Neurology Residency

Welcome to the University of Iowa Neurology Residency Program

About the Program

Check out our 9/12/24 virtual open house recording for a program overview and Q & A session!

Founded in 1919, the University of Iowa Department of Neurology is the third oldest in the United States, and its residency program was one of the first to be accredited. This tradition of excellence continues with a department full of energetic, forward-thinking, thought-provoking, bright clinicians and scientists, committed to training today’s neurologists. 

Come visit us in the lovely college town of Iowa City, Iowa. 

For more information about the history of our department please see our departmental website.

 

Program Director Welcome

Andrea Swenson photoThe Neurology Residency Program at the University of Iowa is a four-year (categorical) ACGME-accredited program that is dedicated to providing its residents with the knowledge and skills that will lead to life-long learning and self-improvement, with the goal of attaining expertise in the clinical practice of neurology. 

The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics has consistently ranked among the nation’s best hospitals and employers and is the largest tertiary care referral center in Iowa and surrounding regions. This allows access to a diverse patient population, common and rare neurological disorders, and training with leading experts in neurology and neurological subspecialties. Residents also rotate at the Iowa City VA hospital, located right across the street from UIHC. The two sites provide trainees with the ideal mix of general neurology and complex referrals. Additionally, we offer a community elective, which gives residents a training experience outside of an academic center. 

Neurology education teamOur residents have diverse career goals. We pride ourselves on creating the optimal training experience for each of our residents, whether they desire to work in an academic center or a community practice. Check out our specialized tracks for clinician educators (CNE-TP) and clinician scientists (CNS-TP). Our curriculum focuses on broad exposure to neurologic diagnoses and management. With the addition of new faculty members, our curriculum embraces these new educational opportunities. Introduction to a wide range of neurology subspecialties during PGY2, allows residents ample time to explore potential fellowships. 

Iowa City is a delightful college town hosting a multitude of cultural events. Not only is Iowa City a UNESCO City of Literature, but it is also a ‘city of festivals’ including music, arts, and film. Housing is affordable with limited commute times making it one of the most livable cities in America. Iowa City has something for everyone.

Residency is an exciting time filled with learning about the healthcare system, neurology, and yourself. The friendships you develop with your resident peers and faculty members are life-long. Our program’s strong sense of community and leadership is here to support you along the way.  

-Andrea Swenson

Mission Statement

Our mission is to train resident physicians to become future leaders in advancing neurological clinical care, neuroscience, and medical education. We nurture compassionate, competent providers of high-quality, evidence-based patient care. 

Residents are expected to acquire the skills, attitudes and habits that will lead to life-long learning and improvement with a primary goal of attaining expertise in the field of neurology. As a secondary goal, our program provides introductory exposure to the principles of neurological investigation with the option of developing the tools for an eventual academic career.

Our program values diversity. By providing leadership and resources, we strive to create a welcoming, respectful, and inclusive environment for all. 

Residents are advised to focus on the following guiding principles during residency and beyond:

  • At all times, do what is best for the patient.
  • Treat your colleagues with the respect you would want them to treat you.  This includes not only physicians, but all members of the health care team.
  • Attend to your physical and mental health; take good care of yourself. You are responsible for your professional and personal development. 
  • Set learning goals and periodically monitor your progress. Assess what you’re good at and what you need to work on. Develop the tools for life-long learning. 

These goals are achieved through a balance in educational experiences that are both service-related (care of patients in the inpatient, outpatient and consultative settings) and didactic. Our program is designed on a model of graduated responsibility, where junior residents receive a greater degree of supervision and senior residents in turn gain more autonomy and begin to develop their own supervisory and leadership skills.

Neurology team discussion

Program Highlights From Our Chief Residents

Neurology Chief residents photo
Aysegul Gezer, DO, PhD, Scheduling Chief; Nicholas Wasko, MD, PhD, Administrative Chief; Yibing Zhang, MD, Academic Chief

You will work and make friends with people from across the world

Diversity is one of the main strengths of our program. You will get to work with people from all over the world who have been raised and trained in completely different academic environments, which provides new perspectives on learning. Also, potlucks are more fun when you get to try foods from different cultures! 

Great quality of life with an excellent cost of living

Can’t beat Midwest prices! Housing options are extremely affordable here. Most residents rent either apartments or houses, however some have bought houses here as well. Typically dining out will not burn a hole in your pocket wherever you go, and we have a variety of grocery stores which range from our vegan friendly co-op to eclectic Trader Joe’s, to the more budget-friendly Aldi. And, importantly, what’s traffic? ;) 

Diverse food options

You will have plenty of vegetarian and vegan options (including a vegan restaurant if you’re feeling fancy). There are options for authentic Asian, Mexican, and Indian foods, to name a few. We also pride ourselves on our strong boba game.  

UNESCO City of Literature with various arts and culture offerings

Iowa City has been named a UNESCO City of Literature and is known for its Writer’s Workshop and writing groups. We strongly recommend checking out our literary walk and book festival.  

Iowa City also has an extensive amount of artistic and cultural fare, including the newly-opened Stanley Museum of Art. There are annual art and jazz festivals, and so much more. 

Family and dog friendly

With affordable housing and countless affordable daycare centers, it’s an exceptional place to raise a family with great support from our residency program. The Iowa City school district is consistently ranked among the top schools in Iowa for those with school-aged children. For those of you with furry children, there are many dog daycares, walking trails and dog parks in the area. 

Summer and fall are beautiful

The Midwest is not all winter!! Our spring and summer are beautiful and offer perfect pool weather if that is something you enjoy. Going apple picking at Wilson’s Orchard followed by dinner at the Rapid Creek Cidery with a flight of different flavored ciders is a fall tradition. The nearby Amana Colonies are another great option for their Oktoberfest and various food, festival, and art offerings. And for those who enjoy snow, there are many groomed cross country skiing trails as well as downhill skiing resorts for an easy day trip.  

Call money and a gym inside the hospital

Our program keeps us well fed with additional funds for food. We get a yearly allowance which can be used in almost all the cafeterias in the hospital. We have multiple options for coffee, including a 24-hour cafeteria. Dining options range from the budget-friendly Fountain Cafe to the more formal sit-down Atrium dining room with the best salads you have ever had (we say that with 100% certainty).  

Outdoor activities

Resident favorites include going to the farmer’s markets, hiking trails, visiting picturesque towns like Galena, biking, sitting outside in quaint bars downtown for happy hour, boating on Coralville Lake, visiting the Iowa State Fair, exploring Maquoketa Caves. 

Football

Rooting on the Hawkeyes during fall Saturdays is a long tradition in Iowa City, and over 100,000 people will come to Iowa City to cheer on the team and participate in tailgating festivities. The tailgating scene is always ranked among the top tailgating spots in the country for college football, so it’s a great way to get your mind off medicine. It also helps that the Hawkeyes are consistently good and were in the Big Ten Championship Game this past year (we don’t need to talk about the result of that game). Iowa Football also has strong ties to the hospital, and over the past few years a new tradition has started where the fans in the stadium will wave to the kids in the children’s hospital after the first quarter of the game. It’s a moving experience for everyone on either side of the “Kinnick Wave.” 

Quick Facts

How does your benefits, stipends, and contracts compare to other programs?

Benefits offered by University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics are competitive with other top training programs in the country.  Benefits include:

Stipends are also comparable to other top training programs in the country and in keeping with the cost of living in Iowa.

Contracts are issued to house staff each year until training concludes, and promotion at the end of each year is granted based on demonstrated clinical competence and professional growth. House staff members who do not meet standards for promotion to the next level of training may require remedial action, as deemed appropriate by the Program Director.

What is the eligibility criteria for applicants of a GME residency training program

Eligibility criteria for applicants of a GME residency or fellowship training program are: 

Graduate from one of the following: 

  • United States or Canadian medical school accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) 
  • United States college of osteopathic medicine accredited by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) 
  • Medical school outside the United States or Canada with: 
    • a valid certificate from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) and have a passing score for Step 1 and Step 2 of the USMLE, 
    • be a U.S. citizen, a legal permanent resident, or hold a visa which provides eligibility to work in the U.S. Typical visas are J-1 (requires Steps 1 and 2 of USMLE and ECFMG certification) and H1-B (requires departmental approval, Steps 1, 2 and 3 of USMLE, and a permanent Iowa medical license) 
  • Meet Iowa Board of Medicine licensure requirements. 
  • All applicants must also meet program eligibility requirements as defined by the ACGME’s respective RRC (for accredited programs) or the department (for non-accredited programs). 

