Current Residents

Abhilasha Boruah, MD

I was born in Assam, India and grew up in Franklin, Massachusetts. I moved to Cleveland to attend college at Case Western Reserve University where I majored in Cognitive Science and was part of the Pre-Professional Scholars in Medicine program. I lived in Munich, Germany for a year in between undergrad and medical school, and completed a research fellowship at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich studying neurological correlates of moral cognition in early childhood. I returned to Cleveland for medical school at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Between my 3rd and 4th years of medical school I completed a year of Neuroinfectious Disease research at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. I’m thrilled to be returning to Massachusetts for residency!

In my free time I enjoy reading fiction novels, practicing vinyasa yoga, traveling, and exploring new restaurants. I am so excited to be a resident at BIDMC and look forward to working with & learning from the amazing people in this program!

Valerie Braddick, MD

I was raised in Irvington, NY, and majored in neuroscience at Middlebury College. Before attending medical school at the University of Vermont, I spent three years as a clinical research coordinator in the OCD & Related Disorders Program at Massachusetts General Hospital. My passion for neurology continued to develop in medical school, where I enjoyed leading a traumatic brain injury support group and researching the effects of screen time on adolescent psychopathology.

BIDMC was my top choice residency program because of its excellent clinical training, strong focus on resident education, and the warm camaraderie I experienced throughout the interview process. I look forward to being part of the BIDMC residency family over the next four years, and for the opportunity to explore the breadth of subspecialties within the field of neurology. I am particularly interested in a career in vascular neurology and medical education. In my free time, you can catch me at a spin class, hiking, trying out new recipes, and teaching myself to play the electric guitar!

Rebecca Dann, MD

I was born and raised in New York City and then moved to Ohio to attend Kenyon College. Following graduation, I worked in a cardiology lab at NYU and then received my Master of Science at Tufts just prior to medical school. During my time at New York Medical College, I found my passion in neurology and developed a strong interest in medical education. I’m now excited to return to Boston and start my training at BIDMC! I can’t wait to meet my new team and start exploring the many different neurologic subspecialties!

In my free time I love running, exploring new beaches (super excited to explore all of New England’s beach towns), reading mystery novels, and spending time with my friends and family.

Michelle Hick, MD

Hello! I grew up in rural Ontario, Canada and completed my undergraduate degree at Queen’s University. I hopped across the pond and I completed my medical degree at the University of Limerick in Ireland. My next adventure is at BIDMC where I am looking forward to the supportive and enriched atmosphere as a place cultivate a rigorous career in Neurology.

My love for Neurology started back in high school and has continued to grow through out my undergraduate and medical career. My interests remain vast – the more I learn the more I love the different sub-specialities within Neurology. I am beyond excited to learn and explore within the field at BIDMC.

Outside of medicine you can find me on the water or in the sunshine!

SIN É!

Selina Lin, MD

I grew up in Chengdu, China, the home of giant pandas, and pursued my medical education at West China Medical Center, the nation’s largest medical center. An exchange experience at UMass Medical School sparked my interest in neurology, motivating me to pursue research with scholarships at King’s College London and Cambridge, focusing on ALS-FTD. After graduation, I coordinated clinical trials at Mass General Brigham followed by completing an intern year at the University of Minnesota.

I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to join BIDMC and reunite with my family in Boston. The dedication of our neurologists to pioneering diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for complex conditions deeply inspires me. My interests revolve around neurodegenerative and neuromuscular disorders, translational research as well as eliminating health disparities. The exceptional academic potential at BI Neurology excites me!

In my free time, I enjoy hiking with friends, exploring imaginative worlds through VR, and cooking flavorful Sichuan cuisine.

Clayton Neal, MD

I was born and raised in a small town outside of Richmond, Virginia. I went on to obtain my undergraduate education at the University of Virginia and my medical degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. Currently, my clinical and research interests include epilepsy, EEG, neuroradiology, and functional neurosurgical planning, but I am excited to explore the many subspecialties that neurology has to offer. In my free time I love to watch movies, play guitar, play volleyball, and try new restaurants with my partner who is an OBGYN resident at BI.

