Isabel Arrillaga-Romany, MD, PhD

Training

• Cornell University, BA in Psychology;
• Tufts University School of Medicine, MD, PhD in Pharmacology;
• Massachusetts General Hospital, Internship in Medicine;
• Partners MGH/BWH Program, Residency in Neurology.

Interests

During my PhD I studied the neuropharmacology underlying stress hormones' effects on neurochemical pathways in the brain associated with schizophrenia. As a resident in neurology I have become very interested in clinical Neuro-oncology and will be beginning a fellowship in in this field at MGH/BWH/Dana Farber Cancer Institute next year. I hope to combine my research interest in neuropharmacology and behavioral neuroscience with that of clinical neuro-oncology and ultimately become involved in clinical and translational research that straddles these disciplines.

I am originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico but have lived in New York City, Ithaca, NY, Italy and now Boston. Outside of work I love to travel and enjoy running with my husband along the Charles River, spending time with my family in Puerto Rico or my husband's family on Cape Cod, snow boarding in the winter, and hiking and backpacking in the White Mountains of NH in the fall.

Oluwole (AKA: Wole) Awosika, MD

Training

• University of California, Los Angeles, Double BS in Neuroscience and Physiological Science;
• University of Illinois-Chicago School of Medicine, MD;
• Medical College of Wisconsin, Medical Internship

Interests

I have always been a curious and inquisitive person, and was naturally attracted to the field of Neurology and Neuroscience. I have the highest respect for the intricate networking and fragility of the central nervous system and feel challenged and enthused to be in a position to contribute to further understanding her processing. My research area of interest is in neuronal plasticity and cellular repair, and its applications in the field of Neurorehabilitation. The MGH/BWH and Boston at large has been an excellent environment in cultivating my academic interests.

Outside of work, I enjoy discussing current events from politics to sports. I am a Foodie and also love cooking and experimenting with new recipes. I love spending time with my wife and son. Other interests include singing, dancing, sports, and learning new languages. I also cherish my monthly Bible/Prayer fellowship with friends and attending Church with family, when able.

Mihaela Bazalakova, MD, PhD

Training

• Wellesley College, BA in Biology, English Minor;
• Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, MD, PhD in Neuroscience;
• Lahey Clinic, Prelim Medicine Internship;

Interests

I have always been interested in Neuroscience, and did molecular and behavioral research in a novel mouse model of cholinergic dysfunction as an MD PhD at Vanderbilt. My research interests naturally led to my clinical training in Neurology. Besides the cornucopia of common and rare neurological disorders which we see at MGH/BWH, I enjoy the friendly and supportive attitude of my co-residents and attendings. I plan to pursue fellowship training and translational research in Sleep Neurology, with specific interests in sleep disorders in pregnancy and neurodegenerative disease.

I am from Bulgaria originally, but grew up mostly in Mozambique, Africa. Within the US, I have lived in Cambridge, and now Brookline, MA, Winchester, VA, and Nashville, TN. Luckily, I enjoy travelling, as well as spending time with my family, including my husband who is also a physician scientist and our baby daughter, whom we had during the PGY3 year of my residency. We love live music and good food, especially in the company of good friends, and try to stay active with skiing and beach trips when possible.

Naila Bharti, MD

Training

• Dayanand Medical College & Hospital, Ludhiana-India, MD;
• University of Missouri-Columbia, Medical internship.

Interests

There are several reasons why I decided to specialize in Neurology. It is a specialty that deals with the study of the human nervous system, the complexity of which, I believe, is rivaled only by the complexity of universe itself. The field fascinates me because disorders of the nervous system are disorders of what it means to be human: movement, sensation, language, emotions and thought. Utilizing nothing more than a reflex hammer and a safety pin, the diagnostic power that a neurologist possesses is impressive. The systematic and logical approach that neurology utilizes in localization is an aspect that suits my methodical style of thinking. My eventful neurology residency here at the Partners has exposed me to a stimulating academic environment where patient care, learning and research go hand-in-hand. I am fortuitous to have been able to witness patients with varied diseases on neurology floors and in clinics. It has been a veritable privilege to learn from leading neurologists, unbelievably amazing co-residents and from the caring and considerate non-medical staff members of the program. I particularly enjoy the wide ranging perspectives of different team members during regular events such as the staff morning reports, noon conferences, neuropathology brain cutting sessions, grand rounds and neuroradiology conferences.

