Nicolas Ortiz, MD, FACS is a board-certified urologist and assistant professor of urology at the University of Virginia. He specializes in urologic reconstruction, men’s health, and prosthetic surgery. Dr. Ortiz attended the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center for medical school and the University of Miami for urology residency. He then served in the United States Army for four years. After completing his military duty, he returned to UT Southwestern and completed a fellowship in urologic trauma, reconstruction, and prosthetics.
Dr. Ortiz joined the UVA urology department in 2020, where he currently serves as co-director of the andrology fellowship and director of the cancer survivorship program. He is a member of several specialty societies including the American Urological Association, the Society of Genitourinary Reconstructive Surgeons, and the Sexual Medicine Society of North America. Additionally, he actively participates in advocacy groups such as the Men’s Health Committee and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee of the SMSNA.

L. Nedda Dastmalchi, DO, MA, is a second-year general cardiology fellow at Temple University Hospital (Philadelphia, PA). She studied medical anthropology at Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, OH), where she earned her master’s degree, before completing her doctorate of osteopathy at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (Blacksburg, VA). Dr. Dastmalchi trained in internal medicine at The George Washington University (Washington, DC), specializing in underserved Medicine and Public Health. Passionate about research, she is interested in topics related to prevention of women’s cardiovascular disease and nutrition. She has also written for the medical unit of ABC News since 2020 on topics ranging from COVID-19 to cardiovascular disease. Going forward, Dr. Dastmalchi hopes to implement the importance of nutrition in the inpatient setting as well as help find ways in assessing cardiovascular disease risk in pre-menopausal age groups. Additionally, she would like to continue teaching the public through the media.

Dr. Michael J. Blaha MD MPH (Professor of Cardiology and Epidemiology) is the Director of Clinical Research and Director of the Cardiometabolic Clinic for the Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease.

Dr. Blaha has published over 500 scientific articles, with a focus on appropriate use of tests and new therapies in the prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. He has received multiple grant awards from the National Institutes of Health, FDA, American Heart Association, Amgen Foundation, Aetna Foundation, Bayer, and Novo Nordisk. He is a standing member of the Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drug Advisory Committee (EMDAC) for the FDA.

In 2018, Dr. Blaha received the Dr. Fred Brancati award at Johns Hopkins for excellence in mentoring. He has mentored over 30 trainees, many of which have gone on to hold prominent academic appointments.

In 2021, Dr. Blaha was named to the Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher List, representing the top 1% of world’s researchers.

In 2022, he received the Arthur S. Agatston Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Award, and was the inaugural Dr. Bob Eckel lecturer at the University of Colorado.

Clinically, he practices as a preventive cardiologist specializing in cardiometabolic disease and in the interpretation of cardiac CT. His clinic specializes in patients with cardiometabolic disease and advanced subclinical atherosclerosis, and the focused use of an array of lifestyle and pharmacotherapies to mitigate that risk.

Dr. Burnett is the Patrick C. Walsh Distinguished Professor of Urology and Professor, Oncology Center, at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He is an accomplished urologic surgeon and scientist, recognized for diverse leadership and service roles in urologic healthcare, in areas of research, education, clinical practice and advocacy. Dr. Burnett specializes in sexual medicine, major pelvic reconstruction, voiding dysfunction, prostate cancer, and lower genitourinary tract malignancies. He is considered the world-authority in the science and medicine of male sexual dysfunction, and among his many academic contributions he made original scientific discoveries in the science of penile erection that paved the way for the development of oral medications to treat erectile dysfunction and was the lead urologic surgeon in the first-ever penis and anterior pelvis transplant surgery. He has written more than 400 original peer-reviewed articles, 50 book chapters and 3 books, along with numerous editorials and publications related to his biomedical research and clinical activities. He also founded and directs a non-profit humanitarian organization called UroMissionsWorks Incorporated.

He received his A.B. degree in Biology from Princeton University and M.D. and M.B.A. degrees from Johns Hopkins University. He performed his post-graduate training in general surgery, urology and genitourinary reconstructive surgery at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and was awarded an American Foundation for Urologic Disease new investigator scholarship. He is an alumni member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Among various awards, Dr. Burnett received the Urology Care Foundation Distinguished Mentor Award in 2016, the Distinguished Contribution Award from the American Urological Association in 2018, the Ferdinand C. Valentine Medal from The New York Academy of Medicine in 2020, and the Hugh Hampton Young Award from the American Urological Association in 2022.