Eligible applicants should apply directly to the residency or fellowship training program. Deadlines and application criteria vary; review those requirements at the individual program websites. Each program has specific guidelines for conducting interviews, what to expect during the interview, and American Board of Medical Specialties certification requirements. 

Is malpractice insurance provided?

University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics is an agency of the State of Iowa, which self-insures the tort liability of the State and its employees under the provisions of the State Tort Claims Act, Chapter 669, Code of Iowa. Resident and Fellow Physicians at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics are State employees for the purposes of the State Tort Claims Act. The coverage provided to Resident and Fellow Physicians by the State Tort Claims Act is occurrence coverage. 

Official Statement 

The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics is an agency of the State of Iowa, which self insures the tort liability of the State and its employees under the provisions of the State Tort Claims Act, Chapter 669, Code of Iowa. Resident and Fellow Physicians at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics are State employees for the purposes of the State Tort Claims Act. The coverage provided to Resident and Fellow Physicians by the State Tort Claims Act is occurrence coverage. 

What do I need to know about medical licensure

 

GME contracted residents and fellows must apply for a license from the Iowa Board of Medicine at least three months in advance of the training start date. The Iowa Board of Medicine will not accept a license application more than six months in advance of the contract start date. Every resident or fellow physician or dentist is responsible for acquiring a medical license prior to practicing medicine at UI Hospitals & Clinics. State of Iowa law prohibits practice without the proper license. 

The GME office recommends all residents and fellows apply for a license through the Iowa Board of Medicine by using the Uniform Application (UA). This application provides state specific instructions for Iowa. The Iowa Board DOES NOT require applicants to use the Federation Credentials Verification Service (FCVS) as part of the application process, though they do accept FCVS if you choose to use their service. For recent medical school graduates, the Board strongly recommends applicants NOT utilize FCVS.   

Resident Licensure 

The Iowa Board of Medicine offers a resident license authorizing the licensee to practice as an intern, resident or fellow while under the supervision of a licensed practitioner of medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery in a board-approved resident training program in Iowa. This license expires on the expected date of completion of the training program as indicated in the licensure application. The license becomes inactive when a physician leaves the program or can be extended if completion of the program has not been met by the expected date. 

Permanent Licensure 

Some fellowship programs require a permanent license. Contact your program director to confirm whether a permanent license is appropriate. If you are eligible to moonlight, you will be required to have a permanent license. 

Specific licensing questions can be directed to the Iowa Board of Medicine. 

  • Categorical four-year program (guaranteed internal medicine internship + three years neurology residency) with continuous ACGME accreditation
  • Eight adult neurology residents per year (increasing to 9 residents per year beginning July 2025)
  • Training sites include the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics and the Iowa City Veterans Affairs Medical Center, right across the street. The two sites combine an ideal mix of general neurology and complex (tertiary) referrals from across the state and neighboring regions.
  • Clinical curriculum based on modified x + y scheduling:
    • Provides elective time for PGY2 residents
    • All-night float call system for junior and senior residents
    • One-week (six nights) of night float at a time (popular two-person on-call system with in-house junior and senior residents)
    • Resident Continuity of Care (COC) clinics separated out from rotations
  • During the last rotation of the year, all PGY1 residents participate in the Neurology Immersion Block–a structured in-class curriculum, augmented with buddy calls and workshops–to ease the transition from intern to neurology resident
  • Within our residency program, we have tracks to foster our residents' career goals. These tracks include:
    • Clinical Neuroscientist Training Program (CNS-TP)
    • Clinical Neuro-Educator Training Program (CNE-TP)
  • Community elective available to PGY3 and PGY4 residents—an opportunity to practice neurology in a community setting
  • Opportunities for Resident Leadership Development Programs, Quality Improvement Projects, and Independent Research Projects
  • The department has both NIH NeuroNEXT and StrokeNet grants as well as over 60 active clinical research trials; this allows residents an opportunity to get involved in clinical trials, particularly those for acute strokes.
  • Travel expenses and paid educational time are provided to attend the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) annual meeting once during residency training
  • An educational allowance of $1,200, applicable to print and electronic media, equipment, board testing, travel to additional meetings, etc.
  • Full access to department and university library resources, including an extensive array of online journals and books
  • UIHC uses EPIC electronic health records
  • ACGME: We are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education
  • ABPN: We are part of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology

Clinical Curriculum

Schedule offerings:

x + y Schedule

y-Week Example

  Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
AM COC - VA Specialty Clinic COC - VA Specialty Clinic Specialty Clinic
PM COC - UI Hospitals and Clinics Specialty Clinic Specialty Clinic COC - UI Hospitals and Clinics Administrative

COC Clinics

  • Continuity of Care clinics allow residents to build their own panel of patients during PGY2 - PGY4
  • Each resident has a COC clinic at VA and UI Hospitals and Clinics
  • Opportunity to manage diseases over time such as Parkinson disease, dementias, multiple sclerosis, polyneuropathies, migraine, and epilepsy 
  • COC Clinics are staffed by faculty chosen for their teaching skills

Specialty Clinics

  • Experience the specialty clinics such as epilepsy, movement disorders, neuroimmunology, neuromuscular, cognitive, neurogenetics, sleep medicine, neurointerventional surgery, neuro-oncology, and stroke
  • Opportunity to explore various specialties and potential fellowships
  • Dedicated lumbar puncture clinic

Administrative Half-Day

  • Time set aside for clinical note completion, patient phone calls, and study

Didactic Curriculum

The goal of our didactic curriculum is to supplement our residents’ clinical educational experiences. Our faculty, residents, and fellows have put together lecture series that are engaging, interactive, up-to-date, and evidence-based. 

Neurology trainee-centered didactics occur every weekday at noon (except Tuesdays and Fridays). All sessions are either virtual or hybrid with selected lectures recorded for review. (see list of topics below)

Grand Rounds (Tuesdays at noon)—weekly event showcasing the Department of Neurology faculty members’ research (basic and clinical) as well as patient care and educational initiatives, UIHC faculty members from other departments, national and international guest speakers

NEW!—monthly didactic session designed for residents

  • Selected high-yield topics for clinical practice
  • Two hours of protected time (pager/call coverage by faculty and fellows)
  • Included board review

The following lecture topics are presented throughout the academic year:

Behavioral/cognitive—faculty members from the Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry cover a wide range of topics including neuropsychological testing 

Cerebrovascular/neurocritical care/neurointerventional surgery—combination of case presentations, didactic topics, journal club, updates on acute stroke trials at UIHC and Comprehensive Stroke Center parameters

Child Neurology—faculty members and fellows discuss core topics 

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)—speakers come from our department and other departments within the University of Iowa as well as invited guests from other institutions to discuss, gain understanding and appreciation of DEI issues in our society 

Epilepsy—epilepsy basics, pharmacology, EEG interpretation, multidisciplinary epilepsy surgery conferences (neurology, neuropsychology, neurosurgery, EEG technicians)  

Movement Disorders—core topics including botulinum toxin injection practice 

Neuroanatomy- monthly lecture series covering core topics

Neurogenetics—didactic topics presented by faculty members and genetic counselors, quarterly live patient conferences 

Neuroimmunology—lecture series including case presentations, didactics and pharmacology of disease modifying therapies.