The cosmopolitan and vibrant life of Boston makes it all a perennial festival. During my free time (and we get lots of it too!), I love to cook, catch up with friends and family members.

Robert Carruthers, MD

Training

• Brown University, BA in Human Biology;
• Tulane University School of Medicine, MD;
• Massachusetts General Hospital, Medical Internship.

Interests

I am fascinated by Multiple Sclerosis and neuro-rheumatology. I am working working with Dr. Tanuja Chitnis of the Partners MS Center analyzing data from a prospective natural history study of Multiple Sclerosis to elucidate what clinical and radiographic features predict treatment failure with interferons and glatiramer acetate. After graduation, I will start a Multiple Sclerosis Fellowship at the Partners MS Center. In addition to this clinical focus, I hope to attend on the neurology wards and be involved in resident and medical student teaching.

Outside of the hospital, I enjoy spending time with my wife and son, Ben. Ever since leaving New Orleans, I have been cooking Cajun food like Gumbo, Jambalaya and Red Beans and Rice.

Jasmeer Chhatwal, MD, PhD

Training

• Yale University, BS in Biology/BA in Philosophy;
• Emory University School of Medicine, MD;
• Emory University, PhD in Neuroscience;
• NY Downtown Hospital/Cornell Weill, Internship.

Interests

Like many of those who decide to become neurologists, I am fascinated by the human brain. I started college with every intention of becoming an architect, but I soon found myself more interested in the machinery of perception than in the manipulation of perception through structure and design; I wandered into an undergraduate neurobiology class in my sophomore year, and realized that I have wanted to be a neuroscientist for as long as I can remember.

Since then, I have spent time in the clinic and laboratory studying the neurochemical basis of schizophrenia, deep-brain stimulation as a treatment for Parkinson Disease, fMRI in human anxiety, and the molecular basis of memory formation. These research experiences have provided a counterpoint to the study of clinical neurology, first in medical school and now as a resident at Partners Neurology.

I came to Partners after having done a rotation here as a medical student and being impressed with the approachability and friendliness of the very talented and dedicated residents and faculty here. Now that I am toward the end of my residency, I know that my initial impression was correct – we have a friendly (and very intense!) group of residents who are very supportive, all working hard in a clinical environment where we see a diverse group of cases and have the opportunity to learn from some of the best teachers in the world.

I have benefitted greatly from the influence and talents of those around me, both through trying to emulate the high bar of clinical skill and compassion they set and by incorporating my peers' thoughts and expertise into my idiosyncratic clinical and research passion – using whatever tools I can to study study and treat disorders of human learning and memory.

As part of this interest, I have joined the laboratory of Dr. Reisa Sperling at MGH and the Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging. My current research projects involve using resting state and task-based fMRI to study large-scale network dysfunction in the amyloid-positive elderly and those with dominantly inherited Alzheimer Disease. My (perhaps quixotic) goal is to establish a laboratory group that uses a wide array of techniques (pharmacology, MRI, PET, genetics, and molecular biology) to better understand the neurobiology of memory and that contributes to the ongoing effort to establish neuro-protective strategies to stave off dementia in our patients.

In my precious moments outside of the hospital and laboratory, I enjoy hiking, (rock) concerts, skiing, cooking, and reading fiction. Somewhat masochistically, I am a devoted fan of the New York Jets and Atlanta Braves, and avidly follow pro football and baseball.

Michael Fox, MD, PhD

Training

• Ohio State University, BS in Electrical Engineering
• Washington University in St. Louis, MD and PhD in Systems Neuroscience
• Barnes Jewish Hospital / Washington University in St. Louis, Medical Internship

Interests

In addition to clinical Neurology I have a strong research interest in understanding and manipulating distributed brain networks. Specifically I use resting state functional connectivity MRI to study interconnected brain systems and am investigating the use of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to focally modulate these systems. Part of what attracted me to Partners is the unparalleled research opportunities at MGH and BWH but also at surrounding institutions including Harvard, MIT, and Beth Israel. The residency program has been incredibly supportive in helping me and others bridge institutional barriers to put together extraordinary research collaborations.

