PGY-4
Bryan Clements
Program: Dell Seton Medical Center
Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences College of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O)
Interests
Clements’ professional interests include neurocritical care, stroke, academic medicine and bioethics. Outside of the hospital, Clements enjoys spin class, drag shows, Chiefs football and spending time by the pool. Before leaving for medical school and residency, Clements grew up in North Pole, Alaska.
Roya Edalatpour
Program: Dell Seton Medical Center
Boston University School of Medicine (M.D.)
Interests
Edalatpour’s professional interests include interventional neurology, stroke and neurocritical care. In particular, her research interests lie at the intersection of engineering and medicine, with the ultimate goal of improving patient care through technology and instrumentation development. Outside of the hospital, Edalatpour enjoys biking, swimming, exploring the outdoors and traveling.
Sonal Gagrani
Program: Dell Seton Medical Center
UT Southwestern Medical Center (M.D.)
Interests
Gagrani’s professional interests in neurology include neuroimmunology and neuromuscular disease. Outside of the hospital, she enjoys traveling, cooking and baking, working out, dance and spending time with family.
Annika Medhus
Program: Dell Seton Medical Center
University of Texas Medical School at Houston (M.D.)
Interests
Medhus’ professional interests include stroke, neurocritical care and movement disorders with an emphasis on research in women’s neurology, particularly sex differences within stroke and other neurological disorders. Outside the hospital, you can mostly find her binging reality TV, but Medhus is also a brunch enthusiast, enjoys exploring local restaurants and bars and takes any opportunity to visit the lakes.
Deonna Reese-White
Program: Dell Seton Medical Center
Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin (M.D)
Interests
Reese-White’s professional interests include neurocritical care, stroke and geriatric neurology. She hopes to help make both neurological care and neurology as a field more equitable and accessible. Prior to medical school, Deonna was a high school science teacher, counselor and administrator. During medical school, Deonna also received her MBA at the McCombs School of Business. When she’s not working, you can find her snuggling her daughter, attempting to keep plants alive and restoring vintage handbags.
Kassandra Reyes
Program: Dell Seton Medical Center
University of North Texas Health Science Center Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O)
Interests
Reyes has multiple professional interests, including dementia and cognition, neuromuscular disorders, movement disorders and neuroimmunology, as well as interest in the history of neurology and philosophical theories of the mind. Outside of the hospital, Reyes enjoys reading, live music and film.
PGY-3
Bhargavi Akkineni
Program: Dell Seton Medical Center
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine (M.D.)
Interests
The world of neurology is exciting — there are so many niche interests within the field. As a medical student I got to explore the stroke realm along with neuro-immunology, and they remain as my interests moving forward. In my free time, I’m either cooking, baking, gardening (I will make the most out of any size patio) or going for a walk on the many trails here in Austin!
Mahboobeh Fereidan Esfahani
Program: Dell Seton Medical Center
Isfahan University of Medical Sciences (M.D.)
Interests
My professional interest is multiple sclerosis and autoimmune neurology. I am interested in translational research bench to bedside with focus on remyelination and neuroregeneration. My passion for brain research began when I was in my first year of medical school. Outside work, I enjoy working out, swimming, trying new places and live music.
Laurel Kovalchick
Program: Dell Seton Medical Center
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine (M.D.)
Interests
Kovalchick’s current professional interests in neurology include headache medicine and neuromuscular disorders. Additionally, she is interested in the impact of chronic and terminal diseases on quality of life and psychological well-being. Outside of the hospital, Kovalchick enjoys cycling, baking and watching reality TV.
Marina Moore
Program: Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin
The University of North Texas Health Science Center TCOM (D.O)
Interests
Moore’s professional interests include stroke, neurocritical care, palliative medicine, health equity and patient advocacy. Outside of the hospital, you can find her spending time with her dog, exploring the outdoors, reading and being with her loved ones.
Janani Ravichandran
Program: Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Paul L. Foster School of Medicine (M.D.)
Interests
Ravichandran’s professional interests include neuromuscular and movement disorders, headaches and stroke. Additionally, she is interested in research to promote the accessibility of neurological care. Outside of work, she likes swimming, cooking, baking and spending time with her family.
Kara Reitz
Program: Dell Seton Medical Center
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA (M.D.)
Interests
Reitz’s professional interests include headache, neuroimmunology and neuro-oncology. Outside of the hospital, she is an avid PC gamer and can often be found playing competitive team-based games with friends. She also enjoys hiking, cooking/baking, watching anime and spending time with her husky and Samoyed.
Zayd Siddiq
Program: Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin
The University of North Texas Health Science Center TCOM (D.O)
Interests
Zayd’s professional interests include stroke, neuromuscular disorders and neurocognitive disorders. Outside of the hospital, Zayd enjoys hooping, working out, binging Netflix and spending time with friends and family.
Lidya Teshome
Program: Dell Seton Medical Center
Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine, California (D.O)
Interests
Teshome’s professional interests include movement disorders and headache management. She hopes to integrate neurological care and global health to improve access to care to vulnerable populations. Outside of the hospital, she enjoys ballroom dancing, going to the beach, traveling, spending time with family and watching puppy videos.
Uyen Vu
Program: Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin
Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O)
Interests
Vu was born and grew up in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. She moved to the U.S. in her early adulthood. Vu has many professional interests, including neurocritical care, movement disorders and neuromuscular disorders. Outside the hospital, Vu enjoys cooking and hanging out with BokChoy, her two-year-old English cream golden retriever.
Stephanie Wottrich
Program: Dell Seton Medical Center
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine (M.D.)
Interests
My personal interests include working out daily, traveling with family and friends often, brunch (and trying fun new foods in general), learning about various things both inside and outside of medicine, and watching dramas/documentaries. I currently plan to complete a pain fellowship and hope to supplement my education with learning in integrative medicine throughout residency.
