Adult Neurology Residents

Catherine Aber, M.D.

Hometown: Fort Collins, Colorado
Undergraduate school: University of Colorado Denver
Medical school: University of Colorado School of Medicine
Sub-specialty interests: Vascular neurology, neuroimmunology, neuroinfectious, neuromuscular, epilepsy
Hobbies: Dancing, learning languages, hiking, working out, reading, live music, comedy shows, volunteering

Rahm Bakshi, D.O.

Hometown: Memphis, Tennessee
Undergraduate school: University of Alabama at Birmingham
Medical school: VCOM-Auburn
Sub-specialty interests: Movement disorders, stroke, neuroradiology
Hobbies: Cars, food, travel, video games

Tanya Gupta, M.D.

Hometown: Louisville, Kentucky
Undergraduate school: University of Pennsylvania
Medical school: University of Louisville School of Medicine
Sub-specialty interests: Undecided --- probably something in outpatient
Hobbies: Cooking, traveling, trying new food and drinks around the city

Randika Parakramaweera, D.O.

Hometown: Houston, Texas
Undergraduate school: Rutgers University
Medical school: Kansas City University
Sub-specialty interests: Undecided
Hobbies: Traveling, physical fitness, music, cooking

Sisi Tang, M.D.

Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Undergraduate school: Duke University
Medical school: Penn State College of Medicine
Sub-specialty interests: Possibly vascular or movement, but mostly undecided as of now
Hobbies: Plants, mushroom foraging, yoga, pole sport, spending time in the history archives

Rohun Vangal, M.D.

Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
Undergraduate school: The Ohio State University
Medical school: University of Toledo College of Medicine
Sub-specialty interests: Open to anything and excited to explore
Hobbies: Competitive video games, college football, exploring St. Louis with my wife

Amer Avdagic, M.D.

Hometown: O’Fallon, Missouri
Undergraduate: Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri
Medical school: University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine
Sub-specialty interests: Epilepsy, neuromuscular
Hobbies: Everything tennis, and trail walks with my wife and two dogs, Leo and Oak

Muhammad N. Bashir, M.D.

Hometown: Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Medical school: Rawalpindi Medical University
Sub-specialty interest: Neuromuscular disorders and movement disorders
Hobbies: Field hockey, debates, and folk and classical music

Kaitlyn McFarland, D.O.

Hometown: Greenville, Illinois
Undergraduate: Creighton University
Medical school: Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine
Sub-specialty interests: Neurocritical care, vascular neurology
Hobbies: Pickleball, reading fantasy fiction and horseback riding

Elham Mohammadyahya, M.D.

Hometown: Tehran, Iran
Medical school: Iran University of Medical Sciences
Sub-specialty interests: Neurointerventional medicine
Hobbies: Hiking, swimming and riding horses

Kunal Patel, D.O.

Hometown: Clarksburg, Maryland
Medical school: William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Sub-specialty interests: Undecided but leaning headache
Hobbies: Plants, shoes, exploring new area restaurants/coffee shops, staying active by playing tennis, basketball and hiking

Justin Rehder, M.D.

Hometown: Plainfield, Illinois
Undergraduate: Rockhurst University (Kansas City)
Medical school: Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Sub-specialty interests: Sports neurology, neuroimmunology, general neurology
Hobbies: Sports, cooking, movies and religion

Sadokat Ruzieva, M.D.

Hometown: Tashkent, Uzbekistan  
Medical school: Tashkent Medical Academy, Uzbekistan
Sub-specialty interests: Neurophysiology, women’s neurology
Hobbies: Traveling, photography, watching movies and writing

Manali Saurabh, M.D.

Hometown: Noida, India
Medical school: Jhalawar Medical
Sub-specialty interests: Still exploring; interested in autoimmune neurology, movement disorders, though I also enjoy neuro-hospitalist practice because I truly love all aspects of neurology
Hobbies: Working out, exploring new places

Suhaira Ahmad, M.D.

Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
Undergraduate: University of Missouri-Kansas City
Medical school: University of Missouri-Kansas City
Sub-specialty interests: Epilepsy, movement disorders, headache
Hobbies: Videography/photography, inline skating, drawing/crafts, party-planning, the New York Times games, game nights with friends and family

Elisa Biondo, M.D.

Hometown: Austin, Texas
Undergraduate: University of Texas at Austin
Medical school: Texas Tech University Health Science Center
Sub-specialty interests: Neuroimmunology, epilepsy, headache, movement disorders
Hobbies: Yoga, cooking, knitting, watching formula 1 races, dancing and seeing live music.

Ali Hijazi, M.D.

Hometown: Beirut, Lebanon
Undergraduate: American University of Beirut
Medical school: American University of Beirut
Sub-specialty interests: Neuro-oncology, neuroimmunology, epilepsy and stroke
Hobbies: Soccer, running, tennis, chess and board games

Liana Jamil, D.O.

Wellness chief

Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada
Undergraduate: Ohio State University
Medical school: Kansas City University
Sub-specialty interests: Movement disorders, neuroimmunology or epilepsy
Hobbies: Painting, drawing, traveling and trying out new coffee shops!

Marcos Oliveira M.D.

Hometown: Ituaçu, Brazil
Medical school:  Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal da Bahia
Sub-specialty interests: Neuromuscular, neurophysiology, movement disorders and genetic prion diseases
Hobbies: Video games, musicals, reading, dancing and traveling

Rodrigo Perez-Magnelli, M.D.

Hometown: Wildwood, Missouri
Undergraduate: Saint Louis University
Medical school: University of Missouri-Kansas City
Sub-specialty interests: Neuromuscular, neuro-ophthalmology and headache
Hobbies: Soccer, mountain biking, video games, guitar and traveling

Eric Elizondo, M.D.

Hometown: San Diego, California
Undergraduate: Saint Louis University
Medical school: Saint Louis University
Sub-specialty interests: Cerebral palsy care in adults
Hobbies: Helping lead a non-profit called Little House of Neurodiversity, Dungeons and Dragons, writing a table-top role playing game, kayaking, camping, playing pool and spending time with my wife.

Benjamin Kiaei, M.D.

Hometown: Los Angeles, California
Medical school: Saint Louis University
Sub-specialty interest: Neuroimmunology, stroke
Research interest: TBD
Hobbies: Woodworking, mountain biking

Shawn Kurian, D.O.

Hometown: Glenview, Illinois
Undergraduate: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Medical school: Kansas City University
Sub-specialty interest: Neurocritical care, neurophysiology, epilepsy and stroke
Research interest: TBD
Hobbies: Basketball, pickleball, reading and movies

Lina Okar, M.D.

Academic chief

Hometown: Damascus, Syria
Medical school: Faculty of Medicine – Damascus University
Sub-specialty interest: Movement disorders
Research interest: Neuromodulation, dystonia and functional neuroimaging
Hobbies: Rafting, kayaking, pilates and painting. Also, a big fan of the cinema!

Laura Polhemus, M.D.

Clinical chief

Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida
Medical school: Saint George’s University
Sub-specialty interest: Vascular and interventional neurology
Research interest: Diagnosis and management of ischemic stroke
Hobbies: Powerlifting, running, hiking, and spending time with my husband and my dog.

Anagha Prabhune, M.D.

Hometown: India
Undergraduate: Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, India
Medical school: MIMER Medical College, India
Sub-specialty interests: Movement disorders, epilepsy, neuroimmunology and headache
Hobbies: Painting and gardening

Sara Ahmed, M.D.

Movement disorder fellow

Muhammad Khalid, M.D.

Vascular neurology fellow

Osama Shahid, M.D.

Clinical neurophysiology fellow

Karthik Narayanan, M.D.

Neuro-endovascular fellow

Wilson Rodriguez, M.D.

Neuro-endovascular fellow