Resident Reflections

Hi, I'm Sahaana! I moved around rather frequently while growing up, but I call Atlanta, Georgia my home. I completed my BS in Neural Science at New York University, then completed my MD at the Medical College of Georgia. In my free time, I like to try out new restaurants and cafes, attempt to improve my tennis game, listen to a lot of rap/hip-hop, and hunt for delicious coffee beans (my favorite flavor profile is something a bit chocolatey and slightly fruity like blackberry or citrus). I chose Wake Forest Neurology for residency because of what I consider to be a Goldilocks ratio of zebras-to-horses in terms of clinical cases. From reviewing the curriculum and speaking with the residents, it was abundantly clear that training at WF Neurology made for strong clinicians who are not only adept at managing the bread-and-butter cases of Neurology, but also at identifying the rarer and complex medical cases that are only seen at renowned academic centers like Wake Forest. Additionally, life in Winston Salem makes for a very well-balanced life in residency. I enjoy the low cost of living, minimal traffic/easy commute and the proximity to 2 airports (CLT and GSO) which makes it easy to travel during time off. I also love the people here. While I hadn’t known anyone in Winston Salem prior to moving here, I found it easy to form a strong support system of my coresidents (Neurology and across other specialties) and even faculty who are so welcoming and eager to mentor. I’m not yet decided on my specific career path within Neurology but am so far enjoying my PGY2 year exploring both inpatient and outpatient services and am excited to continue this journey!

1. A little bit about me: sort of biographical info. Went to Wake Forest for medical school, decided to stick around for residency!
2. Why I chose Wake Forest Neurology for residency: Autonomy, breath of experience, great balance of outpatient and inpatient - ultimately you will graduate a tremendous general neurologist regardless of the specialty.
3. Best thing about being a resident? Graduated autonomy: from intern year onward you manage more and more on your own leading to rapid growth as a physician. Our residency is very resident driven as opposed to fellow driven - we see all consults in the hospital, no matter the question and manage the neuro floors on our own PGY-2 year. You see and treat it all - other residencies have so many fellows that this takes away from your experience - other hospitals have stroke fellows running code strokes, reading overnight EEG's, movement fellows responding to inpatient movement disorder consults etc.
4. What’s great about living in Winston-Salem? Cost of living, 5 minute commute to hospital
5. Favorite thing to do in Winston-Salem, the region: Going to Boone/Asheville
6. Career goals and research interests: General neurology

1. A little bit about me: Outside of medicine I like being active and outside. I like playing tennis, disc golf, basketball, and other sports with friends. I also enjoy exploring new places with my wife, traveling to new places, trying different foods, and finding unique experiences.
2. Why I chose Wake Forest Neurology for residency: I was looking for a program where I would graduate as a confident neurologist and where my curiosity for neurology would be encouraged. Wake Forest is a great program due to its rigorous clinical training and approachable faculty. Also was drawn by the strong sense of community with the residents. As a bonus, there is an annual ping pong tournament.
3. Best thing about being a resident here: My co-residents! They are very intelligent, kind, and supportive. There is a big sense of community with our class. The faculty are also very helpful and love to teach. Also, Camino’s bakery in the hospital is a big perk.
4. What’s great about living in Winston-Salem: Winston-Salem is a good place to due residency if you like having a good mix of the outdoors and the city. You are very close to the mountains and plenty of outdoor activities, while also having fun restaurants and breweries.
5. Career goals and research interests: I’m still trying to figure out exactly what I want to do after completing residency. I am very interested in movement disorders but am still open to other fields of neurology. I would like to have medical education as a part of my practice.