Outside the hospital I enjoy playing with my puppy, anything outdoors, and our frequent residency happy hours (which usually become happy nights). Boston has proven a surprisingly good city for an outdoors nut with sailing/kayaking on the Charles, running trails throughout the city, decent beaches within an hour (and great beaches with two), and amazing hiking and rock climbing in the White Mountains (about 2 hours away).

Dan-Victor Guirgiutiu, MD

Training

• Rice University, BA in Biochemistry;
• Medical University of South Carolina MD;
• Caritas Carney Hospital, Intern in Medicine.

Interests

I'm attracted to neurology because of the interplay between anatomic localization and the perceived experience of living in a biological body, which opens endless questions from the molecular to the cognitive level. However as a physician I find that I need more immediate rewards and my interest of shifted in practice from behavioral neurology to stroke and interventional neurology.

On the side I am collaborating with a friend on a theoretical construct of psychopathy and the perceived power mechanisms that govern social relationships.

My future plans include a stroke neurology fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center followed by an interventional neurology fellowship.

Boston has been a good home, but I look forward to starting my life with my fiancée in Pittsburgh.

Nivedita Jerath, MD

Training

• Harvard University, BA in Economics;
• Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, MD
• University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria, Internal Medicine Preliminary.

Interests

I enjoy all aspects of neurology. My research passion lies in neural prosthetics, in helping patients regain function that they have lost. My husband, Chandan Reddy, (who is currently doing a peripheral neurosurgery fellowship at Mayo Clinic) and I hope to work together to further advance this field. Outside of work, I spend time with my immediate family, and I enjoy running, biking, playing tennis, going to the gym, traveling, reading, cooking healthful and nutritious food, and spiritual activities.

Why I chose the Partners Neurology Program: The Partners neurology program has been a wonderful experience for me. I have enjoyed the enlightening and fun morning reports with Dr. Samuels and Dr. Ropper. Residents also get a tremendous exposure to many patients with a large variety of neurological diseases. I am surrounded by intelligent and noble colleagues and professors who have become my role models. The most important aspect for me is that the Partners Neurology program trusts its residents and gives them freedom and encouragement to think, learn, challenge, and create new ideas to advance the field of neurology.

Ruchira Jha, MD

Training

• Macalester College, Minnesota, BA in Economics;
• Harvard Medical School, MD;
• Massachusetts General Hospital, Medical Internship.

Interests

I love neuro-ICU!! Part of it is trying to help extremely sick patients, and also their family members during some emotionally difficult times.

Outside of work, I love reading fiction, crime novels, making jewelry, and dancing. Of course, there's also Bollywood- addicted to the gossip, the movies, the music …

I love our residency program because of the fantastic people (both faculty members, support staff, and co-residents)- I have made some of my best friends here and will miss them sorely when we graduate this year.

Jenelle Jindal, MD

Training

• Stanford University, B.S. in Biological Sciences;
• Yale University School of Medicine, MD;
• Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, San Jose, CA, Internship.

Interests

My interests in neurology lie in stroke and inpatient neurological care. I am currently working with Steven M. Greenberg looking at MRI imaging findings at presentation of cerebral amyloid angiopathy. Next year I am looking forward to staying at Partners as a stroke fellow in July 2012.

I chose to train at Partners neurology because of its rigorous clinical training and limitless research opportunities, all within a wonderful learning environment. It brings together the best of two hospitals at the forefront of neurological advancement.

Jennifer Lyons, MD

Training

• Delp Pre-School, St. John, KS
• St. John Elementary School, St. John, KS
• St. John Middle School, Hudson, KS
• St. John Junior High, St. John, KS
• St. John High School, St. John, KS
• Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX
• Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC
• Massachusetts General Hospital Internal Medicine Internship, Boston, MA

Interests

I started down the road to a career in neurology at around the age of five, when I aspired to achieve a status oft likened to nobility: being the cymbal player in a marching band, preferably one whose members don giant felt hats with two-foot feathers tinted an unnatural shade of yellow pluming out the top. Once that dream was shattered (I trip a lot), I took solace in that I had the entire screenplay of the Goonies memorized. Apparently, however, that has not been a skill in high demand. My next goal—which remains my fallback—was to move to a small island off the coast of Honduras and as a dive master earn my keep in the good company of agoutis and strawberry daiquiris. I started medicine as a side project, albeit a time-consuming one, and it eventually led me to Boston. Now, having exchanged one form of aspiration for another, I have made the jump to the world of neurology and plan to complete a fellowship sub-specializing in infectious diseases of the nervous system. Although I can't guarantee I won't at least audition if there is a marching band cymbal player or Goonies reunion opportunity that arises.

