Kerri Thom, MD, MS
Professor of Epidemiology & Public Health and Medicine
Associate Dean for Student Affairs
Assistant Dean for Student Research and Education
kthom@som.umaryland.edu
The Associate Dean for Student Affairs is responsible for the overall function of the office. In that role, Dr. Thom fosters an open and inviting atmosphere for all students to feel supported and welcome. Collaborating with others in School of Medicine and across campus, Dr. Thom serves as an advocate for students, promoting and developing processes, policies, and procedures that benefit students, staff and faculty. Dr. Thom is a mentor to all of the students in the School of Medicine, promoting their personal and professional development. She personally writes many MSPE’s (Medical Student Performance Evaluations) and oversees the writing of all MSPE’s. Dr. Thom is also the Assistant Dean for Student Research and Education and oversees the Office of Student Research. Dr. Thom is an infectious disease physician and a faculty member in the Departments of Epidemiology & Public Health and Medicine.
John Allen, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Assistant Dean for Student Affairs
john.allen@som.umaryland.edu
Dr. Allen serves primarily in a counseling and advisory role. He is available to write medical student performance evaluations (MSPEs) and letters of recommendation (LORs). Additionally, he serves as a faculty member in the Department of Medicine. He practices as a general internist both inside and outside the hospital, overseeing trainees of all levels. Finally, Dr. Allen has a strong interest in medical student advocacy and wellness.
Marissa Flaherty, MD
Assistant Professor for Psychiatry
Assistant Dean for Student Affairs
mflaherty@som.umaryland.edu
As a member of the Office of Student Affairs, Dr. Flaherty serves the students primarily in a mentoring, academic advising and career counseling role. Dr. Flaherty works with the other members of the office to create a warm and supportive environment for all students. Dr. Flaherty enjoys helping students learn to balance their personal and professional growth through medical school and beyond. She helps write medical student performance evaluations (MSPEs) and letters of recommendation. She is a faculty member of the Department of Psychiatry and clinically works as a community outpatient psychiatrist in the Division of Community Psychiatry. She has a strong passion for teaching and serves as a clinical educator for students, residents and fellows as well.
Elizabeth Lamos, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
Assistant Dean for Student Affairs
elamos@som.umaryland.edu
As a member of the Office of Student Affairs, Dr. Lamos writes Medical Student Performance Evaluations (MSPEs) and serves primarily in a counseling, mentoring, and activity advisory role. She is the Student Affairs liaison for the school's dual degree programs and their students. She is also on faculty in the Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology. She sees patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings and serves a clinical educator for students, residents and fellows.
Tonya Webb, PhD
Associate Professor of Medicine
Assistant Dean for Student Engagement and Student Life for Student Affairs
TWebb@som.umaryland.edu
Dr. Tonya Webb serves as the Assistant Dean for Student Engagement and Student Life, where she leads strategic efforts to foster a vibrant, inclusive, and supportive environment for medical students. Dr. Webb develops and implements programs that enhance student engagement across the continuum—from recruitment and retention to curriculum development and campus culture. She collaborates closely with educational leadership to strengthen the School’s commitment to student support, providing oversight to student-led groups and ensuring representation in co-curricular activities. As a key liaison between medical students and campus-wide initiatives, Dr. Webb advocates for student well-being and engagement, working to cultivate a culture in which all scholars thrive academically, socially, and personally. Dr. Webb is a faculty member in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and a member of the Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Neda Frayha, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Part-Time
Faculty Member, Office of Student Affairs
NFrayha@som.umaryland.edu
Dr. Frayha is the creator, producer, and host of The OSA Insider podcast, the first medical education podcast to originate from a medical school's Office of Student Affairs. In this role, she collaborates closely with UMSOM medical students, residents, and faculty members to explore topics relevant to medical student life and the journey to becoming a physician. Dr. Frayha is a primary care internist, a graduate of the UMSOM, and a former Assistant Dean in the OSA, where she spent seven years advising and mentoring students.