I chose BI because of the excellent clinical training, the wealth of research opportunities, and the demographically and pathologically diverse patient population that BI serves. It was clear to me that joining the neurology team at BI not only would offer an academically stimulating and challenging environment, but would also provide me with the teaching and support for me to thrive. I’m also thrilled to move to the lively and historic city of Boston and begin exploring all that it has to offer!

Hanna Peterson, MD

I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago but have been an Ohioan since starting college. I completed my bachelor’s degree in Pre-Medicine at the University of Dayton, and stayed in Dayton, OH to work as a medical scribe in rheumatology before attending medical school at Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine. In my free time, I enjoy all outdoor activities (with sunscreen) whether it be drinking coffee on the balcony while reading a book or working out on a hike or run. I also like watching and playing sports, exploring coffee shops and restaurants, and playing Catan with friends while my cat tries to sit on the board. My academic and clinical interests include vascular neurology, neurocritical care, neurointerventional radiology, and medical education. I am so excited to live in a new city while learning more neurology and working with the team at BIDMC to care for our patients!

Dylan Selbst, MD

My name is Dylan Selbst, and I am from New Hope, Pennsylvania. I studied Physiology and Neurobiology at the University of Maryland and attended medical school at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. I fell in love with neuroscience while working in a functional neuroimaging lab as an undergrad, and I am excited to pursue a career as a neurologist.

I am undecided regarding sub-specialties within neurology, but I have particular interests in vascular neurology, neurocritical care, and clinical neurophysiology. Additionally, in my career, I plan to pursue leadership opportunities in medical education and healthcare administration.

In my free time, I enjoy endurance running, traveling, cooking, and watching and rooting for Philadelphia sports teams.
I came to Beth Israel because of the incredible culture, ample opportunities for research, and strong support for residents who desire leadership in medical education.

Eileen Yung, MD

I grew up knowing that Bedford Farms makes the best ice cream out there, since it’s a ten-minute walk from where I lived in MA for most of my life. My superpowers are the ability to eat dessert at any time and to laugh easily, which go hand in hand with my love of baking and tending to my fat cat. School has moved me along the East Coast – first NYC for undergrad at Columbia, then DC to attend Georgetown where I received my Master’s in Physiology and Biophysics, and finally, upstate NY for Albany Medical College.

I got my feet wet in Neurology by working with the Huntington’s population at Terence Cardinal Cooke. Their stories spurred my pursuit of this discipline along with an obsession with this organ system that orients us to who we are. Although I’m undecided on a subspecialty, my interests span movement disorders to neuro critical care, and I’m excited to navigate these uncharted waters alongside my new BIDMC family.

Annika Daya, MD

Although I was born and raised in Atlanta, GA, I grew up in a very diverse household and had opportunities to travel numerous times to visit family in Zambia and South Africa. I pursued my BS in Neuroscience as well as my MPH with a concentration in Health Behavior at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. After graduating, I moved to Hershey, PA, the Sweetest Place on Earth, for medical school at Penn State.

Outside of medicine, I enjoy CrossFit, muy Thai, traveling, learning to ride a motorcycle, and spending time with my friends and family! My academic and clinical interests include global health and medical education, and I am interested in pursuing a fellowship in either neuroinfectious disease, neuroimmunology, or neuromuscular neurology. I chose BIDMC because of the supportive faculty and strong sense of community I experienced during my interview day. I am so thrilled to move to Boston and work with everyone at BIDMC!”

Annie He, MD

I was born in New York City, lived in Buffalo, New York for a few years, and grew up mostly in Dallas, Texas. I studied Computational Biology with specialization in neurobiology at Brown University and completed medical school back in Dallas at UT Southwestern Medical School.

