Education, chairing the Surgical Education Research Committee, designing and offering workshops and leading the development of the association’s Fellow Award initiative.

Her primary research interest is in surgical and medical education, and she has published more than 50 articles in high-impact journals. She received the Reed Williams Excellence in Innovation in Surgical Education Award from the Association for Surgical Education in 2023 and the Outstanding Achievement in Medical Education and Research Award (Senior Faculty) from Wright State’s Academy of Medicine in 2022.

Parikh, who served as a postdoctoral fellow in Wright State’s Department of Computer Science and Engineering before joining the Department of Surgery, received her Ph.D. in food microbiology from Virginia Tech and her master’s and bachelor’s degrees in microbiology from Sardar Patel University in India.

Parikh’s ELAM fellowship begins in June with online assignments and community-building activities and concludes with a capstone event, the Leaders Forum and graduation in April 2026. The Leaders Forum brings together the fellows, their deans and other senior officials for a symposium highlighting the fellows’ institutional action projects.