Ryan Coburn, M.D.

Hometown: Houston, TX
Undergraduate school: Texas A&M University
Medical school: University of Texas at Houston
Career interest: Behavioral neurolog

Why Mayo Clinic? The people were what sold me on Mayo. Everyone I met on interview day, including, but not limited to, the Neurology faculty members and residents, were extremely humble and kind. I was also impressed with the diversity of neurologic pathology seen at Mayo and the plethora of opportunities to sharpen teaching and research skills.

Favorite TV show: Scrubs
Favorite book: Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell

Jacob Goodwin, M.D.

Hometown: Crosby, MN
Undergraduate school: University of St. Thomas
Medical school: University of Minnesota
Career interests: General community neurology, neurophysiology, EMG

Why Mayo Clinic? First and foremost, I was drawn to Mayo's culture and the primary value of putting patients first. I was also impressed by the EMG training and the amount of elective time to explore outpatient subspecialties. Rochester is also a perfect city for my family!

Hidden talent: I sang in an acapella group for four years in college.
Hobbies: Biking, playing guitar, reading good literature, and spending family time with my wife and three children.

Kim Griffin, M.D.

Hometown: Kenosha, WI
Undergraduate school: Washington University
Medical school: Medical College of Wisconsin
Career interest: Stroke and hospital neurology

Favorite Rochester restaurant: Thai Pop
Favorite book: Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
Hobbies: Cooking new cuisines and hiking

Reece Hass, D.O.

Hometown: Various cities throughout Minnesota (I moved around a lot)
Undergraduate school: University of Minnesota
Medical school: Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Career interests: I'm interested in a career as a neurohospitalist and I hope to incorporate neurology education into my career. I have a wide range of interests including neuroimmunology, neuroinfectious disease, neurooncology, and neurophysiology.

Why Mayo Clinic? I did a rotation here in my fourth year of medical school and fell in love with this place. I was blown away by the people, environment, resources, patient population, and overall experience that I had. Everyone is incredibly approachable, and you get the chance to work with and learn from some of the world's leading experts.

Hobbies: I love running, biking, golfing, fishing, and hanging out with friends and family.

Carmen Holmes, M.D.

Hometown: Columbia, MO
Undergraduate school: University of Arkansas
Medical school: University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine
Career interests: Interventional neurology, medical education

Favorite restaurant: Mango Thai
Favorite TV shows: Below Deck and Rick and Morty
Hobbies: Painting, mushroom hunting, playing sand volleyball

Michael Liu, M.D.

Hometown: Peoria, IL
Undergraduate school: University of Illinois at Chicago
Medical school: Emory University School of Medicine
Career interests: Vascular neurology, neurocritical care, neuro-intervention

Why Mayo Clinic?
What made me choose Mayo was truly the people that I interacted with. Everyone was incredibly welcoming, and kind, and made me feel that I would be a valued part of a greater team. I felt that at Mayo, I would have the opportunities and support to achieve all of my career goals.

Hobbies: Traveling, trying new restaurants, playing tennis, hiking, and hanging out with the new friends I have made in Rochester.
Favorite things to do around Rochester: Eat Flapdoodles ice cream and hang out with my family!

Tina Liu, M.D.

Hometown: Youngstown, OH
Undergraduate school: University of Pittsburgh
Medical school: Wright State Boonshoft School of Medicine
Career interests: Movement disorders, medical education

Favorite TV show: Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Hobbies: Watching Netflix, eating good food, cooking/baking, attending spin classes
Favorite food: Late-night ice cream

Stephanie Syc-Mazurek, M.D., Ph.D.

Hometown: Lake Forest, IL
Undergraduate school: Brown University
Medical school: University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
Career interests: Academic medicine, neuro-immunology, autoimmune neurology, neuro-ophthalmology

Hobbies: Spending time outside with my husband and sons, attempting home improvement projects, growing tomatoes and hot peppers, cooking (and eating!)
Favorite historical figure: Marie Curie
Favorite thing to do around Rochester: Exploring new hiking trails and parks with the kids.

