Neurology Resident Alumni Bios

Amjad Abdallah, MD

I attended Medical College of Georgia at August University for neurology residency between 2016 to 2020. I served as a chief resident during my last year there. During my time there I developed an interest in inpatient neurology and stroke. After I graduated from Augusta University, I pursued a career as neurohospitalist at Spectrum Health System in Grand Rapids Michigan.

I went to Damascus University in Syria for Medical school. After I graduated medical school, I did a year of research at Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. I later joined Augusta University for neurology residency in 2016. I have an interest in stroke and seizure.

Laveena Singla, MD

I am so proud of my training at AUMC, I get a smile on my face every time I think about my time in Augusta. The faculty and staff were supportive and very inspirational. The dedication of faculty to provide an academically rich environment is truly unparalleled. In addition to being an advanced stroke center and level 4 NAEC epilepsy center, It provided truly comprehensive exposure to all subspecialities of neurology including neurocritical care, multiple sclerosis, neuromuscular diseases, movement disorders and pediatric neurology. The program provided me a diverse environment, where we embraced each other's cultures and celebrated each milestone together. It was my home away from home.

During training, I was constantly challenged to get out of comfort zone which helped me to metamorphose, not just as a physician but also into a better person. There were plenty of research and educational opportunities. It also provided me with autonomy in well supported way, which helped me to build my skill set and clinical acumen. By the time I reached 4th year, I was confident in both diagnosis and management of neurological conditions. The attendings were always approachable and genuinely cared about my training. It will be incomplete to talk about AUMC if I do not talk about Dr. Nichols and Dr. Switzer and their strong support in shaping me as a neurologist. Dr. Nichols always emphasized on foundations of neurology including examination, localization and building differential diagnoses during daily morning reports. I still find myself quoting him and Dr. Switzer when I teach residents.

Augusta as a city is not expensive. It is a family oriented town with plenty of options for outdoor activities like kayaking and hiking. The weather is amazing and the winters are very tolerable. It is about 2-3 hour away from 4 major cities. Looking back, I feel fortunate that I got the opportunity to build the foundation of my career at Augusta. I would recommend neurology residency program at AUMC to medical students sincerely considering a career in neurology.

Rafael Perez Rodriguez, MD

My name is Rafael Perez Rodriguez and I'm a 2020 graduate of the neurology residency at Medical College of Georgia. Currently, I am a second-year epilepsy fellow at Emory School of Medicine after completing a year of clinical neurophysiology with an emphasis in EEG. After graduation, I will be heading to the midwest(bye-bye hot summers) where I will be working at the regional branch of Mayo Clinic Healthcare as an epileptologist.

My time at MCG/AU was one that I will always hold dear and close to my heart as it was my first home away from home. One of the greatest assets of the residency program is the extensive and daily educational activities provided to the residents. A good example of this is daily morning reports with the human encyclopedia that is Dr. Nichols and then followed by our daily rounds in our various rotations. This is also in parallel with the bedside/clinic teaching that is provided by our attendings Drs. Switzer, Shah, Moore-Hill, Rivner, Garcia, Pruitt, Morgan, Wolf Kurek ETC who all shaped me into the neurologist that I am today.

MCG is a great place for training that as soon as you graduate you will feel comfortable in diagnosing and treating a vast array of neurological diseases.

Kristin Davis, MD

I am a full-time outpatient only neurologist at a large multi-specialty physician owned practice in Pensacola, Florida. I did my internal medicine internship, neurology residency and chief residency, as well as clinical neurophysiology fellowship at Augusta University (formally the Medical College of Georgia/MCG). I practice general neurology with special interests in neuromuscular medicine and clinical uses of botulinum toxin (Botox). I also run a large Deep Brain Stimulator (DBS) clinic. I am fortunate to be able to do pro bono work through a local indigent clinic as well as go on yearly medical mission trips to Central America.

My time at MCG prepared me very well to be a great practical and clinical neurologist. The hands-on training with close clinical supervision at MCG was key to my success in private practice. The daily morning report with Dr. Nichols reviewing cases and imaging was such an effective learning tool. Working at the VA with Dr. McNair and Dr. Morgan was invaluable. I got well rounded training through rotations in multiple subspecialty clinics which allowed me to see the common and the rare. Fellowship with invaluable teaching and training in epilepsy as well as neuromuscular with Dr. Rivner allowed me to really find my passion.

Choosing a residency and fellowship can be a daunting task, to be certain. I have no regrets about doing my training at MCG and in fact believe I got a better education for practical neurology than I might have gotten at many of the big name programs. As you are making your choice, I recommend you look closely at the focus on education and hands-on learning at whichever program you choose. This will make you a great neurologist no matter where you establish your career. Good luck!

Amrinder Singh, MD

Training: Endovascular Surgical Neuroradiology Fellowship at JFK Medical Center, finished Vascular Neurology and NeuroCritical Care Fellowship.

Recollection of Training: Morning reports with Dr. Nichols where I learned something new everyday.

To the future residents: You will be joining a new caring family, not just a residency program. You will be well prepared for the future with rigorous training at Augusta University. I remember this program as my base and a stepping stone to fulfill my dreams. Wishing you all the best of luck in your future endeavors.

Subhashini Ramesh, MD

work at Inova Fairfax hospital in Falls church ,Virginia.It’s a 923 bed tertiary hospital in northern Virginia.I work as a Neurointensivist in the Neuro ICU and am entirely hospital based.

I sub specialized in Neurocritical care at Emory hospital in Atlanta after my neurology residency at MCG.

