Program Leadership
Tulane GWIMS Steering Committee Chair
Surgical Oncologist
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Click to Read Dr. Limbach's Bio
Kristen Limbach, MD is an Assistant Professor of Surgery at Tulane University School of Medicine with a specialty in Complex General Surgical Oncology. She completed her undergraduate education at Dartmouth College and her medical degree at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, where she was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha national medical honor society. She then completed her general surgery residency at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, Oregon. From there, she went on to complete a Complex General Surgical Oncology fellowship at City of Hope National Medical Center near Los Angeles, California, where she received specialty training in complex cancer operations of the liver, pancreas, and gastrointestinal tract as well as advanced robotic surgical training. She has been on the faculty at the Tulane University School of Medicine since 2023, where she has been developing a clinical research program focusing on malignancies of the liver, pancreas, and gastrointestinal tract. She is currently the Chair of Tulane’s GWIMS Chapter.
Tulane GWIMS Steering Committee Vice Chair
Associate Professor
Department of Pediatrics
Tulane GWIMS Steering Committee & Mentors
Assistant Professor
Department of Medicine – Nephrology/Hypertension
Professor and Chair
Department of Physiology
Dr. Brooks received her bachelor’s degree from the University College of Wales in Aberystwyth, her masters from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, and her PhD from the Imperial College of Science, Technology & Medicine in London. She followed this with training as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Arizona College of Medicine and a visiting fellowship at the NHLBI Laboratory of Kidney and Electrolyte Metabolism, National Institutes of Health. She has been recognized with the Astra Zeneca Young Investigator Award and the Lazaro Mandel Award from the American Physiological Society. Internationally recognized as a leader in research mentorship, scientific ethics and professional scientific writing, Dr. Brooks’ goal has always been to increase the research capabilities of those surrounding her while working together to solve important scientific questions. She is a passionate advocate for women in science, and has mentored many women.
Director, Department of Comparative Medicine
Associate Professor
Click to Read Dr. Dobek’s bio.
Dr. Georgina Dobek is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine. She received her Bachelors of Science and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees from Texas A&M University. She completed residency training in Laboratory Animal Medicine at Tulane University, and is a Diplomate of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine. As Director of the Department of Comparative Medicine, Dr. Dobek supervises the operations of three animal housing facilities, provides research support and training for scientists and students, co-directs the laboratory animal medicine residency program, and provides clinical care for over 20,000 research animals housed at Tulane.
Assistant Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Assistant Dean of Clinical Education
Medical Student Clerkship Director
Click to Read Dr. Gambala's bio.
Cecilia Gambala is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Tulane University School of Medicine. Dr. Cecilia Gambala received her Bachelor of Science In Cell and Molecular Biology and Art Studio from H. Sophie Newcomb College of Tulane University. She has an extensive educational history at Tulane University earning both a Masters of Science in Public Health and a Medical Degree. She subsequently completed her Obstetrics & Gynecology Residency and Maternal Fetal Medicine Fellowship in Chicago at the University of Illinois. In 2011, she returned to Tulane University Medical School to begin her academic career. She currently acts as Director of medical student education in Ob/Gyn and is the Assistant Dean of Clinical Education. Dr. Gambala's research interests outside of medical education include prenatal diagnosis, obesity, diabetes and hypertensive disorders in pregnancy.
Chair, Department of Surgery
Director, Pediatric Kidney Transplant - Children's Hospital
Professor of Surgery & Pediatrics
Click to Read Dr. Killackey's bio
Mary Killackey, MD is an Associate Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics at Tulane University Medical Center. She moved to New Orleans in October 2006 after working as a liver transplant attending at Albert Einstein in Philadelphia, PA. Dr. Killackey received her undergraduate(1994) and medical(1998) degrees from Columbia University. She completed her General Surgery residency at the University of Rochester, Strong Memorial. From there, she went on to complete the Abdominal Organ Transplant Fellowship at the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. During her fellowship, she gained expertise in liver, pancreas, intestinal and kidney transplantation in both adult and pediatric patients. In addition to the transplant experience at Mount Sinai, she gained extensive training in hepatobiliary surgery including resection and radio frequency ablation. Dr. Killackey has actively participated in clinical research and has presented at national transplant meetings. She has focused her research to clinical issues related to ischemia reperfusion, and recurrent Hepatitis C after transplant. She is an active member of the transplant community and is a member of several societies on both the local to international level.
Director of Cardiovascular Anesthesiology
Director of Preoperative Medicine
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
Click to Read Dr. Pierre's bio
Dr. Nakeisha Pierre, a New Orleans native, is an Associate Professor of Clinical Anesthesiology and has been a member of the Tulane Community as both Resident Physician and Faculty since 2002 with only a brief respite post-Katrina. Dr. Pierre received her Doctor of Medicine from LSU School of Medicine New Orleans in 2002. She completed her residency in Anesthesiology in 2006 at Tulane School of Medicine, and a Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine Texas Heart Institute in 2007. She is the past Chair of Tulane’s GWIMS Chapter, Vice Chair of the General Medical Faculty, and has leadership roles on both Tulane Hospital and University administrative and academic committees. Her leadership roles as Clinical Director of Cardiovascular Anesthesiology and Director of the Preoperative Medicine Clinic have fostered the development of institutional change through evidence-based guidelines, policy, and procedure reform. Dr. Pierre is recognized regionally as an expert preoperative consultant and her collaborations in both private and academic institutions have fostered measurable gains. Dr. Pierre is acknowledged as a devoted physician, wife, mother, and mentor to the community.
Associate Dean, Surgical Services
Professor and Chairman of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Click to Read Dr. Gabriella Pridjian's bio.
Dr. Gabriella Pridjian was appointed Professor and Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in July of 2004. Additionally, she is a clinical geneticist in the Human Genetics Program at Tulane. Dr. Pridjian received her MD degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin, completed her residency in Obstetrics & Gynecology as well as her Maternal-Fetal Medicine fellowship at the University of Chicago, Chicago Lying-In Hospital. After spending several years at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, she moved to New Orleans and completed a fellowship in Human Genetics at Tulane University School of Medicine. She subsequently became Chief of Maternal- Fetal Medicine and then Chairman of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Pridjian has authored numerous publications and has lectured nationally and internationally. Dr. Pridjian's areas of research are in preeclampsia, prenatal diagnosis, pregnancy loss, and metabolic disorders in pregnancy.
Professor of Pediatrics
Chief, Section of Adolescent Medicine
Chief, Clinical Diversity Officer
Click to read Dr. Simpson's bio
Dr. Simpson is a Professor of Pediatrics, Section Chief of Adolescent Medicine and Chief Clinical Diversity Office of Tulane University School of Medicine. She is board-certified in Adolescent Medicine and Pediatrics. Dr. Simpson has a passion for clinical research. The primary focus of her research efforts is the reduction of high-risk behaviors among adolescents and young adults, especially high-risk sexual behaviors.
Professor of Medicine
Chief, Section of Clinical Immunology, Allergy & Rheumatology
Laurianne Wild, a New Orleans native, received her Bachelor of Science degree from Tulane University’s H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College. She earned her medical degree from Tulane University School of Medicine followed by completion of her internship, residency and chief residency at the University of Southern California Los Angeles County Medical Center. She was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society during her residency. At completion of her training in southern California, she returned to New Orleans to complete an Allergy and Clinical Immunology Fellowship at Tulane University School of Medicine and subsequently joined the faculty. She served as Fellowship training program director for nineteen years and now co-directs the training program. She holds the rank of Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Section of Clinical Immunology, Allergy and Rheumatology. Dr. Wild is certified by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology as well as a Fellow of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.
