Dear friends, alumni, and members of Stanford Neurology,
At this time of year, it has been a pleasure to celebrate the milestones and graduations of our medical students, residents, fellows and other trainees. Indeed, the opportunity to educate and mentor the spectacular trainees that we have at Stanford is truly a privilege, and for all of us as faculty, a highlight of our careers. Many of our medical students matched into neuro-related residencies. Graduating adult and child neurology residents are entering the top fellowship programs in the country, including many at Stanford. Graduating fellows are beginning their first faculty positions at prestigious academic health care systems or in highly desirable non-academic clinical programs. At the same time, we are excited about welcoming fourteen new residents and more than twenty five fellows to our training programs.
With the fortunate efficacy of the COVID vaccines and the resulting improvement in COVID trends, this is also a month for us to look back and appreciate the dedication and accomplishments of our students, trainees, faculty and department staff in their diligence and positive energy in ensuring continued pursuit of the three missions of care, teaching and research during these stressful times. We recognize the many personal, medical, and family challenges that all members of our department faced. The many awards cited in this edition of our newsletter, especially within the context of the challenges of the past year, is just one recognition of the world class caliber of our department family. Behind each of these awards is the hard work of our many department members.
In addition to raising to the challenge of COVID during the past year, we have stepped up efforts in Diversity and Inclusion. Our Directorship for Diversity and Inclusion role has been elevated to a Vice Chair position and we congratulate Dr. Reena Thomas in her role as our first Neurology Vice Chair for D&I. We also thank our D&I Committee members for their contributions and guidance. Along with curriculum reform focused on health care disparities in neurology, we also initiated a national recruitment for a faculty position dedicated to research, mentorship and execution in the areas of care disparities in neurology.
As the national meetings resume, we look forward to seeing as many alumni as possible and the next AAN meeting.
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New Neuro ICU Medical Director and Associate Director of Critical Care |
Congratulations Dr. Zachary Threlkeld who will be assuming the roles of Unit-Based Medical Director (UBMD) for the NeuroICU and Associate Medical Director of Critical Care. Dr. Threlkeld will be taking over the roles from Dr. Karen Hirsch, who will remain integral to Stanford clinical leadership as the new Co-Medical Director of the UBMD Program alongside Dr. Lisa Shieh.
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US News and World Report Rankings |
Our recognition as #8 among all children's hospitals for Pediatric Neurology and Neurosurgery and our ranking as the very best in California and the West, demonstrate Stanford's overarching commitment to deliver superb clinical care that is highly interdisciplinary and novel. As a national leader of treatment, research, and teaching within pediatric neuroscience, we strive every day to translate brain discoveries of tomorrow for our children from communities near and far. Learn more
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Welcome our new Residents and Fellows! |
While we are looking forward to having the pandemic behind us shortly, we still are far from normal in terms of face-to-face interactions. Some of you may not have had a chance to meet all of our incredible Neurology and Child Neurology residents and fellows. To make sure you keep their (unmasked) faces in mind, here is the updated roster that includes our ever-growing family of 40 (!) residents and 32 fellows! Learn more about our residents and fellows.
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Congratulations to Jeffrey Dunn, MD, inaugural award winner of the Oscar Salvatierra Award for Exceptional Service to Stanford medical students and the Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. Dunn built the Neurology clerkship into a model of national excellence and the highest rated clerkship in the SOM for more than a decade, inspiring more than a thousand medical students during his tenure.
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Phi Beta Kappa Excellence in Teaching Award |
Paul Graham Fisher, MD has been recognized for his continued efforts in undergraduate teaching at Stanford by the Phi Beta Kappa Northern California Association. The Phi Beta Kappa Teaching Prize recognizes excellence in teaching and the ability to inspire intellectual and personal development in and beyond the classroom. Learn more
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The Fishers and Jeffrey Dunn Teaching Award |
Congratulations to Teresa Wu, MD for receiving the 2020-2021 Fishers and Jeffrey Dunn Teaching Award, named for Robert and Paul Fisher and Jeff Dunn, the founders of the award-winning Neurology clerkship. This award is given to the Senior Resident most recognized and appreciated for medical student teaching. Inspiring our next generation of neurologists to teach is critical to our mission of advancing neurologic care in all our communities.
