{"id":6239,"date":"2019-08-29T10:57:22","date_gmt":"2019-08-29T14:57:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/neurology\/?page_id=6239"},"modified":"2026-07-10T08:19:59","modified_gmt":"2026-07-10T12:19:59","slug":"residents","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/neurology\/education\/residencyprogram\/residents\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet Our Residents"},"content":{"rendered":"

Below is our current list of residents. We come from many parts of the world and many different backgrounds.\u00a0We are all united with one goal of providing excellent patient care while learning to become excellent clinical neurologists.\u200b<\/span><\/p>\n

Interns (PGY-1)<\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\"\"Nana Ama Amponsaah-Opoku, MD<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

Hi everyone! My name is Nana and I am a Maryland native. I grew up near DC and spent the last four years in Baltimore while attending the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Excited to explore the New England area for the first time! I love live music and pop music across all cultures, as well as playing tennis and petting cats. I also have really fond memories of watching the World Cup growing up so super excited for that as well. Lastly, I’m a big lover of food and pastries so open to any suggestions from folks familiar with Boston. Looking forward to meeting everyone in person!<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\"\"Tina Bastin, MD<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Hi! I\u2019m Tina! I grew up in California, moved to Michigan, and finally landed here in Boston! Things you should know about me is simple\u2014I love to walk & I love the ocean (so yes Boston is the place to be). You\u2019ll probably find me sitting near some body of water, humming the tune to my next song cover (stay tuned for what the next song is!). Boston<\/span>
\nholds a special place for me in my heart, & I am beyond happy that I get to continue my medical training in such a beautiful city filled with my mentors, friends, and family.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\"\"Isaac Falconer, MD, PhD<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Hi everyone! I\u2019m Isaac, originally from a small town in Oregon called Clatskanie, and excited to be staying at BU\/BMC for residency. I completed my MD\/PhD at Boston University and have been in the Boston area for several years now. Outside of medicine, I enjoy bouldering and playing piano. I also have two boys (14 and 18), who keep life busy and fun. I have an interest in language that started with my time as an Arabic linguist in the Marines and continued with my PhD research focusing on post-stroke aphasia. I\u2019m really looking forward to getting to know everyone and starting this next chapter together!<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\"\"Aksel Laudon, MD<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Hey, everyone! I\u2019m Aksel. I grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. I came to Boston for college at BU where I studied biomedical engineering and competed in cross country and track. I continued with medical school at BU and discovered neurology through our incredible faculty. Outside of medicine, chances are that you\u2019ll find me running (it\u2019s pretty much my only personality trait at this point), but I also enjoy cycling, hiking, and searching for good bagels in the area. I look forward to spending four more years at BU with our resident squad!<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\"\"Kristine Luo, MD<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Hi everyone, I’m Kristine! I’m from the Philly suburbs (Go Birds!) and stayed close to home for both undergrad at Penn State and medical school at Jefferson. I’m so excited to be starting a new adventure in a new city! Outside of medicine, I love music \u2013 I collect musical instruments and go to maybe too many concerts (the louder, the better)! Some other hobbies of mine include journaling, reading, journaling about what I’m reading, and tracking the Goodyear blimp on FlightRadar24. I’m really looking forward to exploring Boston and finding the best latte in town. I can’t wait to meet you all!<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\"\"Natalia Molik, MD<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Hi everyone! I\u2019m Natalia, and I\u2019m originally from Long Island, NY. I went to St. Joseph\u2019s College for undergrad, then moved to New Orleans for my M.S. in Microbiology, where I ended up staying for medical school. I\u2019m super excited to be moving to Boston (and finally experiencing real seasons again), and to explore all that New England has to offer! Outside of the hospital, I love staying active (I recently got into running), reading, hiking, traveling, hanging with friends (and my cat, Katia), and finding a good coffee spot. I\u2019m really looking forward to meeting all of you!<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\"\"Sherry Wang, MD<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Hi everyone, I\u2019m Sherry! I\u2019m originally from a small city in Gifu, Japan, but grew up mostly in the South Bay in LA, spending some time in Hong Kong along the way. I attended UCLA (go Bruins!) for undergrad, spent my gap year in Munich and New York City, and made my way to BU for med school. I\u2019m so excited to continue my training here at Boston Medical Center! Outside of medicine, I love all things music (the BSO is incredible), exploring museums, finding good food (current favorite is Kava\u2019s zucchini chips!), as well as spending quality time with friends and family.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

