Resident Spotlight

Though he came to the United States to pursue a Ph.D., which he completed in 2016, Dr. Murli Mishra has found that patient care in a clinical setting has led to inspiring new opportunities. The proximity to hiking and other natural getaways attracted him to the Nashville area, and having research support in a collegial environment has made Vanderbilt a good fit for residency. In his free time, Dr. Mishra enjoys working on small biology-related personal projects, and over recent months, he has set a goal of diversifying his rose garden using hybridization techniques. 

Dr. John LeClaire moved from his hometown of Milwaukee for the first time to come to Vanderbilt for neurology residency–a big leap that has paid off in close friendships with his co-residents and supportive mentorship from faculty. He also met his now-fiancé at Vanderbilt, and the two enjoy walking their beagle, Tater, in local Nashville parks during their free time. Following residency, Dr.

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.

Dr. Jieun Kang, who goes by Ellie, stumbled into neurology by way of her experience on the high school speech team. The supportive and down-to-earth nature of the residents and attendings that she witnessed during her residency interview was enough to convince her to spend her residency at Vanderbilt. In her free time, she enjoys discovering new music, exploring fun food spots, and spending time in Nashville’s many scenic parks.  Tell us about your background and how your path led to Vanderbilt. 

Dr. Lisa Wang’s educational background was not a typical pre-med path, but along the way she discovered a passion for medicine, particularly neurology and acute hospital care. During her time at Vanderbilt, she has appreciated the way the residency program is always striving to improve, as well as the surprising connections she has built with her patients. A recent family emergency has sharpened her perspective about how supportive the Vanderbilt community is of residents and their families.

Dr. Abena Annor chose to pursue neurology by way of math; her love for mathematical biology eventually led her to discover a passion for medicine. During her time in Nashville, Dr. Annor has met a group of other Ghanaians with whom she can explore the city and connect to her culture. In her free time, she enjoys giving back to the community through volunteer work.  Tell us about your background.

Dr. Molly Sullivan’s passion for subspecialty care access has guided many of her career decisions since medical school. After completing residency and, subsequently, an Epilepsy Fellowship here at Vanderbilt, she plans to offer her skill set in a region that otherwise would not have access. As a rare native of Nashville, Dr. Sullivan spends her free time traveling, training for half-marathons and triathlons, and playing piano. Tell us about your background and how your path led to Vanderbilt.

Dr. Viviana Jimenez is paving her own way on the road to becoming a sports neurologist. By tailoring electives and other research activities to these interests, she has enjoyed getting a solid foundation in neurology before pursuing a fellowship in sports neurology next year. Dr. Jimenez has learned the importance of work-life balance, and she focuses her time off with Orange Theory workouts, traveling, and reading. She enjoys all Nashville has to offer, especially Two Peruvian Chefs, the food truck that reminds her of home.

“Grow where you’re planted” is a mantra that guided Dr. Hunter Hewitt during his residency matching process, and it’s clear that he has flourished since being “planted” in Nashville. When he pursued neuroscience for his undergrad degree, he never thought it was his calling until he was drawn in by the excitement of stroke calls. After residency, he will be moving on to a vascular neurology fellowship. In his free time, Dr.

Dr. Eesha Singh’s background in computer engineering studying AI led to her current path as a stroke neurologist after an experience with clinical medicine during her time as an undergrad at Vanderbilt. Growing up in India allowed Dr. Singh to witness first-hand the consequences of health disparity, which continue to inform her care and interests. In her free time, she enjoys gaming with friends, board games, as well as reading, listening to podcasts, and brunching with friends.  Tell us about your background.