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Congratulations to Kathie Lin, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor and winner of the 2021 Lysia S. Forno Award. This award was named for Dr. Forno who taught neuropathology to a generation of Stanford neurology residents. Each year residents vote for the faculty member they feel embodies Dr. Forno's outstanding contributions to resident teaching. Congratulations, Dr. Lin!
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Esther Nie MD, PhD (Mentor: Michelle Monje MD, PhD) “Microglial mechanisms of cognitive dysfunction after Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy”. Dr. Nie's research project aims to characterize CNS inflammation after Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy, with a focus on microglial signaling as pathogenic and modifiable mechanism in CAR-T neurotoxicity. This work intersects burgeoning topics in neuroimmunology and immuno-oncology. Findings have the potential impact to guide targeted CNS therapies to prevent/treat neurologic deficits following cancer immunotherapy.
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Phuong Hoang MD, PhD (Mentors: Aaron Gitler PhD and Kathleen Poston MD): “Defining the role of motor neuron synaptic specificity in selective vulnerability in ALS” A hallmark of ALS is that specific motor neuron populations are affected while others are preserved, even in late stages of disease. A key difference between vulnerable and resistant motor neurons is their subtype-specific synaptic connectivity with other neuronal cell types. This project aims to examine mechanisms underlying formation of motor neuron subtype-specific circuits with the goal of elucidating motor neuron susceptibility in ALS.
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Faisal Fecto, MD, PhD (Mentor: John Day MD) "Exploring the structural and functional neuroimaging correlates of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis" Dr. Fecto's research aims at identifying the structural and functional neuroimaging correlates of neuromuscular disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and myotonic dystrophy. Outcomes from his research can potentially identify disease specific and clinically relevant biomarkers that may be used to drive clinical trials for discovery of novel rational therapies for these disorders.
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Jack Tzu-Chieh Wang, MD, PhD (Mentor: Marion Buckwalter MD, PhD) "What is the role of axonal degeneration in neuroinflammation after ischemic stroke?" Dr. Wang's research seeks to understand the molecular mechanisms that underlie the development of post-stroke neuroinflammation, which is critical to the subsequent development of progressive and chronic cognitive decline after acute CNS injuries. Specifically, his work examines the role of Wallerian axon degeneration, a stereotypic molecular event resulting in eventual fragmentation and loss of the white matter, in propagating and sustaining neuro-inflammatory responses following ischemic injuries. His research provides mechanistic insight into a key injury response in the CNS, and indicates that targeting axonal degeneration is both a viable and novel therapeutic approach to mitigate post-stroke inflammation and potentially prevent vascular dementia, a major stroke-related comorbidity.
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Dr. Michelle Cao and Dr. Shefali Dujari participated in a project to improve the care of patients with neuromuscular requiring tracheostomy in the Spring 2021 cohort of the Clinical Effectiveness and Leadership Training (CELT) course. Learn more
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Congratulations to Reena Thomas, MD, PhD for receiving the Stanford Award for Excellence in Promotion of Diversity and Societal Citizenship. This award was established to recognize individuals that have made significant contributions to the promotion of the principles of diversity and societal citizenship at the Stanford School of Medicine.
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Hispanic Center of Excellence (HCOE) Faculty Fellow Program Award |
Congratulations, Lucia Rivera Lara, MD for receiving the Hispanic Center of Excellence Grant sponsored by Office of Diversity in Medical Education. This award is intended to help advance the careers of faculty from underrepresented backgrounds as well as those with academic research in health disparities. In addition to funding, faculty have the opportunity to participate in leadership development opportunities through the Office of Faculty Development and Diversity. Dr. Lara will be supported to work on educational scholarship in the creation of a health care advocacy curriculum for our Neurology residency program. |
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As we continue to strive towards fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture and community within Neurology, we prioritize hosting a variety of programs for our faculty, trainees, and staff. Click here to see our latest updates to advance DEI through leadership development, curriculum efforts, and clinical care.
