Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Residency Program: Current and Previous Fellows

Current Fellows - Fourth Year Residents:

Ugur Damar MD

Hometown: Izmir, Turkey
Medical School: Medical Faculty of Bulent Ecevit University, Turkey
Pediatrics: Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia PA

Reason for pursuing NDD why Kennedy Krieger Institute: With the unique clinical experience and ample research opportunities the NDD training provides, I hope to develop a comprehensive understanding of disorders/variations in brain development and rare neurogenetic diseases. During my training, I aim to follow through the prominent aspect of my research, transcranial magnetic stimulation use as a biomarker for cortical plasticity or target engagement of centrally acting drugs, and help create avenues for research by incorporating innovative methods into conventional diagnostic/therapeutic tools. I believe the research opportunities and mentorship provided at Kennedy Krieger will help me obtain the necessary skillset as a clinician-scientist.

What’s special about Baltimore? Baltimore has always resonated pleasant feelings in me being a small harbor city with plenty of history similar to the towns close to where I grew up.

Archana Nelliot, MD

Birthplace: Doha, Qatar
Hometown: Vienna, VA
College: University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Medical School: Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Pediatrics: Penn State Milton S. Hershey, Hershey, PA

Reason for pursing NDD and why Kennedy Krieger Institute: I discovered NDD as a specialty as a medical student, and after spending some time at Kennedy Krieger marveling at the depth and breadth of resources this place offers children with disabilities, meeting the incredible clinicians who work here and learning about the training and research opportunities, I could not imagine a better environment in which to train. 

What’s special about Baltimore? Baltimore has been home for me for almost 15 years now, and I love it. It has a lot to offer in terms of culture and things to do, while managing to be entirely affordable. It's a lovely place live!

Current Fellows - Third Year Residents:

Alizah Patterson, MD

Birthplace: Lahore, Pakistan
Hometown: Moore, Oklahoma
College: University of Oklahoma
Medical School: University of Oklahoma College of Medicine
Pediatrics: Sinai Hospital of Baltimore

Reason for pursing NDD and why Kennedy Krieger Institute: I have always been fascinated by the brain and how it works. When I began medical school, I knew I wanted to be involved in neurology and wanted to work with kids in my future career. When I did my child neurology rotation, I just felt that something was missing and that we were not looking at the whole child, just focusing on their neurologic issues. When I discovered neurodevelopmental disabilities as a specialty, it fit everything I was looking for. It was a holistic approach to children with NDD to not only treat their neurologic issues but to maximize their quality of life.

Kennedy Krieger Institute instantly felt like home when I interviewed here. The people are incredibly friendly and you can sense the community advocating for and encouraging their patients. I also greatly appreciated the curriculum that integrated adult neurology, pediatric neurology, and NDD throughout our training. This allows us to build on our knowledge and continue to apply it in different realms to best help our patients.

What’s special about Baltimore? Baltimore, and Maryland in general, is a great place to live no matter what your interests. In the city, there is excellent night life, concerts, the harbor. Slightly outside the city, you can find excellent hiking trails and outdoor sports. There is something to do for everyone, and the food here is fantastic. Can’t go wrong with crabcake!

Sara Shakin, MD

Hometown: Rockville, MD
College: Northwestern University
Medical School: Technion
Pediatrics: Sinai Hospital of Baltimore

Reason for pursing NDD and why Kennedy Krieger Institute: Through my pediatrics residency I discovered the field of NDD and found that it was able to encompass my interests of both neurology and development. I realized it is a field I could work with children with disabilities to help them achieve their potential. I was fortunate to rotate through Kennedy Krieger during my pediatrics training. During that time, I saw so many interesting cases and enjoyed the multidisciplinary approach.

What’s special about Baltimore? Baltimore is a city of many neighborhoods and therefore has something for everyone. Lots of places to eat, parks to go to, right on the water, and good hiking close by.