Hannah Zhao-Flemming, M.D. Ph.D.

Hometown: Arcadia, CA
Undergraduate school: University of California, Los Angeles
Medical school: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at Lubbock
Career interests: Multiple sclerosis, autoimmune neurology, epilepsy

Favorite TV shows: I am a big fan of campy supernatural shows, especially Buffyverse, Charmed, and Supernatural. I recently discovered the show Warrior - it is the best martial art on current television!
Hobbies: Spending time with my husband, son, and our dogs; relaxing in front of the TV; eating good food
Favorite things to do around Rochester: The park system here is amazing! My family can easily spend the day at any of our local parks (Silver Lake, Quarry HIll, Indian Heights...) or nearby state parks.

Cam Bermudez, M.D., Ph.D.

Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Undergraduate school: University of Pennsylvania
Medical school: Vanderbilt University
Career interests: Vascular neurology, cognitive and behavioral neurology, neurocritical care, and neuroimaging

Why Mayo Clinic? A big part of why I chose Mayo was the evident support for families and well-being. My wife and I knew Mayo would be an exceptional place for both of us to pursue our medical careers while living in a great location to raise a family and enjoy our time outside.

Hobbies: I enjoy spending time outside with my family, hiking, or exploring parks. I also enjoy road biking when the weather is nice, cooperative board games, and reading literature (favorites include Borges, Joyce, Pynchon).
Favorite food: Is coffee a food? You bet it is! I've been working on making the perfect cappuccino at home for a while. I enjoy every day cooking at home, particularly making pasta and seasoning meats.

Kalei Chang, M.D.

Hometown: Kailua, HI
Undergraduate school: St. Olaf College
Medical school: University of Hawaii
Career interests: Behavioral neurology, neurophysiology, and medical education

Hobbies: Musical theatre, martial arts, home improvement projects, spending time outdoors. I enjoy exploring hiking trails and traveling around the world (Mayo's trip policy is the best!)
Favorite historical figure: Fred Rogers - his kindness and willingness to help others would have made Mister Rogers the consummate physician
Favorite food: Ice cream, I'm a regular at Flapdoodles!

Sara Hooshmand, M.D.

Hometown: Jefferson City, MO
Undergraduate school: University of Missouri - Columbia
Medical school: University of Missouri - Columbia School of Medicine
Career interests: Women's health in neurology, medical education

Favorite restaurant: Mango Thai and Bleu Duck date night
Favorite TV show: The Handmaid's Tale and Schitt's Creek
Hobbies: I love traveling with family and friends. Two of my favorite places I've been to are Iran and Ghana! Since travel plans have been put on hold during the Pandemic, I've enjoyed exploring other cultures through food. One of my favorite pastimes is cooking Persian food with my mom and brother. I also love (but sometimes dread) working out at Orange Theory Fitness, doing hot yoga, reading, and exploring restaurants with friends. 

Elke Schipani Bailey, M.D.

Hometown: Winchester, MA
Undergraduate school: Columbia University
Medical school: University of Massachusetts Medical School
Career interests: Women's Neurology

Why Mayo Clinic? The people, commitment to quality patient care, and the diversity of pathologies seen both in the hospital and in the clinic.

Hobbies: Cross training, cycling, and running
Favorite TV show: Great British Bake Off

Christopher Itoh, M.D.

Hometown: Fresno, CA
Undergraduate school: UC Berkeley
Medical School: UC Davis School of Medicine
Career interests: Translational research, undecided specialty

Hidden talent: "Chef," I've won cooking competitions and cooked for a large group of people 300+, as well as alongside Michelin-trained chefs. Almost went onto the Food Network! My goal is to open up a restaurant one day.
Instagram: @residentchef_MD
What are you most proud of? I'm a triathlete, I recently completed a full-distance 140.6-mile Ironman and trained while interning at UCSD and PGY-2 neurology resident at Mayo.
Favorite book: "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl

Sanghee Lim, M.D., Ph.D.

