Emanuele Camerucci, M.D., was born in Ancona, Italy, and grew up by the Adriatic Sea shore. He graduated from his hometown university, Università Politecnica delle Marche, and completed a research fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota on early-onset Parkinson's Disease and normal pressure hydrocephalus. His career goal is to pursue a fellowship in movement disorders and one in behavioral neurology. He enjoys watching soccer, travelling and meeting new people.

Shan He, D.O., is originally from Tianjin, China, and immigrated to Tampa, Florida, during middle school. She earned her bachelor’s degree in biology at the University of Florida and attended Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine for her medical degree. Her interests in neurology include epilepsy, neurophysiology and research. In her spare time, she enjoys binge-watching TV shows, cooking her favorite Chinese dishes, creating art with her hands, and exploring new places with new friends.

Brian Kongs, D.O., was born in Topeka, Kansas. He attended William Jewell College, where he received his undergraduate degree in music. He completed his medical degree and a master’s degree in bioethics at Kansas City University. He is currently planning on completing Neuroimmunology fellowship at the University of Kansas after graduation and plans to continue expanding on his interest in neurologic and medical education. He frequently plays soccer around the Kansas City area, and he’s an avid fan of the Chiefs, Chelsea FC and Sporting Kansas City. He also enjoys playing Rachmaninoff and Brahms on the piano, as well as spending time with his family including his wife, two children and their dog.

Tara Samiee, D.O., is from San Jose, California. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, and her medical degree from the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine. She is currently interested in vascular and interventional neurology, while also passionate about medical education. Tara is a self-proclaimed foodie that is on a mission to find the best KC eats. She also enjoys cooking, traveling, and playing board games with her co-residents.

Kole Sedlack, M.D., was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs. He completed his undergraduate degree in biology at Miami University in Ohio before moving onto medical school at the University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford. In his free time, he enjoys learning and playing games of all kinds, cooking, traveling, and scuba diving when the opportunity presents itself.

Baker Abu Sa’alek, M.D., is a driven neurology resident hailing from Jordan, where his fascination with the human brain was sparked at a young age. Throughout his medical journey, Baker has been captivated by the intricacies of neurology and is dedicated to unraveling its mysteries. He is currently pursuing his residency training at our esteemed university, with a focus on specializing in vascular neurology. Beyond the confines of the hospital, Baker finds solace and joy in a variety of hobbies. He is a fitness enthusiast, often found pushing his limits at the gym. In his downtime, he enjoys the soothing melodies of jazz music and immersing himself in the captivating world of anime. A lover of laughter, Baker also has a penchant for stand-up comedy and enjoys attending live shows whenever possible.

Harinee Arunachalam, M.D., is from Little Rock, Arkansas, and obtained both her undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine. She loves almost all aspects of neurology, hence is currently undecided regarding fellowship training. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her friends and sister, trying out new restaurants, reading and swimming.

Carson Barnard, M.D., was born in Dallas, Texas, and grew up in Wichita Falls, Texas. He attended Midwestern State University where he earned his bachelor’s degree in biology. He went on to earn his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center before moving to Kansas City to start residency at KU. Current interests in neurology are diverse, including medical education, general neurology, autoimmune neurology and neuromuscular medicine. In his spare time, Carson enjoys watching hockey, snow skiing, scuba diving, being involved with his local church and spending time with his wife and daughter.

Natalie Wood Byrne, M.D., Pharm.D., grew up in Leawood, Kansas. She graduated from The St. Louis College of Pharmacy with a Doctor of Pharmacy. She then went on to complete her medical degree at the University of Kansas School of Medicine where she discovered her love for neurology. Her interests include reading, yoga, music and trying new restaurants. Above all, she loves spending time with her husband and daughter.

Arjun Rao, M.D. was born and raised in Schaumburg, Illinois. He attended the University of Missouri - Kansas City where he earned his bachelor's degree in biology as well as his medical degree. He is interested in vascular neurology and epilepsy. He enjoys playing the piano, basketball and pickleball in his free time.

Sai Kumar R. Pasya, MBBS, was born and raised in Hyderabad, a vibrant city located in southern part of India. He successfully completed his medical school training from the prestigious Osmania Medical college during which he found the study of brain and nerves to be the most intriguing subject of many and decided to move to the United States for residency to receive the best medical training in Neurology.  Dr. Pasya had always preferred living in a mid-sized town to a large metropolis, and when he came to the Kansas City, he fell in love with the KC region right away because it has so much to offer — from a thriving sports culture to a picturesque midwestern landscape that offered all four seasons — and most importantly, wonderful people! Dr. Pasya is currently fascinated with neurology in general, and he hesitates to regard any one subspecialty as being more fascinating than the others. In his spare time, he enjoys being outdoors, playing a variety of sports and board games, being open to new experiences, and most importantly, hanging out with friends and family. In his own time, he also has a special interest in mentoring medical students.

Monika Rettler, M.D., is from Lees Summit, Missouri. She received a bachelor’s degree in biology and neuroscience from Assumption College in Worcester, Massachusetts. She returned home to attend medical school at University of Missouri-Kansas City, as a traditional 4-year student. Dr. Rettler is excited to explore the different fields of neurology but have particular interest in neuromuscular, neuroimmunology or neurodegenerative. She is married to her middle school sweetheart (Jayke) and enjoys binge watching seasons of Survivor and spending time with their pets — two dalmatians (Nilla and Chip) and cat (Snickers). She and Jayke are big foodies and love going out to new restaurants around KC.

