Residents

Amer Avdagic, M.D.

Muhammad N. Bashir, M.D.

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, horseback riding

Elham Mohammadyahya, M.D.

Justin Rehder, M.D.

Sadokat Ruzieva, M.D.

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, neuro-immunology, epilepsy, and stroke
Hobbies: Soccer, running, tennis, chess, and board games

Liana Jamil, D.O.

Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada
Undergraduate: The 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, genetic prion diseases
Hobbies: Video games, musicals, reading, dancing, 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, headache
Hobbies: Soccer, mountain biking, video games, guitar, traveling

Sydney Elizondo, M.D.

Surbhi Valmiki, M.D.

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, stroke
Research interest: TBD
Hobbies: Basketball, pickleball, reading, movies

Lina Okar, M.D.

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

Laura Polhemus, M.D.

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, headache,
Hobbies: Painting, gardening

Busra Erkilinc, M.D.

Hometown: Istanbul
Medical school: Abant University School of Medicine
Sub-specialty interest: Neurophysiology, epilepsy
Research interest: Neuromuscular, epilepsy, neuro-vascular
Hobbies: Early morning walks, cooking

Gabriela Mata, M.D.

Clinical chief
Hometown: Valencia, Venezuela
Medical school: Universidad de Carabobo
Sub-specialty interests: Interventional neurology
Research interests: Sleep, neuropathology, neuro-ophthalmology, cognitive neurology and neuro-oncology
Hobbies: Painting, stargazing with my telescope, reading about astrophysics and evolution, and watching all the Oscar nominated movies. Currently, a lot of my time is dedicated to wedding planning!

Peyton Murin, M.D.

Academic Chief
Hometown: Memphis, Tennessee
Medical school: University of Tennessee
Sub-specialty interest: Interventional pain, neuromuscular
Research interest: Chronic pain and neuromuscular disorders, acute pain
Hobbies: Soccer, weightlifting, exploring new restaurants

Osama Shahid, M.D. 

Hometown: Los Angeles, California
Medical school: C.M.H. Lahore Medical College
Sub-specialty interest: Vascular neurology, interventional neurology
Research interest: Acute stroke and interventional therapies. 
Hobbies: Hiking, traveling, music, rafting

Hanan Qaqish, M.D.

Hometown: Akron, Ohio
Medical school: University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences
Sub-specialty interest: Vascular and interventional neurology, neuro-critical care, Alzheimer's, neuro-immunology
Research interest: Brain aneurysm, stroke, biomedically engineered approaches to stroke prevention, post-stroke care and recovery
Hobbies: Running, hiking, cooking, exploring, basketball, biking and learning new languages

Aysha Abeer, M.D.

Movement disorder fellow
Hometown: Toronto 
Medical school: Ross University School of Medicine
Sub-specialty: Neuro critical care
Research interest: Traumatic brain injury, anoxic brain injury
Hobbies: Traveling, accompanying my husband on fishing trips, trying out different outdoor activities and experiencing cuisines from different cultures. 

Karthik Narayanan, M.D.

Vascular neurology and neuro-endovascular
Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Medical school: New York Medical College
Sub-specialty interest: Vascular/interventional neurology
Hobbies: Miami Hurricanes football and basketball, tennis, personal fitness, New England Patriots and Boston Celtics.

Wilson Rodriguez, M.D.

Hometown: Cañar, Ecuador
Medical school: University of Cuenca
Sub-specialty interests: Neurocritical care and interventional neurology
Research interests: Brain aneurysm and stroke
Hobbies: Cooking, running and playing guitar

Aimalohi Esechie, M.D. 

Vascular neurology fellow