Meet Our Residents

Page Content

Our residents have diverse backgrounds, interests, and career goals.

Samuel Feher, M.D.

What attracted you to Mayo Clinic?

I was drawn to Mayo Clinic initially by its long history of valuing patient centered care and collegiality. I knew I wanted to train in an institution that supported these principles as a professional standard. Further, the neurology program attracted me with its abundant opportunities for education, research, and clinical development. With its collaborative, value-oriented environment and educational excellence, I was confident that Mayo Clinic would provide me with exceptional training to become the physician I aspire to be.

Kelly Kolleck, M.D.

Is there anything that surprised you at Mayo Clinic?

I’ve been surprised by the facilities and amenities of Mayo that contribute to the wellbeing of both its patients and staff. Whether it’s walking through the hospital hearing a pianist or violinist perform, or seeing therapy dogs throughout the week, there is always something contributing to a wonderful clinical environment, not to mention the multiple healthy food options. I’ve also been grateful for our state-of-the-art SIM center, along with its wonderful team dedicated to supporting our learning as residents.

Meet our residents from PGY-2, PGY-3, and PGY-4 and learn about their hometown, where they went to medical school, why they chose Mayo Clinic, and what they enjoy doing outside of work.

Class of 2027

	Caitlin McGrath, M.D. Wellness and Quality Chief Hometown: San Francisco, California Medical school: California Northstate University College of Medicine About me: I enjoy working out in my free time - either at Baily’s gym or at Full Psycle for a spin class! I also enjoy Taylor Swift and Noah Kahan and love traveling to Savannah, Georgia.
	Ashley Meneley, D.O. Administrative Chief Hometown: Grapevine, Texas Medical school: Kansas City University About me: I came to Mayo Clinic to gain exposure to the vast array of neurologic pathology seen at Mayo and become familiar with the latest innovations in management of these conditions that will become standard of care over the next several decades. My clinical interests include neurocritical care, vascular neurology, and integration of palliative medicine into management of these patients. Here at Mayo Clinic in Florida, we have fantastic faculty in all of these subspecialties who demonstrate the positive impact an interdisciplinary approach can have for the care of these patients. Outside the hospital, I love going to Disney World with my husband and co-residents, hanging out at the beach, watching football with my family and running an e-commerce bakery with my mom!
	Dominique Hayduk Montecino, M.D. Administrative Chief Hometown: Belo Horizonte, Brazil Medical school: Universidade Presidente Antônio Carlos, Faculdade de Medicina de Juiz de Fora About me: Growing up in two distinct cultural backgrounds, I developed a strong appreciation for a work environment that fosters meaningful relationships with colleagues and patients. I felt an immediate sense of belonging at Mayo Clinic from day one, where I found everything I was looking for in a neurology residency program: a strong emphasis on medical education, a broad diversity of clinical pathology and an overtly supportive atmosphere. I deeply resonate with Mayo Clinic's core value: "the needs of the patient always come first," and I am humbled to help care for this community. Outside of work, you can find me with a paintbrush in hand working on my paintings, enjoying restaurants with family and friends, and exploring hidden gems in the city.
	Maya Murzello, M.D. Education Chief Hometown: Appleton, Wisconsin Medical school: University of Oklahoma About me: I am currently interested in neuroimmunology and movement disorders. I selected Mayo Clinic because of its strong emphasis on patient-centered care. Additionally, Mayo's culture of collaboration, excellent educational opportunities, and renowned faculty are unparalleled. Outside of medicine, I enjoy relaxing at the beach, reading, traveling, and exploring new restaurants in Jacksonville.
	Nihal Satyadev, M.D., M.P.H. Education Chief Hometown: Orange County, California Medical school: University of Medicine and Health Sciences About me: Mayo Clinic in Florida was an easy decision as the neurology service here attracts the most challenging patients and the culture here is focused on education, team success, and clinical excellence. Before residency, I helped start and scale The Youth Movement Against Alzheimer’s, 501(c)3. I have a computer science background and am interested in artificial intelligence innovation within dementia and more broadly in neurology. If I’m not on the service, you can find me in the gym, traveling, or climbing mountains.
	Brett Smith, M.D. Recruitment Chief Hometown: Culpeper, Virginia Medical school: Florida International University About me: I am most interested in vascular neurology and imagine myself working primarily as a neurohospitalist after residency. I chose Mayo Clinic because of the broad exposure to rare pathology and the welcoming culture that exists here. In my personal life, I enjoy hanging out with my fiancé and we also rescued a bunny whom we trained to be free roam. I enjoy a lot of board sports such as snowboarding, surfing, and skateboarding. I also grew up playing baseball and golf which I enjoy occasionally watching.

