Department of Neurology - Newsletter

Volume 93| July 11, 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

Neurology Grand Rounds will run on a limited schedule during the summer months. Updates will be added to the newsletter.

Wednesday, July 26, 2023

1:30 - 2:30 p.m.

Epilepsy in multiple sclerosis: gray matters

Mauricio F. Villamar, M.D., FACNS

Assistant Professor of Neurology

Clinician Educator

The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University

Room E 139 Taylor Pavilion, WMC and zoom below

Join zoom now

Meeting ID: 979 3739 1561

Passcode: 080361

Mauricio F. Villamar, M.D., FACNS

Faculty Accolades

Tracey Milligan, M.D. receives the NBME’s Edithe J. Levit Distinguished Service Award

Tracey Milligan, M.D., Professor and Chair of Neurology at New York Medical College and Director of Neurology at Westchester Medical Center Health Network, received the Edithe J. Levit Distinguished Service Award at the 2023 Annual Meeting of the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME). This award recognized Dr. Milligan for her more than 14 years of dedicated service to the NBME. Dr. Milligan has served on the NBME since in multiple leadership positions including Member of the NBME Council, Member of the Board, Member of the Stemmler Fund Steering Committee, Chair of the Behavioral Sciences Test Material Development Committee, Chair of the Interdisciplinary Review Committee, Chair of the Test Material Development Committee, and Chair of the Forms Review Committee.

Her strength of experience and communication were instrumental as Step 1 transitioned to more clinical-based scenarios many years ago. She has since participated enthusiastically in many additional USMLE activities, including IRCs (both live and web/asynchronous review), forms review, and key validation events. Her outstanding leadership in committee meetings is appreciated by both committee members and staff, and her encompassing knowledge of USMLE content lends to the high quality of our items and exams. – National Board of Medical Examiners

Established in 1983, the Distinguished Service Award is named in honor of former NBME President and CEO Edithe J. Levit, who served from 1977 to 1986. Recipients of the award are selected from individuals retiring from NBME’s membership and others who have served NBME exceptionally in their dedication to research related to the evaluation of health professionals. Milligan joins the prestigious, selective ranks of Distinguished Service Award recipients in continuing the extraordinary legacy of Levit on behalf of NBME.

Congratulations Dr. Milligan!

Tracey Milligan, M.D.

War, Migration and Perseverance

Fawaz Al-Mufti, M.D., associate professor of neurology, neurosurgery and of radiology,

associate chair of neurology for research and

assistant dean for graduate medical education (GME) research was one year out of medical school, without a chosen specialty, when war thrust him into emergency medicine. It was 2003 and senior staff at the Nahrain Teaching Hospital in Baghdad, Iraq, where Dr. Al-Mufti had just finished a transitional residency—including six months of surgical training—were fleeing, leaving him and junior colleagues to treat the surge of civilian casualties.

Read the full article below.

Read the article

Fawaz Al-Mufti, M.D.

Resident Accolades

Serena Wong, M.D., receives the Humanism and Excellence in Teaching Award from New York Medical College

Serena Wong, M.D., PL4 and Co-Chief resident in neurology was selected to receive the Humanism and Excellence in Teaching Award by NYMC medical students in the Class of 2024 for demonstrating exceptional humanistic qualities in the care of her patients and for going above and beyond in her role as a teacher.

From NYMC UME office:

Receiving this award highlights your efforts to prioritize strong role modeling of humanism and compassionate physician-patient interactions.

We are honored to present this to you and are grateful for your legacy of humanism that you have taught the next generation of medical students through your example.

From Serena:

Words cannot describe how honored I feel to receive this award! Thank you for those who voted for me. It is their curiosity and eagerness to learn that inspires me to become a better teacher and doctor.

Congratulations Serena! We are all proud of you.

Serena Wong, M.D.

Alumni News

2021 Neurology Graduates

Hussain Alshammari, M.D.

Hussain Alshammari, M.D., graduated from his NCC fellowship at Duke University in June 2023. He is joining the University of North Carolina neurocritical care staff.

From Hussein:

I am excited to start my first attending job in a great academic institution that provides ample experiences and resources to advance my career. I look forward to being a team player at UNC and an active member of the neurocritical care society in the combined efforts to further advance NCC management and treatment. It has never been as exciting as it is now to be a neurologist and neurointensivist.

Congratulations Hussein!

l-r Cherylee Chang, M.D., NCC Program Director, and Hussain Alshammari, M.D.

Sydney Moseley, M.D.

Sydney Moseley, M.D., graduated from her neurocritical care fellowship at the Cleveland clinic on June 2, 2023. She will be starting as a surgical ICU attending in the fall at the Cleveland clinic.

Congratulations Sydney!

l-r Sydney Moseley, M.D. and Dhimant Dani, M.D., NCC Program Director, the Cleveland clinic.

Kristina (Maselli) Mora, M.D

Kristina Mora, M.D., graduated from her headache fellowship in June 2023 at the Montefiore Headache Center. She previously completed a Sleep Medicine fellowship the year prior with plans to be triple board certified. She is joining the faculty at both the Montefiore Headache and Sleep Disorders Centers.

Congratulation Kristina!

l-r Kristina and Nico Mora

Nico is adorable!

Department Events

The Epilepsy Division invites you to join for a summer evening of fun!

Save the Date

When: Friday, July 21, 2023, 6-9p.m. music starts at 7:00 p.m. Dr. Holmes will try to get there by 6:00 p.m. to stake out a good spot close to the parking lot so we can spot each other easily.

Where: Dobbs Ferry Waterfront Park (https://www.dfwaterfrontpark.org/) (20min drive from Valhalla, parking available or can take the Hudson Line to Dobbs Ferry)

Band featured that evening above. This is a free concert, all are invited, so feel free to bring your families, friends - whomever, pack a picnic/pick up some food and a beverage (or two) and come hang out! Hope to see you there!