Neuromuscular—lecture series covering neuromuscular basics and case conferences, EMG/NCS didactics and workshops 

Neuro-oncology—Tumor Board (neurosurgery, neuropathology, and neuroradiology), lecture series including case presentations and didactics 

Neuro-ophthalmology—case conferences throughout the week in addition to lectures throughout the year

NeuropathoNeurology fellows discuss fellowship experiences with residents.logy—Clinical-Pathological Case   Conference (CPC) presented by both Departments of Neurology and Pathology, weekly muscle/nerve biopsy path review, weekly brain cutting 

Neuroradiology—monthly meetings, interesting cases presented by neurology and radiology residents and fellows with both neurology and neuroradiology faculty discussants  

Neuroscience—presenters include faculty members and basic researchers from the Department of Neurology and Iowa Neuroscience Institute, CNS-TP residents present their research updates 

Sleep Medicine—multidisciplinary lectures series (Departments of Neurology and Internal Medicine)

Immersion Block

Neurology immersion block lumbar puncture workshop

During the last rotation of the year, all PGY1 residents participate in the Neurology Immersion Block. This rotation, with no clinical responsibilities, is an introduction to neurology residency, which includes:  

  • Neurological emergency lectures
  • Quizzes
  • Workshops (neuroanatomy, adult and child neuro exam, EMG, EEG, lumbar puncture)
  • Mock code stroke and status epilepticus
  • Shadow calls
  • Team building and wellness/relaxation exercises

Clinical Neuroscientist Training Program (CNS-TP)

Leadership

George Richerson, MD, PhD

Kumar Narayanan, MD, PhD

George Richerson, MD, PhD
Director

Kumar Narayanan, MD, PhD
Assistant Director

Program Description

Physician scientists play a key role in current biomedical research due to their ability to integrate knowledge derived from clinical activities with experimental observations in the laboratory. In recognition of the importance of this role, we offer the Clinical Neuroscientist Training Program (CNS-TP), which integrates post-graduate research and clinical training through residency and fellowship. The CNS-TP adheres to the principles of Flexible Training in Neurology (Engstrom, JW Ann Neurol, 61(1):7-8, 2007 (PMID: 17262849)) proposed by the American Neurological Association, and is designed to fully utilize the resources of the Department of Neurology, Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience and University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. The NINDS and the University of Iowa have had considerable success in increasing funding for neurologist-scientists and in shortening the time between residency and K/R grants (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39099460/). 

The University of Iowa Neurology Residency Program offers the CNS-TP pathway for selected trainees, with an individualized and flexible postgraduate training program that spans the four-year residency.  Trainees also have the option of a guaranteed fellowship/postdoctoral training with any faculty member at the University of Iowa for up to two additional years. The program is designed for physicians interested in pursuing a career in academic neurology who have already demonstrated interest and proficiency in biomedical research. The competitive CNS-TP candidate will hold the MD or DO degree, with or without a PhD, and show clear evidence of a strong desire to pursue an academic career in clinical neuroscience or clinically-relevant basic neuroscience – typically manifest as a strong record of scientific publication.

Candidates who enter the program will enjoy close mentorship from leading neuroscientists at the University of Iowa, matched on the basis of their specific career interests.  Candidates will undergo training with flexibility to facilitate the integration of clinical rotations and research activities and may be eligible for pilot funding for laboratory support on the basis of demonstrated need. The ultimate goal of the CNS-TP is to foster the career development of trainees by facilitating their transition to independent physician-scientists, and to make them competitive for a K award, an RO1, or other funding mechanism. The scientific training will not be made at the expense of clinical training, and the rotation schedule will be such that their fellow residents will not have their schedules adversely affected.

The infrastructure for basic, clinical, and translational research at Iowa is broad and the commitment to biomedical and neuroscience research is strong. The CNS-TP resident will benefit from various programs and laboratories of the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, including the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience, the Iowa Medical Scientist Training Program, the Institute for Clinical and Translational Science, the Physician Scientist Training Pathway, the Pappajohn Biomedical Institute, the Center for Gene Therapy, and the NIH-funded Pain Training Program, among many others. Trainees will also benefit from outstanding Core Research Facilities that provide state-of-the-art research resources to facilitate biomedical research and the Office of Postdoctoral Scholars that serves as the administrative home for postdoctoral scholars and fellows at the University of Iowa. The CNS-TP receives funding support from the NIH R25 program.

The Clinical Neuroscientist Training Program at a Glance

  • An enhanced interview experience, including meetings with key Iowa scientific leadership
  • CNS-TP residents have up to eight months of elective time to pursue research dispersed throughout PGY2 – PGY4. We will work with CNS-TP residents to structure their schedule to balance research and educational goals.
  • Potential for pilot funding, contingent upon demonstrated need, as well as adequate academic progress and achievement of specific benchmarks (see Table below)
  • Personal career mentoring from onset of the program
  • Networking with other University of Iowa professional development programs (Medical Scientist Training Program, Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Office of Postdoctoral Scholars) through journal clubs, research days, and ad hoc gatherings
  • We have a close relationship with Iowa's Physician-Scientist Training Pathway, which is administered by Internal Medicine. Our CNS-TP residents often participate heavily in the PSTP program and its activities. CNS-TP residents in Neurology do not need to apply to the PSTP and can get involved after matching at the University of Iowa.
  • Upon graduation, all qualifications for American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology eligibility will be met
  • Potential funding for post-graduate research fellowship in selected field of interest
  • Progress will be reviewed yearly by June 1st

PGY-1

  • Select research mentor

PGY-2

  • Decide on NINDS R25 (UE5) candidacy with Dr. Narayanan and Dr. Richerson
  • Define specific aims for research project
  • Deliver a lecture on research proposal at CNS-TP seminar
  • Submit full written research proposal (1-2 pages)

PGY-3

  • September 1: NINDS R25 (UE5) program: 4-page research strategy + letter from the mentor due internally
  • October 1: Dr. Richerson and Dr. Narayanan submit NINDS R25 (UE5) application and progress report
  • Refine specific research aims
  • Collect preliminary data
  • Deliver a lecture at CNS-TP seminar

PGY-4

  • October 1: If NINDS R25 (UE5) funded, submit 3-page progress report
  • Continue to collect data and refine specific aims
  • Deliver a Grand Rounds lecture
  • Write and submit a grant (e.g. K08, K99)

Optional PGY-5

  • October 1: If NINDS R25 (UE5) funded, submit 3-page progress report
  • If competitively funded by the R25, 18 months postdoctoral research in any lab of your choice at NIH R25, including the University of Iowa
  • Continue to collect data and refine specific aims
  • Resubmit grant if necessary

Optional PGY-6

  • Submit a strong K-equivalent or R-equivalent grant in order to be eligible for last 6 months of funding
  • Continue to collect data and refine specific aims
  • Resubmit grant if necessary

Applying to the CNS-TP

It is required that all NINDS R25 (UE5) funded individuals attend monthly CNS-TP seminars, quarterly ethics zoom calls, and annual national R25 (UE5) meetings.

  • Interest in the CNS-TP can be expressed upon application to the residency program by emailing the Program Director of the Neurology Residency. While less desirable, candidates can apply for admission as late as the beginning of the PGY2 year.
  • Candidates must apply through ERAS and match through the NRMP match.
  • Selection will be made on a competitive basis by evaluation of prior accomplishments in a research program and clear evidence of interest in a career as a physician-scientist.

Members of the CNS-TP

  • Frida Teran-Garza, MD, PhD – Class of 2027
  • Aysegul Gezer, DO, PhD – Class of 2025
  • Nicholas Wasko, MD, PhD – Class of 2025
  • Kaancan Deniz, MD – Class of 2024
    • 2024-25 at UCSF for behavioral neurology fellowship and postdoctoral work
  • Guanghao “Max” Liu, MD, PhD – Class of 2024
    • 2024-25 at WashU for R25 fellowship and postdoctoral work
    • NINDS R25
  • Oday Halhouli, MD – Class of 2023
  • Mark Dougherty, MD – Class of 2025 in Neurosurgery
    • NINDS R25
    • F32
  • Faisal Fecto, MD, PhD – Class of 2019
    • NINDS R25 in Neuromuscular Medicine Fellowship, Stanford University 
    • Instructor, Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University
  • Johnson Zhang, MD, PhD – Class of 2018
    • R01 pending (2024)
    • NINDS R25 Funded Fellowship in Movement Disorders at the University of Iowa
    • R03
    • Associate in Neurology, University of Iowa Department of Neurology
    • Faculty member, University of Iowa Department of Neurology
  • Georgina Aldridge, MD, PhD – Class of 2017
    • NINDS R25 Funded Fellowship in Cognitive Neurology & Basic Neuroscience at the University of Iowa
    • K08 & R01
    • Faculty member, University of Iowa Department of Neurology
  • Alberto Serrano-Pozo, MD, PhD – Class of 2017 
    • NINDS R25 Dementia Fellowship, Harvard/Massachusetts General Hospital
    • K08 
    • Massachusetts Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, MGH, Boston, MA
  • Paloma Gonzalez-Perez, MD, PhD - Class of 2017 
    • K23
    • NINDS R25 Neuromuscular Medicine Fellowship, Harvard/Brigham & Women’s Hospital
    • Director, Muscle Disorder Clinic, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
  • Hannah Klein, MD, PhD – Class of 2016 
    • NINDS R25
    • Child Neurology Residency, University of Iowa
    • Epilepsy Fellowship, University of Colorado
    • Epileptologist, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE
  • Oliver Flouty, MD – Neurosurgery 
  • Jordan Schultz, PharmD  
    • NINDS K08
    • Pharmacy faculty, University of Iowa
    • NeuroNEXT fellowship, University of Iowa

2024-2025 Seminars

12/13/24            Kumar Narayanan – CNS-TP program overview

01/31/25            Asad Lak – R25 aims 

02/7/25              Kai Rogers –K Aims

02/28/25            George Richerson – Conducting rigorous research

03/07/25            Nick Wasko – Fellowship / research goals

04/04/25            Aysegul Gezer – Fellowship / research goals

05/2/25              Frida Teran-Garza – R25 aims

5/23/25              Details pending

5/30/25              Details pending

Clinical Neuro-Educator Training Program (CNE-TP)

 

 

Resident Lama Abdel Wahed gives presentation at INA conference

The CNE-TP is designed for residents with an interest in becoming clinician educators. The three-year curriculum provides training in foundations of medical education and educational opportunities with learners, in addition to what is received during residency training. The CNE-TP utilizes the resources available through the Department of Neurology, Office of Consultation and Research in Medical Education (OCRME), and University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine.