Class of 2028

	Aybuke Acar, M.D. Hometown: Isparta, Turkiye Medical school: Ege University Faculty of Medicine About me: I was born and raised in Turkey and moved to the U.S. two years ago. I lived in Cleveland, Ohio, for two years where I did a research fellowship in Epilepsy at Case Western Reserve University. I am particularly interested in seizure semiology and epilepsy surgery planning. In my free time, I enjoy painting, hiking, skiing, watching independent cinema, and traveling. I chose Mayo Clinic because of the opportunity to learn from the world-renowned attendings, extensive resources and the focus on providing the best for the patients!
	Samuel Feher, M.D. Hometown: Tulsa, Oklahoma Medical school: University of Oklahoma About me: I was drawn to Mayo by its reputation for excellent training and emphasis on patient-centered care. I'm interested in many subspecialties in neurology but especially neuromuscular and movement disorders. In my free time, I enjoy watching old movies, reading, running, and exploring new cities!
	Alina Ivaniuk, M.D. Hometown: Odessa, Ukraine Medical school: Odessa National Medical University About me: I’m originally from Odesa, a beautiful port city on the Black Sea known for its humor, culture, and charm. I’m thrilled to have ended up by the salty water again to continue my training! I was drawn to Mayo Clinic for what its three shields stand for: patient-centered care, a rich research environment, and a commitment to education and training. Outside of medicine, I enjoy spending time at the gym or swimming pool, listening to podcasts and audiobooks, diving into graphic design, learning new languages, and experimenting in the kitchen. Somewhere between my dream of becoming a fantastic neurologist lives another bold ambition: opening a Ukrainian cuisine franchise one day.
	Lauren McLeod, M.D., M.S. Hometown: Manchaca, Texas Medical school: Texas Tech University About me: I decided to pursue neurology residency at Mayo Clinic Florida as it provided a fast-paced environment with a high volume of complex and rare neurological cases, research infrastructure to facilitate resident involvement in scholarly activities, and an emphasis on patient centered care. Jacksonville offers an affordable city with great weather and a relaxed lifestyle. In my spare time I like to explore nearby cities, spend time at the beach, and read fiction novels.
	Thomas Pecha, M.D, Hometown: San Antionio, Texas Medical School: Baylor College of Medicine About Me: I was drawn to Mayo Clinic's strong ethos of clinical excellence and the positive, supportive culture among residents and faculty. I'm currently interested in Clinical Neurophysiology, Neuromuscular, Neurohospitalist, or Movement Disorders. Jacksonville is a great place to live and work, and I've enjoyed getting to know the downtown, beaches, coffee shops, parks, and nearby coastal towns with my wife and two young daughters.
	Roaa Zayat, M.D. Hometown: Latakia, Syria / Jacksonville, Florida Medical school: Damascus University School of Medicine About me: Excited to be at Mayo Clinic, a place where leading physician-scientists are made and advancing patient care and science is consistently pursued. While in the hospital, neurology continues to fascinate me every day. Outside work, I like to go on road trips, visit museums, and explore coffee shops in the city.

Class of 2029

	Zachary Allegra, M.D. Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee Medical school: University of Tennessee Health Science Center About me: I came to Mayo Clinic because it offers the opportunity to treat very complex patients, entailing both great learning opportunities for me and a chance to help people who are in very great need. In my personal time, I enjoy playing guitar, hanging out with friends, and spending time with my cat, Dove!
	Kelly Kolleck, M.D. Hometown: Evansville, Indiana Medical school: Indiana University School of Medicine About me: In my free time, I like to stay active! Sometimes by going to the beach where I can enjoy the ocean breeze, and sometimes by taking morning walks, accompanied by the occasional Pilates or yoga class. During the fall months, I enjoy watching Notre Dame football. Go Irish! The proximity to the beach and overall livability in Jacksonville are just two of the many things that attracted me to Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. Additionally, I knew I would receive excellent training, learning alongside experts in a patient-centered, collaborative environment.
	Iryna Lasiichuk, M.D. Hometown: Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine Medical school: Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University About me: I am excited to work at Mayo because of its longstanding tradition of excellence in patient care and physician training. The opportunity to learn from leaders in neurology while caring for patients with rare and complex neurological disorders is both inspiring and rewarding. Neurology fascinates me every day, and I haven’t committed to a specialty yet, but developed an interest in vascular, neuroimmunology or movement disorders. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time at the beach and exploring new places across the U.S.
	Levi Ramirez, M.D. Hometown: Odessa, Texas Medical school: Baylor College of Medicine About me: I was drawn to Mayo Clinic's patient-centered mission and its unparalleled opportunities to care for patients with rare and complex neurological diseases. Outside of work, I enjoy exploring Jacksonville's beaches, parks, and nearby destinations with my wife and children.
	Luiz Rocha Pinto, M.D., M.B.A. Hometown: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Medical school: Federal University of Rio de Janeiro About me: I was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. My interest in neurology appeared very early in my life as I came from a family of physicians that work with neurophysiology. I feel that Mayo Clinic in Florida is the ideal place for me, as it combines state-of-the-art medical infrastructure with a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive culture, all within a beachside city that shares many characteristics with my hometown. Outside of medicine, I enjoy exercising, reading, and spending time with my wife and our dogs.
	Fatemeh Seifar, M.D., Ph.D. Hometown: Tabriz, Iran Medical school: Tabriz University of Medical Sciences About me: I grew up in Tabriz, Iran, completed medical school there, and later earned my Ph.D. in neuroscience at Emory University before joining Mayo Clinic for neurology residency. I'm fascinated by the complexity of the brain and love diving into new scientific papers, especially in cognitive neurology and neurodegenerative diseases. Outside of medicine, I enjoy traveling, chasing new adventures, exploring different cultures, and having meaningful conversations over a good cup of coffee. My long-term goal is to become a physician-scientist who bridges clinical care and science to improve the lives of patients with neurologic disease.