Current Residents, Graduates & Residency Life


PGY-4 – Class of 2025

Ralf Voshtina, DO

Ralf Voshtina, DO

Hometown: Aurora, IL

Undergrad: Loyola University Chicago

Medical School: Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine

Fellowship: Movement Disorder fellowship at Stanford Medicine

Hobbies: Camping, going to concerts, antiquing, biking


Victoria Grau Kazmierczk, MD

Victoria Grau Kazmierczk, MD

Hometown: Poznan, Poland

Undergrad: None

Medical School: Poznan University of Medical Sciences

Fellowship: Vascular neurology at Loyola University Medical Center

Hobbies: Painting, Skiing, Tennis, Piano, Cooking

Sergej Stjepic, DOSergej Stjepic, DO

Hometown: Fort Wayne, IN

Medical School: Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Fellowship: Neurocritical Care at John's Hopkins Medicine

Hobbies: Intramural sports leagues, Biking, Walking downtown to visit architectural landmarks, Traveling abroad and in the U.S 


Alexandria Pecoraro, MD

Alexandria Pecoraro, MD

Hometown: Bolingbrook, IL

Medical School: Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine

Fellowship: Vascular Neurology at Rush University Medical Center

Hobbies: playing with my dogs, watching The Great British Baking Show, trying new restaurants


Amena Ahmed, DO

Amena Ahmed, DO

Hometown: St. Louis, MO

Medical School: Kansas City University

Fellowship: Clinical Neurophysiology at Rush University Medical Center

Hobbies: TV shows, trying new restaurants, crossword puzzles, gardening, cooking, spending time with family and friends


Taylor Stevens

Taylor Stevens

Hometown: Indianapolis

Undergrad: Georgetown University

Medical School: Indiana University

Fellowship: Neuromuscular at University of Rochester 

Hobbies: Reading, trying new restaurants, spending time with my pet rabbit and dog 

PGY-3 – Class of 2026

Sari Grad, DO

Sari Grad, DO

Hometown: Highland Park, Illinois

Undergrad: University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Medical School: Midwestern CCOM

Specialty Interests: Still unsure and exploring

Hobbies: I live right by the lake and love walking by the lake and playing with my new golden retriever puppy Theo!


Monica Gupta, DO

Monica Gupta, DO

Hometown: Barrington, IL

Undergrad: Loyola University Chicago

Medical School: Midwestern University

Specialty Interests: Undecided

Hobbies: Cooking, going to the gym, spending time with my family and friends


Ari Vandersluis, DO

Ari Vandersluis, DO

Hometown: Dayton, Ohio

Undergrad: The Ohio State University

Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine

Specialty Interests: Neuro-Critical Care, Stroke

Hobbies: Hiking, Skiing, Snowboarding, Woodworking, Eating, Traveling


Yongsung Kim, DO

Yongsung Kim, MD

Hometown: Seoul, South Korea

Medical School: Chung-Ang University School of Medicine, Seoul

Specialty Interests: Movement Disorders

Hobbies: Hiking and Camping


Melissa McKalip, DO

Melissa McKalip, DO

Hometown: Frankfort, IL

Undergrad: University of Notre Dame

Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

Specialty Interests: Undecided but my current interests include Vascular and Behavioral Neurology

Hobbies: Running/hiking/spending time outdoors; attempting to learn instruments


Ariba Raza, MD

Ariba Raza, MD

Hometown: Glendale Heights, IL

Undergrad: Loyola University Chicago

Medical School: Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Health Sciences

Specialty Interests: Harry Potter!! Free food!!

Hobbies: I love to travel! Taking my Siamese cats on walks in Little Italy, Chicago. Hanging with my co-residents :)

PGY-2 – Class of 2027

Matthew Brodhead, MD

Matthew Brodhead, MD

Hometown: Lake Tomahawk, Wisconsin

Undergrad: University of Wisconsin Madison; genetics

Medical School: University of Wisconsin School of medicine and public health

Specialty Interests: :sports neuro, neuro ophthalmology

Hobbies: music and sports


Sthitadhi Chakraborty, BA, MD

Sthitadhi Chakraborty, BA, MD

Hometown: Naperville, IL

Undergrad: Washington University in St. Louis, Cognitive Neuroscience

Medical School: Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine

Specialty Interests: Open to anything but currently interested in cognitive behavioral, sleep neurology, and stroke

Hobbies: : Pop culture, video games, Bollywood, traveling and trying new restaurants with family and friends


Joseph Hilger, MD

Joseph Hilger, MD

Hometown: Chicago IL

Undergrad: Knox College, Biochemistry

Medical School: George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences

Specialty Interests: Undecided, leaning towards neuromuscular and vascular

Hobbies: Rock climbing and bouldering, spending time with family and friends, and rooting for da bears.


