main Biography Biography: I was raised in a Russian immigrant household by an M.D. mother and a PhD father. Good education was always valued in my family. I fell in love with neurology through early exposure to science and art; after all, it’s the human brain that makes art! I was raised in West Bloomfield, Michigan, and my parents and three younger siblings still live there. Hometown:West Bloomfield, MIWhy did you choose to become part of Michigan State University Neurology?More than anything, I wanted to stay in my home state of Michigan for my residency. When I visited Michigan State for my interview and saw the opportunities for academic neurology, the resident culture, and the city of Lansing, I knew it was the place for me.If you were not a doctor, what would you have chosen as a career?A musician, a teacher, or an author.Extracurricular interests and activities:Music, writing, teaching, languages, world travel Publications Selected Publications: Dhakar, M., Bao, F., Pullukat, R., Aronov, M., et al. Gray Matter Volume is Reduced in Focal Compared to Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsy (P7.003). Neurology (Apr 2015), Vol. 84 no. 14. Online ISSN: 1526-632X Education Education and Professional Positions: Bachelor of Science in Biology with minor in Russian from University of Michigan in 2015Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine at Midwestern University in 2019 Resident Location Current Resident Location: MSU Clinical Center Residency Curriculum Residency Curriculum: PGY-4 Clinical Interests Clinical Interests: Movement, Sleep, Neuroinfectious disease, neuroimmunology Research Interests Research Interests: Music therapy