Current Fellows - Second Year Residents:

Fabiola Morales Vias, MD

Hometown: Dorado, Puerto Rico
College: University of Puerto Rico, Bayamón Puerto Rico
Medical School: Universidad Central del Caribe LCME Accredited, Bayamón, Puerto Rico
Pediatrics: San Juan City Hospital, San Juan Puerto Rico

Reason for pursing NDD and why Kennedy Krieger Institute: Throughout my training in pediatrics my interests in development, neuroscience, and patients with special needs stood out. The field of neurodevelopmental disabilities offers opportunities for scientific knowledge in pediatrics, neuroscience and research. It is a field that allows collaboration between health care professionals in diverse related fields with the common goal of helping children with disabilities in diagnosis and treatment. The Kennedy Krieger Institute was a pioneer in establishing NDD program and it offers the opportunity to work in an interprofessional manner with a supportive and broad faculty to offer comprehensive care to patients. At the Kennedy Krieger Institute there is a lot of opportunity for professional growth, education and research and commitment towards preparing professionals in an interdisciplinary matter. 

What’s special about Baltimore? There is a lot of history in Baltimore. There are a lot of places and activities going on around and near Baltimore and it’s great that you can always find something to do that’s interesting. I personally enjoy walking my dog around Patterson Park.

Kornkanok Saringkarisate, MD, MPH

Hometown: Bangkok, Thailand 
Medical School:Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand
Pediatrics: University of Hawaii Pediatric Residency Program, Honolulu, Hawaii 

Reason for pursing NDD and why Kennedy Krieger Institute: I have long been interested in child development. Apart from medical conditions, I am interested in social determinants of health such as caregivers, families, schools, and other community factors that play a significant role in outcomes, especially for children and families with disabilities. The NDD field provides a strong knowledge base in neurology to understand the etiology and pathophysiology while also allowing me to advocate for my patients and their families through schools, communities, and application of resources. NDD, especially at Kennedy Krieger, shows me endless possibilities - for my patients and for my career development and personal growth. 

What’s special about Baltimore? Baltimore is a very interesting city. Each neighborhood has their own unique vibe and hidden gems. Its proximity to other big cities provides easy access to attractions without having to live there yourself. There are plenty of good local ice cream and seafood places to explore complimented by a cool breeze by the harbor that feels refreshing at the end of the day.

Current Fellows - First Year Residents:

Celina Cerf, MD

Birthplace/Hometown: St. Petersburg, Florida.
College: I majored in Communications Sciences and Disorders at the University of Florida for my Undergraduate degree, then I went on to the University of Texas at Austin to pursue my master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology.
Medical School: University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Pediatrics: University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, MD

Reasons for pursuing NDD and why Kennedy Krieger Institute:  After completing my master’s degree in speech language pathology, I worked as an SLP specializing in language development in children with autism. I loved teaching children how to functionally communicate and improve their pragmatic skills, as well as teaching home programming to parents. I wanted to expand my scope of practice serving neurodiverse patient populations, which led me to medical school. I had heard about Kennedy Krieger many times from my SLP mentor. I did a fourth year medical student elective there, where I saw firsthand the excellent care and academic training offered at Kennedy Krieger. As a result, I sought out fellowship training from the place that inspired me early in my career.

Rachel Gilbert MD

Birthplace/Hometown: Hobe Sound, FL
College: University of Richmond
Medical School: University of Florida College of Meidicine
Pediatrics: Johns Hopkins 

Reason for pursuing NDD and why Kennedy Krieger Institute: I was drawn to the field's multi-disciplinary training across neurology, development, genetics, psychiatry, and rehabilitation that would uniquely prepare me to care for children with disabilities. Kennedy Krieger is a truly incredible place and with adult and pediatric neurology training at Johns Hopkins, I was excited for the opportunities across both institutions. I saw how program leadership and faculty were so invested in our education and knew I would be supported with strong mentorship. I connected easily with current fellows and pediatric residents, as well. Baltimore is also an awesome harbor city with great food, sports, and parks, which has quickly come to feel like home. 

Neurdevelopmental Disabilities Residency Program Application