For Health Professionals

Past Neurology Residency Graduates Tell Their Stories

Sumit Parikh, MD
Residency Class of 2001
Co-Director of the Cleveland Clinic Mitochondrial Clinic and the Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome Clinic
Center for Pediatric Neurology, Cleveland Clinic

What can I say about neurology training in Pittsburgh? Looking back, it helped me achieve a strong foundation in both adult and pediatric neurology. I was able to see both “bread and butter” cases, as well as rare disorders that helped me build a comprehensive fund of knowledge. The busy inpatient service helped me hone my ability to see patients efficiently. The attending staff was always there when needed, but also provided an appropriate level of independence. There was plenty of teaching, and conferences were educational.

The entire experience was a positive one, and allowed me to start life as an attending quickly, with little time needed to warm up to the role. As an attending physician, I have never thought I did not see enough or manage enough of a certain type of patient during my training. I had a great foundation upon which to build.

Vivek Veluchamy, MD

Residency Class of 2010

Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Akron Children’s Hospital, Neuroscience Institute, Northeastern Ohio College of Medicine

Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh’s Neurology training experience is a unique one and is not to be taken lightly. The child neurology program at Pittsburgh has a wealth of medical knowledge, clinical expertise, and astounding technological resources. Teaching is definitely emphasized here, with multiple conferences, text book review, case presentations, epilepsy conferences, neuropathology, neuroradiology rounds, and grand rounds. The faculty was very approachable and generous with their time and teaching and wants you to succeed. There is extensive collaboration with Neuroradiology, NICU and PICU with state of the art technology and facilities in the brand-new hospital. I left Pittsburgh fully equipped and adequately prepared for life after residency. I was able to transition into an attending role with confidence and ease. My only regret being that fact that I had to leave Pittsburgh ...

Paras Bhattarai, MD

Residency Class of 2010

Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatric Neurology, LeBonheur Children’s Medical Center, University of Tennessee

I finished training in child neurology in 2010. It was an intensive educational opportunity. The first year of adult neurology was very busy but paid off by laying a solid foundation of neurology. The first month of "boot camp" in basic neuroscience was excellent. The second and third years in child neurology were full of diverse experience. We saw cases of almost every single disease mentioned in textbooks. My days with Dr. Painter at neonatal neurology were beyond comparison. After graduation I moved to a new center and immediately felt comfortable as an independent clinical child neurologist and teacher of child neurology. Among major decisions in my life, joining UPMC/CHP as a child neurology resident is one of those I will never regret.

Clydette Powell, MD, MPH
Residency Class of 1979
Medical Officer, Bureau for Global Health at the U.S. Agency for International Development

I never cease to be surprised at how my pediatric neurology training, acquired at Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh of UPMC, has been such a welcome set of skills in the countries where I have been working over the last 25 years. Serving as a pediatric neurologist in a global health capacity has been a direct reward of my fellowship years in Pittsburgh, where both primary and tertiary care experience formed a strong basis for my current clinical practice.

Harry Abram, MD
Residency Class of 1994
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Neurology, Mayo Graduate School of Medicine
Director of Neurophysiology Laboratory, The Nemours Children's Clinic, Jacksonville, Fla.

My years in Pittsburgh were among the best of my life!

Gulay Alper, MD
Residency Class of 2002
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh
Director, Neuroimmunology Program

You learn from patients, books and expert attending physicians. Children’s Hospital’s Child Neurology program has them all.

Sinan Comu, MD
Residency Class of 1992
Private Practice in Istanbul, Turkey

My training at Children’s is memorable due to the attendings’ and colleagues’ supportive and friendly manner. All of this made me dare to open a solo-practice back home, which is still running. I certainly enjoyed Pittsburgh as well for a city to live in.

Shelley Williams, MD
Residency Class of 1993
Associate Professor of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh
Director, Epilepsy Fellowship Program

The best parts of my training experiences included the breadth of faculty members, their knowledge and passion for teaching. Due to its large catchment area, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh provides a great range of patient experiences from the most benign to the very rare. Residents are well-equipped with skills for practice after graduation. Our neurology group truly is a family making life as a resident, although challenging, truly enjoyable.

