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Faculty

Department of Neurology
For more than 60 years, the department of neurology at the Miller School has been a renowned leader in treating patients from all over the world, in cutting edge research, and in training and attracting esteemed faculty. 

The department’s reputation has been built on the dedication of its chairs and faculty.


Ayham Alkhachroum

Ayham Alkhachroum, M.D.

Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology
Clinical Profile | Publications
Biography: Dr. Ayham Alkhachroum is an assistant professor of Neurology at University of Miami. He received his medical degree from University of Aleppo school of medicine. After completing his training in Neurology and in Clinical Neurophysiology at Case Western Reserve University, Dr. Alkhachroum completed his training in Neurocritical Care at New York-Presbyterian hospitals of...
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Victor Del Brutto

Victor J. Del Brutto, M.D.

Asst. Professor
Clinical Profile | Publications
Biography: Dr. Victor J. Del Brutto serves as an Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology in the stroke division at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. He completed his neurology residency training at the University of Chicago, followed by a vascular neurology fellowship at Jackson Memorial Hospital/University of Miami. Dr. Del Brutto holds positions as a stroke neurologist...
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Barry Baumel

Bernard S. Baumel, M.D.

Associate Professor of Neurology
Clinical Profile
Biography: Dr. Baumel is a Board certified Neurologist who specializes in the treatment of memory disorders. He received his MD from the University of Miami. He completed his Internship in Internal Medicine at University of Georgia and his Neurology Residency at University of Miami. Before joining the University of Miami, Department of Neurology in 2014, for more than two decades...
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Michael Benatar

Michael Benatar, M.D., Ph.D.

Professor of Neurology and Public Health Sciences
Clinical Profile | Publications
Biography: Dr. Michael Benatar, MD, PhD - is a Professor of Neurology and of Public Health Sciences, Chief of Neuromuscular Division, and Vice Chair for Clinical and Translational Research in the Department of Neurology. He is the Walter Bradley Chair in ALS Research and the Executive Director of the ALS Center at the University of Miami. He obtained his medical...
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Lilah Besser

Lilah M. Besser, Ph.D., M.S.P.H.

Research Assistant Professor
Publications
Biography: Dr. Besser's educational background includes a Master's in Epidemiology and Environmental and Occupational Health and a PhD in City and Regional Planning. From 2011-2018, she researched Alzheimer's disease and related dementia outcomes while working at the Senior Research Scientist at University of Washington's National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center....
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Andrew Brown

Andrew Brown, M.D.

Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology
Clinical Profile
Biography: Dr. Brown joined the General Neurology division at the University of Miami in early 2017 after 10 years in private practice. He became chief of the Division in 2020. Dr. Brown did his undergraduate studies at Columbia University and then went to medical school at the University of Rochester. He went on to complete medical internship at Mount Sinai in New York City followed...
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Chileuitt Abraham

Abraham Andres Chileuitt, M.D., M.Sc.

Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology

Biography: Abraham A. Chileuitt, M.D., M.Sc., is a board-certified neurologist, an assistant professor of clinical neurology, and the director of sports and performance neurology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Dr. Chileuitt is fellowship trained in traumatic brain injury and sport neurology, has extensive experience in sports and exercise...
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Stephanie Chrisphonte

Stephanie Chrisphonte, M.D.

Research Assistant Professor of Neurology

Biography: Stephanie Chrisphonte, MD is a Research Assistant Professor of Neurology in the Miller School of Medicine and currently the Associate Director for Operations at the Comprehensive Center for Brain Health. She is highly trained in administering and scoring various batteries that assess neuropsychological functioning for the Center’s grant-funded research studies and clinical...
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Alexandra Cocores, M.D.

Alexandra Cocores, M.D.

Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology
Clinical Profile
Biography: Dr. Alexandra Cocores joined the Headache Division as an Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology in 2022. She was born in New Jersey and grew up in South Florida. She received and undergraduate degree (BS) in Neuroscience (with minors in Anthropology and Chemistry) at the University of Miami. She then completed medical school, residency training (including as chief resident),...
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Kunjan R. Dave, Ph.D.

Kunjan R. Dave, Ph.D.