1. A little bit about me: I grew up in a small town in the mountains of South Carolina and moved to Columbia, SC, for undergrad and medical school. Growing up, I had a lot of family who lived in North Carolina, so it always felt like my second home. In my free time, I like to keep a good balance between staying active and relaxing at home by reading a good book or binging the latest crime show series!
2. Why I chose Wake Forest Neurology for residency: There are so many things that I love about this program! We get a lot of exposure to the different subspecialties within neurology and early exposure to both inpatient and outpatient neurology, which I think is key to becoming a well-rounded physician and neurologist. During my interview, I could tell that the faculty really care about residents’ experiences and training, and the culture felt very welcoming and collaborative.
3. Best thing about being a resident here? It sounds cliché but definitely the people! Everyone here is so great and supportive. I love all of my co-residents, and coming to work feels like just hanging out with friends. There’s also a good balance between working and education, which is important to me as a learner.
4. What’s great about living in Winston-Salem? There’s a lot of green space and opportunities to get out in nature, which I love. I think there’s also a lot of good restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and things to do in the city itself. I can always find something to do!
5. Favorite thing to do in Winston-Salem, the region: Some of my favorite things to do in WS are checking out different coffee shops, farmers markets, local hiking trails, pickleball courts, and vineyards. My friend and I are always finding new restaurants and breweries to try in our free time!
6. Career goals and research interests: I’m interested in both vascular and cognitive neurology at this point, although perhaps leaning more towards inpatient medicine. I’ve done a lot of research in stroke, which I really enjoy, but I’m excited to discover new areas of neurology that I haven’t been exposed to before and see where my training takes me.

1. A little bit about me: I’m from Orlando, FL, and I did medical school at USF in Tampa, FL. I’m very happy to be out of Florida and in the beautiful state of North Carolina! I’m big into reading and hiking. You’ll find me at any of our local bookstores or coffee shops.
2. Why I chose Wake Forest Neurology for residency: My partner and I couples matched. We knew we wanted to be in North Carolina, and we wanted a program that was strong in both Emergency Medicine and Neurology. We did our second look at Wake Forest and met a lot of the people, and we found that we fit right in.
3. Best thing about being a resident here?: Definitely our coresidents. Everyone is always willing to hang out or help with anything you need.
4. What’s great about living in Winston-Salem?: The city has character and history. You can find your niche anywhere in this city.
5. Favorite thing to do in Winston-Salem, the region: Favorite place to be in Winston is Remedy coffee shop, and the best thing to do around here is hiking at Hanging Rock.
6. Career goals and research interests: Possibly vascular neurology, but I’m still open to suggestions.

Prior to attending Wake's medical school, I studied public health and studio art. Wake's neurology residency program encourages me to use what I learned in these fields to advocate for my patients and to think outside the box. I'm so grateful to be training in a program that saw my potential as a medical student (apologies for the obligatory neurological pun). When I'm not in the hospital learning about neural pathways, I can be found taking art classes at Sawtooth with my family or running into friends at the Saturday Cobblestone Farmers Market.

I grew up in Miami, FL, and attended medical school at LMUDCOM. Within neurology, I am especially interested in stroke and neuromuscular disorders. I was drawn to Wake because of its welcoming faculty, residents, and community, as well as its proximity to home and its reputation as a large stroke center. The best thing about being a resident here is the people — not only within our own specialty but across others as well — who are friendly, supportive, and easy to get to know even outside the hospital. My favorite thing about Winston-Salem is exploring the small art galleries downtown.

Hi I'm Mitch! Being from the Chicago area, I've appreciated access to diverse patient populations and dynamic medical environments. One of the reasons I was drawn to Wake's Neurology program was its strong balance between inpatient and outpatient work. Wake offers an exposure to a wide variety of patient cases and surprisingly large catchment area. Given that I'd like to one day operate in both hospitalist and clinical settings, this exposure greatly aligns with my interests. While I'm still exploring subspecialities, potentially stroke or neurooncology, I'm excited to be part of a community where the people are tremendously kind and welcoming. In my free time I've enjoyed trying any and all restaurant recommendations, soaking up some sun, or catching a movie when I can. Moving to a new part of the country has been a great adventure, though I'm still on the hunt for some truly good pizza to rival back home!

Hi! I’ve called Phoenix AZ, Williamsburg VA, St. Louis, and now Winston-Salem home. My passion for medicine, neurosciences and serving people on their most challenging days lead me to pursue a career in neurology. Along the way, I made some detours as a D1 college golfer and top secret FBI employee — but now I am very grateful to be training as a neurology resident at Wake Forest.

