Department of Neurology - Newsletter

Volume 102 | September 12, 2023

Tracey A. Milligan, M.D., M.S., FAAN, FAES, FANA

Professor and Chair of Neurology, New York Medical College

Director of Neurology, Westchester Medical Center Health Network

Neurology Grand Rounds

Wednesday, September 13, 2023

1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Best practices in medical student teaching

Room E-139, Taylor Pavilion, WMC

Virtual option

Zoom

Meeting ID: 921 8340 4963

Passcode: 922279

Join zoom now

Robert Fekete, M.D.

Associate Professor of Neurology

New York Medical College

Movement Disorders Attending

Westchester Medical Center

Wednesday, September 27, 2023

1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes and the Maternal Brain

Room E-139, Taylor Pavilion, WMC

Virtual option

Zoom

Meeting ID: 921 8340 4963

Passcode: 922279

Join zoom now

Eliza C. Miller, M.D., M.S.

Assistant Professor of Neurology Division of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disease

Columbia University

Irving Medical Center

Faculty News and Publications

Dr. Sangmi Chung Awarded $7.1 Million in Grants to Support Schizophrenia Research

Sangmi Chung, Ph.D., professor of cell biology and anatomy, psychiatry and behavioral sciences and of neurology, has been awarded two grants totaling $7.1 million over five years from the National Institutes of Health’s Institute of Mental Health to support her research into schizophrenia.

Read the full story on Dr. Chung

Sangmi Chung, Ph.D.

Professor of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and of Neurology

New York Medical College

Study Links CTE To Young Athletes, But Rewards May Outweigh Risks

For many families, going back to school also means going back to sports. Approximately 55% of U.S. school-age children participate in sports each year, and just under 2 million of them will suffer a sport-related concussion over the next year. A recently published research study in JAMA Neurology demonstrated that young athletes with years of participating in contact sports, ranging from amateur to professional, with repetitive head trauma were at increased risk of chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

Read the article - Forbes

Mill Etienne, M.D.’02, M.P.H, FAAN, FANA, FAES

Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Inclusion

Associate Dean for SOM Student Affairs

Associate Professor of Neurology and Medicine, NYMC

Congratulations to Fawaz Al-Mufti, M.D., who received a 2023 Doctors of Distinction award in the Doctors Without Boundaries category from the Westfair Business Journal!

Dr. Al-Mufti is an associate professor of neurology, neurosurgery and radiology and associate chair of neurology for research at

New York Medical College.

At Westchester Medical Center, Dr. Al-Mufti is one of the few triple-trained, board-certified neurologists, neurointensivists, and neuroendovascular surgeons in the country.

During his early training in medicine, Dr. Al-Mufti treated civilian casualties during the Iraq war. His wartime experience in emergency medicine inspired him to deliver urgent care to under-resourced communities in conflict zones around the world at Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières.

Fawaz Al-Mufti, M.D.

Associate Professor of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Radiology and Associate Chair of Neurology for Research at New York Medical College.

Neurology Welcomes Sarah Parauda, M.D.

Dr. Parauda joined the Neurology department in August 2023

"I am a stroke-trained neurohospitalist, meaning I feel most at home diagnosing and managing patients with the complex neurological diseases that land them in the hospital (and navigating the complexities of the hospital environment itself).

I grew up just north of Westchester Medical Center in Pleasantville, New York and was exposed to neurology at a young age through my maternal grandmother, who had temporal lobe epilepsy. I majored in Neurobiology and Behavior at Cornell University in Ithaca. There, I also completed the College Scholar independent major program, doing my thesis in "Humor Cognition" with Dr. Nicholas Schiff. I then completed medical school, residency, and vascular neurology fellowship all at NYP/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City. During residency, I also spent substantial time training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where I gained significant clinical experience in neuro-oncology, epilepsy, neuroimmunology, and neuroinfectious diseases. I also developed a special research interest in posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) under the mentorship of Dr. Neal Parikh and Dr. Hooman Kamel. I completed the Educator Track and was Chief Resident in my final year of residency at Cornell. All of these experiences helped me realize my passion for neurology education, mentorship, quality improvement, and hospital neurology.

I recently moved to Pelham with my husband Max, where we are learning how to manage our prolific little garden. In my free time, I also enjoy running scenic routes, cooking Italian food, and whale watching. I am so thrilled to be joining the team at Westchester Medical Center and look forward to working with all of you."