John Salle, M.D., grew up on a farm in California and later moved to Kansas from Hawaii, where he earned his medical degree from the University of Kansas. Before transitioning to medicine, John completed a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Hawaii and worked for many years in national defense. A veteran and retired Air Force Reservist, John enjoys outdoor activities, sports and spending quality time with his wife, who is currently serving in the Air Force, and their three energetic children. 

Rohan Joshi, M.D., was born in Cleveland and raised in central Ohio. After high school, he moved to Philadelphia to earn his bachelor's degree in biology at Drexel University, where he stayed to earn his medical degree at Drexel College of Medicine. His current hobbies include playing chess, tennis and playing piano. He is also an avid aquarist and maintains multiple fresh and saltwater tanks at home. As for a career in Neurology, his early passions lie in Neuromuscular Medicine and Movement Disorders, but he is keeping an open mind to see what piques his interest in the coming years.

Zorain Mustafa Khalil, MBBS, was born in Pakistan. He completed his medical school education at CMH Lahore Medical College in 2022. He is currently interested in pursuing Interventional Neurology. Outside of work, he loves to travel and is an avid Formula 1 fan. He also enjoys playing soccer and listening to old school rock and roll.

Emily Kuhlmann, M.D. was raised in Kansas. She graduated from the University of Kansas with a bachelor’s degree in behavioral neuroscience and attended the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Kansas City and Wichita. She is interested in vascular neurology and clinical neurophysiology, and she has a passion for medical education. She enjoys playing piano and guitar, running, hiking and is passionate about wildlife conservation.

Andres Pope, D.O., was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. He completed his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Texas at San Antonio, where he earned both degrees in Neuroscience. He completed his medical degree at the University of Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine. He is interested in pursuing either general or vascular neurology. His interests include board games, DND, lacrosse, soccer, golf, Formula 1 and anything involving the outdoors.

Faris Shaker, MBChB, was born in Hama, Syria, and earned his bachelor's degree from Damascus University in Syria. He went on to complete his medical degree at Tanta University Faculty of Medicine in Egypt. Faris completed a research fellowship at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, focusing on endovascular thrombectomy for ischemic stroke. His interests include brain-computer interfaces and Neuromodulation, epilepsy and movement disorders. His hobbies include playing chess, engaging in boxing and savoring coffee.

Arjun Singh, MBBS, was born and raised in Chandigarh, India, and he earned his MBBS degree at Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences. After completing his degree, he worked as a post-doctoral research fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. During this time, he gained expertise in machine learning and natural language processing. Drawn to the variety of subspecialties within neurology, he is excited to delve deeper into the field. In his free time, he enjoys playing tennis, soccer and video games.

Aspin Denson, M.D. was born and raised in a small town in Kansas. He had the privilege of obtaining his Bachelor of Science in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Kansas and received his medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine. From an early age, Dr. Denson developed a passion for neuroscience, but it was during medical school that he truly witnessed the unparalleled beauty of neurology. He is fascinated with neurology in general and is currently deliberating which subspecialty to pursue. In his free time, he enjoys an active lifestyle, mentoring medical students, cooking, baking cheesecake, playing board games, and spending time with his lovely fiancée.

Morgan Hamersky, M.D., grew up in Topeka, Kansas. She earned her undergraduate degree in neuroscience at Creighton University and her medical degree at The University of Kansas School of Medicine- Wichita. Neurology has interested her from an early age, and she looks forward to exploring subspecialties. She enjoys reading, being outdoors, baking, and spending time with her family and friends.

William Liu, M.D., was born and raised in the Kansas City metropolitan area. He completed undergraduate degrees in biochemistry and neuroscience at the University of Southern California, followed by a degree in medicine at the University of Kansas. His hobbies include cooking, exploring food spots, listening to music, swimming, and gaming. As for early interests in neurology, he is exploring Movement Disorders and Neuromuscular Medicine - but is keeping options open as he progresses further through training.

Nataleigh Meier, M.D., is originally from upstate New York and grew up in a military family, where she spent much of her childhood moving. She earned her undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of Missouri as a first-generation college student. After graduation, Dr. Meier spent 2.5 years teaching high school science in Kansas City and earned her Masters of Secondary Education before attending medical school at the University of Missouri - Kansas City. Outside of medicine she enjoys reading, embroidery, and spending time with her husband, son and two bulldogs (Milton & Fiona). She is passionate about environmental sustainability and mentorship of other first-generation students.

Asher Parvu, M.D., is from Little Rock, Arkansas, and earned his medical degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. His professional interests are diverse and include public health, medical education, movement disorders, neurohospital medicine, and neuromuscular medicine. Asher enjoys making specialty coffee, playing guitar, and spending time with his wife and two dogs.

Daniela Salazar, M.D., earned her medical degree from Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador. Her passion for neurology began during clinical training and deepened through hands-on experience in diverse healthcare settings, including rural medicine in the Ecuadorian rainforest and outpatient clinics in Chicago. She is committed to providing compassionate, patient-centered neurological care and looks forward to further developing her research skills during residency. Outside of medicine, Dani enjoys a good challenge — especially during “no-mercy” Uno matches —and loves beach volleyball, dogs and listening to music.

Sophie Troupe, M.D., was born and raised in Gardner, Kansas. She completed a degree in Human Biology at Kansas State University and discovered a love for neurology during medical school at the University of Kansas. Outside of work, she loves to knit, attempt sourdough recipes and play pickleball with her husband.