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Stanford 2021 Medical Staff Excellence in Quality and Safety Award |
Congratulations Carl Gold, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor of Neurology & Neurological Sciences for earning the Stanford 2021 Medical Staff Excellence in Quality and Safety Award!
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2021 AAN Medical Student Prize for Excellence in Neurology |
Congratulations to Holly Elser, MD, PhD, Stanford graduating medical student and postdoctoral scholar. This award recognizes excellence in clinical neurology among graduating medical students and is awarded annually on behalf of the AAN to a graduating medical student who exemplifies outstanding scientific achievement and clinical acumen in neurology and neuroscience and the outstanding personal characteristics of integrity, compassion, and leadership.
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2021 Neuro-oncology Scientific Award |
Congratulations to Michelle Monje, MD, PhD! Dr. Monje was selected as recipient of the 2021 Neuro-oncology Scientific Award. The Neuro-oncology Scientific Award is given in recognition of outstanding achievements in neuro-oncology research.
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Kelley M. Skeff GME Professionalism Award |
Congratulations, Nick Murray, MD for winning the inaugural Kelley M. Skeff GME Professionalism Award! This award, named in honor of Dr. Kelley Skeff (prior Stanford internal medicine residency program director and internationally known leader in education), recognizes high levels of excellence and compassion in professional behavior through collaborative work with colleagues, faculty and staff from across the institution.
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Myrna Canizares, Research Administrator
"I joined the Neurology Department in 1990 and worked with David Prince and John Huguenard as their administrative assistant. I appreciate the recognition of my 30 years of working in this department, the wonderful experience, team camaraderie and professionalism. It has been quite an amazing journey." Congratulate Myrna
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Lanzie Rivera, Financial Management Analyst
"I started my career at Stanford in the Department of Comparative Medicine in April 1990. Since then I worked in the Department of Radiology, and now here in Neurology. I truly appreciate the friendship I have established with my Stanford colleagues and feel fortunate to have the opportunity to work here while the campus has developed throughout the years." Congratulate Lanzie
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Professoriate
Michael Greicius, promoted to Professor effective April 1, 2021
Fiona Baumer, appointed as Assistant Professor effective May 16, 2021
Juliet Knowles, appointed as Assistant Professor effective May 16, 2021
Clinician Educators
Laurice Yang, promoted to Clinical Associate Professor effective June 1, 2021
Kyan Younes, appointed as Clinical Assistant Professor effective June 16, 2021
Shefali Dujari, promoted to Clinical Assistant Professor effective, July 1, 2021
Hannah Kirsch, promoted to Clinical Assistant Professor effective, July 1, 2021
Lucia Rivera Lara, appointed as Clinical Associate Professor effective July 1, 2021
Anna Teague, appointed as Clinical Assistant Professor (Affiliated) effective July 1, 2021
Kenneth Leung, appointed as Clinical Instructor effective July 1, 2021
Leon Moskatel, appointed as Clinical Instructor effective July 1, 2021
Travis Morgan, appointed as Clinical Instructor effective July 1, 2021
Instructors
Daniel Benjamin, appointed as Instructor effective April 16, 2021
Sarah Eagleman, appointed as Instructor effective May 1, 2021
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Stanford Neurology & Neurological Sciences is accepting applications for Neurology Clinician Educators, Neurology Health Equity Clinician Educator, and more. Join our team
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Education has always been a priority for Stanford Neurology & Neurological Sciences. Join us in our quest for teaching, knowledge and life-long learning. Events
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Your support helps Stanford Neurology & Neurological Sciences continue to make major strides in advancing our research and providing a better quality of life for our patients.
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Connect with the Department of Neurology & Neurological Sciences online.
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