Current Fellows

Hometown:
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Why did you choose to become a part of MSU Neurology?
MSU Neurology offers an unparalleled opportunity to improve my clinical skills and see a variety of pathology working with amazing clinicians and educators. Go Green!

 If I was not a medical doctor, I would probably be a veterinarian or math teacher.  

Extracurricular Activities:  
Weightlifting, PC Games, keyboard and piano, hiking, cross-country skiing, sci-fi and fantasy novels.

Education

• D.O., Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, 2020
• Ph.D., Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Comparative Medicine and Integrative Biology, 2021.

Research Interests
Visual electrophysiology in characterization of normal retinal function and inherited retinal disease.

Clinical Interests
Neuro-ophthalmology, degenerative retinal diseases.

Fellowships
Pre-Residency Fellowship, Neuro-Ophthalmology, Michigan State University Department of Neurology, 2021-22

HOMETOWN:

Cincinnati, Ohio

UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION:

Please include college name, type of degree and year of graduation; add as many as you want.

The Ohio State University, Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience, 2019

GRADUATE EDUCATION/MEDICAL SCHOOL:

Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine

POSTGRADUATE EDUCATION/INTERNSHIP/OTHER TRAINING:

Please include any other residency training/internships you may have done.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO BECOME A PART OF MSU NEUROLOGY?

The faculty and fellows have an amazing, supportive culture where patient care and continued learning is prioritized.

IF YOU WERE NOT A DOCTOR, WHAT WOULD HAVE CHOSEN AS A CAREER?

I would have been a high school English or math teacher.

EXTRACURRICULAR INTERESTS AND ACTIVITIES:

I love hike, read, ski, bike, and play video games on my Nintendo Switch.

HOMETOWN:

Bloomington, IL

UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION:

Please include college name, type of degree and year of graduation; add as many as you want.

Illinois Wesleyan University, Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry, 2022

GRADUATE EDUCATION/MEDICAL SCHOOL:

Michigan State University, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, 2026

POSTGRADUATE EDUCATION/INTERNSHIP/OTHER TRAINING:

Please include any other residency training/internships you may have done.

SPECIAL INTERESTS/FELLOWSHIP INTERESTS:

Ophthalmology

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO BECOME A PART OF MSU NEUROLOGY?

I spent a significant amount of time with MSU Neurology during medical school. As a first and second year student, I had the opportunity to shadow several faculty members and later completed my neurology clinical rotation at Sparrow Hospital. Through these experiences, I developed a strong appreciation for the way neurology is practiced and taught here. I was consistently impressed by how approachable and engaged the faculty are, and how much they invest in trainees. Returning for a neuro-ophthalmology fellowship felt like a natural next step to continue building on that foundation and further develop my clinical skills.

IF YOU WERE NOT A DOCTOR, WHAT WOULD HAVE CHOSEN AS A CAREER?

If I had not pursued medicine, I would have loved to teach organic chemistry or biochemistry. I have always appreciated the impact that great teachers can have, and I would find it fulfilling to help students build confidence in subjects that often feel intimidating.

EXTRACURRICULAR INTERESTS AND ACTIVITIES:

In my free time, I enjoy visiting national parks, reading fiction, participating in jiu-jitsu and boxing, and playing Stardew Valley.

HOMETOWN:

Lake Oswego, Oregon

UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION:

Please include college name, type of degree and year of graduation; add as many as you want.

Brigham Young University, Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Humanities, Class of 2020

GRADUATE EDUCATION/MEDICAL SCHOOL:

Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, 2026

POSTGRADUATE EDUCATION/INTERNSHIP/OTHER TRAINING:

Please include any other residency training/internships you may have done.

SPECIAL INTERESTS/FELLOWSHIP INTERESTS:

Pediatric Ophthalmology

RESEARCH (ACTIVE OR INTERESTS) AND PUBLICATIONS:

Posters:

-Prevalence of Diabetic Retinopathy in an Inner-city Population of Southeast Asians (ARVO with travel grant)

-Effect of transcranial direct current stimulation of cerebellum on oculomotor parameters of normal adults (ARVO)

Publications:

-Case report on patient with dry age-related macular degeneration showing drusen regression without geographic atrophy

-Comment on article comparing optical coherence tomography and ultrasound for detecting optic disc drusen

Active:

-Computer Vision Syndrome and Dry Eye Disease: Prevalence and Association with Flashcard Use Among First- and Second-Year Medical Students (submission stage)

-Measuring Choroidal Thickness on Macular OCT for Uveoscleral Outflow after MicroPulse Transscleral Cyclophotocoagulation (Secured funding from Illinois Society for the Prevention of Blindness; Pending Institutional Approval from County Hospital)

Interests:

-Clinical predictors of distinguishing pediatric papilledema from pseudopapilledema

-Excited to learn more about neuro-ophthalmology which will prepare me for residency and allow me to help patients with neuro-ophthalmic conditions!

