Khamid Bakhadirov, MD, PhD

Training

• First Tashkent State Medical Institute, MD;
• University of Texas at Dallas, PhD;
• Monterfiore Medical Center, New York, Internship.

Interests

My interest in neurology resides in the area of stroke, inpatient care and medical education combined with clinical research. Partners Residency is a fantastic place to train at - best teachers, wonderful colleagues and tremendous patient population and disease variety. When I started my residency I was not sure which area of neurology to specialize in - everything seemed equally exciting and interesting. As I progressed in my training, I realized my passion for general and vascular neurology and teaching. My graduate school research was in use of Diffusion Tensor Imaging in Traumatic Brain Injury. Having plenty of resources and excellent collaboration opportunities, I am now working on developing a new research project.

Outside of the hospital I try to stay very active. Boston is a fantastic city and has a lot to offer - culture, history, nature. I an avid biker and like exploring the city on the wheels. Reading by the Charles river is one of my favorite pass times as well. Otherwise I enjoy digital photography, martial arts and hanging out with my classmates.

Danny Bega, MD

Training

• University of Pennsylvania, BA in Biology and Psychology;
• Rush University, Chicago, MD.

Interests

I was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago.  I got my BA in Biology and Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and then went on to medical school at Rush University in Chicago.  I'm proud to now be a Partners Neurology Resident.  I was initially drawn to Neurology because I was fascinated with Neuroanatomy and the intricacies of the neurologic exam.  I have really enjoyed interacting with patients and their families and seeing the anatomy come to life in clinical situations.  I am amazed each day by how much I have learned in such a short time, and even more amazed by how much more there is to learn.

Outside of the hospital I enjoy spending time with my wife, listening to 80's/90's rock and alternative rock music, watching indie movies, traveling (I have been to 6 continents), and playing and watching basketball (Go Chicago Bulls!). I also have a slightly unhealthy obsession with food - I love finding new restaurants and I will watch absolutely anything on the food network! 

Michael Bowley, MD, PhD

Training

• Washington University in St. Louis, BA in Biology
• Boston University School of Medicine, MD
• Boston University School of Medicine, PhD in Anatomy and Neurobiology

Interests

My research interests to date have largely focused on myelinated nerve fiber degeneration and glial cell activation during normal brain aging. After being immersed in my clinical training here at Partners, I find that my curiosity regarding inflammation and nerve fiber degeneration has led me to an interest in neuropathies and the peripheral nervous system. I am looking forward to pursuing a Neuromuscular fellowship.

Outside of residency life, I am a voracious reader and bibliophile, enjoy swimming, and love spending time with my wife, Bethany, and our respective families in Maine and New Hampshire.

I also have the dubious distinction of being the Partners neurology resident with the longest commute to work, living about 20 miles west of Boston in the small town of Ashland. The MetroWest area offers all of the amenities of downtown Boston life (the best shops, restaurants, and entertainment), while at the same time offering the peace and quiet of life in a small residential community. And, despite the commute (about a 40 minute drive to either hospital), and the time commitment of residency, I still manage to find time to mow my lawn each week!

Xuemei Cai, MD

Training

• University of Arizona, BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Cellular Biolosy, BA in East Asian Studies;
• Harvard Medical School, MD;
• Massachusetts General Hospital, Internal Medicine Prelim year.

Interests

I chose Neurology with an interest in cerebrovascular disease and during the course of my internship and first year neurology residency also fell in love with critical care medicine and the intensive care unit. I am interested in clinical research and during internship was able to work on a research project involving intracerebral hemorrhage associated with warfarin use.

I chose the Partners Neurology program because I learn well by doing and knew the amount of patient exposure was immense. I also looked forward to the mentorship of experienced faculty--whose remarkable depth and breadth have been humbling--and to pursue research interests. The icing on the cake has been working with the other residents here who are unbelievable colleagues who teach me something new everyday and keep me going during tough times.

Outside of the hospital, I love to visit the local farmer's markets, specialty grocery stores, and pick up new unheard of vegetables and spices to cook with. I love the mountains and hiking up tall places when I get the chance.

Kathy Chuang, MD

Training

• Harvard University, BA in Biochemistry;
• Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, MD;
• Massachusetts General Hospital Internal Medicine, Internship;
• Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency.