PGY-2<\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\"\" Alexa Rakusin, MD<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Hi everyone! I’m Alexa, and I grew up in Atlanta, GA. I went to WashU in St. Louis for undergrad before spending a year in Washington, DC working as a patient advocate. I then returned to Georgia for medical school at the Medical College of Georgia, where I discovered my passion for neurology with the help of some incredible mentors. Much like the Amazon Alexa, I’m great at listening, full of random facts, and can always tell you the weather forecast. In my free time, I love traveling, experimenting with tofu recipes, getting way too invested in reality TV, and exploring new restaurants and coffee shops with friends. I’m so excited to move to Boston and meet everyone soon!<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\"\"Alvin John, MD<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Hey everyone, I\u2019m Alvin! I grew up in Westchester, New York before moving to Brooklyn, where I studied psychology at Brooklyn College and later completed medical school at SUNY Downstate, where I fell in love with neurology thanks to the wonderful faculty there. Some of my clinical interests include headache\/pain neurology, neuro-oncology, and neuroimmunology.Outside of medicine, I am a soccer fanatic and die-hard Manchester United fan; I also love playing badminton, pickleball, and tennis. I enjoy listening to grunge\/alt-rock\/alt-metal, as well as exploring different genres of cinema and film analysis. I am trying to travel more so please give me suggestions! Looking forward to meeting all of you!<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\"\"Sara Jacobellis, MD<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Hey, I\u2019m Sara! I was born and raised on Long Island, NY but I\u2019ve been in the northeast for the last ten years. I went to Providence College for undergrad and Boston University for my masters and medical school. I\u2019m very excited to continue my training right here at Boston Medical Center! When I\u2019m not in the hospital I love exploring Boston or trekking outside the city with friends, playing in rec leagues (BSSC kickball champion \u201924), and watching sports (forever a Yankees fan) – or more realistically binging reality TV\/sitcoms.\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\"\" Aizara Ermekbaeva, MD<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Hi everyone, I\u2019m Aizara! I was born and raised in Kyrgyzstan and first came to the U.S. as an exchange student in Wisconsin when I was 16. The following year, I decided to return for college and studied Biomedical Sciences at the University of South Florida. I then pursued my medical degree at Tulane School of Medicine. I\u2019ve never truly explored Boston\u2014only passed through on layovers\u2014so I\u2019m excited to finally experience the city! Outside of medicine, I enjoy spending time outdoors, especially long walks, as well as hanging out with friends, reading, and binging TV shows and movies (my current favorites are Invincible<\/em> and The Boys<\/em>).\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\"\"Zachariah Foster, MD<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Hi everyone, I\u2019m Zak! I was born in Boston and grew up all over New England before attending Wesleyan University in Connecticut where I majored in Neuroscience and played defensive back on the football team. I spent the next couple of years in Boston working at the JP VA ALS Brain Bank before returning to CT for medical school at Quinnipiac University. I am so excited to come home for residency and am looking forward to catching games and grabbing meals in the city! Outside of work, I like hitting the gym, playing pick-up basketball or pickleball, and exploring uber eats and local parks with my wife and dog.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\"\"Karen Beaty, MD<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Hi everyone! I\u2019m Karen, and I\u2019m excited to be joining the neurology residency program at Boston Medical Center. Boston has always been one of my favorite cities, and I\u2019m thrilled to be living here and caring for such a diverse patient population. Outside of medicine, I enjoy <\/span>snowboarding, hiking, biking, yoga, strength training, reading, exploring coffee shops, and spending time outdoors. I\u2019m looking forward to getting to know everyone and being part of the BMC community!<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\"\" Afrah Shibu, MD<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Hi everyone! I grew up in Doha, am from India, completed my medical training in the UK (at the University of Oxford), and have spent a year working in Australia! So you may have guessed I am a bit of a travel enthusiast! I love exploring new countries and cultures, particularly through food. I am also a water baby, and enjoy swimming, kayaking, and diving (that\u2019s me with Nemo at the Great Barrier Reef). In my spare time, you\u2019ll probably find me at the pool or on a plane. I am excited to start my Neuro career in Boston, a melting pot of cultures, history, and most importantly, great food (so I\u2019ve been told!). <\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