My father is also a neurologist, and so I was interested in the brain ever since I was young! My passion for neuroscience and neurology grew strongly during my time in college and medical school. I am so excited to start my residency training at BIDMC, where there is excellent exposure to a diverse patient population and multiple different neurologic subspecialties.

In my free time, I love rock climbing, building puzzles, and exploring new restaurants. I’m looking forward to living in Boston and working with my BIDMC team!

Joey Hsu, MD

I grew up in Yorktown, Virginia and studied biomedical and electrical engineering at the University of Virginia. There, I developed an interest in brain stimulation therapies and was fortunate to pursue those interests after graduation as a research assistant in the Berenson-Allen Center for Brain Stimulation at BIDMC. I then completed medical school at the University of Pittsburgh, where I conducted deep brain stimulation and cognitive neurophysiology research.

I’m thrilled to return to Boston and BIDMC for neurology residency! There is such a supportive and enriching culture at BI, and I was drawn to the program’s combination of excellent clinical training and the ideal opportunity to return to the BA Center to continue my research training. Outside of the hospital, you can catch me trying to learn the Celtic fiddle and exploring the abundant hiking around New England with my partner (whom I met as an RA at BI!).

Sweta Joshi, MD

I was born in Boston, and my family and I lived in various countries in Asia, the U.S., and East Africa before I went to college in Canada. I studied psychology and behavioral science at McGill University. I worked in epilepsy research at George Washington University for several years before completing a post-baccalaureate program and attending medical school at Penn State in Hershey, PA. In my free time, I love cooking, baking, taking long walks, and spending time with family and friends.

I chose BI as my top choice because of its excellent and diverse clinical training, the warm, supportive environment I experienced on interview day, and the wealth of opportunities available to pursue future interests with supportive faculty. I look forward to joining the BIDMC neurology family and further exploring my career interests in medical education and global neurology.

Mayumi Kohiyama, MD

I was born and raised in New York City and attended Skidmore College, where I became involved in research focused on cellular and molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases. I further pursued similar research at the Charité in Berlin, Germany through the Congress Bundestag Youth Exchange program for Young Professionals. When I returned to the US, I moved to Minneapolis, MN where I worked as a medical scribe in an emergency department and family medicine clinic before starting medical school at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell in Long Island, NY. I ultimately fell in love with clinical neurology during my third year clerkship. I’m excited to further develop this passion at BIDMC alongside my new colleagues!

In my free time I enjoy cooking Japanese comfort food, reading fiction, working my way through the Merlin app as a beginner birder, playing all sorts of games (board/yard/video), and spending time with my pets.

Hannah Lahey, MD

I am a proud native of the Boston area and am excited to return home for my residency training! My motivation to pursue neurology was born from a young age having personal experiences with my own family members. I attended Lehigh University for my undergraduate studies and obtained a degree in Behavioral Neuroscience. During that time I developed an interest in research, which brought me to my first post-graduate job as a research associate developing gene therapies for Tay-Sachs disease at UMass Memorial Medical Center. I transitioned to working as a medical assistant in The Neurosciences Center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in pursuit of clinical experiences before starting medical school at Quinnipiac University.

I have continued my involvement in the rare disease community throughout medical school, which has inspired an interest in neuroimmunology and neuro-oncology. I chose to complete my neurology residency at BIDMC because of the tight-knit and supportive community that is committed to the success of their trainees, as well as the robust medical education and research opportunities.

Outside of the hospital you can usually find me outdoors (yes, even in the New England winters), whether it is running, playing tennis or pickleball, or at a local park with my husband and our dog!

Alexis Puyleart, MD

I am originally from La Crosse, Wisconsin and studied physics at St. Norbert College. After a gap year spent substitute teaching and working as a CNA, I attended medical school at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.

It is an absolute honor to have the opportunity to fulfill my lifelong dream of becoming a neurologist at BIDMC. My mom was a nurse in neurology for many years. The nights spent discussing interesting cases at the dinner table and volunteering at the annual MS Walk inspired my lifelong passion for the field. I have not settled on a subspecialty quite yet, but I am excited to explore the wide breadth of options in the coming years at BIDMC. Academically, I am interested in medical education, climate change and health, and environmental sustainability.

