Meet our Residents
PGY-4
Carley Carter, M.D., was born and raised in Oklahoma City. After receiving a B.S. in Psychology at Oklahoma State University she went on to earn a medical degree at American University of the Caribbean. She currently hopes to pursue a career in Autoimmune Neurology or Movement Disorders. She thoroughly enjoys running, cooking and spending time with her husband, little fur-ball and their two ducks.
Maggie Logan, M.D., is from Kansas City, Missouri, and graduated from the University of Kansas with a bachelor's degree in Microbiology. She went on to work in clinical trials at the University of Kansas Medical Center and completed her medical degree at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Her hobbies include reading, movies and exploring new restaurants.
Daniel Mafla, M.D., comes from Quito, Ecuador, which is the Middle of the World. He enjoys reading, trying new foods and racquet sports, of which tennis is the number one sport, but he also likes ping pong and padel (uncommon here). Being from South America, soccer is always something he will enjoy too, as well as coffee. Inside the brain sciences, he initially liked Neurology due to stroke, but now he leans toward Neuro-immunology or advanced general Neurology.
Maryam Matloub, MBChB, is from Baghdad, Iraq. She earned her medical degree from Baghdad University. She showed great interest in neurosciences and clinical neurology during medical school which prompted her to come to the United States to pursue further training in this field. Her personal interests include nature and animals, traveling and exploring new places, making new friends and learning different languages. She also enjoys outdoor activities, watching documentaries and listening to pop and classical music.
Tyler Okelberry, M.D., was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and earned his bachelor's degree in Neuroscience from Brigham Young University. He then earned his medical degree at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center before moving to Kansas City to begin the neurology residency program at KU. He enjoys music, reading and the great outdoors. But most of all, he loves spending time with his wife and two little kids at the parks, museums and libraries of KC.
Gloria Ortiz-Guerrero, M.D., was born and raised in Barrancabermeja, Colombia. She earned her medical degree at Universidad del Rosario, Colombia. She moved to Kansas City to complete a research training in the fields of Neuromuscular Disorders and Epilepsy, which ultimately led her to pursue a career in neurology. She loves soccer, especially when Colombia plays, and also enjoys spending time with her loved ones and friends, dancing, playing the piano, exploring new places, traveling and meeting new people.
Deepa Patel, M.D., was born in California and lived across six different states. She attended Vanderbilt University for her undergraduate degree in Neuroscience. She went on to study medicine at St. James School of Medicine. She has an avid interest in neuro-immunology, vascular neurology and headache. She actively enjoys traveling, cookies, museums and dogs.
Ahmad Salameh, MBBS, was born in Jordan and grew up in United Arab Emirates. He earned his MBBS degree in The University of Sharjah. He worked as an Internal Medicine Resident for two years in Abu Dhabi then decided to pursue a career in neurology. He enjoys neurosciences and is interested in vascular and intervention neurology. He enjoys spending time with his fiancée and discovering new places, activities and movies. He loves biking and all beach activities including swimming and kayaking. He also plays soccer and is a big fan of Barcelona.
Joseph Wend, D.O., earned his bachelor's degree in Psychology from Pepperdine University where he was involved with TBI research using a rat model. He graduated from Western University College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific in Pomona, California, for medical school. He enjoys attending concerts, playing basketball, golf and attending live sports events.
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PGY-3
David Anson, M.D., is from Swansea, Illinois. He completed his bachelor's degree in biology from Cedarville University in Ohio and earned his medical doctorate at the University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria. Dr. Anson is interested in movement disorders and vestibular neurology and hopes to pursue a career in academics and medical education at the completion of his training. In his free time, he enjoys music, BBQ and spending time with his wife, Nicole, and daughter, Natalie.
Natalie Bartnik, D.O., was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Saginaw, Michigan. She attended Loyola University Chicago, where she earned her bachelor's degree in biology, and she completed her master's degree in public health at the University of Michigan. She earned her medical degree at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Bartnik has many interests in the field of neurology, including neuro-immunology, neuro-oncology and cognitive disorders. In her spare time, she enjoys collecting and caring for her "plant babies" with her husband, Jon, as well as playing volleyball, hiking, backpacking and traveling, especially to see her extended family in Poland.