Interests

Neurorehabilitation, taekwondo, reading, running

"I am so lucky to work with such wonderful, supportive people. Partners Neurology is a family away from family."

Joseph Glykys, MD, PhD

Training

• Universidad de Carabobo, Escuela de Medicina, Valencia, Venezuela, MD;
• University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), PhD in Neuroscience;
• MGH, Boston, Post-doctoral studies;
• MGH for Children, Internship in Pediatrics.

Interests

I have always been fascinated by the complexity of the brain, its development over the years, and how neuron and synapses work to receive, decode and transfer information. I am especially interested in synaptic inhibition and seizure initiation/propagation; my research was on GABAergic inhibition using electrophysiology and two photon imaging. I choose Pediatric Neurology as it gives me an opportunity to learn about how the brain matures, and I enjoy working and playing with kids. During my adult neurology training year, I was lucky to work with a great team of residents and attendings that were helpful and enthusiastic about teaching. I plan to dedicate my time to basic research and clinical activities when I graduate.

Outside work, I enjoy spending my time with my wife and our two very young daughters. They are the passion of life. I used to paint as a hobby (before medicine…not much time now) and now I returned by doodling with my 2 ½ year old daughter almost every night! I also enjoy exploring Massachusetts and its different little towns while my daughters enjoy exploring the playing grounds!!

Allison Gray, MD

Training

• McGill University, Montreal, Canada, BS in Physiology;
• New York Medical College, MD;
• Brown University, Internship.

Interests

I have many interests within Neurology, having been fascinated by this field since early on in medical school. I am so excited to be a part of this program. I wanted to come here because of the people here. It is an amazing privilege to learn from the inspirational faculty every day and to work with such an amazing group of residents. They are caring, hardworking, passionate, and so much fun to work with.

Outside of work, I love spending time with my husband, family and friends, traveling, singing, dancing, reading and watching football and baseball. As someone who grew up in the Boston area (in Brookline), I proudly support the Red Sox and the Patriots. I also support my husband's alma mater and root for the Florida Gators.

Todd Herrington, MD, PhD

Training

• Stanford University, BS in Biology;
• Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology, MD;
• Harvard Medical School, PhD in Neuroscience;
• Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Medicine Internship.

Interests

For my doctoral work I studied how attention modulates the visual responses in parietal cortex, as well as how small movements of the eyes during fixation called microsaccades affect these same responses. I have broad clinical interests, but am especially interested in Neuro-Ophthalmology and deficits in higher order vision, as well as disorders of movement which lend themselves to invasive therapies such as deep brain stimulation. Ultimately, I'm working towards a career that merges these clinical and research interests, and deciding on that niche is my major goal for my PGY-3 year (in addition to continuing to absorb as much clinical Neurology as I possibly can).

Outside of the hospital, I enjoy spending time with my friends and my wife, and I am eagerly anticipating the arrival of my new baby daughter only 3 weeks from now! Cooking and travel are favorite hobbies and I've managed to carve out time for recent trips to Argentina and Turkey despite the busy schedule of residency.

Minjee Kim, MD

Training

Interests

Eyal Kimchi, MD, PhD

Training

• Harvard College, AB in Psychology;
• Yale University School of Medicine, MD, PhD in Neuroscience;
• Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, Internship in Internal Medicine.

Interests

I specialized in Neurology because of my interest in the biological basis of consciousness and awareness. My clinical interests have broaded the more I have been exposed to different types of clinical neurology. My research interests have included a systems based approach to the neurophysiology of perception and learning. Partners has been a good program because of the warmth and cooperative spirit of the community. Outside of work I enjoy being near, on, or under water when possible, as well as dancing.

Jenny Linnoila, MD, PhD

Training

• University of Chicago, BS in Computer Science
• University of Pittsburgh, PhD in Pharmacology
• University of Pittsburgh, MD

Interests

I am an M.D./Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh. I went to University of Chicago for undergrad. I also spent a year studying at the University of Cambridge in England. I did my internship year in Pittsburgh.