I cannot think about MCG without remembering morning report with Dr Nichols.I have no doubt that reviewing images with him every morning for 3 straight years contributed to my confidence in neuroradiology. I also have fond memories of the neuroanatomy lecture series conducted by Dr Rivner,daily rounds with Dr Hess and Dr Switzer as well as professor rounds with Dr Tom Swift.

At the time when I ranked MCG and chose to go their for my residency I never realized what a wise decision I had made.Without a doubt it has shaped me into the neurologist I am.If I had to do it all over again,I would still do my residency at MCG.

David Hale, MD FAAN

My practice is located in Rome, GA, and see patients from all of northwest Georgia and northeast Alabama. Harbin Clinic is a large multispecialty practice, and I work with 2 other neurologists and 3 neurosurgeons in my office.

I am a general neurologist, seeing adolescent age patients as well. I have additional interest in sports neurology and I am the “team neurologist” for Berry College.

Dr. Tom Swift’s professor rounds were always very educational and entertaining. I recently saw a co-resident (Abelazim Sirelkhatim) at Neurobowl at the AAN conference, which was very cool. Pranking my fellow residents was a fun way to unwind, but I apologize for any emotional distress I might have caused them.

MCG was a great choice for neurology residency. There is great comradery throughout the department, and you can tell the faculty care greatly about the education as well as the wellbeing of their residents. I recall how all of my preceptors took special interest in learning more about me personally, and although it was tremendously hard work to look back on those years fondly.

Hemang K Shah, MD

I practice outpatient only general neurology at Kernodle Clinic in Burlington NC. Our multispecialty group practice is part of Duke Health Practice. I have a PA that I supervise. (see more at www.mybraindoctor.com)

I had been board certified in clinical neurophysiology and feel like it helps me a lot with my private practice. MCG has a Comprehensive Epilepsy Center and also its faculty staff two of the three ALS clinics in Georgia. I found that my exposure to epilepsy and neuromuscular disorders was excellent during my residency and fellowship training!

I enjoyed my time at Augusta University “formerly known as MCG – Medical College of Georgia”. My time at MCG prepared me well for private practice. Morning rounds with Dr. Nichols trained me to think like a neurologist. Dr. Rivner’s passion to find innovative ways to help patients with terminal conditions taught me that even if we don’t have a cure for patient’s condition, we can make a difference in their lives with small tips and tricks. Faculty interactions and residency culture cultivated at MCG was very nurturing for optimal learning. I still find myself doing a neurological exam exactly the way Dr. McNair did during rounds. Dr. Hess has the tremendous skill of genuinely appreciating and motivating team members to get most out of them. Observing many attendings like Drs. Morgan, Park, and Pruitt with their efficient time management and ability to see many patients in a short period helped me with my high volume outpatient practice.

With trainee-oriented leadership of Dr. Switzer and Dr. Moore-Hill, I think new learners will find a great balance of exposure to bread and butter neurology versus zebras. Exposure to the good amount of outpatient neurology during my training helped me a lot in the “real” world.

Katy Moretz, MD

About yourself, where you practice and your practice setting:

I practice pediatric neurology at Savannah Neurology Specialists where I have been since my neurology residency graduation in 2008. I see patients daily in my office, and I cover pediatric neurology consults at Memorial University Medical Center. I work with general pediatrics residents, pediatric psychiatry residents, and 4th year medical students from Mercer and sometimes MCG. I also share adult neurology call with my partners; even covering telestroke calls for adult patients! I provide botulinum toxin injections to my CP population both in the office and under sedation at the hospital. I average reading about 75 EEGs a month, both inpatient and outpatient. I felt really prepared for these procedures after completing my neurology residency! I am the only dedicated pediatric neurologist in my region, and our practice averages about 150 new pediatric patient referrals every month. I stay busy!! It's a good thing I love my job.

I hear from so many students and residents who think pediatric neurology is just "too sad." But I will never forget a case I saw with Dr. Rivner in his ALS clinic while I was about 36 weeks pregnant. After telling this kind gentleman that he had ALS, I completely broke down and cried like a child when Dr. Rivner told me I needed to bring back his wife from the waiting room so we could include her in the discussion. I begged and pleaded to please allow me to "sit this one out" as I truly could not get it together enough to have such a discussion. Thankfully I had pregnancy hormones to blame on my emotional instability. Child neurology can certainly be sad, but ALS clinics are worse!

I have fond memories of training at MCG and I continue to send my more complicated epilepsy and neuromuscular patients there on a regular basis. Our practice is continuing to grow, we are always looking to recruit both adult and pediatric neurologists, so feel free to reach out to me any time if you have an interest in practicing in a collegial private neurology practice in a beautiful historic seaside town!

Mitzi Joi Williams, MD

My name is Dr. Mitzi Joi Williams and I am a neurologist and fellowship-trained MS specialist. I completed my Internship and neurology training, including a year as Chief Resident in 2008.

I have been fortunate to work in a variety of practice settings. After completion of my fellowship, I worked in Academia for several years before joining a large subspecialty neurology practice. I then started my own private practice last year in Atlanta, GA. I currently work in my practice, but also have an appointment at a local academic institution where I do outpatient clinics regularly. I see a majority of MS patients, but also some general neurology.

I was the only physician to complete Multiple Sclerosis Fellowship training at Augusta University.

I enjoyed my time at MCG because of the rich learning environment was very rich. The program was really a hidden gem because of the amazing world-renowned faculty and the variety of experiences available in different sub-specialties.

Choosing a residency program is a not a decision to be taken lightly. It’s important to meet the faculty and other residents to understand the culture of the institution and available learning opportunities. Choose wisely!