When Dr. Tamer Ghanayem and his wife, who is a pediatrician, were exploring residency programs together, both were impressed by Vanderbilt’s well-respected programs, as well as the close relationships they observed between residents and attendings. That, plus the perks of life in Nashville, prompted them to continue their training here at VUMC. Though once interested in cognitive neurology and the possibility of combining electrical engineering and neurology, Dr. Ghanayem has since developed a passion for the high-intensity interdisciplinary realm of stroke neurology. In his free time, he enjoys fitness, exploring nearby towns and attractions, and hiking at Radnor Lake.
Tell us about your background.
I was born in Chicago. Both of my parents immigrated to the States from Palestine. Being Palestinian-American really shaped and continues to shape who I am today. My family moved to Houston when I was a teenager. There, I did my undergraduate studies at Rice University. Through a program called the Joint Admissions Medical Program (JAMP), I ended up at UTMB (University of Texas Medical Branch) for medical school, which is also where I met my wife. We were both a part of the Bilingual Health Track and had a lot of our rotations together because of that. By the time I was in medical school, I already knew I wanted to do neurology. My wife is in pediatrics, so we couples matched for residency and ended up here at Vanderbilt.
What initially piqued your interest in medicine and ultimately neurology?
I knew I wanted to do something with the brain. I liked to watch YouTube videos about the brain and how the mind works. And I always thought being a doctor was the coolest thing in the world. I did some shadowing in different specialties involving the brain (such as neurosurgery, psychiatry, etc.), and I confirmed that I wanted to do neurology. In undergrad, I majored in Cognitive Sciences with a focus in Neuroscience. That further increased my interest in neurology.
During rotations in medical school, I saw that a lot of [medical students] were apprehensive about going into neurology because there’s the misunderstanding that there is nothing we can do for patients. But actually, there’s a lot you can do for neurology patients now. It’s such a burgeoning field right now, and the recent growth and advancements in neurology is one thing that really solidified that decision for me.
What attracted you to Vanderbilt?
A few things really got my attention. One, it’s just a really good and well-known program in both fields [neurology and pediatrics], so my wife and I knew we were going to get a really good all-around education. Our goal was that we would leave residency as overall very competent physicians, and we knew we’d get that kind of training at Vanderbilt. Second, Nashville is a fun city to live in. There is so much to do in Nashville, plus it’s close to several other great cities. The weather is definitely better than in Houston!
When we were looking at residency programs, we looked for a city in which we could potentially see ourselves living. We took time to visit Nashville, and we could see ourselves staying here after residency. Ultimately, we both ended up having really good experiences with our interviews. I got along well with the attendings, and during the pre-interview social events, everyone was friendly and open. That won me over to the program.
What have been some surprising positive elements about residency so far?
In medical school, when I would interact with an attending, they felt so much “higher” than me. But during residency here at Vanderbilt, the attendings are also a lot of times my friends. Of course, they’re attendings, and I learn so much from them, but I also enjoy hanging out with my attendings outside of work–at music events, for example. I wasn’t expecting that, and it is something I really appreciate.
What kind of obstacles have been challenging for you? What has helped you face them?
During medical school, I couldn’t wait to start taking care of people and acting in the role of a physician. Upon entering residency, I have a very distinct memory of being afraid to prescribe acetaminophen for the first time, something I have personally taken multiple times. There is always this fear of having someone’s life in your hands and wanting to do the right thing for them. I have been very fortunate to have a support group of residents and attendings who have helped me when I did have doubts in myself and my abilities.
What are your plans after residency?
I am currently applying for stroke fellowships. At this time, my big interests are in hospital medicine and medical education.
Why stroke?
In undergrad, I almost ended up going down more of an electrical engineering or AI route, exploring more of how the brain interacts with technology. For that reason, I started out leaning more towards cognitive neurology. But during my training, I became interested in the acuity of stroke. I really like managing that high-stress environment when patients come in with a brain bleed or other high-intensity problem. I also like that we have positive impacts in people's lives. With stroke, you’re really dealing with a multidisciplinary field including general medicine, cardiology, etc., and you’re putting that all together to help patients take care of themselves and prevent future strokes.
How do you like to spend a free weekend?
I’m usually juggling my work schedule with my wife’s. We often try to coordinate our time off together, which is very helpful. We are very intentional with our time off, either purposefully resting and spending time together, or we have a “let’s go explore around Tennessee” day. My wife tends to want to stay home and I want to go check out nearby places such as Mammoth Cave or Gatlinburg. I’m definitely more of an explorer. There’s still so much I haven’t seen of Tennessee.
Aside from that, fitness is important to me. We go on runs together, or I’ll go to the gym and work out. We’re trying to get more into tennis. I used to play tennis in high school, so we’re trying to get back into that.
Do you have any favorite spots to explore here in Nashville?
One of my favorite parks is Radnor Lake. That is my favorite spot to go on a hike. The nice lake, the bald eagles, the variety of animals, and the color change in the fall are all so beautiful. It is my all-time favorite spot to go here in Nashville.
Aside from that, the Barnard-Seyfert Astronomical Society here in Nashville also has star parties I like to go to. They put out telescopes at different parks around the city and they point out various stars, constellations, etc. A part of me always wanted to be an astronaut.
What’s a new hobby you would like to pursue when time allows?
I want to learn how to play the piano. I did a course in undergrad just to learn the basics, and I’ve tried to self-teach since then, but it’s something I’ve wanted to get back into once things settle down a little bit. I just accepted the chief resident position for next year, so it might be a while before I get to that!
What are you reading/watching/listening to?
I love watching TV, but particularly I live on YouTube. I fluctuate what I watch, ranging from historical videos, to true crime, to internet folklore, to random videos like “the history of watermelons.” When I’m not doing that, I am always listening music. I tend to listen to a variety of music, but since living in Nashville, I have definitely broadened my interest in country music.