Hometown: Goseong, South Korea
Undergraduate school: Boston University
Medical school: Boston University
Career interests: Stroke or neuro-oncology; ideally inpatient-focused career

Favorite book: Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev
Hobbies: Playing with my son, cooking, trying to find as many excuses to visit the beautiful islands of Hawaii as much as possible

Lauren Webb, M.D.

Hometown: Ramsey, NJ
Undergraduate school: University of Delaware
Medical school: Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine
Career interests: Neuro-immunology and neuro-oncology, but there are many specialties I still want to explore!

Why neurology?
Neurologists treat patients with conditions that profoundly affect how they experience their lives, communicate with others, and function in daily life. It is so special to help patients cope with and overcome losses of precious neurologic functions and live life to the fullest despite these challenges. Additionally, neurology research allows us to solve the mysteries of how the nervous system works, always leading to more fascinating questions. 

Why Mayo Clinic? I was lucky to have been introduced to the world of medicine as a medical student at Mayo Clinic. The residents and faculty I met were so kind and welcoming of learners. They truly put the needs of the patient first and live out the three shields of Mayo Clinic (patient care, education, and research) every day. Inspired by my role models and mentors at Mayo Clinic, I wanted to learn from them how to become a physician like them and the best neurologist possible.

Favorite things to do around Rochester: Morning runs around Cascade Lakes, sunset picnics at Soldier's Field, and Flapdoodles Cookie Monster ice cream for dessert.

Jessica White, M.D., M.P.H.

Hometown: Long Island, NY
Undergraduate school: New York University
Post-baccalaureate: University of California, Los Angeles
Medical school: Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University
Career interests: Neuro-oncology is at the top of my list, but I'm open to exploring other specialties and changing my mind. I am also interested in medical education and patient safety/quality improvement.

Why Mayo Clinic? Mayo checked all of my "boxes":

• Incredible program
• Great quality of life
• Awesome people
• Family-friendly
• Super impressive people who are humble and eager to help
• Emphasis on education and learning
• Mentorship and networking
• Plethora of opportunities

The list goes on... But, also, the philosophy of Mayo is really what hit home for me. It is an institution that truly puts the patient first.

Hidden talent: I can move one eye at a time.
Hobbies: Trying new recipes (cooking and baking), spinning, running, watching shows with my husband, hiking with my family, chasing my two kids around a playground, and curling up on the couch with a good book.

Andrew Williams, M.D.

Hometown: Bloomington, MN
Undergraduate school: University of Missouri-Kansas City
Medical school: University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine
Career interests: Medical education. Still trying to decide on a subspecialty of interest!

Why Mayo Clinic? Unparalleled training opportunities in an exceptionally positive and supportive environment with an emphasis on education. The warmth that was communicated even through a virtual interview day was striking. These factors made Mayo an easy number one rank for me.

Hobbies: Geocaching (GPS scavenger hunt), computers/technology, TV/film
Favorite book: Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace

Christina Alexandres, M.D.

Hometown: Redlands, CA
Undergraduate school: University of California, Los Angeles
Medical school: Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine
Career interests: Neuromuscular, neuroimmunology/multiple sclerosis, movement disorders

Favorite TV show: What We Do in the Shadows
Hobbies: Rock climbing, volleyball, skiing, singing, listening to music, trying new recipes or new restaurants in town
Favorite things to do around Rochester: Rock climbing at Roca Climbing Gym.

Audrey Blazek, M.D.

Hometown: Naperville, IL
Undergraduate school: University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana
Medical school: Rush Medical College
Career interests: Movement disorders, neuro-oncology, MS

Why Mayo Clinic? Along the interview trail, I recognized that most programs would provide excellent neurology training. Mayo took this a step further, promising education in a setting that ensures the needs of the patient come first. Since Day One of residency, I have seen this to be true! I'm so grateful to be at a hospital with these values.