Fidak Khan, MD

Fidak Khan, MD

Hometown: Skokie, IL

Undergrad: Northwestern University

Medical School: Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine

Specialty Interests: Movement Disorders, Neuromuscular

Hobbies: Reading novels, cooking, going to the movies


Yesha Patel, MD

Yesha Patel, MD

Hometown: Carol Stream, IL

Undergrad: UIUC, Integrative Biology

Medical School: Stritch School of Medicine

Specialty Interests: not sure, everything seems really interesting!

Hobbies: hiking, reading/writing, karaoke


Michelle Seu, MD

Michelle Seu, MD

Hometown: Columbia, MD

Undergrad: Biology & Interdisciplinary Studies

Medical School: Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine

Specialty Interests: interventional neurology, neurointensive care, neuromuscular disease

Hobbies: drawing/painting, singing, visiting museums, retail therapy

PGY-1 – Class of 2028

Sara Diab

Sara Diab, MD

Hometown: Corona, CA

Undergrad: University of California, Irvine - Public Health Sciences

Medical School: Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science 

Specialty Interests: Headache, neuro-critical care, vascular 

Hobbies: Embroidery, (indoor) gardening, reading, traveling, and exploring new food scenes! 


James Eaton

James Eaton, DO

Hometown: Munster, IN

Undergrad: Wabash College, Biology

Medical School: Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Specialty Interests: Neurocritical Care, Vascular

Hobbies: Going to concerts, traveling, and playing basketball


Kathleen Kisseberth, MD

Kathleen Kisseberth, MD

Hometown: Hilliard, OH

Undergrad: The Ohio State University, Neuroscience

Medical School: Rush Medical College 

Specialty Interests: Still exploring! 

Hobbies: Exploring coffee shops, reading, running, houseplants


Charles Love, DO

Charles Love, DO

Hometown: Crocker Township, Iowa

Undergrad: Iowa State University - Microbiology

Medical School: Des Moines University

Specialty Interests: Critical Care - Global Health

Hobbies: Writing, Hiking, Learning Languages (Khmer now)


Shwetha Ramchandran, DO

Shwetha Ramchandran, DO

Hometown: Troy, Michigan 

Undergrad: Michigan State University, Neuroscience Major

Medical School: Michigan State University School of Osteopathic Medicine

Specialty Interests: undecided 

Hobbies: playing tennis, doing puzzles, and watching the Detroit Lions 


Nicholas Sasso, MD

Nicholas Sasso, MD

Hometown: Dix Hills, New York

Undergrad: Colgate University, Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies and Cellular Neuroscience; Dominican University, Bachelor of Medical Science and Master of Arts in Teaching

Medical School: Loyola University Chicago, Stritch School of Medicine, Doctor of Medicine

Specialty Interests: Vascular neurology, interventional neurology, autonomic dysfunction, POTS, ME/CFS, long-COVID.

Hobbies: Art, guitar, building model aircraft 

Current and Former Fellows

Class of 2024

Vascular Neurology Mohammad Abdul Azeem, MBBS
Clinical Neurophysiology Patrick Wen, BA, MD

Class of 2022

Headache Evan Ariano, MD
Headache Amara Sattar, DO
Vascular Neurology Michael Teitcher, MD

Class of 2021

Headache Bianca Barcelo, MD
Headache Perveen Chattha, MD
Neurophysiology Richard Cough, MD
Neurophysiology Adeline Schnitz, DO
Vascular Neurology Will Taylor, DO

Class of 2019

Neurophysiology Kalea Colleta, DO
Neurophysiology Shilpa Chaku, DO
Neuro Critical Care Ravi Garg, MD

Class of 2018

Neurophysiology Somayyeh Sabet, MD
Headache Ferhad Bashir, MD
Headache Michael Doerrler, MD

Class of 2017

Headache Shathabish Kariyanna, MD
Headache Anne Damian, MD
Neurophysiology Natalie Litvinsky, MD
Neurophysiology Jessica Wilson, MD
Vascular Jorge Ortiz, MD