Sarah Parauda, M.D.

Neurohospitalist, WMC

2023 - 2024 Residency Interview Dates

Dear Faculty,

Interview season is almost here! This season our interviews will remain virtual and will be held via Thalamus and Zoom. We will follow the same format as last year, which is panel style consisting of four to five attendings. There will be three core members (Dr. Milligan, Dr. Li, and Dr. Kaur) and will include one to two additional faculty members, each interview day depending on availability. We aim to interview eight to ten candidates per day. Our interview dates and general overview of the daily interview schedule are as follows:

Interview Dates:

Wednesday, October 11, 2023

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

Wednesday, November 8, 2023

Wednesday, November 15, 2023

Wednesday, November 22, 2023

Wednesday, November 29, 2023

Wednesday, December 6, 2023

Wednesday, December 13, 2023

Wednesday, December 20, 2023

Wednesday, January 24, 2023

Daily Interview Schedule:

9:45 a.m.- 10:00 a.m.

Residency Coordinator and Candidates

10:00 a.m.- 10:30 a.m.

Orientation Program Director and Candidates

10:30 a.m.- 11:00 a.m.

Orientation Internal Medicine Chief Residents/Dr. Ronald Cho and Candidates

11:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.

Panel Interviews and Resident/Candidate Breakout room sessions

4:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m. Ranking Session

I will be reaching out shortly for your availability. We are truly grateful for your continued participation and look forward to another great interview season!

Thank you,

Nadia Tilden-Dassler

Marks Mentor Society

Dear Neurology Faculty:

Last year’s outstanding neurology match underscores the critical role your guidance plays in our students’ achievements. We are launching a new advising program for the fourth-year medical students applying to Neurology residency. I am requesting your kind participation in this program.

Named in honor of the late Stephen J. Marks, M.D., the Marks Mentor Society will pair each student with a dedicated faculty member. Throughout the year, mentors will aid students in exploring neurology specialty interests, refining CVs and personal statements, improving interview skills, and providing overarching application guidance. Students will also have regular check-ins with me to ensure progress. The primary objective is to empower the students to explore their own passion for neurology and facilitate a seamless transition into their residency program.

As this year’s application cycle is already well underway, the initial focus will be on interview skills and program selection. We would sincerely appreciate your participation.

If you are interested in being a mentor, please fill out the following brief survey at your earliest convenience:

LINK TO SURVEY

I am also delighted to highlight that this is being championed by Harli Weber, a current fourth-year medical student applying into neurology! In collaboration with Dr. Tracey A. Milligan, Dr. Robert Fekete, and I, this program will be part of an ongoing scholarly work in medical education.

Thank you all so much!

Chaitanya Medicherla, M.D.

Stephen J. Marks, M.D.’80, FAHA

Dr. Marks joined the faculty of New York Medical College (NYMC) in 1986 and at the time of his passing held appointments of professor of clinical neurology at NYMC as well as attending physician of neurology and co-chief of the cerebrovascular section at Westchester Medical Center (WMC). Dr. Marks additionally served as Director of the neurology clerkship at NYMC for many years.

During his lengthy affiliation with NYMC, Dr. Marks inspired many to join the field of neurology and to become better physicians, clinicians and people through his brilliance, care, compassion and bedside manner. He was a devoted teacher of students, residents and everyone with whom he came in contact. He was incredibly compassionate with the family members and caregivers of his patients and was a gifted listener, giving them hope and guidance during their struggles with the illness of a loved one.

New York Medical College

Community Read: “What We Bring to the Practice of Medicine: Perspectives from Women Physicians”

Wednesday, September 13, 2023, 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Nevins Auditorium, Medical Education Center (MEC), NYMC

In celebration of Women in Medicine Month, join the Office of Diversity and Inclusion for a Book Signing/Community Read. This event is in collaboration with NYMC affinity groups Women in Medicine (WIM) and the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA).

Click here for more information

RSVP here

NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM

A MEETING OF THE MINDS

Submit your abstract soon!

Deadline to submit is September 15, 2023

WMCHealth News

Student Interest Group in Neurology (SIGN)

We are looking for attendings open to having NYMC medical students shadow them in both in-patient and out-patient settings. Please email Laurel Kossow if you are interested.