Favorite food: Peanut butter, dark chocolate, and coffee (that's a food, right?)
Favorite things to do around Rochester: Our daily walk/run/bike around Cascade Lake, visiting the local breweries!

Fiorella Guido, M.D.

Hometown: Toronto, Ontario

Undergraduate school: University of Toronto

Graduate school: McGill University, Masters in Neuroscience

Medical School: SUNY Upstate Medical University

Career interests: MS, women’s neurology, medical education

Hidden talent: My grandmother taught me how to make homemade pizza dough, bread, and fresh pasta.

Hobbies: I enjoy indoor cycling (to burn off all the carbs I make), reading, and playing with my cat Lorenzo.

Favorite person from history: Rita Levi-Montalcini

Jonathan Lang, M.D., Ph.D.

Hometown: Neenah, WI
Undergraduate school: University of Wisconsin - Madison
Medical school: University of Pennsylvania
Career interests: Gene therapy, genetics, aging

Why Mayo Clinic? Large neuro department with every subspecialty represented, happy residents, an easy place to live, and a great city to raise my kids!

Hobbies: Exercise, reading, spending time with my wife and kids
Favorite things to do in Rochester: Riding on the extensive network of bike trails and spending time outside in the beautiful city parks.

Samir Nath, M.D., Ph.D.

Hometown: Ellicott City, MD
Undergraduate school: University of Maryland
Medical school: University of Michigan
Career interests: Neuromuscular, movement disorders, neuroimmunology

Hobbies: Board games, golf
Favorite restaurant: Bleu Duck
Favorite things to do around Rochester: Spending time in the parks with my wife and son.

Michael Rigby, M.D., Ph.D.

Hometown: Glen Ellyn, IL
Undergraduate school: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Medical school: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
Career interests: Basic science and translational research in neurodegenerative diseases

Why Neurology? The physical exam is actually important! When in doubt, rely on your localization.

Hobbies: Gardening, including bonsai, hunting (deer/turkey), chasing around my two-year-old daughter
Favorite TV show: The Expanse

Bowen Song, M.D.

Hometown: San Diego, CA

Undergraduate school: University of California, San Diego

Medical School: Wayne State University School of Medicine

Career interests: Movement disorder, neuromuscular medicine for now

Favorite restaurant/bar around Rochester: Thai Pop has amazing drinks and very authentic Thai cuisine. I have always had a good time there whenever I visit.

Hobbies: Karaoke, technology enthusiast, watching sports (NFL, NBA, college football, college basketball, and more) snowboarding, trying out ice fishing this winter.

Favorite food: Hotpot (mini and large pot), Korean BBQ, Japanese Shabu shabu, sushi, and so much more.

Brett Sterk M.D.

Hometown: Duluth, MN

Undergraduate school: Carleton College Medical School: University of Minnesota

Career interests: Neurocritical care, neurohospitalist, education

Why Mayo: Mayo stood out as having the absolute best training in an environment that is truly collaborative and patient-centered. You are also surrounded by people who care not only about your success but also about the well-being of you and your family.

Hobbies: Spending time with my wife, daughter, and two cats; pretty much anything to do with the outdoors (hiking, backpacking, canoeing, fishing, hunting, bike commuting, cross-country skiing, birdwatching, gardening).

Favorite things to do around Rochester: My wife and I love taking advantage of the many outdoor recreation opportunities Southeastern Minnesota has to offer! It’s actually quite the destination for trout fishing and offers a number of parks with wooded hiking/biking trails, bluffy overlooks, and crystal-clear trout streams.

Helena Xeros, M.D.

Hometown: Burr Ridge, IL
Undergraduate school: Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
Medical school: University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
Career interests: Neuro critical care, epilepsy, stroke

Hobbies: Hiking, running, yoga, thrift/vintage/antique shopping, exploring new restaurants/bars/coffee shops, hanging out with friends, hosting wine nights and bonfires, and reading
Favorite foods: My family's homemade Spanakopita (Greek spinach pies) and Tiropita (Greek cheese pies)
Favorite things to do around Rochester: The thrifting and vintage shopping here is incredible! I love exploring estate sales, vintage flea markets, and thrift stores in Rochester, surrounding towns, and Minneapolis.

