Meet the Residents
Class of 2021
Alexander Gill, MD, PhD (Google Scholar)
University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, 2017
I have always loved hiking, camping, and the great outdoors. I have a strong passion for cooking, particularly experimenting with new foods, styles, and flavors and I enjoy hosting dinner parties. I like gardening and in the summer I grow my own herbs and vegetables. When I have the time, I love to travel and explore new cultures and cuisines.
My academic interests include neuroimmunology and neuroinfectious disease. I hope to pursue a career in academic medicine studying the role of immune activation and inflammation in causing neuronal dysfunction, particularly in the setting of CNS infections and inflammation-associated neurodegenerative disease.
University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, 2017
I have always loved hiking, camping, and the great outdoors. I have a strong passion for cooking, particularly experimenting with new foods, styles, and flavors and I enjoy hosting dinner parties. I like gardening and in the summer I grow my own herbs and vegetables. When I have the time, I love to travel and explore new cultures and cuisines.
My academic interests include neuroimmunology and neuroinfectious disease. I hope to pursue a career in academic medicine studying the role of immune activation and inflammation in causing neuronal dysfunction, particularly in the setting of CNS infections and inflammation-associated neurodegenerative disease.
Andrea Fuentes, MD (Google Scholar)
University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, 2017
In my free time, I enjoy traveling, doing Pilates, and exploring different foods near and far. In my alternate life, I would be a travel food writer.
While I hope to continue exploring neurologic subspecialties during residency, I am interested in movement disorders, epilepsy and neuromuscular diseases. My research interest thus far has been in movement disorders, with an emphasis on progressive supranuclear palsy.
University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, 2017
In my free time, I enjoy traveling, doing Pilates, and exploring different foods near and far. In my alternate life, I would be a travel food writer.
While I hope to continue exploring neurologic subspecialties during residency, I am interested in movement disorders, epilepsy and neuromuscular diseases. My research interest thus far has been in movement disorders, with an emphasis on progressive supranuclear palsy.
Geoffrey Noble, MD, PhD (Google Scholar)
Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, 2017
I enjoy baking bread and cooking. In the summer I like to ride my bike, and in the winter I enjoy playing hockey (like any good Canadian).
My research interests are in the field of neurodegeneration.
Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, 2017
I enjoy baking bread and cooking. In the summer I like to ride my bike, and in the winter I enjoy playing hockey (like any good Canadian).
My research interests are in the field of neurodegeneration.
Class of 2022
Samuel Carrell, MD/PhD (Google Scholar)
University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 2018
I enjoy road cycling when I have the time, running, and cooking with my wife. We also have the world's laziest dog, a retired greyhound named Rita, who enjoys short walks. And I enjoy music and have played drums in several bands.
My past research examined mechanisms and experimental treatments for genetic muscle disease. I hope to continue studying neurogenetic diseases by developing pre-clinical models and testing experimental treatments that may one day improve the lives of affected families. Clinically, I am interested in neuromuscular medicine or movement disorders.
University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 2018
I enjoy road cycling when I have the time, running, and cooking with my wife. We also have the world's laziest dog, a retired greyhound named Rita, who enjoys short walks. And I enjoy music and have played drums in several bands.
My past research examined mechanisms and experimental treatments for genetic muscle disease. I hope to continue studying neurogenetic diseases by developing pre-clinical models and testing experimental treatments that may one day improve the lives of affected families. Clinically, I am interested in neuromuscular medicine or movement disorders.
Emily Liu, MD (Google Scholar)
Stanford University School of Medicine, 2018
I was born in China but lived in 6 different states before coming to Philadelphia for residency. I’ve happily munched on different regional cuisines from smoky Arkansas BBQ to the blue crabs of the Chesapeake Bay to the warm, farmer’s market peaches of Northern California. Amidst this moveable feast, I cultivated a passion for art and writing – I’m a known doodler and scribbler. You’ll also find me on the hiking trials or bounding around the rock climbing gym.
My academic interests are in bioethics/neuroethics, medical humanities, and medical education, particularly as they relate to questions of professional identity formation and physician burnout. I’m still deciding on my overarching clinical path, but cognitive neurology, neuropsychiatry, and neuro-oncology are potential areas of focus!
Stanford University School of Medicine, 2018
I was born in China but lived in 6 different states before coming to Philadelphia for residency. I’ve happily munched on different regional cuisines from smoky Arkansas BBQ to the blue crabs of the Chesapeake Bay to the warm, farmer’s market peaches of Northern California. Amidst this moveable feast, I cultivated a passion for art and writing – I’m a known doodler and scribbler. You’ll also find me on the hiking trials or bounding around the rock climbing gym.
