PGY-4
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-3
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
McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (M.D., MBA)
PGY-2
Maren Anderson
University of Oklahoma College of Medicine (M.D.)
Program: Dell Seton Medical Center
Interests
Anderson is excited to explore the breadth of neurology, including movement disorders, stroke and neurocritical care, as well as climate health, medical education and medical humanities. Outside of work, she enjoys everything outdoors, game nights, sports — especially volleyball, pickleball, Spikeball, climbing — hosting, movies, trivia, watercolor and archaeology.
David Burns
Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.)
Program: Dell Seton Medical Center
Interests
Burns’ professional interests include neurocritical care, stroke and medical education. Outside of the hospital, he enjoys playing jazz piano, watching movies, cooking, traveling with his camera, brewing coffee on his AeroPress, and spending time with family and friends.
Evan Chung
Anne Burnett Marion School of Medicine at TCU (M.D.)
Program: Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin
Interests
Chung’s professional interests include sleep medicine, pain medicine, lifestyle optimization for neurological health and applications of technology in medicine. Outside of the hospital, he enjoys trying new restaurants, working out, playing games and hanging out with friends and family.
Carly Driskill
University of Oklahoma College of Medicine (M.D.)
Program: Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin
Interests
Driskill’s professional interests in neurology are neuropalliative care, headache and dementia, as well as health equity and quality improvement. Outside of medicine, she loves oil painting, baking anything sweet, going on long walks outside and watching movies.
Liam Ferreira
Baylor College of Medicine (M.D.)
Program: Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin
Interests
Ferreira’s professional interests include epilepsy, clinical neurophysiology, stroke, autoimmune and multiple sclerosis. Outside the hospital, he enjoys reading, playing the cello, following soccer, exploring specialty coffee and spending time with family. He was born and raised in Austin, Texas.
Sruti Gorantla
University of Texas Medical School at San Antonio (M.D.)
Program: Dell Seton Medical Center
Interests
Gorantla’s professional interests include epilepsy, movement, neurophysiology and cognitive. Outside of the hospital, Gorantla enjoys reading, creating art, cooking new foods, and exploring local coffee shops and restaurants.
Saini Kethireddy
Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine
Program: Dell Seton Medical Center
Interests
Saini’s professional interests include movement disorders, neuroimmunology and neuromuscular disorders. Outside of the hospital, she loves playing volleyball and all sorts of outdoor activities, painting, exploring Austin’s local food and music and hanging out with friends. Saini grew up in Michigan before coming to Austin for residency.
Tayler Payton-Hudson
Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans (M.D.)
Program: Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin
Interests
Payton-Hudson’s interests include stroke and interventional neurology. She is passionate about the fast-paced, evolving nature of these fields and the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in patients’ lives. Outside of work, she enjoys going to church, cooking (especially New Orleans–themed dishes), working out, and traveling to new places with her husband. She is really looking forward to this next chapter and all the learning and growth that comes with it.
Naimah Sarwar
Anne Burnett Marion School of Medicine at TCU (M.D.)
Program: Dell Seton Medical Center
Interests
Naimah is interested in exploring the many specialties in neurology, especially at the intersections of health equity, women’s health and palliative care. She is also interested in exploring patient and physician stories through narrative medicine. When she is not at the hospital, Naimah enjoys catching up on her reading list, spending time outdoors and exploring the city through food.
John Shope
University of North Texas Health Science Center Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.)
Program: Dell Seton Medical Center
Interests
Shope’s professional interests include general neurology, clinical neurophysiology and memory disorders. He is also passionate about medical education and advocacy work, both of which he aims to integrate into his clinical practice. Outside of the hospital, Shope enjoys long walks with his wife and their poodle, watching Formula One, playing soccer and catching Broadway musicals.
PGY-1
Helen-Margaret Onuorah
University of Texas Medical Branch School of Medicine (M.D., MPH)
Interests
Onuorah is interested in neuroimmunology and neurophysiology, with growing interests in neuroanatomy. She would love to tackle projects that mix art and neurology. As an Austin native and former Dell Med neuro researcher, she is excited and grateful to be back home. Outside work, she loves piano, drawing, working out, sock-hunting and family time.
Kaitlyn Pixley
University of Oklahoma College of Medicine (M.D.)
Interests
Pixley is interested in many subcategories in neurology with a preference for inpatient, acute care but is open to exploring more ambulatory options as she advances in her training. Outside of medicine, she enjoys socializing with her friends and family by trying new restaurants, cooking, watching reality TV shows and playing outdoors, especially running and beach volleyball.
Daniel Ramirez
Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin (M.D.)
Interests
Ramirez’s professional interests include general neurology, neurodegenerative disorders, neurocritical care and vascular neurology. He is passionate about improving stroke care through imaging and machine-learning research focused on estimating stroke onset. In his free time, he enjoys running, traveling, hiking and exploring Austin with friends.
Stephanie Sanchez
University of Houston School of Medicine (M.D.)
Interests
Sanchez’s professional interests include general neurology, neurophysiology, neuroimmunology and the impact of social determinants of health on neurological disorders. Born in Monterrey, Mexico but raised in Houston, TX, Stephanie enjoys exploring the outdoors, trying new restaurants, working out with her husband, and spending time with her two dogs, two cats and ball python.
Helen Synn
Universitätsmedizin Göttingen Medizinische Fakultät (M.D.)
Interests
Synn’s professional interests are in neuroimmunology. During medical school, she conducted research in the Department of Neuropathology, focusing on multiple sclerosis brain biopsies. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, watching Formula 1, visiting art museums, and exploring new restaurants and cafés.
Jon Trujillo
Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin (M.D.)
Interests
Trujillo’s professional interests include vascular neurology, stroke systems of care, and neuroanatomy. Outside of the hospital, he’s usually listening to ODESZA, reading Brandon Sanderson, or learning about evolution. Before pursuing medicine, Trujillo worked at Goldman Sachs.
Apoorva Ojha
Michigan State University College of Human Medicine (M.D.)
Interests
Ojha’s professional interests include traumatic brain injury, headache and neurocritical care. He grew up in Midland, Michigan and is excited to explore Austin and Texas in the coming years. Outside of the hospital he enjoys dancing, reading fantasy books and watching horror movies.
Linda Schiller
USF Health Morsani College of Medicine (M.D.)
Interests
Schiller’s professional interests include patient advocacy and expanding access to care in neurology. Outside of work, she enjoys making art including ceramics, watercolor and photography. She also enjoys trying new foods, exploring the city, and spending time with her fiancé and their pet greyhound.
Megana Sundar
University of North Texas Health Science Center Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.)
Interests
Sundar’s professional interests include general neurology, clinical neurophysiology, preventative medicine and medical education. Outside of the hospital, she enjoys reading marathons, traveling, finding local food spots, and spending time with friends and family!
Betelhem Zewdie
University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine (M.D.)
Zewdie’s professional interests include vascular neurology, neurophysiology as well as global health. Outside of work, she is passionate about her faith, ministry, and community service. Zewdie enjoys staying active through badminton and pickleball. She loves exploring new cultures and foods, and spending time with family and friends.