When I am not in the hospital, I can be found trying out new hobbies, starting yet another sewing project, or finding new hiking trails. I am greatly looking forward to exploring Boston and getting to know my new BIDMC family!

Kirthan Reddy, MD

I was born and raised in Houston, TX and studied Biomedical Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin before returning to Houston for medical school at McGovern Medical School/UT Houston. I was drawn to neurology with my personal family experiences with DBS as well as my time spent in Huntington’s Disease clinic during medical school. My current interests include movement disorders, epilepsy, and neuropsychiatry. In my free time I enjoy baking, playing basketball/tennis/pickleball, running, and continuing my ongoing quest to find the best chocolate chip cookie.

I am so excited to live in Boston and learn neurology at BIDMC with its wonderfully supportive culture and emphasis on resident education. I look forward to meeting my fellow co-residents and being part of the BIDMC family!

Trey Baird, MD

I was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, and attended The Ohio State University to study psychology. My partner (of nine years!) and I were fortunate to be able to attend medical school together at the University of Cincinnati. My initial interest in medicine stemmed from psychiatry. However, further reflection and clinical experience cemented my growing desire to combine compassionate care with a mastery of the physical exam, medicine, imaging, and anatomy—all of which only a neurologist can achieve! I am currently most interested in movement disorders, but I am excited to explore different subspecialties within our field. I am also deeply interested in how food insecurity intersects with neurological illness. In my free time, I enjoy working out and following professional and collegiate sports. I am also an amateur treasure hunter and a budding movie critic.

When my partner and I visited Boston, we fell in love with it! I chose BI because I wanted a program that would shape me into a great neurologist who never forgets that listening is the most important part of patient care. My interactions with the residents told me this was a fun, tight-knit group that I could not pass up joining!

Megan DeJong, MD, PhD

HOWDY!! My name is Megan and, before I made the trek up to Boston, I spent the entirety of my life in West Virginia. I was born and raised in Fairmont (the friendly city) and then moved to Morgantown, where I attended West Virginia University for my undergrad and dual MD/PhD degrees. My PhD research focused on vaccine development – specifically, how different antigens, adjuvants, and routes of administration could improve the body’s response to a vaccine. I fell in love with neurology late in my medical school journey, but I’m so glad that I made the decision to pursue this field of medicine! I’m also very grateful to be at BIDMC, as the strength of training, endless opportunities to explore all facets of neurology, and the strong sense of camaraderie were all evident as I interviewed and explored residency programs. In terms of career interests, I am currently honing in on movement disorders as my subspecialty of choice (with neuroimmunology as a close second place), I plan to get involved in clinical/translational research, and I hope to improve the modalities by which students learn neurology. In my free time, you can find me partaking in outdoor activities (swimming, hiking, biking), running (more like a fast walk), and enjoying (inhaling) coffee, and loving (pestering) my cat, Beverly.

Shannon Gu, MD

I was born in Iowa and grew up in Portland, Oregon. For college, I moved up north to Seattle to attend the University of Washington, where I majored in physiology. After graduation, I worked as a research associate at a biotechnology company for two years. I then moved halfway across the country to Chicago to start medical school at Rosalind Franklin University. Although I have had a longstanding interest in neuroscience, I did not decide on becoming a neurologist until my third year neurology clerkship, where I fell in love with the field. My current interests are in neuroimmunology, neuroinfectious disease, and medical education. In my free time, I love hiking, playing ping pong, and baking. I am also always looking to try new foods and find the best matcha lattes anywhere I go.

I was fortunate to do an away rotation at BIDMC during my fourth year of medical school, and I was blown away by the camaraderie within the program and the quality of education and training. I am so excited to return to BIDMC as a resident (and complete my gradual migration across the country)!