PGY-3<\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\"\"Andr\u00e9s Amaya, MD<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Hey everyone! My name is Andr\u00e9s. I am originally from Colombia but grew up moving around a lot of different countries. Although I am just starting here at BMC, I have already enjoyed working with so many of the residents and attendings in the Neurology department. It’s been a wonderful learning experience so far. My clinical interests are broad and I haven’t quite narrowed down any subspecialty I am interested in. If I had to pick I would be between neuropalliative and neuroimmunology. \u00a0My educational background includes population health \/ public health, and I am really interested in integrating that into my Neurology career. At BMC, we are uniquely positioned to directly witness and have resources to address some of the systemic inequities that limit medicine\/healthcare as a whole. Outside of those things – I love to play basketball (probably too much), go to the movies, and try new restaurants.<\/span><\/span>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\"\"Courtney Dunphy, MD<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Hi- I\u2019m Courtney! I am from Fair Haven, NJ (yes- the Jersey Shore\u2026\u00a0 don\u2019t judge). I went to Colgate University in Upstate NY for undergrad, and completed medical school at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson in NJ. Back in college, I did a summer program at BMC and I am so excited to be back. I am looking forward to exploring Boston and seeing as much stand-up comedy and live music as possible. Without fail, I always find my way to the front of the stage. I also like to ski, hike, kayak, and am looing forwards to experiencing a New England fall!\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\"\"Shyam Bhagat, MD<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Hi! I\u2019m Shyam, I grew up in Westford MA and went out to NY for undergrad at the University of Rochester and medical school at Hofstra\/Northwell. Being back in Boston has been great and the highlight has been meeting so many wonderful people at BMC. \u00a0In my free time I try to stay active whether that means going to the gym, running around the city, or playing a game of pick-up basketball or Frisbee. I\u2019ve been enjoying trying food spots around Boston; some recent favorites are Dirty Dough Pizza on Newbury, Red-White Ramen also on Newbury, and of course Blunch right near BMC. My favorite part of medicine is learning new things each day and working with students and luckily there is no shortage of that at BMC!<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\"\"Kathryn L. Cater, MD<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

My name is Katie! I grew up in Newfoundland, Canada and North Carolina. I went to the University of Alabama for undergrad and spent time doing research in Washington, DC and Poland before starting medical school. I completed medical school at Rush University in Chicago. I\u2019m thrilled to be doing neurology residency at BMC and loved getting to know the interns, residents, faculty, and staff! My subspeciality interests currently include headache, neuroimmunology, neuroinfectious disease, neuropsychology, and memory but I\u2019m looking forward to exploring these and other subspecialties throughout training. Some special clinical interests of mine are LGBTQ+ health, women\u2019s health, health disparities, and global health. Outside of work I love swimming, trying new restaurants, traveling, and listening to audiobooks. I\u2019m new to Boston but am looking forward to exploring the city with my partner, Erin, and my Maltipoo, Ellie!<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\"\"Fanny Migliore, MD<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Hi- I\u2019m Fanny! I grew up on Long Island, NY, went to undergrad and got my master\u2019s at Boston University, and attended medical school in Philadelphia. I am thrilled to be back in Boston! In my free time I enjoy going to the beach, working out, yoga, and spending time with my family and friends. I\u2019m so excited to be exploring Boston again – trying new restaurants (and ice cream shops), attending sporting events, and enjoying scenic New England views!<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\"\"Rachel Temme, MD<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Hi everyone, I\u2019m Rachel! I was born and raised in Montana and studied microbiology at Montana State University for undergrad. I moved to Seattle for medical school at the University of Washington where I discovered a love for coastal cities. Coming from a rural and medically underserved area, I knew I wanted a residency program that prioritized addressing healthcare disparities within a diverse population and BMC felt like the perfect fit. I\u2019m thrilled to now call Boston home and have the chance to explore a completely new part of the country. Outside of medicine, you can find me trying new breweries, cross-country skiing somewhere in New England, searching for the best beach, at a hockey game, or most likely sitting at home knitting or watching reality TV with my orange cat Winston.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