CNE-TP Goals

  • Develop skills to become an effective medical educator
  • Understanding and contributing to scholarship in medical education
  • Develop the foundation for a future career in medical education

CNE-TP Curriculum

Spring PGY1

  • Applications accepted for CNE-TP​

PGY2

  • Identify a mentor

PGY2/PGY3

  • Attend five Office of Consultation and Research in Medical Education (OCRME) education and teaching workshops

​PGY3

  • Begin scholarly project

PGY3/PGY4

  • Teach neuro exam to medical students during core clerkship orientation 

PGY4

  • Implementation of scholarly project
  • June – facilitate teaching sessions and workshops for the PGY1 class during their Neurology Immersion Block
  • Grand Rounds project presentations

Quarterly meetings throughout the academic year for all CNE-TP residents to discuss teaching topics and ongoing resident projects

Current CNE-TP residents

Class of 2026

  • Rachel Marshall

Class of 2025

  • Katie Reming
  • Yanely Sanchez Ceja
  • Sophie Shogren
  • Yibing Zhang

Graduates

Class of 2024

  • Kaancan Deniz
  • Mikenzy Fassel
  • Tyler Schmidt

Class of 2023

  • Erik Arneson
    • Education interests: Increasing medical student interest in neurology, teaching pre-clinical students
  • Oday Halhouli
    • Education interests: Resident curriculum development

Class of 2022

  • Amjad Elmashala
    • Project: Updating neurology medical student curriculum and lecture handouts
  • Rami Fakih
    • Project: Designing a morning report for night float residents

Class of 2021

  • Lama Abdel Wahed
    • Project: Resident didactic curriculum design, developing interactive online cases for medical students
  • Emily Tamadonfar
    • Project: Medical student clinical documentation education and evaluation: a delphi consensus study

Class of 2020

  • Annaliese Bosco
    • Project: Improving code stroke education in the emergency department
    • Presentations: Iowa Neurological Association, University of Iowa Quality and Safety Symposium
  • Jeff Karduck
    • Project: Micro lecture series for medical students

Wellness, Culture, Belonging

Resident-fellow marshmallow roast

*See here for details on the UI Underrepresented in Medicine Visiting Student Elective*

 PDF icon UI Visiting Student Scholars Program Flyer 2024.pdf

The Department of Neurology at the University of Iowa is a melting pot of the best neurologists, staff, and employees, regardless of color, religion, gender and/or sexual orientation.  We acknowledge, respect, and foster diversity, equity and inclusion.  

Our Wellness, Culture, and Belonging (WCB) committee is a group of neurology staff members committed to cultivating a welcoming and safe environment for all our employees. We believe in the principle that everyone can contribute to improving the health and well-being of themselves and others. 

The WCB committee supports our departmental employees by:

  • Sponsoring events that promote discussion and education about cultural knowledge, bias, racial disparities, and skills for contributing to a welcoming, inclusive, and equitable workspace 
  • Providing a confidential and supportive network for employees who encounter isolation, micro-aggressions, and other experiences that negatively impact their wellbeing 
  • Improving individual and group well-being
  • Increasing participation and creating interest in personal health management
  • Promoting the NESS principle (nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress) in our training program
  • Connecting with our local community and brining awareness of neurological disorders, neuroscience, and neurology as a specialty. 

Ongoing initiatives:

  • Resident PCP program—facilitating resident access to primary care providers and mental health services (click here for mental health and wellness resources)
  • Resident mentoring program—
    • Each resident is assigned a formal faculty mentor
    • Peer mentoring
    • Facilitating sub-specialty interests and mentoring with RISN (Residents Interested in Sub-Specialty Neurology) program
  • Community outreach—
    • Residents and faculty staff the neurology clinic at the University of Iowa Mobile Clinic, a free medical service for underserved and uninsured populations throughout the state of Iowa
    • Shadowing opportunities for undergraduate and high school students from underrepresented in medicine backgrounds
  • Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) lecture series—part of our didactic curriculum. Speakers come from our department and other departments within the University of Iowa as well as invited guests from other institutions. Previous topics include: 
    • Promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in medical journal editing
    • Race in the Heartland
    • Responding effectively to patient-initiated harassment
    • Diversity, equity, and inclusion in medical education 
    • Health disparities across the neurological disease spectrum
  • DEI book club—a gathering of faculty, staff, and residents to discuss selected books, articles, and documentary films to gain understanding and appreciation of DEI issues in our society 

University of Iowa Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives 

For more information, please visit https://diversity.uiowa.edu

DEI resources 

Graduate Medical Education (GME) Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Wellness Resources

University of Iowa 

Mental Health Presentation Series 

Resident Awards

Alex Eischeid receives 2019 Fincham Award
Lama Abdel Wahed receives Fincham Award
Jason Duchscherer receives award at graduation
Graduation plaques (Daniel Rolling Photography)
Amjad Elmashala receives senior resident teacher award (Daniel Rolling Photography)
Caitlin Hof receives 2022 Fincham Award (Daniel Rolling Photography)
Max Liu receives GME Teaching Excellence Award
Award ceremony at resident graduation

American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Award Recipients

Enhanced Resident Leadership Program

            2022: Caitlin Hof

            2019: Neda Zarghami

Resident Scholarship  to the Annual Meeting

            2024: Mikenzy Fassel

            2022: Karina Gonzalez Otarula

            2018: Nick Streicher, Neda Zarghami

Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS) Forum Educational Grant Travel Award

2018: Kanika Sharma

Association of Indian Neurologists in America (AINA) Trainee Award

2020: Kanika Sharma (2nd place)

Department of Neurology Medical Student Teaching Award

2024: Nicholas Wasko

2023: Erik Arneson, Kaancan Deniz, Oday Halhouli

2022: Erik Arneson

2021: Caitlin Hof

2020: Lama Abdel Wahed

2019: Jeff Karduck

2018: Jeff Karduck, Aldo Mendez Ruiz, Nick Streicher

2017: Dan Anderson, Lael Stander, Nick Streicher

2016: Amir Shaban

2015: Keith Kohout

2014: Lara Lazarre

2013: Jeff Boyle

Fellow of Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers Annual Meeting Scholar Award

2018: Kanika Sharma

Fincham Award

PDF icon Award details

2024: Mikenzy Fassel

2023: Ryan Lechtenberg

2022: Caitlin Hof

2021: Lama Abdel Wahed

2020: Ann VanDeWalle Jones

2019: Alex Eischeid

2018: Dan Anderson

2017: Keith Kohout

2016: Alan Schmitt

2015: Atif Zafar

2014: Paul Flamme

2013: Jeff Boyle

2012: Thuy An "Ann" Hoang-Tienor

2011: Marlan Kay

2010: Scott Strader

2009: William Andrews

2008: Shaun Christenson

2007: Rebecca Caillier

2006: Chad Yucus

2005: Nicole Liebentritt

2004: Ana Recober-Montilla

2003: Paul Genilo

2002: Jody Neer

Senior Resident Teacher Award

2024: Kaancan Deniz

2023: Ryan Lechtenberg

2022: Amjad Elmashala

2021: Lama Abdel Wahed

2019: Jeff Karduck

2018: Faisal Fecto

U of IA GME Excellence in Clinical Teaching Award for Residents and Fellows

See here for award details

2024:

          Nicholas Wasko (nominee)

2022:

Guanghao "Max" Liu (recipient)

