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Residents

Headshot of 2024 Graduates
Congratulations to our Class of 2024 Graduates

2024-2025 Neurology Residents and Fellows

PGY-1
Headshot of Suhaira Ahmad, MD
Suhaira Ahmad, M.D.
Hometown: St. Louis
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

Headshot of Elisa Biondo
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. 

Headshot of Ali Hijazi
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

Headshot of Liana Jamil
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!

Headshot of Marcos Oliveria
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

Headshot of Rodrigo Perez-Magnelli
Rodrigo Perez-Magnelli, M.D.
Hometown: Wildwood, Missouri
Undergraduate: ÀÏ˾»ú¸£ÀûÍø
Medical school: University of Missouri-Kansas City
Sub-specialty interests: Neuromuscular, neuro-ophthalmology, headache
Hobbies: Soccer, mountain biking, video games, guitar, traveling

PGY-2
Headshot of Eric Elizondo

Eric Elizondo, M.D.
Hometown: San Diego
Undergraduate: ÀÏ˾»ú¸£ÀûÍø
Medical school: ÀÏ˾»ú¸£ÀûÍø
Sub-specialty interests: Comprehensive neurology or neurophysiology
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.


Headshot of Krithika Kumarasan
Krithika Kumarasan, M.D.
Hometown: Chennai, India
Medical school: Stanley Medical College, Chennai
Outside hobbies/Interests: Shopping, cooking, Indian classical dance, playing instrument (Veena)
Professional interest: Child neurology, neurodevelopmental pediatrics
What I like about our program: Our program provides exposure to a wide spectrum of patients with optimum knowledge gaining and patient approach skills molding us to be the best physicians. It's fun to work with all faculties and colleagues as one family ensuring the delivery of high-quality patient care 
What I like about St. Louis: It's a beautiful and pleasant city. I love the Arch National Park, which creates lots of positive vibes.

Headshot of Benjamin Kiaei

Benjamin Kiaei, M.D.
Hometown: Los Angeles
Medical school: ÀÏ˾»ú¸£ÀûÍø
Sub-specialty interest: Neuroimmunology, stroke
Research interest: TBD
Hobbies: Woodworking, mountain biking


Headshot of Shawn Kurian
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


Headshot of Lina Okar

Lina Okar, M.D.
Hometown: Damascus, Syria
Medical school: Faculty of Medicine – Damascus University
Sub-specialty interest: Movement disorders and neuroimmunology 
Research interest: Movement disorders especially DBS, music therapy
Hobbies: Rafting, kayaking, pilates and painting. Also, a big fan of the cinema!


Headshot of Laura Polhemus

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.


Headshot of Anagha Prabhune

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


Headshot of Keerthivasan Ramesh
Keerthivasan Ramesh, M.D.
Hometown: Chennai, India
Medical school: Sri Ramachandra institute of higher education and research
Outside hobbies: Soccer, movies, chess, travel
Professional interests:- Epilepsy
What I like about our residency program: SLU provides the ideal environment to learn, with very approachable faculty and fellows. I have an opportunity to treat a diverse patient population.
What I like about St. Louis: The city has a great vibe with its scenic beauty.

PGY-3
Headshot of Adam Awad

Adam Awad, M.D.
Wellness Chief
Hometown: Frankfort, Illinois 
Medical school: Ross University School of Medicine 
Sub-specialty interest: Vascular, endovascular, neuro-interventional
Research interest: Stroke treatment, stroke recovery, neuroplasticity
Hobbies: Basketball, fishing, biking, video games.


Headshot of Bursa Erkilinc

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


Headshot of Gabriela Da Silva
Gabriela Mata, M.D.
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!

Headshot of Peyton

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


Headshot of Osma Shahid

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


Headshot of Hanan Qaqish
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

PGY-4
Headshot of Aysha Abeer

Aysha Abeer, M.D.
Clinical Chief
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. 


Syed Ijlal Ahmed

Syed Ijlal Ahmed, M.D.
Hometown: Karachi, Pakistan
Medical school: Liaquat National Hospital and Medical College
Sub-specialty interests: Vascular neurology, interventional neurology, neurocritical care and epilepsy
Research interests: Vascular neurology, interventional neurology, epilepsy, general neurology
Hobbies: Cricket, soccer, cooking, bicycling, community services, video games and tourism


Awais Arshid

Muhammad Awais Arshid, M.D.
Administrative Chief
Hometown: Abbottabad, Pakistan
Medical school: Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
Sub-specialty interest: Neurocritical care, vascular neurology, epilepsy
Research interest: Neuroplasticity, vascular neurology, prevention, and new management strategies of neurological illnesses
Hobbies: Soccer, writing, traveling, running, music, chess


Mehdi Fanai, M.D.