Casey Olm-Shipman, MD

Training

• Wellesley College, BA in Psychology and English;
• Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, MS;
• Dartmouth Medical School, MD;
• Massachusetts General Hospital, Pediatric Residency.

Interests

I am interested in providing neurological care across the age spectrum. The MGH/BWH/Harvard program is an ideal fit, providing excellent training in both adult and pediatric neurology. After residency, I plan to pursue a fellowship in neurocritical care at MGH/BWH/Harvard, with cross-training in pediatric neurocritical care. I would also like to integrate my clinical work with my interests in health care management and quality improvement research. Currently, I am pursuing a certificate in health policy through the MGH/BWH Centers of Expertise, a Partners organization designed to provide residents and fellows with exposure to different areas of health care, including academic health care management, health policy, global health and quality improvement. During my Partners residency, I've had the opportunity to pursue relevant coursework at the Harvard Business School. I also recently completed the Partners' Clinical Process Improvement Leadership Program, where I helped to design and implement a project to improve patient care handoffs between the neurosurgical operating rooms and the Neurocritical Care Unit.

The MGH/BWH/Harvard Child Neurology and Neurology Programs have provided me with truly wonderful and personally tailored opportunities. I feel extraordinarily fortunate to train within such a phenomenally supportive community.

Chia-Ling Phua, MD

Training

• St John's College, Cambridge University, BA (Hons), MA and MBBChir in Medicine and Surgery;
• Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK, Academic Neurosciences Foundation Programme;
• Boston Medical Center, Internal Medicine Internship;

Interests

I will be pursuing a neurocritical care fellowship after graduation from residency but I retain a great fondness for general neurology, and remain excited by a so many areas in the specialty. I plan to be an academic neurointensivist and hope to be able to balance my clinical practice with my research interests.

My prior research experience reflects my diverse interests including investigating the mechanism of autoimmunity following Campath-1H treatment for multiple sclerosis; studying information processing in the cerebellar cortex by in vivo single and multiple unit recordings in rats; investigating the mechanism of HIV-1 and/or ethanol-related neuropathogenesis using a human neuron in vitro model and designing longitudinal animal models for Alzheimer's disease to observe age-related memory changes.

Outside of work, I enjoy travelling to new places and experiencing different cultures. This may be a result of my some-what nomadic experience of living in 4 different countries prior to coming to the US! I am also a food enthusiast and wish I can afford to go to the opera more often.

Vikram Rao, MD, PhD

Training

• University of California–Berkeley, AB in Molecular/Cell Biology–Neurobiology;
• University of California–San Francisco, MD;
• University of California–San Francisco, PhD in Biomedical Sciences;
• Massachusetts General Hospital, Medicine Internship.

Academic Interests

During residency, I grew fascinated by the myriad presentations of seizure and the care of patients with epilepsy. I am currently pursuing epilepsy research with Dr. Syd Cash, a faculty member I met during NM1 year when he was my inpatient ward attending. We are using in vivo optogenetic tools to dissect mechanisms of seizure initiation and termination. After residency, I will be joining a fellowship program at UCSF for subspecialty training in EEG and epilepsy. My long-term career goal is to join the faculty at an academic institution, and I envision dividing my time between clinical practice, research, and teaching.

Other Interests

I enjoy playing guitar, basketball, tennis, traveling, and (like any self-respecting Northern Californian) cooking and anything else related to food and wine. My wife and I have a four-year old son who is super fun and basically my favorite hobby.

Reason for Coming to Partners

After spending thirteen years in the San Francisco Bay Area, my decision to come to Partners Neurology for residency was not an easy one. Ultimately, though, I was attracted by the size and diversity of the residency class, the fact that Boston is one of the best cities in the country, the opportunity to train in world-class hospitals, the abundant research opportunities, the amazing clinicians who are so committed to resident education, and the responsiveness of the program to resident feedback. Despite all the myths about Partners I heard on the interview trail, I've had a wonderful three years here so far, and I am convinced I made the right decision.