Amjad Elmashala (nominee)

2021:

            Lama Abdel Wahed (nominee)

            Rami Fakih (nominee)

            Mikenzy Fassel (nominee)

            Caitlin Hof (nominee)

            Guanghao “Max” Liu (nominee)

2020:

            Lama Abdel Wahed (nominee)

            Oday Halhouli (nominee)

U of IA Internal Medicine Internship Resident of the Year

2019: Amjad Elmashala (top 5 nominee)

Gold Humanism Award

2024: Rachel Marshall

University of Iowa John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center Innovation Challenge Award

2024: Aaron Brake (3rd Place)

Resident Scholarship

Publications by Neurology residents during residency

2024

  1. Brake, A. Rescue Stenting after Unsuccessful Recanalization of Endovascular Thrombectomy of the Posterior Circulation: A Systematic Review and Meta Analysis.
  2. Ghazaleh, D.; Dibas, M. Transcarotid Arterial Revascularization of Symptomatic Internal Carotid Artery Disease: A Systematic Review and Study-Level Meta-Analysis.
  3. Dibas, M. Safety and effectiveness assessment of the surpass evolve (SEASE): a post-market international multicenter study.
  4. Dibas, M. Flow Diversion for Small Branches and Distal Aneurysms of the Posterior Circulation: A Subanalysis of the Post-FD Registry.

2023

  1. Ghazaleh, D. "Morphological Characteristics of Ruptured Brain Aneurysms: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis." Stroke: Vascular and Interventional Neurology Journal. Published 1/25/2023.
  2. Shoaib Khah, M; Nwaedozie, S; Shogren, S; Malovrh, R; Surendran, S. "Acute Hypoxia From Different Clinical Entities Can Potentially Break the Heart: Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy." Wisconsin Medical Journal. 2023 Mar; 122(1):70-73.
  3. Fassel, M; Ong, J; Galet, C; Wibbenmeyer, L. "Identifying and Assisting Burn Patients and Their Families with Needs Through Administration of an Assessment Tool on Admission." J Burn Care Res. 2023 Jan 5; 44(1):114-120.
  4. Weber, M; Kerr, G; Thangavel, R; Conlon, M; Abdelmotilib, H; Halhouli, O; Zhang, Q; Geerling, J; Narayanan, N; Aldridge, G. "Alpha-synuclein pre-formed fibrils injected into prefrontal cortex primarily spread to cortical and subcortical structures and lead to isolated behavioral symptoms." bioRxiv. 2023 May 15;2023.01.31.526365.
  5. Davis, TS; Luo, F; Xie, SJ; Muro-Fuentes, E; Rodrigues, EB. "Evaluating Adherence to Diabetic Retinopathy Care in an Urban Ophthalmology Clinic Utilizing the Compliance with Annual Diabetic Eye Exams Survey." Cureus. 2023 Jan 23;15(1):e34083.
  6. Reasoner, B; Boes, A; Geerling, J. "Sustained, Effortless Weight Loss after Damage to the Left Frontoinsular Cortex: A Case Report." Case Rep Neurol. 2023 Mar 28;15(1):63-68.
  7. Walsh, M; Wasko, N; Simms, AJ; Hodges, J. "Splenic abscess caused by Cutibacterium acnes in a patient with multiple tooth extractions." BMJ Case Rep. 2023 Jan 25;16(1):e250486.

2022

  1. Fassel M, Ong JE, Galet C, Oral R, Wibbenmeyer L. “Identifying and assisting burn patients and their families with needs through administration of an assessment tool on admission." Accepted for publication in the Journal of Burn Care and Research. Jul 2022.
  2. Jacob E Rysted, Zhihong Lin, Grant C Walters, Adam J Rauckhorst, Maria Noterman, Guanghao Liu, Eric B Taylor, Stefan Strack, Yuriy M Usachev. Distinct properties of Ca 2+ efflux from brain, heart and liver mitochondria: The effects of Na +, Li + and the mitochondrial Na +/Ca 2+ exchange inhibitor CGP37157. Cell Calcium. 2021 Jun;96:102382.  doi: 10.1016/j.ceca.2021.102382. Epub 2021 Feb 22.
  3. Sunny C Huang, Thomas K Pak, Cameron P Graber, Charles C Searby, Guanghao Liu, Jennifer Marcy, Alexandra K Yaszemski, Kurt Bedell, Emily Bui, Stanley Perlman, Qihong Zhang, Kai Wang, Val C Sheffield, Calvin S Carter. An open source and convenient method for the wide-spread testing of COVID-19 using deep throat sputum samples. PeerJ. 2022 May 10;10:e13277. doi: 10.7717/peerj.13277. eCollection 2022.
  4. Guanghao Liu, Jennifer Hrabe, Rolando Sanchez-Sanchez. Colostomy as a Definitive Treatment in an Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patient with Acute Colonic Pseudo-Obstruction Refractory to Medical Management. BMC neurology, in print.
  5. Garg A, Elmashala A, Roeder H, Ortega-Gutierrez S. Endovascular coiling versus neurosurgical clipping for treatment of ruptured and unruptured intracranial aneurysms during pregnancy and postpartum period. J Neurointerv Surg. 2022 May 4:neurintsurg-2022-018705. doi: 10.1136/neurintsurg-2022-018705. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35508381.

2021

  1. González Otárula KA, Balaguera P, Schuele S. Ambulatory EEG to Classify the Epilepsy Syndrome. J Clin Neurophysiol. 2021 Mar 1;38(2):87-91.
  2. Duke SM, González Otárula KA, Canales T, Lu E, Stout A, Ghearing GR, Sajatovic M. A systematic literature review of health disparities among rural people with epilepsy (RPWE) in the United States and Canada. Epilepsy Behav. 2021 Jul 9.
  3. Mikhaeil-Demo Y, González Otárula KA, Bachman EM, Schuele SU. Indications and yield of ambulatory EEG recordings. Epileptic Disord. 2021 Feb 1;23(1):94-103.
  4. Benjumeda M, Tan YL, González Otárula KA, Chandramohan D, Chang EF, Hall JA, Bielza C, Larrañaga P, Kobayashi E, Knowlton RC. Patient specific prediction of temporal lobe epilepsy surgical outcomes. Epilepsia. 2021 Jul 18.
  5. Lam J, DuBois JM, Rowley J, Rousset OG, González-Otárula KA, Soucy JP, Massarweh G, Hall JA, Guiot MC, Zimmermann M, Minuzzi L, Rosa-Neto P, Kobayashi E. In vivo hippocampal cornu ammonis 1-3 glutamatergic abnormalities are associated with temporal lobe epilepsy surgery outcomes. Epilepsia. 2021 Jul;62(7):1559-1568.
  6. Garg, A., Farooqui, M., Zevallos, C., Quispe-Orozco, D., Mendez-Ruiz, A., Zaidat, O., Ortega-Gutierrez, S (2021). Carotid Artery Angioplasty Versus Stenting for Management of Acute Tandem Occlusions. Accepted in Journal of the Neurological Sciences.
  7. Garg, A., Starr, M., Rocha, M., & Ortega-Gutierrez, S. (2021). Early Risk of Readmission Following Hospitalization for Reversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction Syndrome. Neurology, 96(24), e2912-e2919.
  8. Garg, A., & Ortega-Gutierrez, S. (2021). Reply to the letter to the editor regarding “predictors and outcomes of hemorrhagic stroke in reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome”. Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 424.
  9. Garg, A., & Shaban, A. (2021). Reply to the Letter by Chun et al: Response to Differential Risk Factors of Ischemic Stroke. Cerebrovascular Diseases, 1-2.
  10. Garg, A., Limaye, K., Shaban, A., Adams, H. P., & Leira, E. C. (2021). Transient global amnesia does not increase the risk of subsequent ischemic stroke: a propensity score-matched analysis. Journal of Neurology, 1-6.
  11. Garg A. Prevalence of Mimics and Severe Comorbidity in Patients with Clinically Suspected Transient Global Amnesia. PracticeUpdate website. Available at: https://www.practiceupdate.com/content/mimics-and-severe-comorbidity-in-.... Accessed June 04, 2021.
  12. Garg, A., Starr, M., Rocha, M., & Ortega-Gutierrez, S. (2021). Predictors and outcomes of ischemic stroke in reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome. Journal of Neurology, 1-6.
  13. Garg, A., Rocha, M., Starr, M., & Ortega-Gutierrez, S. (2021). Predictors and outcomes of hemorrhagic stroke in reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome. Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 421, 117312.
  14. Garg, A., Limaye, K., Shaban, A., Leira, E. C., & Adams, H. P. (2021). Risk of Ischemic Stroke after an Inpatient Hospitalization for Transient Ischemic Attack in the United States. Neuroepidemiology, 55(1), 40-46.
  15. Garg, A., Bathla, G., Molian, V., Limaye, K., Hasan, D., Leira, E. C., ... & Shaban, A. (2020). Differential risk factors and outcomes of ischemic stroke due to cervical artery dissection in young adults. Cerebrovascular Diseases, 49(5), 509-515.
  16. Maljaars, J., Garg, A., Molian, V., Leira, E. C., Adams, H. P., & Shaban, A. (2021). The Intracerebral Hemorrhage Score Overestimates Mortality in Young Adults. Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases, 30(9), 105963.
  17. Liu, Guanghao. "Fyn depletion ameliorates Tau P301L induced neuropathology.” Oral presentation at the 3rd edition of International Webinar on Aging and Rejuvenation.
  18. Roa JA, Fakih R, Zanaty M, Pazour A, Howard MA, Hasan DM, Samaniego EA. Quantitative Assessment of Ventriculostomy-Related Hemorrhage: A Volume-Based Classification System to Predict New Neurological Symptoms. Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown). 2021 Jan 13;20(2):198-205.
  19. Mendez AA, Mendez-Ruiz A, Fakih R, Farooqui M, Dandapat S, Ortega-Gutierrez S. Combined Transradial and Transfemoral Approach Using a Compliant Balloon for Emboli Protection at the Vertebral Artery During Subclavian Stenosis Stenting: 2-Dimensional Operative Video. Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown). 2021 Apr 15;20(5): E376-E377.
  20. Liu, Guanghao et al. Fyn-tau Ablation Modifies PTZ-Indced Seizures and Post-seizure Hallmarks of Early Epileptogenesis. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33363455/ 
  21. Liu, Guanghao et al. Distinct properties of Ca2+ efflux from brain, heart and liver mitochondria: The effects of Na+, Li+ and the mitochondrial Na+/Ca2+ exchange inhibitor CGP37157. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33684833/ 
  22. Ong JE, Fassel M, Scieszinzki L, Hosseini S, Galet C, Oral R, Wibbenmeyer L. “The burden of adverse childhood experiences in children and those of their parents in a burn population”. Published in the Journal of Burn Care and Research. Jan 2021.
  23. Mathur R, Balucani C, Elmashala A, Geocadin R. (2021) Coma, Disorders of Consciousness, and Brain Death. In: Roos K.L. (eds) Emergency Neurology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-75778-6_17

