Residents

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

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. 

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

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!

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

Rodrigo Perez-Magnelli, M.D.
Hometown: Wildwood, Missouri
Undergraduate: Saint Louis University
Medical school: University of Missouri-Kansas City
Sub-specialty interests: Neuromuscular, neuro-ophthalmology, headache
Hobbies: Soccer, mountain biking, video games, guitar, traveling

Eric Elizondo, M.D.
Hometown: San Diego
Undergraduate: Saint Louis University
Medical school: Saint Louis University
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.

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.

Benjamin Kiaei, M.D.
Hometown: Los Angeles
Medical school: Saint Louis University
Sub-specialty interest: Neuroimmunology, stroke
Research interest: TBD
Hobbies: Woodworking, mountain biking

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

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!

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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!

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

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

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

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, 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

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

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.

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

Aimalohi Esechie, M.D. 
Vascular neurology fellow

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