Sean Beattie, D.O., was born in the Bronx, New York, and moved to Lexington, Kentucky, (Go Cats!) at 7 years old. He graduated from Tulane University with a bachelor's degree in neuroscience and psychology and a master's degree in neuroscience. He earned his medical degree from the Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine at the University of Pikeville before coming to KU for residency. His interests in neurology include epilepsy, neurophysiology and neurocognitive medicine. His hobbies include playing board games, video games, collecting graphic novels, watching movies and running. He is also an avid sports fan, particularly the New York Mets and University of Kentucky Wildcats. However, he most enjoys spending time with his wonderful wife and 7-year old son.
Syed Hussain, MBBS, is originally from Pakistan, where he completed his medical school education at Ziauddin University. He is interested in vascular and interventional neurology but is enjoying learning about other subspecialties of neurology. Outside of work, he enjoys hiking, playing squash, travelling and most outdoor activities. He also enjoys watching movies and binge-watching TV series.
Akshaya Prabhakaran, MBBS, was born in India and grew up in Chicago, Illinois. After finishing high school in Illinois, she returned to India to earn a medical degree at Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute. She currently hopes to pursue a career in autoimmune neurology or epilepsy. She enjoys running, cooking and spending time outdoors.
PGY-2
Mohammed Qussay Al-Sabbagh, M.D., is Iraqi-born and grew up in Jordan. Dr. Al-Sabbagh graduated as the top student of his batch at the University of Jordan’s School of Medicine Class of 2020. He demonstrated immense interest in neurosciences and clinical neurology which led him to pursue a neurology residency in the United States. His scholarly interests and publications span a plethora of disciplines, including public health, global health, mental health, neurology and health equity. Dr. Al-Sabbagh enjoys European soccer, mythology, Arabic poetry and memes.
Sam Broll, M.D., spent much of his childhood moving up and down the East Coast until finally settling in Kansas City as a teenager. He attended Kansas State University, where he received a bachelor of science in biochemistry, and earned his medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine. Sam has many interests within the field of neurology and currently hopes to pursue a career in general neurology in a rural part of Kansas. In his free time, Sam loves playing board games with friends, reading web serials, and spending time with his wife, Jessica, and two rescue dogs.
Brian Herman, D.O., MBA, was born and raised in Leawood, Kansas. He graduated from Emory University with a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience and behavioral biology. He received his medical degree from Kansas City University, while simultaneously earning his MBA in healthcare leadership from Rockhurst University. He loves the wide variety of subspecialties that neurology has to offer, and he is currently undecided on his neurologic specialty. He is a huge fan of all Kansas City sports, especially the Chiefs and Royals, and loves spending his free time with his wife and their son exploring the various parks and farmers' markets around the Kansas City area.
Andrew Jarzen, M.D., is an Army veteran from Las Vegas, Nevada. He received his medical degree from Medical College of Wisconsin in Green Bay. He is interested in veterans’ healthcare and hopes to continue to serve his fellow veterans in the future by working at a VA. In his free time, he enjoys horseback riding, motorcycle riding, astronomy and disc golf.
Sivani Lingam, MBBS, was born and raised in Hyderabad, India. She completed her medical school education at Gandhi Medical College, Secunderabad. She is currently enjoying exploring the different subspecialties of neurology, including vascular neurology and neurocritical care. In her spare time, she enjoys being outdoors in nature, reading books and traveling.
Meghna Nambakkam, MBBS, was born in Hyderabad, India, and raised in Kisumu/Nairobi, Kenya. She attended the University of Toronto for her undergraduate work, where she double majored in cell and systems biology and genetics and biotechnology. Following that, she pursued her medical degree in Chennai, India. Dr. Nambakkam is still undecided on what to specialize in under neurology, but she is currently interested in epilepsy and neuromuscular medicine. It was love at first fountain with Kansas City for her, and she hopes to stay here for a long time, if not forever. In her free time, she loves to spend time with her husband trying out new foods, both cooking and eating, hanging out with friends and family, and traveling around the world.
Wilfred Vazquez, M.D., was born in Monterrey, NL, Mexico, and moved to the United States at the ripe age of 3. Moving between Texas and Massachusetts, he eventually settled in Kansas City, where he pursued an undergraduate degree in cell biology at the University of Kansas. He subsequently went on to stay in the KU system for the rest of his higher education, with medical school and now residency. He currently is not decided on what he would like to do within neurology, but it would most likely involve being mainly on the inpatient side. He enjoys spending time with his lovely wife, KC, and cat, Cookie, as well as cheering on his New England Patriots and being a gamer (currently playing Star Wars Battlefront 2).
PGY-1
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. His current interests in neurology are neurocognitive and neurodegenerative medicine. 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 wife, Ellie, and their dog, Zoey.
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.