2020

  1. Schwartz A, Garg A, Statz G, Smock J. Endotipsitis: A Rare Case of Endovascular Infection with ESBL Klebsiella pneumoniae. BMJ Case Rep 2020 Apr 27;13(4):e233972. 
  2. Gonzalez-Otarula K, Schuele S. Networks in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. Neurosurg Clin N Am 2020 Jul;31(3):309-317. 
  3. Maljaars J, Ortega-Gutierrez S, Cho T, Shaban A. Q Fever, CNS Vasculitis, and Stroke: A Case Report. Am J Med 2020 May;S0002-9343(20)30444-7. 
  4. Fattal D, McDaniel J, Leira E, Schmidt G. Subtle Ocular Movements in a Patient with Brain Death. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2020 Sep;29(9):104913. 
  5. Kalakoti P, Edwards A, Ferrier C, Sharma K, Huynh T, Ledbetter C, Gonzalez-Toledo E, Nanda A, Sun H. Biomarkers of Seizure Activity in Patients with Intracranial Metastases and Gliomas: A Wide Range Study of Correlated Regions of Interest. Frontiers in Neurology 2020;11:444. 
  6. Rehman M, Agarwal V, Sharma K, Mishra V. Epigenetic Regulation in Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Associated with Hippocampal Sclerosis. Neurology India 2020;68(2):314-315. 
  7. Fakih R, Roa JA, Bathla G, Olalde H, Ortega S, Derdeyn C, Adams H, Hasan D, Leira E, Samaniego E. Detection and Quantification of Symptomatic Intracranial Atherosclerotic Plaques in Patients with Presumed Cryptogenic Stroke: A 7T High-Resolution Imaging Study.  Stroke. 2020.
  8. Roa JA, Fakih R, Pazour A, Zanaty M, Ishii D, Greenlee J, Howard M, Hasan D, Samaniego E.Quantitative Assessment of Ventriculostomy-Related Hemorrhage: A Volume-Based Classification System to Predict New Neurological Symptoms. Operative Neurosurgery. 2020. 
  9. Fakih R, Dandapat S, Mendez A, Mudassir F, Zevallos C, Quispe Orozco D, Hasan D, Rossen J, Samaniego E, Derdeyn C, Ortega S.Combined Transradial And Transfemoral Approach With Ostial Vertebral Balloon Protection For The Treatment of Patients With Subclavian Steal Syndrome. Frontiers in Neurology. 2020. 
  10. Alzuabi MA, Manolopoulos A, Elmashala A, Odabashian R, Naddaf E, Murad MH. Immunoglobulin for myasthenia gravis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2020, Issue 12. Art. No.: CD013801. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD013801
  11. Elmashala A, Chopra S, Garg A. “The Neurologic Manifestations of Coronavirus Disease 2019.” Journal of Neurology Research, vol. 10, no. 4, 2020, pp. 107–112., doi:10.14740/jnr603. 

2019

  1. Wu Y, Proch K, Teran F, Lechtenberg R, Kothari H, Richerson G. Chemosensitivity of Phox2b-expressing Retrotrapezoid Neurons is Mediated in Part by Input from 5-HT Neurons. J Physiol 2019 May;597(10):2741-2766.
  2. Petersen N, Ortega-Gutierrez S, Wang A, Lopez G, Strander S, Kodali S, Silverman A, Zheng-Lin B, Dandapat S, Sansing L, Schindler J, Falcone G, Gilmore E, Amin H, Cord B, Hebert R, Matouk C, Sheth K. Decreases in Blood Pressure during Thrombectomy are Associated with Larger Infarct Volumes and Worse Functional Outcome. Stroke 2019 Jul;50(7):1797-1804. 
  3. Ortega-Gutierrez S, Lopez G, Edgell R, Mendez A, Dandapat S, Roa J, Zevallos C, Holcombe A, Hasan D, Derdeyn C, Rossen J, Samaniego E. Second Generation Drug-eluting Stents for Endovascular Treatment of Ostial Vertebral Artery Stenosis: A Single Center Experience. Front Neurol 2019 Jul 16;10:746. 
  4. Kimmel E, Al Kasab S, Harvey J, Bathla G, Ortega-Gutierrez S, Toth G, Jaksich E, Sheharyar A, Roa J, Hasan D, Samaniego E. Absence of Collaterals is Associated with Larger Infarct Volume and Worse Outcome in Patients with Large Vessel Occlusion and Mild Symptoms. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2019 Jul;28(7):1987-1992. 
  5. Abdel-Wahed L, Shaban A, Hayakawa M, Limaye K. Retrieved Arterial Clot Helps Guid Antibiotic Therapy in Infective Endocarditis. Am J Med. 2019 Nov;132(11):e795-e796.
  6. Tejada J, Lopez G, Koovor J, Riley K, Martinez M. Mid-term Follow-up of Staged Bilateral Internal Carotid Artery Aneurysm Treatment with Pipeline Embolization. Interv Neuroradiol 2019 Dec;25(6):664-670. 
  7. Nobis WP, González Otárula KA, Templer JW, Gerard EE, VanHaerents S, Lane G, Zhou G, Rosenow JM, Zelano C, Schuele S.The effect of seizure spread to the amygdala on respiration and onset of ictal central apnea. J Neurosurg. 2019 Apr 5:1-11.
  8. González Otárula KA, Mikhaeil-Demo Y, Bachman EM, Balaguera P, Schuele S.Automated seizure detection accuracy for ambulatory EEG recordings. Neurology. 2019 Apr 2.
  9. González Otárula KA, von Ellenrieder N, Cuello-Oderiz C, Dubeau F, Gotman J.High-Frequency Oscillation Networks and Surgical Outcome in Adult Focal Epilepsy. Ann Neurol. 2019 Apr.
  10. Lam J, DuBois JM, Rowley J, González-Otárula KA, Soucy JP, Massarweh G, Hall JA, Guiot MC, Rosa-Neto P, Kobayashi E.In vivo metabotropic glutamate receptor type 5 abnormalities localize the epileptogenic zone in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. Ann Neurol. 2019 Feb;85(2):218-228.