Research Professor
Publications
Biography: Dr. Dave received his PhD in Biochemistry in 2000 from the M. S. University of Baroda, India. During his PhD training he worked on several research projects including secondary complications of diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and drug toxicity among others. From 1999 to 2000 Dr. Dave served at the Zandu Pharmaceutical Works, Mumbai, India, as a Biochemist, where he participated...
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David Davis

David A. Davis, Ph.D.

Research Associate Professor
Clinical Profile | Publications
Biography: Dr. Davis received his PhD in Neuropathology from Boston University School of Medicine and completed his post doctorate training at the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology located at the University of Southern California.

In 2013, Dr. Davis joined the University of Miami Brain Endowment Bank with the goal of utilizing his training to provide investigators...
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Macarena De La Fuente

Macarena de la Fuente, M.D.

Associate Professor of Neurology
Clinical Profile | Publications
Biography: Dr. De la Fuente is the Chief of the Neuro-Oncology Division and Director of the Neuro-Oncology Fellowship Program, Department of Neurology, University of Miami and Neuro-Oncology Clinical Service Leader for the Oncology Service Line at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. De la Fuente is a graduate of the Neuro-Oncology Fellowship program at Memorial Sloan Kettering...
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David Della-Morte, M.D., P.h.D.

Associate Professor

Biography: David Della-Morte received his MD degree and his PhD in Clinical Physiopathology and Experimental Medicine at University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy. Since 2005, Dr. Della Morte has been working at the Department of Neurology, University of Miami, and was trained as a Postdoc in Neuroscience at the Cerebrovascular Disease Research Center. Currently, he is a...
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Madgalena Tolea

Magdalena Ioana Tolea, Ph.D.

Research Assistant Professor of Neurology
Publications
Biography: Dr. Magdalena Tolea received her Doctorate in Gerontology, Master of Science in Epidemiology, and Master of Arts in Sociology from University of Maryland. Following her doctoral training, Dr. Tolea completed a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Epidemiology of Aging at the National Institute on Aging where she developed a research interest in physical functional aging with a...
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James Galvin

James E Galvin, M.D., M.P.H.

Professor of Neurology
Clinical Profile | Publications
Biography: James E. Galvin, M.D., M.P.H. is Professor of Neurology and Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. He is Division Chief for Cognitive Neurology, Founding Director of the Comprehensive Center for Brain Health, and Director and Principal Investigator of the Lewy Body Dementia Research Center of Excellence....
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Naiara Garcia Losarcos, MD

Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology (pending rank)

Biography: Dr. Garcia Losarcos was born in Spain. She completed her medical education at the Basque Country School of Medicine in Bilbao and residency training in Clinical Neurophysiology at Hospital Clinico San Carlos in Madrid. She then completed Neurology residency and Clinical Neurophysiology fellowship at Jackson Health System/University of Miami.

After completing...
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Gillian Gordon Perue, M.D.

Gillian Gordon Perue, M.D.

Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology
Clinical Profile
Biography: Dr. Gordon Perue is an assistant professor of vascular neurology at and serves as Chief of neurology and Director of the stroke program at Jackson South and Jackson West Medical Centers. She received her MD from the University of the West Indies. She did her Neurology residency and Vascular Neurology fellowship at University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center.She...
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Ihtsham Haq

Ihtsham ul Haq, M.D., FAAN

Professor of Neurology
Clinical Profile | Publications
Biography: Dr. Ihtsham ul Haq is Professor of Neurology and Chief of Movement Disorders Division. His passion for the study of the brain began at Columbia University, at which he completed degrees in Bioengineering and in Philosophy. He obtained his medical degree at SUNY Downstate and his Neurology residency training at Georgetown University. After his residency he spent three years...
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Yolanda Reyes Iglesias

Yolanda Reyes-Iglesias, M.D.

Associate Professor Clinical Neurology

Biography: Currently I am the Neurology Clerkship Director, the Neuroscience Block Co-Director and the Vice-Chair for Undergraduate Medical Education at the Department of Neurology, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine. I have been awarded the A.B Baker Teacher Recognition Award by the American Academy of Neurology and Outstanding Department Award by the Academic Societies...
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Andres Kanner

Andres M. Kanner, M.D., FANA, FAAN, FAES

Professor of Clinical Neurology
Clinical Profile
Biography: Dr. Andres M. Kanner is a Professor of Clinical Neurology and Director of the Comprehensive Epilepsy Center and Chief of the Epilepsy Division at the Department of Neurology of the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, which he joined on January 1st 2013. He is an Attending Epileptologist at the University of Miami Hospital and Clinics and at Jackson Memorial...
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Sonya S. Kaur, Ph.D.