Vasudeva Boosupalli, MD
Residency Class of 2002
Clinical Child Neurologist in San Antonio, Texas

Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC’s Child Neurology Residency Program is easily one of the best child neurology programs in the country. I felt at home on the day of my interview and did not bother with any more interviews. I knew this was it. The presence of various pediatric subspecialties in the hospital and in Child Neurology itself enabled us to get exposed to virtually all aspects of childhood neurological diseases and their management. The attendings are very friendly and approachable and always open to discussion. There is ample opportunity to pursue a clinical or research career with outstanding mentors for both.

Lisa Abraham, MD
Residency Class of 2008
Pediatric Neurologist, Schenectady Neurological Consultants, Inc., Schenectady, NY

The Child Neurology program at Pittsburgh provided me with excellent training. This training helped build my knowledge and gave me the comfort in my clinical skills to diagnose and treat all neurological issues. In addition, the Pittsburgh area is a wonderful place to live. It offers a wide variety of activities for people of all interests.

Angel Hernandez-Mulero, MD
Residency Class of 1997
Vice-Chief of Service, Neurology
Director, Comprehensive Epilepsy Program
Director, Epilepsy Monitoring Unit
Division of Neurosciences
Cook Children's Medical Center, Fort Worth, Texas

I only have positive comments and memories about Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and the residency program. You all are the reason I have been so successful in my career.

Saleem Malik, MD
Residency Class of 1997
Associate Medical Director
Comprehensive Epilepsy Program
Division of Neurosciences
Cook Children's Medical Center, Fort Worth, Texas

I assure anyone considering this program that they will have the opportunity to "see it all". Most importantly, I have many lasting friendships from my days in Pittsburgh. Actually, my colleague from residency is still with me as my practice partner and my best friend.

Hoda Abdel-Hamid, MD
Residency Class of 2005
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh
Director, Pediatric Neuromuscular Program

I enjoyed my years as a neurology resident at Children's Hospital of Pittsburg of UPMC. The experience is exceptional. Working with the neurology faculty is wonderful and collegial. Pittsburgh is a friendly city with lots of good, multi-ethnic restaurants!

Sameh Morkous, MD
Residency Class of 2008
Clinical Child Neurologist
Children’s Hospital of Orange County, Orange, Calif.

My three years of training in Pittsburgh were superb. The quality of education is excellent and includes a variety of exposure to all aspects of child neurology. There is a group of excellent attendings available in all subspecialties in the child neurology field and all are working with the residents in a very friendly atmosphere. The program also gives multiple chances to attend external educational conferences that enrich the educational process. Pittsburgh itself is a great city to live in with mild winters and different changes of weather throughout the year, in addition to a lot of places to visit and a lot of chances to have fun outside of work. The time I spent in training passed quickly but the great memories after finishing training will always remain.

Miya Asato, MD
Residency Class of 2002
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh
Program Director, Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Residency Program

The highlight of my training experience as a child neurology resident was the opportunity to explore my interests in neurodevelopmental disorders and clinical research. I was able to gain considerable exposure to developmental disabilities, which shifted the direction of my career towards epilepsy and brain development research. The rich academic environment at the University of Pittsburgh fosters interdisciplinary collaboration and offers extensive research training experiences that are essential for a future in academic medicine.

Hank Wessel, MD
Residency Class of 1975
Clinical Child Neurologist in Columbus, Ohio

From the first day of my training in child neurology at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC until the day of my retirement from the faculty 31years later, I watched the Division of Child Neurology mature into the renowned program that it is today. Thankfully, the core values of the division remain unchanged. Commitment to rigorous training, broad clinical exposure, diverse research opportunities, individualized program focus, collegial environment, academic excellence and impeccable ethical standards remains a central as ever. There is no better place to embark upon a lifelong adventure into child neurology.

Steven M. Shapiro, MD, MSHA
Residency Class of 1981
Chief, Section of Neurology; Professor of Pediatrics, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine

Child Neurology at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC for the past three decades has been arguably the top program in the country. The faculty and residents have had a remarkable camaraderie and collegiality as the division has grown over the years. I started in Child Neurology in 1978. My education at Pitt was second to none. Child Neurology at Pitt is a special place, and I recommend it highly, with enthusiasm.

Last Update
January 25, 2012

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