  11. Fassel M, Grieve B, Hosseini S, Oral R, Galet C, Ryan C, Kazis L, Pengsheng N, Wibbenmeyer L. “The Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on Burn Outcomes in Adult Burn Patients." Journal of Burn Care and Research. Mar 2019.

     

2018

  1. Sharma K, Kamholz JA, Leira EC. Spinal Cord Infarction Presenting as a Hemicord Syndrome: Report of 2 Cases. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2018;27(6):e107-e9.
  2. Shaban A, Moritani T, Al Kasab S, Sheharyar A, Limaye KS, Adams HP, Jr. Spinal Cord Hemorrhage. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2018;27(6):1435-46.
  3. Nagaraja N, Tasneem N, Shaban A, Dandapat S, Ahmed U, Policeni B, et al. Cerebral Microbleeds are an Independent Predictor of Hemorrhagic Transformation Following Intravenous Alteplase Administration in Acute Ischemic Stroke. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2018;27(5):1403-11.
  4. Limaye K, Wall M, Uwaydat S, Ali S, Shaban A, Al Kasab S, et al. Is Management of Central Retinal Artery Occlusion the Next Frontier in Cerebrovascular Diseases? J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2018.
  5. Aldridge GM, Birnschein A, Denburg NL, Narayanan NS. Parkinson's Disease Dementia and Dementia with Lewy Bodies Have Similar Neuropsychological Profiles. Front Neurol. 2018;9:123.
  6. Al Kasab S, Derdeyn CP, Guerrero WR, Limaye K, Shaban A, Adams HP, Jr. Intracranial Large and Medium Artery Atherosclerotic Disease and Stroke. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2018;27(7):1723-32.
  7. Mendez A, Bosco A, Abdel-Wahed L, Palmer K, Jones K, Killoran A. A Fatal Case of Herpes Simplex Encephalitis with Two False-Negative Polymerase Chain Reactions. Case Rep Neurol. 2018 Aug 29;10(2):217 – 222. 
  8. Samaniego E, Mendez A, Nguyen T, Kalousek V, Guerrero W, Dandapat S, Dabus G, Linfante I, Hassan A, Drofa A, Kouznetsov E, Leedahl D, Hasan D, Maud A, Ortega-Gutierrez S. LVIS Jr Device for Y-stent-assisted Coil Embolization of Wide-Neck Intracranial Aneurysms: A Multicenter Experience. Interv Neurol. 2018 Apr;7(5):271-283. 
  9. Mendez A, Samaniego E, Sheth S, Dandapat S, Hasan D, Limaye K, Hindman B, Derdeyn C, Ortega-Gutierrez S. Update in the Early Management and Reperfusion Strategies of Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke. Crit Care Res Pract 2018 Jun 28;2018:9168731. 
  10. Haddad, FA, Qaisi I, Joudeh N, Dajani H, Jumah F, Elmashala A, Adeeb N, Chern JJ and Tubbs RS. “The Newer Classifications of the Chiari Malformations with Clarifications: An Anatomical Review.” Clin. Anat. 2018, doi:10.1002/ca.23051

2017

  1. Tasneem N, Samaniego EA, Pieper C, Leira EC, Adams HP, Hasan D, et al. Brain Multimodality Monitoring: A New Tool in Neurocritical Care of Comatose Patients. Crit Care Res Pract. 2017;2017:6097265.
  2. Serrano-Pozo A, Sanchez-Garcia MA, Heras-Garvin A, March-Diaz R, Navarro V, Vizuete M, et al. Acute and Chronic Sustained Hypoxia Do Not Substantially Regulate Amyloid-beta Peptide Generation In Vivo. PLoS One. 2017;12(1):e0170345.
  3. Serrano-Pozo A, Aldridge GM, Zhang Q. Four Decades of Research in Alzheimer's Disease (1975-2014): A Bibliometric and Scientometric Analysis. J Alzheimers Dis. 2017;59(2):763-83.
  4. Samaniego EA, Ortega S, Stander L, Leira EC. Development of a cerebral mycotic aneurysm within 5 days. Neurol Clin Pract. 2017;7(5):449-50.
  5. Hinkle CD, Porter JN, Waldron EJ, Klein H, Tranel D, Heffelfinger A. Neuropsychological characterization of three adolescent females with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis in the acute, post-acute, and chronic phases: an inter-institutional case series. Clin Neuropsychol. 2017;31(1):268-88.
  6. Esfahani NZ, Anderson DM, Pieper C, Adams HP, Jr. Intracerebral hemorrhage after IV tPA for stroke as early symptom of ANCA-associated vasculitis. eNeurologicalSci. 2017;9:1-2.

2016

  1. Deng HX, Shi Y, Yang Y, Ahmeti KB, Miller N, Huang C, Cheng L, Zhai H, Deng S, Nuytemans K, Corbett NJ, Kim MJ, Deng H, Tang B, Yang Z, Xu Y, Chan P, Huang B, Gao XP, Song Z, Liu Z, Fecto F, Siddique N, Foroud T, Jankovic J, Ghetti B, Nicholson DA, Krainc D, Melen O, Vance JM, Pericak-Vance MA, Ma YC, Rajput AH, Siddique T. Identification of TMEM230 mutations in familial Parkinson’s disease. Nat Genet 2016; 48(7): 733-739.
  2. González-Pérez P, Correia M, Capizzano A, Adams HP. Isolated cortical vein thrombosis. Neurology 2016; 86(13): 1262-1263.
  3. Woehlbier U, Colombo A, Saaranen MJ, Pérez V, Ojeda J, Bustos FJ, Andreu CI, Torres M, Valenzuela V, Medinas DB, Rozas P, Vidal RL, Lopez-Gonzalez R, Salameh J, Fernandez-Colleman S, Muñoz M, Matus S, Armisen R, Sagredo A, Palma K, Irrazabal T, Almeida S, González-Pérez P, Campero M, Gao FB, Henny P, van Zundert B, Ruddock LW, Concha ML, Henriquez JP, Brown RH, Hetz C. ALS-linked protein disulfide isomerase variants cause motor dysfunction. EMBO J 2016; 35(8): 845-865.
  4. Hinkle CD, Porter, JN, Waldron EJ, Klein H, Tranel D, Heffelfinger A. Neuropsychological characterization of three adolescent females with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis in the acute, post-acute, and chronic phases: an inter-institutional case series. Clin Neuropsychol 2016; June 13: 1-21.
  5. Serrano-Pozo A, Qian J, Muzikansky A, Monsell SE, Montine TJ, Frosch MP, Betensky RA, Hyman BT. Thal amyloid stages do not significantly impact the correlation between neuropathological change and cognition in the Alzheimer disease continuum. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2016; 75(6): 516-526.
  6. Serrano-Pozo A, Betensky RA, Frosch MP, Hyman BT. Plaque-associated local toxicity increases over the clinical course of Alzheimer disease. Am J Pathol 2016; 186(2): 375-384.
  7. Samai AA, Boehme AK, Shaban A, George AJ, Dowel L, Monlezun DJ, Leissinger C, Schluter L, El Khouri R, Martin-Schild S. A model for predicting persistent elevation of Factor VIII among patients with acute ischemic stroke. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2016; 25(2): 425-438.

