Class of 2023
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
Class of 2024
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