Outside of work, I still love to play golf whenever I get the chance. Other hobbies that keep me busy are caring for my house plant children, board games, and weight lifting.

I chose Wake Forest for the broad exposure and to all the different niches within neurology, renowned faculty, and great location. Now that I'm here, I appreciate the intentional resident education, balance of teaching and autonomy, great job benefits / food, and a great city to enjoy as a resident. The people and culture of my interview were awesome, and now I am loving being a part of the Wake family.

Winston-Salem is a FUN place to live, and we can easily enjoy ourselves here on our resident salaries. I love trying fun drink spots downtown and exploring walks in the area. Winston is also amazing for golf, having many unique and affordable courses as well as big name destinations. Being driving distance from the beach and friends in big cities nearby is also a great perk.

I am still keeping an open mind about subspecialties within neurology, but I love the diagnostic challenges that our field embraces! I have research interests in increasing diagnoses of rare cases, quality improvement, and patient education.

1. A little bit about me: I am originally from Kentucky, and went to medical school at Marshall Joan C. Edwards SOM.
2. Why I chose Wake Forest Neurology for residency: I chose Wake because I felt I would fit in well with the current residents/attendings — they are all very kind and supportive and I could tell there is an emphasis on wellness here. The area seemed like a safe place to live and grow my family, with nearby places for adventures. As a tertiary center, many patients from the surrounding areas come here for care. I felt this would help with my efficiency, as well as allow me to meet a high-volume of diverse/complex patients.
3. Best thing about being a resident here? Working with a fantastic group of people — peers, upper-level residents, attendings have all been supportive and take the time check in on you or discuss topics to help you become a more well-rounded provider.
4. What’s great about living in Winston-Salem? I feel my family and I live in a safe area. Plenty of parks, areas to walk, greenways, and opportunities to be outside within the city. It is a bigger city than what I am used to, but still has a small-town feel.
5. Favorite thing to do in Winston-Salem, the region: I enjoy going on walks with my family, playing tennis/pickleball, going to a nearby library, hiking, and biking.
6. Career goals and research interests: I want to be a general neurologist in a medium sized community, with a focus on outpatient care. I am interested in many different fields/topics in Neurology, and love the variety of cases seen in General Neurology.

I grew up in South Florida and went to medical school at UCF COM. I was looking for a program where I could explore all that neurology has to offer while having a strong support system around me. I’m really grateful to have matched at Wake Forest, where I’ve found incredible clinical exposure and mentorship, but more importantly, a neurology family that is genuinely welcoming and always willing to help each other grow. I was lucky to have couples matched here, we both love the small-city, homey feel, while still having so much to explore, both around town and outdoors. I enjoy finding the best hiking spots around the area, trying new restaurants, and playing pickleball with my co-residents. The people and the community here have really made Wake and Winston-Salem feel like home.

I’m originally from Phoenix, Arizona, and came to Wake Forest for medical school. I loved the neurology program as a student and knew pretty early on that it was the kind of place I wanted to stay for residency. More than anything, I just felt at home here.

What stood out to me most as a medical student was how much the residents genuinely liked being around each other. Residents who weren’t even on an inpatient service would pop into the workroom just to see who was there and hang out for a few minutes. There was always a lot of laughing, and even as a student, I felt included. It felt like a safe place to ask questions, make mistakes, and grow, which is still one of my favorite things about our program as an intern.

I’ve also grown to love Winston-Salem. It’s an easy place to live with great restaurants and coffee shops, and we’re close to the mountains for hiking and weekend trips. Outside of work, I love cooking and baking, partaking in slightly delusion DIY projects, trying new restaurants, and getting outside with my husband.

Career-wise, I’m still keeping an open mind, but I’m really interested in brain health, particularly the role nutrition and other modifiable factors play in neurologic disease. Substance use and addiction are also especially meaningful to me, and I’m interested in how those areas intersect with neurology and long-term brain health. I’m excited to keep exploring all of that during residency at a place that has felt like home from the beginning.

