Damian Caraballo, M.D.

President 

Dr. Damian E. Caraballo is an emergency medicine physician in Tampa and has over 16 years of experience in treating a wide variety of acute conditions and injuries. He graduated with honors from the University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine in 2007. Dr. Caraballo is presently engaged in medical practice at Excelis Medical Associates, and he maintains affiliations with several hospitals in the Tampa Bay area.

Nam Tran, M.D.

President Elect

Dr. Nam Tran is a neuro-oncology surgeon at Moffitt Cancer Center and assistant professor of oncology and neurosurgery at the University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine.  Dr. Tran completed his fellowship training at Moffitt, following a residency in neurosurgery at the Medical College of Virginia, serving as chief resident his final year. Prior to that, he was affiliated with the University of California-Irvine, where he received a PH.D. in neuroscience and served as an assistant project scientist. Dr. Tran’s research interests include regulation of the blood brain barrier, tumor and trauma-associated cerebral edema, central nervous system malignancies and spine biomechanics. He also has extensive experience in nervous system neoplasms and cranial neurosurgery. Dr. Tran has a strong commitment to community service, most recently working with the Guatemala Ministry of Health to establish medical missions to Guatemala City.

Neil Manimala, M.D.

Vice President

Dr. Neil Manimala is a board-certified urologist with Florida Urology Partners. Dr. Manimala graduated from the University of South Florida Health Morsani College of Medicine in 2016. While at the University of South Florida, he was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society in recognition of his compassionate and scientifically excellent care.  Dr. Manimala is affiliated with Tampa General Hospital, St. Joseph's Hospital, HCA Florida Brandon Hospital, HCA Florida South Shore Hospital and South Florida Baptist Hospital. He believes in personalized treatment plans, working closely with patients to choose the most suitable surgical or non-surgical options. 

Arun Kalava, M.D.

Treasurer

Dr. Arun Kalava is Board Certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology and European Society of Regional Anesthesia & Pain Therapy. He received his medical degree in 2004 from Siddharta Medical College in India and completed a post-residency fellowship in Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Medicine from Mayo Clinic. Dr. Kalava is a distinguished Fellow of the American Society of Anesthesiologists and an internationally published researcher. He currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology at the University of Central Florida- College of Medicine and is the owner and Medical Director of TampaPainMD and Ultrasound Experts in Tampa.

Michael Murphy, M.D.

Secretary

With over 28 years of clinical experience in psychiatry, Dr. Michael Murphy, MD, MPH is a renowned expert in the treatment of major mental illness and substance abuse disorders. He is a member of the American Psychiatric Association and author of Blueprints in Psychiatry, a textbook for medical students, the sixth edition of which was published in 2018. Dr. Murphy served on the faculty of Harvard Medical School’s Consolidated Department of Psychiatry and as the Medical Director of the Appleton long-term treatment program at Mclean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts. Over the course of a 12-year period, Dr. Murphy held several leadership positions for numerous psychiatric hospitals and medical centers in Tennessee. Currently, he serves as Medical Director at the River Oaks Treatment Center in Riverview, Florida, where he provides leadership and support to the clinical team.

 Steven Lyons, M.D.

Chairman, Board of Trustees

Dr. Lyons is a specialist in Adult Reconstruction and completed a fellowship in joint replacement at the University of Utah. He is board-certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and currently serves as an oral examiner for the board. Dr. Lyons has been a member of the Florida Orthopedic Institute’s board of directors for the past 15 years and belongs to the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons. He has been actively involved with the Florida Orthopaedic Society, including serving as its president from 2019 to 2020. Dr. Lyons is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Orthopaedics at the University of South Florida. His career includes significant contributions to the development of hip and knee implants, including co-designing one of the most popular knee replacement designs globally with Zimmer Biomet and their revision knee system, which has revolutionized revision knee surgery.