Residents of 2016

Residents / Class of 2016

David Coughlin, MD (Google Scholar)
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, 2012

I enjoy running and Philadelphia's great art and restaurants. I also spend time in Northeast Pennsylvania where my family lives. Every year I help organize the participation of the Neurology Department in the Broad Street 10 mile run, as well as the Attending vs. Resident basketball game.

I have an interest in Medical Education and Quality Improvement

Fellowship: Movement Disorders at the University of Pennsylvania

Christyn Edmundson, MD
Albert Einstein of Yeshiva, 2012

I love doing yoga, relaxing, and enjoying Philadelphia's many great restaurants. My guilty pleasure is watching Home Makeover.

I am interested in neuromuscular diseases and global health

Fellowship: Neuromuscular disorders at Partners Neurology
Position: Assistant Professor of Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania

Gabriel Pilar, MD
University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 2012

I love making things (furniture mostly) in my makeshift wood shop in the basement. I love sailing and photography.

I am interested in autoimmune diseases and am working on a project to track response to MS disease modifying therapies using novel MRI techniques.

Fellowship: Clinical Neurophysiology, neuromuscular track at the University of Pennsylvania
Position: Attending Neurologist, Reading Health System

Colin Ellis, MD
University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine

I am interested in epilepsy

Fellowship: Clinical neurophysiology, epilepsy track at the University of Pennsylvania
Position: Clinical instructor of Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania

Christopher Favilla, MD (Google Scholar)
University of Florida School of Medicine

I enjoy cooking and exploring all the great restaurants that Philadelphia has to offer. In the Summer I like to spend time relaxing at the beach, and in the Winter I like to ski whenever I have free time. I try to plan travel throughout Europe whenever I have vacation time.

I plan to pursue an academic career in Vascular Neurology. I am particularly interested in cerebral hemodynamics, how the cardiopulmonary system intimately relates to cerebral perfusion, and how these cardiopulmonary variables can be manipulated to optimize cerebral perfusion after stroke

Fellowship: Vascular neurology at the University of Pennsylvania
Position: Clinical instructor of Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania

Donna Kurowski, MD
Boston University School of Medicine

I enjoy running along the Schuykill River, hiking, going to the beach, and just about any outdoor activity.  I love sports and play on intramural softball and basektball teams, and occasionally some volleyball.

I am interesed in Vascular Neurology and medical education/teaching.  I am currently working on a project evaluating symptomatic hemorrhage after endovascular therapy for acute stroke in patients on anti-coagulation.

Fellowship: Vascular neurology at the University of Pennsylvania
Position: Assistant Professor of Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania

Preethi Ramchand, MD
University of Texas Medical School at Houston

In my free time, I enjoy running, yoga, and discovering what the endless Philly food scene has to offer.

I am interested in Neurocritical care

Fellowship: Neurocritical Care at the University of Pennsylvania

Laura Stein, MD
Drexel University College of Medicine

In my spare time, I enjoy hiking, fishing, and weekend trips to my family's farm. While in the city, I like checking out Philadelphia's awesome concert venues and music festivals. I also like to bake and cook.

I am interested in stroke, specifically patient outcomes after stroke and the role of patient education. I am also interested in medical student and resident education as well as patient safety and quality improvement initiatives.

Fellowship: Vascular neurology at the University of Pennsylvania

Thu Vu, MD
Weill Cornell Medical College, 2012

I enjoy cooking and baking treats for my co-residents. I also take modern dance classes and sing in the Penn Choral Society. I love finding new restaurants to try around Philadelphia.

I am pursuing a fellowship in Movement Disorders and am interested in undergraduate medical education and continuing education in neurology for non-neurologists.

Fellowship: Movement Disorders at Emory University

Evelyn Shih, MD (Google Scholar)
Pediatric Neurology
University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine 2011

Pre-mommy days, my favorite past time was sitting by the water with a glass of good red wine and an engrossing book on paper. Currently my time outside of work is filled chasing a super active, spirited, fun-loving 2 1/2 year old who loves to run and figuring out novel ways of saying "no, don't do that, that's not safe!"

I am interested in pediatric stroke and plan on pursuing a career in academia combining clinical care with basic science research. I am specifically interested in the inherent plasticity of the developing brain and identifying specific molecular/cellular pathways that promote recovery following ischemic injury.

Fellowship: Vascular neurology at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Position: Assistant Professor of Neurology at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Juma Mbwana, MD (Google Scholar)
Pediatric Neurology
Morehouse School of Medicine, 2010

I enjoy spending time at the beach with family or friends. When I have time I like to cook, I also collect vinyl records.

I plan on being a general Child Neurologist. I am interested in emerging technological innovations in the field of Neurology.

Position: Assistant Professor of Neurology at Children's National Medical Center

Payal Patel, MD
Pediatric Neurology
Baylor College of Medicine, 2011

I enjoy doing yoga on the banks, eating ice cream, running, reading.  I also love to travel

My research interests include community/global health and neuro-infectious disease.  I've published research on barriers to care for patients with cerebral palsy in Botswana.  I've traveled to Tanzania to volunteer through our residency program with Dr. Rubenstein.  I am also doing a research project on Moyamoya disorders in children.

Position: Assistant Professor of Neurology at Yale University

Mark Fitzgerald, MD, PhD (Google Scholar)
Pediatric Neurology
University of Virginia School of Medicine

I enjoy sports, particularly baseball and football. I am also an avid beer drinker, and enjoy sampling craft brews from around the country whenever I have the opportunity.

I am interested in epilepsy, and will be pursuing an epilepsy fellowship next year. I am particularly interested in neonatal seizures, including issues related to treatment duration with anti-seizure medications in the setting of therapeutic hypothermia for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.

Fellowship: Epilepsy at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Position: Assistant Professor of Neurology at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia