Resident Roster: 

PGY 4

Jessica Baity, MD

Medical School: Louisiana State University School of Medicine, New Orleans

Hometown: New Orleans, LA

Why I picked LSU: I picked LSU because as a New Orleans native I am dedicated to providing healthcare to the people of the city. I also loved the family-like atmosphere of the LSU residency program and how the residents and faculty support each other.

Plans after Residency: I hope to complete a fellowship after residency and am interested in epilepsy, headache, or movement disorders.

 

Miguel F. Molina, MD, PhD

Medical School: Louisiana State University School of Medicine, New Orleans

Hometown: New Orleans, LA

Why I picked LSU: I really liked the faculty, and residents. New Orleans is my home, and being close to family during residency was important to me. New Orleans is a one of a kind place to live and work. 

Plans after Residency: Most likely completing a fellowship and continuing in academic medicine, movement disorders / neuroimmunology.

 

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Vaniolky Losada Leon, MD

Medical School: Higher Institute of Medical Sciences “Carlos Juan Finlay”, Facultad de Ciencias Medicas de Ciego de Avila

Hometown: Ciego de Avila, Cuba

Why I picked LSU: New Orleans has a remarkable diverse culture that is reflected in its residents. The LSU neurology faculty and residents work side by side and stimulates an excellent learning environment. The staff is respectful and considered with the residents. The city is an amazing and family oriented place to live and enjoy.

Plans after Residency: I will pursue an electrophysiology fellowship after finishing residency.

 

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Class of 2021- PGY 3

 

David Chachkhiani, MD
Medical School: David Tvildiani Medical University

Undergraduate: Natural Sciences College Aieti

Hometown: Tbilisi, Georgia

Why I picked LSU: New Orleans has diverse patient population, people are welcoming here and the city is nice! Also, I was impressed with friendly residents and supportive faculty.

Plans after residency: I plan to pursue a fellowship. My current subspecialty interests are vascular neurology and movement disorders.

 

Michael Y Soliman, MD

Medical School: MUST

Hometown: Cairo, Egypt

Why I picked LSU: Amazing faculty and residents, excellent teaching and diverse pathology. I consider New Orleans home.

Plans after residency: Completing fellowship and hopefully practicing in New Orleans.

 

 

Aditi Vian Varma-Doyle MD 

Medical School: Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University India

Hometown: Secunderabad, India

Why I picked LSU: The faculty has world renowned expertise in fields of neurology and place a strong emphasis on research and academia. New Orleans is a magical place, with wide variety of food, festival and music. To me that was a perfect combination.

Plans after residency: I hope to pursue a fellowship and contribute towards clinical and research neurology.

 

Mary Nguyen, MD

Medical School: Louisiana State University School of Medicine, New Orleans

Hometown: Morgan City, LA

Why I picked LSU: LSU Neurology was my top choice! The program truly has a family-like feel and has an amazing group of faculty & residents who are very supportive of one another. The diverse patient population in New Orleans provides exposure to a wide variety of neurological problems. And outside of work, there are plenty of fun activities to do in the city and amazing restaurants to try.

Plans after residency: Most likely completing a fellowship, with current interests in either vascular neurology or headaches.

 

 

 

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Class of 2022- PGY 2

Joshua Campo, MD

 

 

Anil Kumar Chimakurthy, MD

Medical School: Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
Internship: Guntur Medical College, India
Epilepsy Research Fellowship: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA
Hometown: Ponnur, India
Why I picked LSU: I am impressed with eminent faculty who are friendly and easily approachable. There is diversity among neurology residents and great balance of clinical & academic exposure. New Orleans is an vibrant city renowned for music, culture, architecture and cuisines.  
Plans after Residency: Interested in stroke & Clinical Neurophysiology

Christopher Smith, MD

Medical School: Medical University of the Americas
Hometown: Mandeville, LA
Why I picked LSU: Among the residents and faculty, there is such an apparent closeness mimicking that of a family. Having that guidance and those friendships is important to me, which facilitates a great learning setting. Also, New Orleans is such a unique and lively place to live that always allows for truly lasting memories! LSU Neurology also has a very strong acceptance rate for fellowships.
Plans after Resideny: Completing a fellowship after residency; possibly Neuroelectrophysiology, Neurocritical care, Stroke/Interventional

Olinda Verdecie, MD

Medical School: Universidad de Ciencias Medicas Las Tunas
Hometown: Las Tunas, Cuba
Why I picked LSU: LSU embodies every characteristic I was looking for in a program: exposure to a wide variety of neurological disorders, caring staff and friendly residents. In addition, as music lovers, my family and I, fell in love with New Orleans and it's culture since the first visit.
Plans after Residency: Completing a Clinical Neurophysiology fellowship after finishing residency.

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Class of 2023- PGY 1

 

Delphi Barua, MD

Medical School: St. James School of Medicine
Hometown: Montreal, Canada
Why I picked LSU: The amazing residents and faculty made a big difference in choosing this program. And this city has been beyond my expectations. 
Plans after Residency: Plan to do a fellowship hopefully , still exploring 

Nicholas Helmstetter, MD

Medical School: Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans
Hometown: Luling, LA
Why I picked LSU: I picked LSU because I felt it was a great place to get an education that would better serve me to give back to my home community of New Orleans while also maintaining my connection to the area and its people.
Plans after Residency: My plans after residency include pursuing a fellowship, ultimately, I plan to  return to the New Orleans area to practice and serve in this community.

Benjamin Zwain, DO

Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Georgia Campus
Hometown: New Orleans, LA
Why I picked LSU: A well-established program with rich tradition in my hometown of New Orleans. A personable and diverse culture between faculty and residents alike. A program that offers great versatility, with appropriate balance between inpatient and outpatient experience.  
Plans after Residency: Most likely outpatient as a General Neurologist. 

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Incoming Interns- Class of 2024

Cyprian Afunugo, MD

Medical School: AUREUS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, ARUBA
Hometown: AWKA, NIGERIA
Why I picked LSU: New Orleans is one of the cities in the south I've admired a alot because of its culture, diverse population and history. People here are welcoming. The residents in LSU are friendly and so the faculty members. I am happy to be here.
Plans after Residency. I am interested in stroke.

 

Marine Isakadze, MD

Medical School: David Tvildiani Medical University
Hometown: Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia
Why I picked LSU:I believe that LSU neurology residency program fits my goals, career plans, and personality.  
The program has created outstanding opportunities for clinical and scientific growth for residents in its multiple training facilities. Besides excellent clinical and academic training, I was drawn to the program as I appreciated the collaborative and supportive spirit between the trainees and faculty as well as the fact that everyone here seems to be genuinely happy.  
Plans after Residency:I want to explore different subspecialties before I make a decision to choose one.

Andrew Melcher, MD

Vivek Venkatesh, MD

Medical school: Windsor University
Hometown: Las Vegas, NV; Columbia, SC
Why I picked LSU: I wanted to train in a larger city and in a university program that offers a variety of clinical experiences.
Plans after Residency: Fellowship, possibly academics 

 

 

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