PGY-2
Kira Allison
Program: Dell Seton Medical Center
Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.)
Interests
Allison’s professional interests include vascular neurology, neurocritical care, and geriatric neurology. Prior to her medical training, Allison obtained a degree in ballet and was deeply involved in both teaching and performing classical ballet. Outside of the hospital she enjoys spending her free time watching live music, exploring new restaurants, baking, and spending time outdoors with her husband and miniature golden doodle.
Priyanka Gurru
Program: Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin
The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas (M.D.)
Interests
Gurru’s professional interests include epilepsy, neurodegenerative disorders, and movement disorders. Outside of the hospital, she enjoys cooking, dancing, boxing, and spending time with family and friends.
Jessica Hatch
Program: Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin
Medical College of Georgia (M.D.)
Interests
Hatch’s professional interests include neuromuscular medicine and stroke. She also believes strongly in health equity and hopes to address disparities through local action and public policy. Outside of the hospital, she enjoys painting and relaxing with her cats. Hatch also competes in bodybuilding and hopes to one day obtain pro status.
Angad Jolly
Program: Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin
Baylor College of Medicine (M.D., Ph.D.)
Interests
Jolly’s professional interests include a broad range of neurology and neurogenetics, particularly understanding possible molecular etiologies and susceptibilities for neurologic disorders via genetic and genomic studies. Outside of the hospital, he enjoys spending time with friends and family, playing basketball, weightlifting and reading.
Jui-Jui Lin
Program: Dell Seton Medical Center
University of North Texas Health Science Center Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.)
Interests
Lin’s professional interests include cognition, traumatic brain injuries, and headache medicine. He is passionate about the application of engineering in medicine and its potential role in helping patients restore their cognitive function. Outside of work, Jui-Jui can be found looping the trails of Town Lake, at the local climbing gym, or catching a Formula One race on Sundays.
Isabel Miller
Program: Dell Seton Medical Center
The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas (M.D.)
Interests
Miller’s current professional interests include neuroimmunology, stroke, and palliative care. Outside of the hospital, Miller enjoys watercolor and acrylic painting, visiting thrift stores, and reality television.
Neha Patel
Program: Dell Seton Medical Center
Kansas City University of Medicine & Biosciences College of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.)
Interests
Patel’s professional interests in neurology include neurocritical care, neurohospitalist and neuroimmunology. Outside of the hospital, Patel enjoys traveling, working out, dance, reading, tennis, and spending time with family and friends.
Lily Qian
Program: Dell Seton Medical Center
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine (M.D.)
Interests
Qian is interested in many fields within neurology, including epilepsy and movement disorders. She was born in China but grew up in the States and has lived in many states prior to coming to Austin for residency (including Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Texas). Outside of the hospital, she enjoys painting (digital, acrylic and watercolor), journaling, trying new food, watching TV/YouTube and crocheting.
Vani Thirumala
Program: Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin
The University of Texas Medical Branch School of Medicine (M.D.)
Interests
Thirumala’s professional interests include headache management, epilepsy, movement disorders, and clinical neurophysiology. Outside of the hospital, Thirumala enjoys reading, music, playing tennis, discovering new board games, and spending time with friends and family.
Nghia Tran
Program: Dell Seton Medical Center
UT Health San Antonio Joe R. & Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine (M.D.)
Interests
Tran’s professional interests include general neurology, neurophysiology, and medical education. Outside of the hospital, Tran unwinds by spending time with his wife and pet corgi, trying new restaurants and coffee shops, and staying active. He plans to one day practice a mix of inpatient and outpatient neurology and be involved in teaching and mentoring medical students.
PGY-1
Rachel Adlis
Program: Dell Seton Medical Center
University of Texas School of Medicine at San Antonio (M.D.)
Weijie Cheng
Program: Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin
University of Texas School of Medicine at San Antonio (M.D.)
Interests
Cheng’s professional interests include neurocritical care, neurohospitalist medicine, cognition and dementia. Outside of the hospital, Cheng enjoys playing tabletop games including board games, Magic the Gathering, Dungeons & Dragons, as well as a multitude of different video games. His outdoor interests also include biking and archery.
Lyn Kelly
Program: Dell Seton Medical Center
Louisiana State School of Medicine New Orleans (M.D.)
Bunmi Olayinka
Program: Dell Seton Medical Center
University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine (M.D.)
Olivia Pakula
Program: Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin
Wayne State University School of Medicine (M.D.)
Interests
Pakula’s personal interests include riding her horse, fishing and watching NFL football (Arizona Cardinals). Her professional interests include headache, neuromuscular disorders and traumatic brain injuries.
Aishwarya Panneerselvam
Program: Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin
Wayne State University School of Medicine (M.D.)
Interests
Panneerselvam’s professional interests include epilepsy, neurocritical care, stroke, health equity and medical education. She aspires to be instrumental in the awareness and accessibility of neurological care in global health. As with her commitment to medicine, she cherishes time with family, pursues artistic endeavors, enjoys cooking and finds solace in nature.
Bryn Rubin
Program: Dell Seton Medical Center
University of Queensland School of Medicine (M.D.)
Heather Tolcher
Program: Dell Seton Medical Center
McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center Houston (M.D.)
Shannon Toole
Program: Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin
Loma Linda University School of Medicine (M.D.)
Interests
Shannon has been lucky to see many different fields in neurology and her current interests include movement disorders, neuromuscular disorders and headache medicine. When not in the hospital she can be found playing tennis or pickleball, rollerskating or reading.
Alissar Zammam
Program: Dell Seton Medical Center
Loma Linda University School of Medicine (M.D.)