Program Graduates

Class of 2024

Clinical Neurophysiology at Rush University Medical Center Alex Balabanov, DO
Vascular Neurology at Loyola University Medical Center Kenneth Jordan, MD
Clinical Neurophysiology at University of Chicago Ashley Raedy, DO
Neurocritical Care Fellowship at Rush University Medical Center Amna Siddiqui, MD
Vascular Neurology at Loyola University Medical Center Adam Wadina, MD
Clinical Neurophysiology fellowship at Rush University Medical Center Yuchen Zheng, MD

Class of 2023

Neurocritical care at RUSH Chicago Braden Dasovic, MD
Epilepsy, Oregon Health & Science University Jacqueline Hirschey, MD
Neuroimmunology - Medical College of Wisconsin Elise Johnson, MD
Neurophysiology at University of Chicago Farah Khan, MD
Headache Medicine (Rush/Diamond Headache Medicine Fellowship 2023-2024) Zachary Pardieck, MD
Clinical Neurophysiology, UC-San Diego Tahaamin Shokuhfar, MD

Class of 2022

Diana Andino Neuro Immunology, UT-Austin
Carlos Lara Neurophysiology, University of Chicago
Laurent Loganathan Neurocritical Care, Medical College of Wisconsin
Fady Mousa-Ibrahim Neurocritical Care, Northwestern University
Jasmine Singh Neurocritical Care, UC-San Diego
Amara Syed Neurocritical Care, Rush University

Class of 2021

Erin Fiedler Epilepsy, University of Chicago
Michael Teitcher Vascular Neurology, Loyola University
Amara Mian Headache, Diamond Headache Clinic
Evan Ariano Headache, Diamond Headache Clinic
Ari Gordin Neurophysiology, UC-San Diego
Christine Woods Private Practice, Alaska

Class of 2020

Richard Chough Neurophysiology, Loyola University
Jeremy Schmitz Neurophysiology, Rush University
Adam Schnitz Neurophysiology, Loyola University
Piotr Tekiela Vascular Neurology, University of Utah
Geeta Verma Neurophysiology, Rush University
Will Taylor Vascular Neurology, Loyola University

Class of 2019

Amy Brown Movement Disorders, Vanderbilt University
Saima Chaudry Neuroimmunology, Brown University RI
Jay Datar Neuroimmunology, Northwestern University
Carolyn Goldschmidt Neuroimmunology, Cleveland Clinic
Jonatan Hornik Neurocritical Care, University of Chicago
Lauren Ottenhoff Neurocritical Care, University of Michigan

Class of 2018

Kalea Colleta Neurophysiology, Loyola University
Preston Douglas Neurophysiology, Brown University
Chandler Gill Movement disorders, Rush
Stasia Rouse Epilepsy, Rush
Shannon Hextrum Neuro critical care, Northwestern University
Adriana Perilla Movement disorders, Cedar Sinai

Class of 2017

William Conte Multiple Sclerosis, University of Chicago
Michael Doerrler Headache, Loyola University
Ravi Garg Neurocritical Care, University of Chicago
Adam Kapler Private Practice, Ohio
Zeina Rabi Neurophysiology, University of Chicago
Stephen Yeung Multiple Sclerosis, UC San Diego

Class of 2016

Maria Bruzzone Neurophysiology, University of Chicago
Rick Gill Neurocritical Care, University of Pennsylvania
Marisa McGinley Neuroimmunology, Cleveland Clinic
Jorge Ortiz Vascular Neurology, Loyola University
Clio Rubinos Neurophysiology, New York University
Luka Vlahovic Neuroimmunology, Standford University

Class of 2015

Thomas Ahn Private Practice, Colorado
Karen Orjuela Vascular Neurology, Loyola University Medical Center
Chris Robinson Neurocritical Care, Mayo Clinic
Saulena Shafer Movement Disorders, Barrow Institute, Arizona
Michael Star Vascular Neurology, University of Cincinnati
Daniel Vela-Duarte Vascular Neurology, Cleveland Clinic

Class of 2014

Louann Carnahan Neurophysiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Esteban Golombievski Vascular Neurology, Loyola University Medical Center
Lilie Lovera Movement Disorders, University of Cincinnati
Federico Rodriguez-Porcel Movement Disorders, University of Cincinnati
Jaswinder Singh Clinical Neurophysiology, Loyola University Medical Center
Susan Anzalone Multiple Sclerosis, UC San Francisco

Although the days are long, the years are short!

Residents at Loyola live both in the surrounding Chicago suburbs and in the City. We make strong efforts to maintain a good work-life balance, as evidenced below!

Life at Work

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Life Outside of Work

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Holiday Fun!

Residents outside of work

Check us out on Instagram: @loyolaneuro

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