Sonya S. Kaur, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology

Biography: Dr. Kaur was born and raised in Singapore. She moved to the United States to earn a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin. She completed her internship in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in neuropsychology at the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, Michigan. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship in clinical neuropsychology at...
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Marina Kushnirsky

Marina Kushnirsky

Clinical Profile
Biography: Dr. Kushnirsky an assistant professor of neuro-oncology and director of outpatient satellite clinics in the neuro-oncology division. A native of Brooklyn, New York, Dr. Kushnirsky completed her undergraduate and medical education at Barnard College of Columbia University and Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine, respectively. She continued her medical training at the University...
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Bonnie Levin

Bonnie Levin, Ph.D.

Schonnger Professor of Neurology
Clinical Profile
Biography: Dr. Levin graduated with a BS in Psychology from Georgetown University and a PHD from Temple University. She holds the Bernard and Alexandria Schoninger Professor for NeuroPsychology and is Chief of the NeuroPsychology and Cognitive Neuroscience Division in the Department of Neurology.
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Corneliu Luca

Corneliu Luca, M.D., Ph.D.

Professor of Clinical Neurology
Clinical Profile | Publications
Biography: Dr. Corneliu Luca is Assistant Professor of Neurology at University of Miami, Director of the Movement Disorders Fellowship Program. He obtained an MD degree at Carol Davila University of Medicine in Bucharest and PhD in molecular biology at University of Miami. He has fellowship training in movement disorders land currently seeing patients with Parkinson's disease,...
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Jason Margolesky

Jason Margolesky, M.D., FAAN

Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology
Clinical Profile
Biography: Dr. Jason Margolesky joined the Movement Disorders Division as an Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology in 2017. He was born in Miami, Florida. He received his undergraduate degree (BS) in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology (with a minor in religion) at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. He then attended Georgetown University in Washington, DC where he earned a...
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Nina Massad

Nina Massad, M.D.

Asst. Professor of Clinical Neurology and Neurocritical Care

Biography: Dr. Massad is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology and Neurocritical Care. She received her medical degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine and completed her residency training in Neurology at Columbia University. She then completed her fellowship training in Neurocritical Care at New York-Presbyterian hospitals of Columbia University and Weill Cornell...
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Teshamae Monteith

Teshamae Monteith, M.D., FAHS, FAAN

Professor of Clinical Neurology
Clinical Profile
Biography: Dr. Monteith is Associate Professor of Clincal Neurology and Chief of the Headache Division. She received her MD from University of Miami and completed her Neurology Residency at New York University. Dr. Monteith received headache fellowships from both Thomas Jefferson University and University of California at San Francisco. She joined the Department of Neurology in 2011.
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Henry Moore

Henry Moore, M.D.

Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology
Clinical Profile
Biography: Dr. Henry Moore joined the Department as an Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology. He earned his undergraduate and medical degree at Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia – School of Medicine, Lima – Peru. He performed his Neurology Residency at Jackson Memorial Hospital / University of Miami – Miller School of Medicine. Then, he performed a 2-year Movement Disorders...
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Carlos Moraes

Carlos T. Moraes, Ph.D.

Professor of Neurology
Publications
Biography: My independent group at the University of Miami was established in 1993 and one of its main focuses in the last decade has been the study of mitochondrial defects and neurodegenerative processes. We have used patients' cells and genetically modified mice to create models of mitochondrial disorders associated with defects in either nuclear or mitochondrial DNA. We are...
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Ruham Nasany

Ruham Nasany, M.D.

Director, In-patient Neuro Oncology Service
Clinical Profile | Publications
Biography: Dr. Ruham Nasany is the dual-board certified neurologist and neuro-oncologists who specializes in the treatment of primary brain tumors, brain metastasis, and neurological complications arising from cancer and its therapies, providing comprehensive care to patients facing complex neurological challenges.

She joined University of Miami in 2023 to serve...
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Flavia Nelson

Flavia Nelson, M.D.

