Our Current Residents

RAMIN KARIMI, MD

Hometown: Los Angeles

Undergrad: UCLA

Medical School: American University of the Caribbean, AUC

Favorite thing about Stony Brook Neurology Residency: the people

Favorite cranial nerve and why: CN 4 because it is rebellious and exists posteriorly

Previous life before med school: Cancer research

What would you do if you weren’t a neurologist: NBA player

Theme song: Eye of the Tiger

ARHAM KHAN, DO

Hometown: East Hanover, NJ

Undergrad: Drew University

Med School: Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine

Fellowship plans: vascular neuro

Previous Life before med school: I used to DJ on the side for fun

Favorite Thing about Stony Brook neuro: Attendings are very approachable and highly enthusiastic about teaching

NICOLE KHEZRI, MD

Hometown: Great Neck, NY

Undergrad: Duke University

Medical School: Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY

Favorite thing about living on Long Island: My wonderful family, secluded beaches, farmers’ markets

Hobbies: sail, ski, play tennis, oil paint, and cook 

Prior to medical school: I worked in the field of regenerative medicine in which I directly converted cardiac fibroblasts to cardiomyocytes and reprogrammed pluripotent stem cells from skin biopsies of individuals with rare diseases to guide therapeutic strategy. As an IRTA Fellow at the NIH, my research focused on Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome.

Theme song: "We are the champions"- Queen

Favorite quote: "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty"- Winston Churchill 

KRISHNA PAREKH, DO

Hometown: Whippany, NJ 

Undergrad: The College of New Jersey 

Medical School: NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine

Fellowship Plans: Epilepsy

Favorite thing about Stony Brook Neurology Residency: the residents

Favorite thing about living on LI: beaches and sunsets

Favorite neurologic syndrome and why: Seizures because you can visualize it on EEG.

What would you do if you weren't a neurologist: Evolutionary Biology/Ecologist 

Harry Potter; favorite quote: "It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live, remember that" - Albus Dumbledore

Favorite Yoga Pose: upward facing dog 

LUZ REILEY, MD

Hometown: Maracay, Venezuela

Undergrad: Nova Southeastern University

Medical School: San Juan Bautista School of Medicine

Fellowship plans: Still deciding, but leaning towards Clinical Neurophysiology.

Favorite thing about SB Neurology Residency: It's people! Everybody from attendings, co-residents and all the staff in the department has been very welcoming and friendly. Attendings are very approachable and truly passionate about teaching.

How do you de-stress: Hanging out with family and friends, dancing, enjoying the outdoors, hiking, going to the beach and Netflix, of course.   

Favorite quote: “Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors where there were only walls” - Joseph Campbell

Favorite Style of dance: Salsa

ELLEN SONG, MD

Hometown: Naperville, IL

Undergrad: Yale University

Medical School: SUNY Downstate

Fellowship plans: Neurohospitalist or NCCU or Neurorehab

Favorite thing about Stony Brook Neurology Residency:  The wide variety and quantity of cases, great exposure to inpatient neurology especially stroke, additional strong exposure to peds, wealth of pathology

Favorite thing about living on Long Island: Beaches, cute little towns, deer

Favorite cranial nerve and why:  Vagus – used for singing, as well as other bodily functions.  Different subdivision of vagus controls head voice (for singing) and speaking voice which is how someone who has “lost their voice” from a cold can still sing using the other mechanism.

Favorite neurologic syndrome and why:  Autism – There’s a lot of room for growth in management of autism and the associated behavioral and neurologic (especially seizures) complications.  I have several close friends with autistic family members who are debilitated by these complications.  There is weak evidence that music therapy may be helpful for children with autism.

CNS vs PNS and why: CNS because it develops first (?) and has a lot of interesting interconnections: e.g. the ear is embryonically connected to the skin especially the anterior thorax, e.g. the ear is a homunculus of the body (similar to the brain being a homunculus of the body).

Previous life before med school: Commercial banking consulting  

What would you do if you weren’t a neurologist: Math teacher

How do you de-stress: swimming, piano

Theme song:  Elle me dit/Emily – MIKA

Favorite quote: “They say best men are molded out of faults, And for the most, become much more the better, For being a little bad” – Measure for Measure

Favorite yoga pose: Child’s pose

Favorite style of dance: Salsa

VIKALPA DAMMAVALAM, DO

Hometown:  Flushing, New York

Undergrad:  Stony Brook University

Medical School: Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine - Harlem

Fellowship plans:  Neurointerventional

CNS vs PNS and why: CNS because I like to call the shots.

What would you do if you weren’t a neurologist:  I’d be a singer, there’s more than one way to save someone!

Harry Potter vs Star Wars vs Star Trek vs Lord of the Rings:  Harry Potter, until the very end. “Lie back upon the floor and observe the heavens. Here is written, for those who can see, the fortune of our races.” – Firenze, HP and the Order of the Phoenix.

Favorite style of Dance: Contemporary!

STEFFANI FLAHERTY, MD

Hometown: Medford, NY

Undergrad: St. Joseph's College, Patchogue, NY

Medical School: St. George's University in Grenada

Fellowship plans: Movement Disorders

Favorite neurologic syndrome and why: Parkinson's disease, I find movement disorders very interesting. I also love some of the unique therapies that have been developed such as walking to music

Hidden Talent: I was a competitive step dancer in college.

How do you de-stress: A nice sweaty exercise, as my heart rate goes up my problems melt away.

Favorite quote: "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose" - Dr. Seuss

ARIANA FRONTARIO, DO

Hometown:  Northport, New York

Undergrad:  Stony Brook University

Medical School: LECOM Erie

Fellowship plans:  undecided

Favorite thing about Stony Brook Neurology Residency: my co-residents and faculty

Favorite thing about living on Long Island: being close to my family

Favorite cranial nerve and why: VII facial nerve because it moves muscles for facial expression especially because it allows us to SMILE.

Favorite Quote:  “The brain is wider than the sky.” - Emily Dickinson

Favorite Yoga Pose: Tree pose

SOLOMON KHAMISHON, MD

Hometown: Sacramento, CA

Undergrad: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

Medical School: American University of Antigua

Favorite thing about living on Long Island: The beautiful beaches

How do you De-Stress: workout and yoga!

What’s you theme song: Hava Nagila

Favorite Quote: "A man who doesn't spend time with his family can never be a real man." - The Godfather

DAOD PAK, MD

Hometown:  Yonkers, New York

Undergrad: Stony Brook University

Medical School:  New York Medical College

Fellowship plans:  Undecided

Favorite Thing about Stony Brook Neurology Residency: The people.  Everyone is really nice and willing to help.

Favorite cranial nerve and why:  VII.  Without it, everyone will have no facial expressions.

What would you do if you weren’t a neurologist?  If I was not a doctor, I have thought about becoming a researcher and having my own research lab.

How do you de-stress?  Working out.  Spending time with family/friends.

Harry Potter vs Star Wars vs Star Trek vs Lord of the Rings? Star Wars.  Favorite character is Yoda.

MARIELLE TORRES, MD

Hometown:  Hoboken, NJ

Undergrad: Columbia University

Medical School: Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

Favorite thing about living on Long Island: Lobster rolls

Favorite cranial nerve and why? The vagus nerve, for its variety of functions

What would you do if you weren’t a neurologist? Run a bakery

Harry Potter vs Star Wars vs Star Trek vs Lord of the Rings? Favorite Character: Yoda

Favorite style of dance: Ballet