Carolyn Habiger, MD

I grew up in the Chicago suburbs before moving to the U.K. to complete my undergraduate degree in History at University College London. After graduation, I spent two years serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA in Los Angeles, then completed a pre-medical postbaccalaureate program at Scripps College in Claremont, California. I went on to earn my medical degree from the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell in New York.

My interest in neurology was sparked while working as a research volunteer at Casa Colina Hospital for Rehabilitation, where I was inspired by the resilience of patients recovering from stroke and traumatic brain injury, as well as by the collaborative, multidisciplinary care that defines the field. I chose BI for its close-knit, supportive community, outstanding clinical training, and strong emphasis on teaching and medical education. Still undifferentiated, I’m excited about the wealth of opportunities at BI to explore different subspecialties and discover my path within a field that continually challenges and inspires me.

Outside of medicine, I enjoy distance running, scouring Goodreads for the next great hard science fiction read, getting out in nature (climbing, hiking, scuba diving — anything active and outdoors!), and the narrative humanities.

Michael Hebert, MD

I was born and raised in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and attended college there at McNeese State University. I originally intended to pursue a career in mathematics, in which I earned my degree. However, I ultimately realized that medicine would be a better fit for me. During college, I also worked as an emergency department scribe. I attended medical school at LSU Health Shreveport, and discovered my passion for neurology while rotating on the neurology services. Throughout my neurology rotations, I have developed interests in neuroimmunology and clinical neurophysiology; however, I remain open-minded and excited to explore the full breadth of neurology.

I was thoroughly impressed by my interview at BIDMC and knew that it would be an amazing place to train, combining excellent clinical training with a highly supportive environment. I am very grateful to train at BIDMC and can’t wait to experience Boston! Outside of the hospital, I enjoy spending time with my wife, running, intricate board games, and video games.

Katrina Munoz, MD

I grew up in Bedford, New Hampshire and attended Bates College where I majored in neuroscience and philosophy. After earning my undergraduate degree, I was eager to explore the intersections of these fields and pursued a master’s in bioethics at Harvard Medical School. During this time, I worked in a neuroethics research lab where I investigated the ethical, legal, and social implications of deep brain stimulation for dystonia.

I went on to complete medical school at Emory University where I found myself continuously drawn to neurology. What fascinates me most about neurology is the interplay between underlying neural pathways and human behavior and cognition. I am thrilled to be returning home to New England to complete my neurology residency at BIDMC. What drew me most to BIDMC was the program’s emphasis on medical education and strong sense of community amongst residents and faculty.

In my spare time, I enjoy dance, yoga, pottery, and taking walks with my rescue dog, Meeko. I’m also an avid traveler as the daughter of two flight attendants. My academic interests within neurology include movement disorders, neuropsychiatry, neuropalliative care, and neuroethics. I look forward to further exploring these areas alongside my incredible BIDMC colleagues!

Rebecca Ripperton, MD

Although I’m a North Carolina native — born and raised in Chapel Hill — I studied Philosophy and the Liberal Arts at St. John’s College in Annapolis, Maryland before completing medical school at the University of Colorado in Denver. In between, I spent several years working as a high school English teacher.

Outside of medicine, I enjoy reading, doing crossword puzzles, practicing yoga, and spending time with my husband, Drew, and our beloved corgi, Gingersnap.

While I’m excited to explore the full breadth of sub-specialties during residency, I’m especially drawn to the care of higher-acuity patients and have particular interests in neurocritical care, neurohospitalist medicine, palliative care, and both neuro-infectious diseases and neuroimmunology. I’m thrilled to be continuing my training with BIDMC Neurology, especially because of its warm, imaginative culture and deep commitment to clinical excellence.

Yunting Mary Yu, MD

I was born in Hangzhou, China and grew up in Ellicott City, Maryland. I went on to receive my bachelor’s degree in neuroscience and minor in visual arts from Johns Hopkins University. Between college and medical school, I spent a year at NIH in clinical genetics under the Centralized Sequencing Program. Then, I moved to Hershey, PA to attend medical school at Penn State.