Rachel Anderson, M.D.

Hometown: Hudson, WI
Undergraduate school: University of Wisconsin - Madison
Medical school: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
Career interests: Undecided specialty, medical education, public health

Why Mayo Clinic? Mayo Clinic sets itself apart by truly putting the needs of the patient first. This sustains an incredible culture of collaboration, support, and lifelong learning that is unmatched and attracts the most genuine and astute colleagues from around the world with whom I now get to work. There is no institution that fosters a better environment for innovation and professional development for its trainees, making Mayo Clinic the obvious choice for me.

Hobbies: Running, hiking, waterskiing, and trying new restaurants to find the best nachos!
Favorite food: The abundance of free food provided around the hospital!

Erin Finn, M.D.

Hometown: West Bloomfield, MI
Undergraduate school: University of Michigan
Medical school: University of Michigan Medical School
Career interests: I'm excited to explore the breadth of opportunities here at Mayo, but I am leaning toward an inpatient career!

Why Mayo Clinic? Mayo exudes a quiet excellence. The institution carries high expectations for itself, yet the physicians here do not boast of their brilliance. Rather, they show this exceptionality by enthusiastically sharing knowledge and practicing excellent patient care. I am excited to train in an environment where I can focus on what truly matters: helping my colleagues and patients

Hidden talent: I've never gotten a mosquito bite. Some have said I am a ninja, others have said I am soulless; take your pick. I also know every Taylor Swift lyric and can give you a full run-down on the meaning of the song.
Hobbies: I have the ability to photosynthesize, so anything in the sun gives me life. Running, hiking, reading, writing, coffee drinking, and more, as long as it's outside!

Kasey Hill, M.D.

Hometown: Shakopee, MN
Undergraduate school: University of Minnesota
Medical school: Yale School of Medicine
Career interests: Diversity, equity, and inclusion research, working with Latino and Spanish-speaking patients

Favorite restaurant/bar around Rochester: Nile Restaurant and Café
Favorite things to do around Rochester: Hike, trivia, try new restaurants
Favorite food: Ice cream

Anna Liu, M.D.

Hometown: Peoria, IL
Undergraduate school: University of Illinois at Chicago
Medical school: University of Illinois College of Medicine
Career interests: Community engagement and medical education. I am interested in neurocritical care and neuro-ophthalmology but am very excited to explore other fields during residency!

Why Mayo Clinic? From my interview day and beyond, it is evident that the people at Mayo are so kind and truly invested in helping you grow as a person and physician. In addition, there is ample support for your individual interests and goals.

Hobbies: Reading, traveling, tennis, spending time outdoors, ballet, music, watching football, trying new coffee shops and cuisines
Favorite restaurant: Thai Pop or Bleu Duck

Santiago Martinez-Sosa, M.B.B.S

Hometown: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Undergraduate and medical school: University College London, UK
Career interests: Neuroimmunology, neurohospitalist, medical education

Why Neurology? The nervous system is the most fascinating organ! I am enthralled by neurology's breadth and depth. The ability to localize deficits to specific neuroanatomical sites through examination is empowering. The lesion differentials are challenging and engaging. The yet undefined edges of the field invite meaningful, novel research that will transform patient care. Through neurology, we can understand and treat this incomparable organ whose function we depend entirely on and whose injury or degeneration causes unparalleled impairment.

Why Mayo Clinic? There are many excellent medical institutions in the U.S., but you would be hard-pressed to find a more wholesome one than Mayo. I was floored by Mayo’s culture of collaboration, the friendly atmosphere, the humility of their world experts, the warm and pleasant staff, and the palpable driving force at the center of it all: a genuine desire to help patients to the best of our ability.

