Neurology Residency Program

College

  • Center City Campus
  • Sidney Kimmel Medical College

Degree Earned

  • Residency

Program Type

  • On Campus
Name: Jeffrey Ratliff, MD, FAAN
Position:
  • Residency Program Director
Position: Department of Neurology
Name: Christopher Skidmore, MD
Position: Associate Residency Program Director, Department of Neurology
Name: Ericka Wong, MD
Position: Associate Residency Program Director, Department of Neurology
Name: Zachary Bonetti, MEd
Position: Residency Coordinator
Contact Number(s):

Contact

Name: Nicholas Apato
Position: Residency Coordinator
Contact Number(s):

Research

Our residency program is available to foster a robust and supportive environment for research, providing ample opportunities for residents at all levels of research experience. Whether you are new to research or have a strong background, our program is tailored to help you achieve your scholarly goals.

Hands-on training in research project design and execution is integral to our residency curriculum. Throughout the program, residents participate in regular meetings with experienced clinical research faculty who help transform research ideas into well-designed projects. This collaborative process includes everything from formulating an appropriate research question to generating a testable hypothesis and designing a study that effectively tests that hypothesis.

Our residents have access to dedicated faculty research mentors with specific expertise in research methodology and complementary biostatistical support through departmental funds. This ensures that every resident has the guidance and resources needed to succeed in their research endeavors.

Residents are expected to complete a research project by the end of their PGY-4 year. Early in the PGY-3 year, residents identify a research project and assemble a team of faculty mentors, including a dedicated mentor, to refine and critique the project from inception to execution. Our research opportunities span translational, clinical, medical education, and quality improvement initiatives, allowing residents to pursue their specific interests.

Residents are also incorporated into the quality and safety committees of the Department of Neurology, which often leads to additional scholarly work in quality improvement. We encourage our residents to submit their research for presentation at national meetings, and departmental funding is available to support travel costs for those whose projects are accepted. The submission of these research projects is celebrated and encouraged within our program, reflecting a commitment to scholarly achievement.

The culmination of each resident's research project is formally presented at the end of the PGY-4 year to a panel of neurology faculty, with a prize awarded to the best project of each graduating class. We are committed to helping you succeed and look forward to supporting your growth as a researcher and clinician.

Below, find a list of our recent PGY4 residents’ capstone research projects, including a * demarcation of the annual Bonnie & Harris Sklar Award for Excellence in Research established in 2022.

Resident Research Projects

Recent Topics

Nicole Calautti, MDResident Perspectives on Debriefing Emotionally Salient Experiences with Medical Students: An Educational Needs Assessment    
Shandon Coffman, MDThe role of viruses in Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS): A review of 110 GAD-positive SPS cases 
Audrey Del Re, MDMedical Student Experiences with Research Opportunities: A Multi-Institutional Needs Assessment 
Kathryn Dent, MDDeciphering patterns of Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) in patients referred for Stiff-Person syndrome (SPS)   
Kiran Iyer, MD, MBA A Phenomenological Study of Procedural Botox for Migraine Training in Neurology Residency 
Kimberley Sansalone, MD*Angiogenesis and Blood–Brain Barrier Dysfunction in Human Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Brain Lesions 
Leah Shabo, MDClinical Characteristics and Risk Factors of Paroxysmal Sympathetic Hyperactivity in Intracerebral Hemorrhage  
Deborah Steinberg, MDScreening for Primary Hyperaldosteronism in Patients with Acute Stroke  
Sarah Stuccio, MDVariation in Lumbar Puncture Safety Practices Across U.S. Neurology Residency Programs: A National Survey 
Dean Zeldich, MDOccipital Nerve Block as an Acute Sparing Therapy for Acute Post-Stroke Headache: A Pilot Study 

Emily Lubas, MDParkinson's Pals: Peer Mentorship for Persons with Parkinson's Disease  
Elizabeth Fletman, DO*Ketamine Plus Midazolam Compared to Midazolam for the Management of Refractory Status Epilepticus  
Emma Yellin, MDReal-World Experience with Long-Term Lacanemab Treatment: A Retrospective Chart Review in Early Alzheimer's Disease  
Pooja Gupta, MDDiagnostic and Treatment Delays in Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus: A Retrospective Analysis at TJUH 
Ann (Heping) Sheng, MDValproate is associated with higher odds of seizure freedom in patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy, regardless of timing of use 
Danielle Porreca, MD, PhD  Effects of Comorbid Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM) in Symptom Severity, Disease Progression, and Treatment Response of Patients with Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) 
Peter (Yuan-Ping) Li, MD, PhDLow-calorie sweetener usage in the acute stroke unit 
Michael DeMaio, MD CSF Diagnostic Stewardship: Clinical Implications of Pleocytosis in Traumatic Lumbar Punctures 
Madeline Russell, MDCharacterizing Features and Risk of Recurrence of Early Post-Stroke Seizures 
 Brianna Casey, MDTonic Phase Duration and Risk of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy 
 Karyn Ding, MDCGRP Monoclonal Antibodies vs Gepants: Risk of Vascular Outcomes: A TriNetX Multicenter Electronic Medical Record Analysis 