Outside of medicine, I enjoy digital illustration, cooking noodles, watching anime, and randomly starting new hobbies. I’m currently undecided on a subspecialty, but my academic interests include neurogenetics, medical humanities, and medical education. BI was my top choice for neurology residency because I was excited by the academic opportunities, diverse patient population, and supportive community at BI Neurology. I look forward to joining the BIDMC family and exploring the beautiful city of Boston!

Kiera Guyor Borthwick, MD (she/her)

I was born and raised in Northville, MI with my older brother and parents. I moved to Lexington, VA for my undergraduate education at Washington & Lee University. There, I received my Bachelor’s in Neuroscience and was a 4-year member of the varsity volleyball team. After graduation, I returned to Michigan to work in a traumatic brain injury lab at the Detroit VA Medical Center, where my passion for neurology and the neurosciences continued to grow. I attended medical school in Cleveland, OH at the amazing Case Western Reserve University, where my love for neurology was further strengthened. I was extremely impressed by my interview at BIDMC. The camaraderie and excellent clinical training are unmatched. I’m grateful for the opportunity to train at this institution, with so many leaders in the field. Plus, I can’t wait to move to Boston! Outside of medicine, I enjoy playing volleyball, watching football, and spending time with my two cats Jennings and Shoji. My academic interests within neurology remain broad at this time, and I look forward to exploring all that the specialty has to offer.

Lauren Canha, MD (she/her)

I grew up in Westford, MA and completed my undergraduate degree in Biology from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. After graduating, I worked as a clinical research coordinator at the Massachusetts General Hospital and served as a hospice volunteer, where my interest in neurology was sparked while interacting with patients with dementia. I then attended Sidney Kimmel Medical College in Philadelphia, where I continued to explore neurology and valued the opportunity to form meaningful connections with patients and their families. During my time in medical school, I also enjoyed contributing to medical education by creating a team-based learning session on cognitive impairment.

I chose BI because of its focus on education and strong clinical training in a collaborative, supportive environment. I am eager to explore my interests in cognitive neurology and the palliative care aspects of Alzheimer’s disease alongside the dedicated and exceptional members of the BI community.

Outside of work, I enjoy getting outdoors for a run, listening to music, playing board games with friends and family, and supporting Boston sports teams, especially the Celtics and Red Sox!

Benjamin Coleman, MD (he/him)

I was born and raised in Rhode Island. I completed my Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience at the University of Miami, during which I had a number of medically-related experiences that expanded my interest in neuroscience to the field of medicine as a whole. After graduation, I served as a medical scribe in Rhode Island for a year before returning to the University of Miami for medical school. I ultimately fell in love with clinical neurology, and look forward to my next chapter in Boston where I will be able to train so close to my family and friends. BIDMC’s collaborative community really spoke to me in particular, and I’m excited to become a part of it. Academically, I am most interested in the intersection between movement disorders and neuropalliative care. In my free time, I enjoy hiking local trails, running in the rain, meditating, binging reality TV, and speed puzzling with friends.

Janessa Engelmeyer, MD (she/her)

I grew up in central Minnesota and attended Northwestern University where I majored in Neuroscience. After graduation, I spent four years working at the Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease at Northwestern working on the SuperAging research project investigating alternative memory and aging phenotypes. I went back to Minnesota to complete my medical education at the University of Minnesota Medical School. I have been fascinated by the brain since I was in middle school volunteering at a local nursing home. Over time I have continued to build upon my passion for neurology through research and other academic endeavors. I am excited to continue my journey on the east cost to complete my neurology residency at BIDMC. I was drawn to the curiosity driven, collaborative environment with an emphasis on excellence in research, clinical skills and medical education at BIDMC. While I am interested in all facets of neurology, I am particularly interested in the intersection of neurocritical care and neuropalliative medicine. Outside of medicine, I enjoy trying out new board games with friends, hosting brunches and dinner parties and exploring nature with my Mini Aussie Queenie. I am looking forward to exploring the city of Boston!