I chose to do neurology residency at MGH and BWH for a number of reasons. The program is large, has a number of world experts in neurology teaching and research (our professors literally write the major neurology textbooks out there), and it gives you an unparalleled clinical experience. Knowing that I eventually want to focus on a research career where I see patients approximately once a week and attend on the wards for a few weeks a year, I wanted to chose a place that would provide me with the best possible clinical background, experience, and knowledge. With its large hospitals with busy neurology services, this program provides great exposure to neurologic cases and teaching. There is a strong tradition of teaching, from the professors down to fellow residents. There are many opportunities for learning, from the hands-on wards, ED, ICU, and clinic experiences, to daily seminars and talks, as well as weekly neuropathology conferences. There are also more informal gatherings, such as wine and cheese, signs rounds, and book club. I have found this to be a supportive environment filled with people who are excited about neurology!

Outside of my work duties, I try to enjoy what the Boston area has to offer. There are great restaurants and martini bars. Running / biking / kayaking along the Charles River is incredibly relaxing. There are a number of places to hear live music, from the symphony to Wally's Jazz Cafe. There are always interesting lectures going on. There is amazing hiking, skiing, and beach life (Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket) within a few hours' distance. It is also relatively easy to get away to New York City for the weekend. Boston is a very public transportation-friendly town. I have found it relatively easy to get around town without a car. In summary, this is a great neurology residency training program!

Devin Mackay, MD

Training

• University of California, Los Angeles, BS in Neuroscience;
• University of Virginia School of Medicine, MD;
• Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Internship in Internal Medicine.

Interests

Neuroscience has been a great interest of mine for some time, but my interests have become more clinical and teaching-oriented over time. Neuro-Ophthalmology and movement disorders are among my current favorite neurology subspecialties. I hope to be able to dedicate some time to the practice of general neurology as well. I'm looking forward to helping teach the Human Nervous System and Behavior course at the medical school this fall and becoming more involved in other teaching activities. My ideal career course would involve embarking on a clinician-educator path, with special emphasis on gaining clinical experience in both general neurology and a clinical subspecialty while teaching medical students and residents.

Outside of medicine, my wife and I are getting ready to welcome our first child into the world! This has sparked a new interest in photography and I also enjoy playing the piano, staying active at church, going to the beach, and getting some exercise with a good game of Frisbee when the weather permits.

Rajiv Magge, MD

Training

• Dartmouth College, BA in Biology modified with Psychology;
• University of Pittsburgh, MD;
• RIH/Brown University, Internship;
• Doris Duke Clinical Research Fellowship at UCSF (2007-2008)

Interests

I'm still continuing to work out my clinical interest; fortunately our program offers tremendous depth in every discipline of Neurology. This is wonderful, especially with the extensive amount of elective time in the NM2 and NM3 years. Although our residency has tremendous resources, I must say that I most appreciate my fellow residents- not only are they incredibly intelligent, but they're just well-rounded, humble and extremely kind people that I enjoy hanging out with. Unlike many other programs, we have a large number of residents, which actually allows you to enjoy free time with your colleagues. Things can get busy, but I must say I look forward to seeing my co-residents at work each day.

Robert Mallery, MD

Training

• Rice University, BA in Mathematics;
• Washington University, MD;
• Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Internship.

Interests

I became interested in neuroscience while working in the vestibular laboratory of Dr. Timothy Hullar at Washington University. We characterized human discrimination of basic vestibular stimuli and studied multimodal sensory integration of visual and auditory cues. Though this experience I became captivated by the function of the brain, and in particular the visual and vestibular systems. Neurology was a perfect match for my clinical interests, and I was attracted to the Partners Neurology program in Boston because of the remarkable clinical and research opportunities available in the two departments. Though the influence of additional formative experiences as a resident, I plan on a career in Neuro-ophthalmology. I hope to have an active clinical practice, utilize and develop useful clinical tools for providing cost-effective care, and participate actively in resident education.

Outside of the hospital I enjoy cycling or hiking with my wife Rachel, exploring Boston with my fellow residents, and playing old-time string band music with other musicians in and near Boston.

Richard Phillips, MD, PhD

Training

• University College London, BSc in Genetics;
• King's College London, MD;
• King's College London, PhD in Immunology;
• Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General Hospital, Preliminary internship in medicine.