PGY-4<\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\"\"Helen Chung, MD<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019m Helen and I\u2019m originally from the suburbs of Chicago, but I moved to Los Angeles where I attended undergrad and medical school at the University of Southern California. I\u2019m super stoked to be on the east coast for residency and to explore everything that New England has to offer. Boston has been such a treat so far, and I\u2019ve really enjoyed trying out different restaurants\/bars, walking around this beautiful city, and exploring the music scene here. I also love hanging out with my cat Toto at home, cooking lots of Korean food (which admittedly cannot compare to LA), and hiking\/camping around New England!<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\"\"<\/a>Lillian Dixon, MD<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Hi everyone! My name is Lily. I\u2019m from Buffalo, NY so I am an expert on all things snow, chicken wings, and the Bills. I went to SUNY Fredonia for undergrad where I majored in Molecular Genetics and Psychology. For medical school, I attended Jacob\u2019s School of Medicine in Buffalo. I am interested in neuro-infectious disease, neuroimmunology, global neurology, and stroke! I also love medical education and academics. Outside of work, I play ukulele, go for runs, tend to my plants, and am I am currently learning how to crochet. You can also find me exploring Boston (especially walking along The Charles). \u00a0Also, I have a hamster named Lenny!<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\"\"In Guk (Josh) Kang, MD<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Hi everyone! My name is Josh. I was born in Seoul, South Korea, and was raised in Vancouver, Canada. I moved over to Baltimore, MD to study neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University, where I spent an extra year working on cocaine research. Then, I went a little south to Washington, DC to attend medical school at Georgetown University, where I fell in love with neurology thanks to wonderful mentors. I\u2019ve visited Boston, where my wife is from, over 10 times while living in the DC area. I am so excited to be calling Boston and New England my new home and starting neurology residency at BMC! In my free time, I love traveling with my wife by air, sea, and road, playing tennis, eating breakfast food (inspired by Ron Swanson on Parks and Rec) and cr\u00e8me br\u00fbl\u00e9e (my favorite dessert), watching MasterChef, spending time with my co-residents, and playing with our dog (cutest little Maltipoo!), Brulee (guess where the name came from).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\"\"Rosalind Dick-Godfrey, MD<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Hi there! I grew up in San Diego, CA and switched coasts to attend Boston College for undergrad. I then moved to New York City for a clinical research position before completing medical school at New York Medical College. I am so excited to be back in Boston and really get to know the city! On my days off, I am headed to the next destination on my bucket list. There are so many places I hope to visit, and then visit again. Generally, I love to be outdoors. The beach will always have my heart but I have learned to appreciate the chillier activities as well! In my downtime I am recharging with a good book, cooking a cozy meal, or hanging with my fiance or co-residents. I am very close with my family and feel so lucky to have most of them nearby.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\"\"Adriana Lebowitz, MD<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Hey, my name is Adriana! I grew up in Orange, CT before attending Holy Cross in Worcester for undergrad, where I was an English major. I lived in Boston doing research for a couple years after graduation, then headed back to CT for med school at Quinnipiac… and now I’m back here so I guess I’ll just keep moving back and forth. I like hanging with friends, weightlifting, traveling, coffee, and being in the sun (despite spending my life in New England). I’m very close to my family and love spending time with my two baby nieces. I’m also a huge foodie. Although I’m a bandwagon fan, I will say the vibes of Boston sports are unmatched, so I’m down to catch any game any time!<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\"\"Joyce Lee, MD<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Hi everyone! I’m Joyce. I’m originally from Taipei and Vancouver. I did my undergraduate studies at Princeton, where I majored in neuroscience and minored in finance, then I worked at the Penn Memory Center as a science communications and research assistant. I completed medical school at Boston University, where I pursued my interests in neurology research, health policy, and health innovation. I’m excited to stay in this beautiful city and this special place for residency. Outside of medicine, I love good books, espresso (or coffee if I need to), walks\/runs along the Esplanade, yoga classes, violin concertos, calligraphy, and French literature. Looking forward to meeting and working with everyone :)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\"\"Hongfei Zhao, MD<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Hello, I\u2019m Fei! I\u2019m from Southern California, but at heart I\u2019m a bad weather girlie and I love autumnal vibes. Nothing is more satisfying than reading a mystery book while it\u2019s dramatically pouring outside (unless it\u2019s reading a giant fantasy book and forgetting there *is* an outside). I also love TV show binges, frenetic convos with friends, and multiple forms of soups. I\u2019m always, always down for an in-depth chat about neurology, brains, psychology, neuroscience, and vampires.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Below is our current list of residents. We come from many parts of the world and many different backgrounds.\u00a0We are all united with one goal of providing excellent patient care while learning to become excellent clinical neurologists.\u200b Interns (PGY-1) Nana Ama Amponsaah-Opoku, MD Hi everyone! My name is Nana and I am a Maryland native. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":935,"featured_media":0,"parent":64,"menu_order":13,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/neurology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6239"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/neurology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/neurology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/neurology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/935"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/neurology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6239"}],"version-history":[{"count":50,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/neurology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6239\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9120,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/neurology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6239\/revisions\/9120"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/neurology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/64"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/neurology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6239"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}