Natalie Gurevich, MD (she/her)

I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York until I obtained my degree in neuroscience at the University of Michigan. I pursued a Master’s degree in Medical Physiology at Case Western Reserve University, during which I was a teaching assistant and clinical research coordinator. For medical school, I attended Penn State College of Medicine, where my love for neurology was solidified. My academic interests include integrating creative and interdisciplinary approaches into both patient care and medical education. I am particularly interested in the role of education and communication in neurology, and hope to pursue a career as a clinician-educator in academic medicine. Outside of medicine, I have a strong background in music as a classically trained vocalist and DJ/producer. I enjoy creating and sharing music, as well as staying active with the gym and volleyball, exploring new cities, and finding great food spots wherever I go. I chose BIDMC for its strong emphasis on education, supportive faculty, and the collaborative environment among residents, all of which make me extremely grateful to be part of this community.

Juliana Katz, MD (she/her)

I grew up in Boxford, Massachusetts before moving to Providence, Rhode Island to complete my undergraduate and medical degrees. I studied Public Health at Brown University and attended The Warren Alpert Medical School, where I fell in love with neurology for its endlessly fascinating puzzles and fulfilling patient relationships. My current interests include neuroimmunology and medical education, but I am looking forward to exploring all areas of neurology at BIDMC. In my free time, you’ll find me solving and creating crossword puzzles, taking long walks outside, experimenting with new recipes, and spending time with my partner and our cat. I am thrilled to be moving to Boston with my partner, who will be starting as a Pediatrics resident at Boston Children’s, and to work with the incredible BIDMC family!

Kyoko Kohno, MD (she/her)

I was born in Los Angeles and spent my childhood moving between Tokyo, San Francisco, and Toronto before attending Northwestern University, where I pursued a dual degree in neuroscience and music performance. I attended Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville and am now excited to call Boston my new home at BIDMC Neurology! I have always been fascinated by the brain and mind, and am thrilled to have the opportunity to train at BIDMC – a place that values clinical education, academic excellence, and camaraderie. In addition to providing compassionate care for my patients, my professional interests include medical education, mentorship, cognitive research, and neurotechnology. Outside of medicine, I enjoy exploring local cafés and restaurants, playing piano, spending time with my sister’s corgi in Tokyo, and trying out new experiences with my partner, friends, and family.

Ava Siegel, MD (she/her)

I grew up in Stoughton, Massachusetts and attended college at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I studied biology and French. After graduating, I spent two years working as a clinical research coordinator at Massachusetts General Hospital on studies related to cancer genetics, before heading to the University of Vermont for medical school. At UVM, I completed neurology research on trinucleotide repeat disorders and found myself continually drawn to clinical neurology and the unique relationships neurologists can have with patients. Outside of medicine, I enjoy making hand-embroidered gifts for my friends and family, playing basketball, and hunting down the coziest coffee shops for reading. Within neurology, I am interested in neurogenetics and medical education and am excited to explore subspecialties. I was fortunate to do an away rotation at BIDMC during my fourth year of medical school and had a blast getting to know and learn from such a warm and passionate group of people. I am thrilled to be moving back to MA and joining the BIDMC neurology family.

Oliver Zhou, MD (he/him)

Hey y’all! I was born in Austin, TX but have also lived in Melbourne, FL and eventually Seattle, WA, where I grew up. I made my way back down to Texas for undergrad at Rice University, where I majored in neuroscience. I then did epilepsy research at UTMB for one year after graduation before starting medical school at Texas A&M. Throughout these years, I was drawn to the diversity, innovation, and compassion I found within the field of neurology. I am currently most interested in epilepsy, but I am keeping an open mind towards the many other neurological subspecialties. My interview at BI confirmed my suspicions that this is such a warm, welcoming, and supportive community! I look forward to all the amazing people I will meet as well as the diverse patient populations I will take care of. In my free time, I love to play tennis, soccer, video games, and board/card games with friends 😊