Tarun Singhal, MD

Training

• All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India, MBBS;
• All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India, Residency and MD in Nuclear Medicine and Positron Emission Tomography;
• Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT, Internal Medicine (prelim).

Interests

I became interested in neurology during medical school where I was inspired by one of my teachers to get involved in research in neuroinfectious disease. Subsequently, I got interested in functional imaging of the brain. My research fellowships at the Kettering and Yale Positron Emission Tomography Centers consolidated my interest in molecular imaging of the brain and clinical neurology.

I feel really privileged to be a part of this outstanding program where I am learning all that I need in clinical neurology with masters in the field. I am currently pursuing research at the interface of neurology and molecular imaging and would like to continue to do so beyond residency.

Outside of the hospital I enjoy spending time with my family and staying active at the gym and by pursuing yoga at home

Kiran Thakur, MD

Training

• University of Michigan, BA/BS in English and Biology;
• Tufts University, MD;
• Johns Hopkins Hospital, Medicine Internship.

Interests

I was an undergrad at the University of Michigan (go blue!) where I studied English and Biology. I then went to Tufts for medical school, and did internship at Johns Hopkins Hospital before becoming a neurology resident here at Partners.

I have had a wonderful time in the Partners program! I have made lasting friendships with my colleagues which I think is one of the best things about residency and being in a bigger program. One of the main reasons why I wanted to go to the Partners program was the diversity of clinical experiences at Brigham and MGH. The clinical and research faculty are amazing at both insitutions as well as the VA, where we do some of our outpatient rotations. Also, my family lives about 30 minutes outside of Boston and it has been wonderful to be close to them during residency. Boston is a great city with lots of great restaurants, museums, and places to go out. My interests outside of medicine include painting, drawing, and hiking. I am planning on pursuing fellowship in neuroinfectious disease next year and have a special interest in working internationally.

M. Zelime Ward, MD

Training

• Harvard University, BS in Physics;
• University of Texas Medical School at Galveston, MD.

Interests

I grew up in Fort Worth, Texas and attended high school and college in the Northeast, at Phillips Exeter Academy and Harvard. I majored in physics and completed my pre-med requirements as an undergraduate, but spent my extracurricular time rowing and playing rugby, as well as acting and choreographing for a dance company.

After college, I moved to Los Angeles and trained/played for the United States National Rugby Team while continuing my acting. It was during this time that I rediscovered my love for medicine, and pediatric neurology in particular, while working as a cognitive-behavioral educational specialist for ADHD and learning disabled adolescents.

After 5 years in LA, I returned to my Texas home and attended medical school at the University of Texas Medical Branch, where I led a student group on global health and started a clinic in rural India. I also continued my interest in neurology and cognitive neuroscience with various research projects, including a conference presentation in Warsaw, Poland on "Dialogical Treatment Protocols for Neurodevelopmental Disorders." I have recently applied for an NIH R25 grant to investigate the functional connectivity of the default mode network (DMN) in typically developing and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) children using resting state fMRI (rsfMRI).

In my free time, I visit my 4 siblings who are scattered about the world (San Francisco, New York, Paris), read, snowboard, and indulge my guilty pleasure of terrible reality tv shows.

Daniel Weisholtz, MD

Training

• Brown University, ScB in Neuroscience;
• Weill/Cornell Medical College, MD;
• Beth Israel Medical Center in NYC, Internal Medicine Internship.

Interests

I became interested in neurology as an undergraduate where I became fascinated by way biological principles could be used to understand the workings of the human brain. I pursued clinical training so that I would be able to apply this interest in a way that I could directly help patients. My current research interests involve the study of the dynamics of distributed neural networks mediating disturbances in cognition, emotion and behavior, utilizing electrophysiology and functional neuroimaging. My clinical interests include the interface between epilepsy and psychiatry and I plan to pursue a fellowship in clinical neurophysiology and epilepsy followed by further training in neuropsychiatry and behavioral neurology. I am fascinated by the brain-mind interface, and more broadly, I enjoy exploring a wide range of topics relating to the intersection of medicine/science, religion, politics, and culture.

Partners has provided a wonderful experience for me. This program has allowed me to receive rigorous clinical training in general neurology an a warm, welcoming and encouraging environment, while also affording me the opportunity to continue to explore my research interests as well as to do a great amount of teaching, an activity I very much love.

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Training

Interests