Mehdi Fanai, M.D.
Hometown: Khoy, West Azerbaijan
Medical school: Urmiah University of Medical Sciences
Sub-specialty interests: Comprehensive neurology
Research interests: Neuro-informatics, diagnostic errors
Hobbies: Badminton, swimming, electronics


Elvin Mirzazada, MD

Elvin Mirzazada, M.D.
Wellness chief
Hometown: Baku, Azerbaijan
Medical school: Ege University, Izmir, Turkey
Sub-specialty interests: Neurohospitalist
Hobbies: Traveling, cooking and hiking 


Headshot of Karthik Narayanan
Karthik Narayanan, M.D.
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.

PGY-5
Headshot of Wilson Rodriguez
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

PGY-6
Headshot of Aimalohi Esechie
Aimalohi Esechie, M.D. 
Vascular neurology fellow

PGY-7
Headshot of Jordan Scott
Jordan Scott, M.D.
Vascular neurology fellow
Hometown: Tampa, Florida
Medical school: Saba University School of Medicine
Sub-specialty interest: Vascular and interventional neurology
Research interest: Improving stroke outcomes
Hobbies: Hiking, woodworking, grilling, football, spending time with family and friends

Alumni 2024

  • Movement disorders fellowship at Washington University in St. Louis
  • Vascular/neuro-interventional fellowship at SSM Health/ÀÏ˾»ú¸£ÀûÍø School of Medicine
  • Neurohospitalist at Mercy South in St. Louis
  • Vascular neurology fellowship at New York Presbyterian Columbia Irving Center in New York
  • Epilepsy fellowship at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee
  • Clinical neurophysiology fellowship at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire

Alumni 2023

  • Clinical neurophysiology at SSM Health ÀÏ˾»ú¸£ÀûÍø Hospital in St. Louis
  • Clinical neurophysiology at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago
  • Neurocritical care at Washington University in St. Louis
  • Vascular neurology at University of Toledo in Toledo, Ohio
  • Vascular neurology at University of Massachusetts Chan Medical Center in Worcester, Massachusetts
  • Vascular neurology at Tufts Medical Center in Boston

Alumni 2022

  • Vascular neurology at the University of Iowa
  • Clinical neurophysiology at the Kansas University Medical Center
  • Clinical neurophysiology at ÀÏ˾»ú¸£ÀûÍø Hospital
  • Sleep medicine at the University of Michigan
  • Neuro-hospitalist in Columbia, Missouri
  • Clinical neurophysiology at Duke University Medical Center

Alumni 2021

  • General neurologist at Essentia Health Fargo in North Dakota
  • Sleep medicine at Stanford University
  • Neurocritical care at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago
  • Vascular neurology at Washington University-Barnes Jewish Hospital
  • Pain management fellowship at the University of Washington
  • Neurophysiology at Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston

Alumni 2020

  • Movement disorders at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
  • Neurocritical care at Ohio State University
  • Neurophysiology at ÀÏ˾»ú¸£ÀûÍø
  • Vascular neurology at Washington University in St. Louis

Alumni 2019

  • Multiple sclerosis at the University of Toronto
  • Vascular neurology at Case Western University
  • Interventional neurology at the University of Missouri
  • Neurocritical care at Washington University in St. Louis
  • Neurophysiology at ÀÏ˾»ú¸£ÀûÍø
  • Private practice

Alumni 2018

  • Movement disorders at the University of Texas Houston Medical Center
  • Interventional neurology at ÀÏ˾»ú¸£ÀûÍø
  • Interventional neurology at Weill Cornell University

Alumni 2017

  • Neurophysiology at ÀÏ˾»ú¸£ÀûÍø
  • Epilepsy at Washington University in St. Louis
  • Movement disorders at Northwestern University
  • Movement disorders at ÀÏ˾»ú¸£ÀûÍø
  • Neuromuscular at Washington University in St. Louis
  • Vascular neurology at New York Presbyterian and Weill Cornell