Looking back at the route that led him to his path in neurology, Dr. Alan Salgado notes the great influence he received from his father, who is also a neurologist and educator. Recent advances in neurology—from improved medications to genetic breakthroughs—offer new treatments for patients that Dr. Salgado is excited to offer as he continues a career focused on neuromuscular disorders. The following interview took place in the midst of March Madness—a thrilling time of year for this college sports fan!
Tell us about your background.
I was born in Boston, but I moved to Gainesville, FL earlier than I can remember. I really enjoyed growing up in Gainesville where everything revolves around the University of Florida. I played sports year round, including baseball, tennis, basketball, and soccer. We moved to south Florida at the end of middle school, and I finished high school in Fort Lauderdale. I attended the University of Florida for undergrad. After college, I spent a year completing a postbac research program in the NINDS [National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke] studying populations of immune cells in patients with neuroimmunologic disease. I returned to UF for medical school, where I met my now-wife. We got married in medical school and now have one son with another one on the way.
What led you to ultimately specialize in neurology?
I always had an interest in neuroscience. I studied neuroscience in college and debated on going into medical school or graduate school. I knew early on I wanted to go into a career where I could work with people and make a direct impact on their lives. Additionally, my father is a neurologist and I saw early on the type of impact he had in taking care of patients. So I went into medicine. In medical school, I was torn between two specialties, internal medicine and neurology. I ultimately chose internal medicine because I felt like it was a good fit for me at the time. However, early on in my intern year, I had my neurology rotation and realized my passion lay in caring for patients with neurologic disease. I particularly enjoyed the complexity of neurologic disease, the process of “localization”, and the vast number of ways neurologists can care for patients. I decided to make a change and enter the Match again my intern year. When I was interviewing, I was lucky to find a program like Vanderbilt’s that was so accommodating coming from another residency. Looking back on it, I would have made that decision again in a heartbeat. There is no other specialty I see myself in besides neurology.
What has been the greatest surprise or unexpected result of your residency?
How much I loved most subspecialties of neurology. What surprised me the most though was how much I enjoyed my EMG and neuromuscular rotation in my third year. My favorite subjects in medical school were neuroanatomy and physiology, and it was the first time I felt like I could use the knowledge that I had learned, apply it directly to the clinical exam and diagnostic tests, and use it to make a diagnosis or help educate a patient. Additionally, there is quite a bit of diversity in neuromuscular conditions, some are treatable and others unfortunately devastating, but I think there is a lot to be excited about in regards to future therapies. I have also worked with many neuromuscular specialists that have influenced my decision to go into this subspecialty.
What would you be doing if not neurology?
Either professional tennis or baseball player. But realistically? Either engineering or architecture. When I was younger, I loved building. As a kid, I had a wall of containers with Legos and would build all day. I took an arts and crafts course in middle school and we had a contest to build a bridge that could withhold the greatest amount of weight with a limited supply of balsa wood. I won the contest, but I really enjoyed the process of planning and building something from scratch.
What does your “five-year plan” look like?
I’ll be completing a neuromuscular fellowship at Duke after residency. After that, I see myself staying in academics practicing neuromuscular medicine. I hope to be involved in medical education in some form, either working with medical students or residents/fellows. I can see myself getting involved in some form of clinical research as well. What I am most excited for though is moving back in with my wife as she is currently serving in the military.
What are some of the new advances in neurology that you are excited about?
There are a lot! It seems like there are new immunotherapies for patients with demyelinating diseases coming out every year, there are new injections and infusions for migraine, and expanding the number of stroke patients we can treat with both thrombolytics and thrombectomy are a few that come to mind. In neuromuscular disease, there are new treatments for spinal muscular atrophy, neuropathy associated with hereditary amyloidosis, and myasthenia gravis. The rapid expansion in identifying genes associated with ALS and muscular dystrophy has opened the door for understanding the mechanisms of these diseases and has led to several treatments already in use and some in the pipeline. The future of neurology is exciting.
How would your co-residents describe you?
Hard-working, passionate, devoted, and detail-oriented.
What are your hobbies outside of work?
If I’m not working, I’m usually in North Carolina with my wife and son, working out, or reading. I do try to exercise a lot. I try to stay as active as I can and I enjoy rowing and running, usually in one of the many parks around Nashville. I have a rowing machine at home and I have put in around 1.5 million meters since becoming a resident. I am a big sports fan and follow many sports throughout the year- college football, major league baseball, and premier league soccer, but I typically keep tabs on many other sports. March Madness this year has been pretty crazy! I used to play competitive tennis in high school and still try to play. My wife and I really enjoy food, cooking, baking, movies, and going to the many breweries in Nashville as well.
What’s your favorite thing about Nashville?
The people. Ever since I interviewed here, and now being in the program; I love my class, the program, and the attendings I have gotten to know. It really is a supportive environment. Other than that, Nashville is a fun city to be in, with all the live music (before the pandemic of course), places to eat, parks to explore, and weather. I really like the feeling of having a city at your disposal without it feeling like a large city.
