Dr. Maryam Mohammadkhani is a physician by training with a second career as a children's education advocate. She received a B.S. Summa Cum Laude, from University of California, Irvine, School of Biological Sciences, and an M.D. with Highest Distinction, from University of Southern California School of Medicine. Dr.

Mohammadkhani spent six years training as a pathologist in the Harvard Medical System at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and is board certified in Anatomic Pathology, Clinical Pathology, and Cytopathology. She joined Pathology Services of Springfield in 2001 and led as Director of Anatomic Pathology at Cox Health until 2018. She is currently serving her second term on Springfield Public Schools Board of Education, Missouri's largest school district. She tutors early elementary students through the Council of Churches of the Ozarks Volunteer Program. Maryam is a member of North Springfield Betterment Association School Committee and serves on the Association Board. She lives in Springfield with her husband Raffaele Pennella, who is also a physician, and they have three children, Giacomo, Bennato, and Amore.