Interests

Working in a field concerned with the function of the brain will always be fascinating for me. I was drawn to Neurology by the wonderful clinical method and meticulous physical examination used in our specialty, which centers around lesion localization. My goal is to become a clinician-investigator, and apply my training in the basic sciences to improve our understanding of Neurological disease and eventually develop novel therapies. I feel privileged to work at Partners Neurology in an environment with great colleagues, supportive clinical mentors and an outstanding research milieu. In my free time, I enjoy tennis, Cuban salsa, watching Arsenal football club, and above all, traditional Ghanaian cuisine.

Ali Razmara, MD, PhD

Training

• University of California, Irvine, BS in Chemistry and Biological Sciences;
• University of California, San Diego, MD;
• Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Internship.

Interests

These are extraordinary times to be training as a neurologist as the field is on the verge of significant breakthroughs with major advances in diagnosis and treatment of various neurologic diseases. Having a research background in basic sciences and a passion for patient care, I have long envisioned a career as a physician-scientist at the forefront of translational research.

During my undergraduate years, I studied the molecular dynamics of proteins through computational chemistry as well as the biochemical basis of blood coagulation defects in diabetes. Furthermore, in graduate school, my dissertation focused on the modulation of cellular inflammation and mitochondrial oxidative stress by sex hormones as key paradigms in cerebrovascular health and disease.

Pursuing neurology as a specialty was a natural extension of my previous research and life endeavors. Naturally, there was no better place for training than at Partners Neurology given the caliber of training, tremendous mentorship, flexibility, immense resources, and the best colleagues.

In my free time, I enjoy exploring new restaurants, photography, nature walks through the Public Garden and biking by the Charles River.

Kevin Shapiro, MD

Training

• Harvard College, AB in Psychology and Biology;
• Harvard University, PhD in Psychology (Cognition, Brain and Behavior);
• Harvard Medical School, MD;
• Children's Hospital Boston, Pediatric Residency

Interests

As an undergraduate and graduate student, my research focused on the neurocognitive architecture of language, so when I started medical school I knew that I wanted to go into neurology. I always thought this would mean adult neurology... until a fantastic child neurology clerkship at MGH lured me to the pediatric side (and new research interests in the development of language and cognition). One of the most rewarding things about being at MGH and BWH is being able to learn about the broad spectrum of neurology from some of the world's best clinicians, including experts in almost every adult and pediatric subspecialty - as well as from my co-residents, who impress and inspire me on a daily basis! My clinical interests include vascular neurology (especially pediatric stroke), neuroinflammatory diseases, and cognitive neurology.

I'm a California native but have been in the Boston area since 1996, which I think says something about what a fantastic place it is to live. Outside of work I enjoy cooking, biking, kayaking, skiing, beach-combing, and exploring New England and the world. I live in Cohasset, a coastal town on the South Shore, about 40 minutes by car or commuter rail from both hospitals, and can attest to the therapeutic benefits of lying on the beach post-call.

Sarah Wahlster, MD

Training

• Ruprecht-Karls University Heidelberg, Germany, MD;
• Exchange semesters at Harvard Medical School, King's College London and University of Cape Town

Interests

Within the field of Neurology, my major interest is the care of critically ill patients. I also have a passion for international/global health and Neuro Infectious Diseases and am currently exploring ways to combine my different interests. The large variety of options at our program and supportive staff at Partners give you many choices in terms of fulfilling career goals, and I have truly enjoyed working in such an inspiring and rich environment so far. My favorite aspect about our program is definitely the camaraderie amongst the residents which makes work a fun experience.

Outside of the hospital, I enjoy reading, traveling, learning languages, sailing, hiking, skiing, kayaking, chasing after a Frisbee and playing the piano or just going to the symphony and listening to people who do a much better job at it than myself.

Craig Williamson, MD

Training

• University of Illinois Urbana-Champagne, BA in Biology;
• University of California, San Francisco, MD;

Interests

I grew up on a farm in small-town Southern Illinois. After college at the University of Illinois, I wanted to explore a little so I did a one-year policy fellowship with HHS in the DC area then went to UCSF for medical school. My interest in neuroscience was reinvigorated by the excellent first-year course there, and I subsequently met several outstanding mentors that guided me towards a career in neurology. The thing I appreciate most about the Partners program is the supportive atmosphere and incredible breadth and depth of clinical experience.

When I'm not at work, I enjoy hiking, homebrewing and spending time with my family.

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Training

Interests