Hidden talent: Charcoal portraits, creative writing
Favorite food: Empanadas, asado, helado argentino

Sofia Rael, M.D.

Hometown: I was born and raised in Bogota, Colombia, until nine years of age and then spent the rest of my childhood in Colorado (Broomfield, Colorado).
Undergraduate school: Metropolitan State University of Denver (Go Roadrunners!)
Medical school: Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine
Career interests: Currently neuro-oncology but open to exploring all the subspecialties neurology offers!

Ryan Nguyen, M.D., M.S.

Hometown: Plano, TX
Undergraduate school: Texas A&M University
Medical School: Texas A&M Health Science Center - Engineering Medicine Program
Career interests: Epilepsy, Movement, General Neurology, Academic Medicine

Why Neurology? I love neurology because clinical neurology engages my engineering problem-solving brain like no other specialty. I also value the impact neurologists can make in the daily lives of patients.

Why Mayo Clinic? I chose Mayo Clinic because of the collegial and supportive atmosphere and because Rochester is a great place to raise my kids.

Favorite neurology-related TV show: Severance
Favorite medicine-related TV show: Scrubs
Favorite reality TV show: Terrace House

Nathaniel Rogers, Jr., M.D.

Undergraduate school: University of Virginia
Medical school: Tulane University School of Medicine
Career interests: Medical education. Still open to exploring various subspecialties in neurology.

Favorite food: Half-baked chocolate chip cookies
Hobbies: Reading, videogames, lifting weights, photography, coding
Favorite restaurant around Rochester: Mango Thai

David Sohutskay, M.D., Ph.D.

Hometown: Cleveland, OH
Undergraduate school: The Ohio State University
Graduate school: Purdue University Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering
Medical school: Indiana University School of Medicine
Career interests: Neurocritical care, neurohospitalist, neurogenetics, computational biology

Why neurology? The brain is the coolest organ, and I find neurological disease uniquely interesting and terrifying.

Why Mayo Clinic? Amazing clinical opportunities in every subspecialty of neurology, a multitude of rare and interesting cases, and cutting-edge research!

Favorite historical figure: My favorite historical physician-scientist is Hermann von Helmholtz – among whose many accomplishments include being the first to measure the speed of nerve conduction, a postulate of free energy that underlies modern computational mechanics, equations of vortex formation, and the development of the ophthalmoscope.

Anna Thomsen, M.D.

Undergraduate school: Carthage College
Medical school: University of Kansas
Career interests: Undecided in career interests, but love the long-term relationships with patients so many specialties in neurology offer.

Hobbies: When my partner and I moved to Rochester we immediately adopted a Shepard mix puppy from Paws and Claws and we are obsessed with her. So, currently, our favorite thing to do is explore the parks and trails with her (at least during the summer).
Favorite restaurant: First Meeting, I will hopefully make my way through all the noodles on the menu during residency.
Favorite book: I'm an active member of a Zoom book club with friends (a positive that came out of the pandemic for me!), so I am always looking for recommendations. But historically my favorite is Pride and Prejudice, I am just a sucker for a happy ending!

Allison Valerius, M.D.

Hometown: Fargo, ND
Undergraduate school: The College of Saint Benedict
Medical school: University of North Dakota
Career interests: Neuro-oncology, global neurology, vascular neurology

Favorite food: Crumbl cookies!
Hobbies: Long runs on the Douglas Trail, cross-country skiing, hiking, watching hockey games with my husband, reading a good book in my hammock, visiting local breweries, exploring new countries, finding cool AirBnBs

Why Mayo Clinic? Growing up in the Midwest, I’ve long heard stories from neighbors and family about their positive patient experiences at the Mayo Clinic. While on a visiting rotation at the Clinic as a medical student, it was evident these positive experiences extend into the trainee experience as well. At Mayo, I am immersed in a warm and welcoming learning environment, filled with endless opportunities and support to foster my clinical, academic, and personal interests.