Faculty and Staff
Medical Director of UNC HHT Center
Dr. Raj Kasthuri
Dr. Raj Kasthuri is Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology, UNC Blood Research Center Associate Director, Clinical Research, and is the Director of the UNC HHT Center of Excellence. Dr. Kasthuri earned his medical degree from the Kasturba Medical College in India. He completed his fellowship in Hematology and Medical Oncology at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Kasthuri’s clinical and research interests are in bleeding and clotting disorders, and HHT.
Pediatric Hematology Oncology
Alexandra Borst, MD
Dr Alexandra Borst is an Associate Professor in the Pediatric Division of Hematology/Oncology. She is also the co-Director of the UNC Vascular Anomalies Program. Dr Borst recently joined UNC from the Children’s Hospital of Philidelphia.
HHT Program Coordinator
Karen Smith, RN
Karen Smith has been the Program Coordinator as well as the Clinical Research Coordinator for the HHT Center of Excellence at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for the past 13 years. She has over 35 years of professional experience including Critical Care Supervisor, Clinical Educator, Emergency, Vascular Surgery and Wound Care Nursing, Pediatric Sedation as well as Radiology/Interventional Nursing Clinical Educator.
Genetic Counselor
Zahra S. Girnary, MS, CGC
CLINICAL ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, GENETIC COUNSELOR
Zahra Girnary, MS, CGC, is a clinical assistant professor who joined our UNC HHT team in May 2020. She received her undergraduate degree in biology and psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and completed her graduate training in genetic counseling at the University of South Carolina. As a clinical genetic counselor, Zahra works with patients throughout various clinics at UNC. She sees patients for suspected hereditary cancer syndromes, adults in the general genetics clinic, as well as patients who are at-risk for or suspected to have Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT).
Email Zahra
(919) 966-0901
Administrative Specialist
Otolaryngology
Brian D. Thorp, MD, FACS, FARS
Associate Director, NeuroRhinology, Advanced Rhinology and Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery Fellowship | Associate Professor, Department of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery
Interventional Radiology
Nima Kokabi, MD
Associate Professor of Radiology, Vice Chair of Clinical Research, Interventional Oncology Director, and Cancer Imaging Director