2015

  1. Edwards C, Leira EC, Gonzalez-Alegre P. Residency training: a failed lumbar puncture is more about obesity than lack of ability. Neurology 2015; 84(10): e69-e72.
  2. González-Pérez P, Woehlbier U, Chian RJ, Sapp P, Rouleau GA, Leblond CS, Daoud H, Dion PA, Landers JE, Hetz C, Brown RH. Identification of rare protein disulfide isomerase gene variants in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients. Gene 2015; 566(2); 158-65.
  3. Serrano-Pozo A, Hyman BT. Alzheimer dementia with “insufficient” amyloid: variant or mimic of Alzheimer’s disease? Nat Rev Neurol 2015: 11(12): 674-5.
  4. Bachhuber T, Katzmarski N, McCarter JF, Loreth D, Tahirovic S, Kamp F, Abou-Ajram C, Nuscher B, Serrano-Pozo A, Müller A, Prinz M, Steiner H, Hyman BT, Haass C, Meyer-Luehmann M. Inhibition of amyloid-BETA plaque formation by BETA-synuclein. Nat Med 2015; 21(7): 802-807.
  5. von Einem B, Wahler A, Schips T, Serrano-Pozo A, Proepper C, Boeckers TM, Rueck A, Wirth T, Hyman BT, Danzer KM, Thal DR, von Arnim CA. The Golgi-localized  GAMMA-Ear-containing ARF-binding (GGA) proteins alter amyloid-BETA precursor protein (APP) processing through interaction of their GAE domain with the beta-site APP cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1). Plos One 2015: 10(6):e0129047.
  6. Jellinger KA, Alafuzoff I, Attems J, Beach TG, Cairns NJ, Crary JF, Dickson DW, Hof PR, Hyman BT, Jack CR Jr, Jicha GA, Knopman DS, Kovacs GG, Mackenzie IR, Masliah E, Montine TJ, Nelson PT, Schmitt F, Schneider JA, Serrano-Pozo A, Thal DR, Toledo JB, Trojanowski JQ, Troncoso JC, Vonsattel JP, Wisniewski T. PART, a distict tauopathy, different from classical sporadic Alzheimer’s disease. Acta Neuropathol 2015; 129(5): 757-762.
  7. Serrano-Pozo A, Qian J, Monsell SE, Betensky RA, Hyman BT. APOE-epsilon-2 is associated with milder clinical and pathological Alzheimer’s disease. Ann Neurol 2015; 77(6): 917-929.
  8. Shaban A, Hymel B, Chavez-Keatts M, Karlitz JJ, Martin-Schild M. Recurrent posterior strokes in inflammatory bowel disease patients. Gastroenterol Res Pract. 2015; 2015: 672460.
  9. Shaban A, Albright K, Gouse B, George A, Monlezun D, Boehme A, Beasley TM, Martin-Schild S. The impact of absent A1 segment on ischemic stroke characteristics and outcomes. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2015; 24(1): 171-175.
  10. Zafar A, Abdin S. Hyperkinetic movement disorder secondary to punctate hemorrhage in lateral ventricle lining. Case Rep Neurol 2015; 7(1): 26-9
  11. Zhang Q, Kim YC, Narayanan NS. Disease-modifying therapeutic directions for Lewy body dementias. Front Neurosci 2015; 9: 293.

2014

  1. Lamichhane D, Gonzalez-Alegre P, Narayanan N. Two cases of pregnancy in Parkinson’s disease. Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2014; 20(2): 239-240.
  2. Marciniak CM, O’Shea SA, Lee J. Jesselson M, Dudas-Sheehan D, Beltran E, Gaebler-Spira DJ. Urinary incontinence in adults with cerebral palsy: prevalence, type, and effects on participation. PM R 2014; 6(2): 110-120.
  3. Crary JF, Trojanowski JQ, Schneider JA, Abisambra JF, Alafuzoff I, Arnold SE, Attems J, Beach TG, Cairns NJ, Dickson DW, Gearing M, Grinberg L, Hof PR, Hyman BT, Jellinger K, Kovacs GG, Knopman DS, Kofler J, Masliah E, McKee A, Murray ME, Neltner JH, Santa-Maria I, Seeley WW, Serrano-Pozo A, Shelanski ML, Stein T, Takao M, Thal DR, Toledo JB, Troncoso JC, Vonsattel JP, White 3rd CL, Wisniewski T, Woltjer RL, Yamada M, Nelson PT. Primary age-related tauopathy (PART): a common pathology associated with human aging. Acta Neuropathol 2014; 128(6): 755-766.
  4. Tai HC, Wang BY, Serrano-Pozo A, Frosch MP, Spires-Jones TL, Hyman BT. Frequent and symmetric deposition of misfolded tau oligomers within presynaptic and postsynaptic terminals in Alzheimer’s disease Acta Neuropathol Commun 2014; 2(1): 146.
  5. Serrano-Pozo A, Qian J, Monsell SE, Blacker D, Gómez-Isla T, Betensky RA, Growdon JH, Johnson K, Frosch MP, Sperling RA, Hyman BT. Mild to moderate Alzheimer dementia with insufficient neuropathological changes. Ann Neurol 2014; 75(4): 597-601.
  6. Suárez-González A, Serrano-Pozo A*, Arroyo-Anlló EM, Franco-Macías E, Polo J, García-Solís D, Gil-Néciga E. Utility of neuropsychiatric tools in the differential diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies and Alzheimer´s disease: quantitative and qualitative findings. Int Psychogeriatr 2014; 26(3): 453-461.

2013

  1. Ruff J Jr, Froehler M. Status of endovascular interventions to treat acute ischemic stroke. Current Treat Options Neurol 2013; 15(5): 557-566.

2012

  1. Buchanan R, Bonthius DJ. Measles virus and associated central nervous system sequelae. Semin Pediatr Neurol 2012; 19(3): 107-114.
  2. Leira EC, Ludwig BR, Gurol ME, Torner JC, Adams HP Jr. The types of neurological deficits might not justify withholding treatment in patients with low total National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores. Stroke 2012; 43(3): 782-786.
  3. Laccheo I, Espinosa PS. International Issues: Neurology mission in the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest. Neurology 2012; 78(9): e60-e62.

2011

  1. Cook T, Joshi C. Gelastic seizures in tuberous sclerosis complex: case report and literature review. J Child Neurol 2011; 26(1): 83-86.
  2. Strader S, Rodnitzky RL, Gonzalez-Alegre P. Secondary dystonia in a Botulinum Toxin Clinic: Clinical characteristics, neuroanatomical substrate and comparison with idiopathic dystonia Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2011; 17(10): 749-752.

2010

  1. St Louis EK, Faber K. Reversible sleep-related stridor during vagus nerve stimulation. Epileptic Disord 2010; 12(1): 76-80.
  2. Im KB, Strader S, Dyken ME. Management of sleep disorders in stroke. Curr Treat Options Neurol 2010; 12(5): 379-395.

The Recruitment Process

How to Apply

Applications are only accepted through the Electronic Residency Application System (ERAS), and all applicants must also register with the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP).

Application review and interview selection begin when applications become available in ERAS; it is recommended that your application is submitted by this time. Interviews begin in October and go through early January.

Apply to a residency through ERAS®
Register with the NRMP

A complete ERAS application includes:

  • Medical School Transcript
  • MSPE
  • Three Letters of Recommendation
  • USMLE Transcript
  • ECFMG Certificate
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Personal Statement
  • Photograph (optional)

Interested in applying to the Clinical Neuroscientist Training Program?

Those interested in applying to the CNS-TP (Clinical Neuroscientist Training Program) should email Caroline Martin at caroline-martin@uiowa.edu and Kumar Narayanan at nandakumar-narayanan@uiowa.edu during the application process.

 

Eligibility Criteria

What We Seek in an Applicant

We approach application review holistically and do not hold to rigid criteria. The successful applicant will most likely possess a combination of:

  • Evidence of high academic achievement
  • Outstanding letters of recommendation from individuals who have worked closely with you
  • A record of experiences that indicates a passionate interest in a career in neurology
  • Evidence of success at teaching, leadership, and/or research

Additional information for foreign medical graduates:

Our program accepts foreign medical graduates, but expects the following additional qualifications:

  • ECFMG certification
  • A significant amount of U.S. clinical experience*
  • Outstanding letters of recommendation from U.S. neurologists*

*Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is understandable if U.S. clinical experience was not possible

Clinical Neuroscientist Training Program (CNS-TP)

To be considered for admission to the CNS-TP, no additional application is needed, simply notify the Residency Program Director of your interest. More information about the CNS-TP can be found here. Admission requires the following:

  • Extensive exposure to research, such as graduation from an MSTP, 5th research year during medical school, or equivalent
  • Outstanding research accomplishments, with a strong record of publication
  • Letters of recommendation from scientists who have supervised you
  • All of the qualifications of applicants to our regular residency program, including clear evidence of commitment to excellence in clinical care

 

Our People

Department photo May 2022

Meet Our Team

The Department of Neurology comprises a robust group of professionals whose clinical, teaching, and research expertise spans the entire discipline of neurology medicine. We are a melting pot of the best neurologists, residents, staff and employees, regardless of color, religion, gender and/or sexual inclination. We acknowledge, respect, and foster diversity, equity and inclusion.

Our Faculty
Residency Leadership
Current Residents

Residency Leadership

Current Residents

Past Residents