I was born and raised in Indiana and stayed for undergraduate and medical school training. I got married to my high school sweetheart and we have 3 cats, 2 dogs, and a little boy on the way. I felt compelled to leave the Midwest for residency training, and Wake Forest was the perfect landing spot.

Wake Forest Neurology attracted me because of its academic and training rigor in combination with the welcoming and supportive people. During my short time here, I have felt both challenged and empowered, which is a great dynamic to have for residency training. I enjoy Winston-Salem because it is a similar size to the nearest city to my hometown, there isn’t terrible traffic, and there are plenty of spots for me to get outside with the dogs, play pickleball with friends, or grab a bite to eat. North Carolina is a beautiful state with mountains, beaches, and appealing weather. I enjoy getting out with hiking, canoeing, and beach trips. Knowing time is limited and valuable in residency, it helps being able to do all of these things and more, all within a few hours’ drive of Winston.

My current career goals are to be a general neurologist with potential fellowship training in sports neurology given a passion for the interplay between brain health and athletics.

Growing up in a Navy family, I lived all over the country before ending up in southeastern Virginia. I went to East Carolina University for undergrad and Eastern Virginia Medical School for medical school. I knew that I wanted to train at a program close to home for residency, and when I attended a second look at Wake, it felt like the right place for me. So far, the best part of being a resident here has been the positive and supportive work environment. In my free time, I have enjoyed exploring many of Winston-Salem’s trails for walking and running.

I was born in Cuba and raised in Miami, where I went to college and later attended the University of Miami for medical school. I chose Wake Forest Neurology for its welcoming residents and faculty, strong clinical training, and supportive culture. The best part of residency so far has been the mentorship and support. I’ve felt welcomed by every team I’ve worked with. I’ve really enjoyed living in Winston-Salem because of the cost of living, easy traffic, and access to nature and trails. Outside the hospital, I enjoy cycling and running, especially along the Salem Creek Greenway (highly recommend!). I love reading (mostly fantasy and sci-fi), as well as gaming and building computers. Career wise, I’m most interested in vascular neurology and movement disorders, though I also enjoy outpatient general neurology and am keeping an open mind.

Hey I'm Brandon a first-year neurology resident here at Wake. I grew up in the DC, MD, VA area and studied psychology during undergrad at UVA. Afterward I spent a year working as a Registered Behavior Technician before starting medical school at PCOM Georgia. I am interested in movement disorder and behavioral neurology, a patient population that we see plenty of here. I am particularly interested in the evolving field of neuromodulation and research in neurodegenerative conditions, a field that Wake excels in with multiple related research centers and a history of being one of the first institutions in the country to perform DBS surgery dating back to the 90s.

During my clinical years of medical school, I did not get a chance to rotate at Wake Forest, but during the interview I was blown away by how genuine and inviting the residents and staff were. On the day I matched, I got calls, texts, and emails from just about everyone you could think of in the program congratulating me, and once I arrived I was greeted with open arms and grew a quick appreciation of how warm the community and culture here is. I have loved my first year so far and have felt supported the whole way through. The seniors are encouraging and the attendings are fantastic preceptors who strive to teach and unlock your full potential. Even though I am not working exclusively with my specialty just yet, the program has made a great effort for me to meet all of the neurology residents, and we frequently gather outside of work for all kinds of things, whether that's getting food, pickleballing, apartment parties, going to the local dash games, etc., there is always something brewing to do outside of work with my fellow residents.

Winston-Salem is a nice town that offers just about anything you'd need. There are plenty of diverse food options, countless hiking trails, and you are a 2 hour drive away from the beach. If you have a family or are looking to purchase a house, the housing here is extremely affordable and there are many family-friendly things to do. There are a lot of nice apartments within a 5-10 minute drive to the hospital and multiple within walking/biking distance. There are good living options both in the city and in the surrounding suburbia, take your pick depending on whatever kind of vibe you're looking for. The downtown area offers casual dining, shopping, and entertainment during the day with an active night life come the weekend. In general, whatever you need you'll be able to find here. Thanks for reading and hope to see you soon!