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO BECOME A PART OF MSU NEUROLOGY?

I chose to become a part of MSU neurology because I wanted to prepare for an ophthalmology residency and felt like having a strong foundation in neuro-ophthalmology would help me hit the ground running as a resident. Neuro-ophthalmology is a highly complex field and is often the last-stop for patients with vision loss that cannot be diagnosed by a standard fundus examination alone. When I had rotated through ophthalmology residency programs as a fourth-year med student, I met many residents along the way who had worked with Dr. Kaufman and were grateful for his unparallelled mentorship, which they felt had prepared them very well for residency and beyond.

IF YOU WERE NOT A DOCTOR, WHAT WOULD HAVE CHOSEN AS A CAREER?

If I were not a doctor, I would probably be a chef! I enjoy cooking in my downtime and trying new cuisines. In addition, I love the elements of creativity and working with my hands in a way that brings other people satisfaction, which is probably why I am drawn to ophthalmology, which offers many opportunities to bring patients satisfaction with improved visual outcomes through microsurgery!

EXTRACURRICULAR INTERESTS AND ACTIVITIES:

Spending time in the mountains, whether skiing, mountain biking, or backpacking. Foraging for chanterelle mushrooms in Oregon where I grew up and I’m excited about Michigan’s morels. I love attending MLB games with my wife and friends, making homemade ice cream and finding new good places to eat!

HOMETOWN:
Peru

GRADUATE EDUCATION/MEDICAL SCHOOL:
Medical school: Universidad Nacional de Piura - Peru

POSTGRADUATE TRAINING:  
Neurology Residency, University of Texas El Paso
Vascular Neurology Fellowship, UMH-Sparrow Hospital/MSU

SPECIAL INTERESTS/FELLOWSHIP INTERESTS:
Interested in cerebrovascular diseases, diagnosis, acute management, and prevention. Fellowship interests in vascular and interventional neurology

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO BECOME A PART OF MSU NEUROLOGY?
I chose MSU Neurology because of leadership in stroke and interventional neurology and the opportunity to train with expert faculty who are advancing the field.

EXTRACURRICULAR INTERESTS AND ACTIVITIES:
In my free time, I enjoy playing guitar, engaging in outdoor activities, and working out

Hometown:
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Why did you choose to become part of MSU Neurology?
I chose to join the MSU/Sparrow family for a bunch of reasons!  Chief among them was the atmosphere and collegiality I felt on the interview day--everyone was so kind and welcoming.  I'm also very excited to be back home in Michigan!  I loved growing up here and I think my daughter will too.  

If you were not a doctor, what would you have chosen as a career?
If I wasn't a doctor, I would probaby be working in music or music journalism.  When I was halfway through my first year of medical school, my band got an offer to tour Europe, but we would have had to drop everything and go.  I definitely had to stop and think about it for a second, but it wasn't hard to choose medicine at all!

Extracurricular Interests and Activities:  
In my free time, I am the vocalist for a metal/hardcore band, avid distance runner, gym rat, drummer and video game enthusiast.  I also have a wonderful wife, beautiful daughter and five pets that I love spennding time with!  

Education

• D.O. Degree: Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, Glendale, Arizona
• B.S. Degree: Biochemistry, Magna Cum Laude, Alma College, Alma, Michigan

Postdoctoral Training
Neurology Residency, Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona
UMH-Sparrow Hospital/MSU Vascular Neurology Fellowship, Lansing, Michigan

Research Interests
During residency I competed a couple projects, the most recent of which focused on treatment outcomes relating to reperfusion score in mechanical thrombectomy of acute ischemic stroke.  I am currently working on a project investigating ESUS in patients with active methamphetamine use.  

Clinical Interests
I have a special interest in neuroanatomy and neurovascular anatomy, teaching and early treatment/neuroprotective treatment modalities in acute stroke.  I am also interested in socio-economic healthcare disparity research.  

Residency Curriculum
PGY-7