My academic interests are in bioethics/neuroethics, medical humanities, and medical education, particularly as they relate to questions of professional identity formation and physician burnout. I’m still deciding on my overarching clinical path, but cognitive neurology, neuropsychiatry, and neuro-oncology are potential areas of focus!
Sahily Reyes-Esteves, MD/PhD (Google Scholar)
University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, 2018
MD Anderson UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 2018
I enjoy reading, writing, spending time with my husband and dogs, cooking (and grocery shopping!), and spending time outdoors. I also love meeting new people and hosting friends at my home.
Clinically, I enjoy many aspects of neurology and patient care, and am excited to explore different possibilities during residency. In terms of research, I have a long-standing curiosity for neurodegeneration and envision pursuing this further in the upcoming years. I am also very interested in initiatives that promote access to quality healthcare for underserved populations, specifically within urban contexts.
University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, 2018
MD Anderson UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 2018
I enjoy reading, writing, spending time with my husband and dogs, cooking (and grocery shopping!), and spending time outdoors. I also love meeting new people and hosting friends at my home.
Clinically, I enjoy many aspects of neurology and patient care, and am excited to explore different possibilities during residency. In terms of research, I have a long-standing curiosity for neurodegeneration and envision pursuing this further in the upcoming years. I am also very interested in initiatives that promote access to quality healthcare for underserved populations, specifically within urban contexts.
Class of 2023
Wells Andres, MD (Google Scholar)
Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, 2019
I’m a violinist and I love playing chamber music when I have the chance. I also like cooking and baking, particularly sourdough bread. I sometimes run, but more often bike, and my partner and I are looking forward to getting a dog in the near future.
I’m interested in neurocritical care, possibly neuro-interventional, and more generally I like thinking about language and education.
Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, 2019
I’m a violinist and I love playing chamber music when I have the chance. I also like cooking and baking, particularly sourdough bread. I sometimes run, but more often bike, and my partner and I are looking forward to getting a dog in the near future.
I’m interested in neurocritical care, possibly neuro-interventional, and more generally I like thinking about language and education.
Alana Kornspun, MD (Google Scholar)
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 2019
I enjoy outdoor activities like running, hiking, and camping. If the weather is bad, you can find me inside doing yoga or cooking.
Clinically, I am most interested in multiple sclerosis and neuroimmunology, although I am looking forward to exploring all of the neurology subspecialties throughout my residency. I also enjoy teaching and am interested in incorporating medical education into my career.
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 2019
I enjoy outdoor activities like running, hiking, and camping. If the weather is bad, you can find me inside doing yoga or cooking.
Clinically, I am most interested in multiple sclerosis and neuroimmunology, although I am looking forward to exploring all of the neurology subspecialties throughout my residency. I also enjoy teaching and am interested in incorporating medical education into my career.
Laura Pappalardo, MD, PhD, PharmD (Google Scholar)
Yale School of Medicine, 2019
In my spare time, I enjoy exploring Philly's parks, museums, and restaurants with my husband and two daughters. Every fall you can find me cheering on Texas Longhorn football.
My research has focused on molecular mechanisms underlying glial involvement in neurological diseases including multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, and spinal cord injury. Specifically, I have investigated the functional role of voltage-gated sodium channels in relation to astrogliosis. Clinically, I am interested in neurocritical care and vascular neurology.
Yale School of Medicine, 2019
In my spare time, I enjoy exploring Philly's parks, museums, and restaurants with my husband and two daughters. Every fall you can find me cheering on Texas Longhorn football.
My research has focused on molecular mechanisms underlying glial involvement in neurological diseases including multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, and spinal cord injury. Specifically, I have investigated the functional role of voltage-gated sodium channels in relation to astrogliosis. Clinically, I am interested in neurocritical care and vascular neurology.
Graduate Career Paths
Beyond residency, we position our trainees for excellence in Fellowship training and career advancement.
Over the last 10 years, two-thirds of our residents have remained at Penn to complete their Fellowship training. In many cases, these Fellowship programs combine further clinical experience with research activities. Support for Fellowship research comes from both R25 Fellowship support as well as several training grants held by faculty within Neurology.
The remaining one-third of our residents elect to leave Penn for their Fellowship and choose positions at top institutions across the country. Over the past ten years, these institutions have included Partners, UCSF, Wash U, Michigan, NYU, NIH, Johns Hopkins, Columbia, and Stanford.
Our residents work with world-class clinicians and researchers in every field of neurology. This diversity is reflected in the areas of focus they pursue after residency.