Patricia Graese, MD Curricular Needs Assessment and Application of Team-based Learning for Neurology Residency Curricular Gaps 
Rikka Azuma, MD Variation in Aggression of Relapsing-Remitting MS by IL-11 expression 
Rebecca Hsu, MDLumbar Puncture Safety Guidelines 
Anya Volski, MD* Responsive Neurostimulator Parameter Limitations and Adverse Effects Among Patients with Electrodes in Eloquent Cortex  
Megan Super, MDNeurology Grand Rounds: Evaluating Resident and Faculty Attitudes Following the COVID-19 Pandemic 
Jennifer Newman, MD Patterns of Intracranial Disease Progression in ​Newly Diagnosed Patients with Primary Central Nervous System ​Lymphoma Following Treatment with High-Dose Methotrexate 
Julian Gal, MD Anti-Seizure Medication Changes and Risk of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy 
Qiu Zi Yang, MD Reasons for Discontinuation and MIDAS Progression in Patients Using Eptinezumab up to 24 Months 
Nathaniel Fox, MDA Mixed-Model Approach to Teaching Maddox Rod Physical Exam Skills to Neurology Residents 

Erum Ahmed, MDBridging the Gap With Migraine Kits: Interdepartmental, Multi-Modal Approach to Headache in the Emergency Department 
Rachael Burke, MDAn objective tool to guide target selection for DBS in PD (Gpi vs STN)- intergation into Thomas Jefferson's Multi-disciplinary Movement Disorders Center, an Update 
Alexander Buslov, MDImplementation of an Opt Out Wellness Counseling Initiative in a Neurology Residency Program 
Courtney Curran, MDRisk of recurrent stroke due to atrial fibrillation prior to initiation of anticoagulation 
Brendan Elias, MDNon-invasive Brain Stimulation Techniques for Treating Neuropathic Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis 
Lucia Liao, MDMexiletine for the Treatment of Refractory Chronic Migraine: A Retrospective Chart Review 
Mitchell Silver, MDMedical Treatment Comparison of Outcomes from Index Stroke to PFO closure: A Retrospective Chart Review 
Victor Wang, MDCGRP Antagonist (Gepant) vs Triptan use Profiles in Individuals with Migraine: A Multicenter Electronic Medical Record Analysis of Patient Characteristics and Emergency Department Services Utilization * 
Jessica Yi, MDLong-term Effectiveness of IVIg Maintenance Therapy in 36 Patients with Stiff-Person Syndrome 

Michelle Braslavsky, DOMetabolomics in Epilepsy 
Karina Burda, MDExploration of Antipsychotic Prescribing Practices Among Movement Disorders Subspecialists for Patients with Parkinson’s Disease Dementia and Dementia with Lewy Bodies 
Tzu-Ying Chuang, MDMetabolomic Analysis of Extracellular Vesicles from in Multiple Sclerosis* 
Oliva Gruder, MDThe Relationship Between Wearing-off Between Medication Doses in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) on Disease Modifying Therapies (DMTs) and Body Mass Index (BMI) 
Eunice Lee, MDSETscore to Determine Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation Times and NICU-LOS for All NICU Patients with Brain Injuries 
Henry Lee, MDEffectiveness of In-patient Implantable Heart Monitor in Capturing A-fib in Cryptogenic Stroke Patients 
Lucy Maguire, MD, PhDHypertonic Saline Use in Post Cardiac Arrest Patients for Treatment of Cerebral Edema 
Kasun Navarathna, MDNeurostimulant Medication Application in Acute Patients in the Neurocritical Care Unit 
Priyadarshee Patel, MDA Review of Effect of Ticagrelor on Platelet Inhibition in Clopidogrel Non-responders Undergoing Neuroendovascular Procedure 
Louis Porreca, MDAssessment of Outcomes for Acute Stroke Patients Boarding in Emergency Department 
Malissa Pynes, MDA Review of Neurologic Complications from Cryptococcal Meningoencephalitis in the Previously Immunocompetent Patient after COVID-19 Infection