Professor of Clinical Neurology
Clinical Profile | Publications
Biography: Dr. Flavia Nelson is the Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Center of Excellence Chief of the CNS Autoimmune Disorders Division and Professor of Neurology at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine
She received her MD degree at UACH in Mexico, followed by two residencies, Internal Medicine at Texas Tech University Health Science Center and Neurology...
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Kristine O'phelan

Kristine O’Phelan, M.D.

Professor of Clinical Neurology
Clinical Profile
Biography: Dr. Kristine O’Phelan received her medical degree from Boston
University School of Medicine. She completed a residency in neurology at the University of Miami, Jackson Memorial Hospital, and fellowship training in Neurotrauma and Neurocritical Care at the University of California, Los Angeles Center for Health Sciences, Division of Neurosurgery. She is certified...
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Miguel Perez-Pinzon

Miguel Perez-Pinzon, Ph.D.

Professor of Neurology
Publications
Biography: Dr. Perez-Pinzon’s research expertise is in the area of cerebral ischemia, which results from cardiac arrest or stroke. His research focuses on the areas of synaptic, cognitive, vascular, and mitochondrial dysfunction that ensue following cerebral ischemia.

Cognitive Impairment: A major area of research in my group is to define the pathological mechanisms...
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Kottil Rammohan

Kottil Rammohan, M.D.

Professor of Clinical Neurology
Clinical Profile
Biography: Kottil W. Rammohan, MD, is a Professor of Neurology at the University of Miami, Miami, FL. His specialty is Multiple Sclerrosis and he is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, and the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology with special competence in Neurology.
A graduate of Madras Medical College in Chennai, India, Dr. Rammohan completed...
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Alberto Ramos

Alberto R. Ramos, M.D., M.S., FAAN, FAASM

Professor of Clinical Neurology
Clinical Profile | Publications
Biography: As an investigator, I have been involved with the Northern Manhattan Study and the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) since 2010. Further, I was the Miami site-PI for the ancillary sleep study, Sueño (R01HL098297)-Sleep as a Risk Factor for Disease in HCHS/SOL. Sueño aimed to determine the prevalence of abnormal sleep patterns in 2,200...
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Ami Raval

Ami P. Raval, Ph.D.

Professor of Neurology
Publications
Biography: Dr. Ami P. Raval serves as Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine. She had previous training in the physiology of reproduction. She coupled her prior knowledge with laboratory research on the pathophysiology of stroke. Her research focuses on (1) understanding the effects of estrogen on neuronal...
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Jose Romano, M.D.

Jose Romano, M.D.

Professor and Chairman of Neurology
Clinical Profile
Biography: Dr. Romano is Professor of Neurology, Executive Vice Chair for Clinical Affairs and Chief of the Stroke Division in the Department of Neurology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, and Director of the Jackson Memorial Hospital Comprehensive Stroke Center. He is originally from Mexico City, where he completed his medical studies at the Universidad Anahuac,...
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Naymee Velez Ruiz

Naymee Velez-Ruiz, M.D.

Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology
Clinical Profile
Biography: From the Neurology Department website:
Dr. Naymee Velez Ruiz is Associate Professor of Neurology at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine. She is the Medical Director of the Jackson Memorial Video-EEG Monitoring Unit and EEG Laboratories and she is an Attending Epileptologist at the University of Miami Hospital and Clinics and Jackson Memorial Hospital....
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Tatjana Rundek

Tatjana Rundek, M.D., Ph.D.

Professor of Neurology
Publications
Biography: Dr. Rundek is a Professor of Neurology, Executive Vice Chair of Research and Faculty Affairs and Director of Clinical Translational Research Division in the Department of Neurology of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. She is Scientific Director of the Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute at the University of Miami. She is also Director of a Master of Science...
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Mario Saporta

Mario Saporta, M.D., Ph.D.

Professor of Clinical Neurology
Clinical Profile | Publications
Biography: Clinical Neurologist and Neurophysiologist with special training and interest in neuromuscular conditions (particularly Inherited Peripheral Neuropathies). Senior Translational Scientist specialized in Cellular Reprogramming and Differentiation for disease modeling, with experience in both academic and biotechnology industry settings
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Marina Sarno

Marina Sarno, Psy.D.

Assistant Professor of Neurology

Biography: Dr. Marina Sarno was born and raised in Miami, Florida. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Miami and graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Criminology. She completed her doctoral degree at Nova Southeastern University, where she specialized in Police Psychology and Neuropsychology. Dr. Sarno then completed her Internship...
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Enrique Serrano

Enrique Serrano, M.D.

Assoc. Professor of Clinical Neurology
Clinical Profile
Biography: Dr. Enrique Serrano, MD, MSc, is board certified in neurology, epilepsy, and clinical neurophysiology. He received his medical degree from the University of Puerto Rico and completed his internship in Internal Medicine at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, formerly known as the National Naval Medical Center, in Bethesda, Maryland. He served for four years as...
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Sharma Khema

Khema Sharma, M.D.

Professor of Neurology
Clinical Profile
Biography: I obtained my medical education at S P Medical College, Bikaner, University of Rajasthan, India. I did neurology residency at Medical Center Hospital of Vermont, Burlington, University of Vermont. I did Neuromuscular and Electromyography fellowship at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY; and Clinical Neurophysiology fellowship at University of California, Davis,...
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Danielle Shpiner

Danielle Shpiner, M.D.

Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology
Clinical Profile
Biography: Dr. Danielle Shpiner joined the Department of Neurology as an Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology in 2019. She is originally from Buffalo, New York. She attended college at Johns Hopkins University where she majored in Neuroscience. She graduated from Boston University School of Medicine and completed her internship and residency in Neurology at the University of...
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Liza Smirnoff, M.D.

Liza Smirnoff, M.D., FAHS

Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology
Clinical Profile
Biography: Dr. Smirnoff completed Medical School at FIU and her Neurology residency at USC Medical Center. She is a board-certified Neurologist and completed her fellowship in Headache at Stanford University. Dr. Smirnoff specializes in the management of chronic and atypical headaches. She is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology.
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Xiaoyan Sun

Xiaoyan Sun, M.D.,Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology
Clinical Profile
Biography: Dr. Sun is a board-certified neurologist with fellowship training in cognitive neurology. She started her medical career as a neurologist in China, where she earned her M.D. and obtained a Ph.D. in neuroscience in Japan. Dr. Sun finished her Neurology residency at the Medical University of South Carolina in the United States and completed a cognitive/behavioral neurology...
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Nicole Sur

Nicole Sur, M.D.

Assistant Professor Clinical Neurology
Clinical Profile | Publications
Biography: Dr. Nicole Beaton Sur is Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in the Department of Neurology, Stroke Division. Dr. Sur received her MD degree from the Boston University School of Medicine in 2013. She completed her Internal Medicine internship, Neurology residency and Vascular Neurology fellowship at the University...
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Leticia Tornes

Leticia Tornes, M.D., FAAN

Associate Vice-Chair for Graduate Medical Education
Clinical Profile
Biography: Dr. Leticia Tornes, is an Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology and the Residency Program Director at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine. She graduated from the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine and completed her Neurology training at Jackson Memorial Hospital/University of Miami where she served as Chief Resident during her last year of...
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Emir Veledar, M.D.

Publications
Biography: Emir Veledar leads analytical teams, conducts advanced statistical analyses, designs research activities, analyzes complex data sets and reports results. He is research professor, Senior Biostatistician at the Florida Stroke Registry, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Neurology. Before that he was the director of biostatistics at Mount Sinai Icahn School...
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Regina Vontell, Ph.D.

Regina Vontell, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Neurology
Publications
Biography: Dr. Vontell received her PhD in Neurobiology at the School of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering Research from King’s College London and Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom. She is Associate Director of the Brain Endowment Bank at the University of Miami.
Her primary research has focused on the inflammatory mediators in the brain and their...
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Dileep Yavagal

Dileep Raghvendra Yavagal, M.D.

Professor of Clinical Neurology & Neurosurgery
Clinical Profile
Biography: Dr. Dileep R. Yavagal is the Chief of Endovascular Division, Director of Interventional Neurology and Co-Director of Neuroendovascular Surgery and Clinical Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery at the University of Miami & Jackson Memorial Hospitals. He is also the Director of NeuroStem Cell Division at the Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute. Dr. Yavagal is an...
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