Current Child Neurology Residents

Krithika Kumarasan, M.D.

Hometown: Chennai, India

Medical school: Stanley Medical College, Chennai

Outside hobbies/interests: Shopping, cooking, Indian classical dance, playing instrument (Veena)

Professional interest: Child neurology, neurodevelopmental pediatrics

What I like about our program: Our program provides exposure to a wide spectrum of patients with optimum knowledge gaining and patient approach skills molding us to be the best physicians. It's fun to work with all faculties and colleagues as one family ensuring the delivery of high-quality patient care 

What I like about St. Louis: Beautiful and pleasant city. I love the Gateway Arch National Park, which creates lots of positive vibes.

Keerthivasan Ramesh, M.D.

Hometown: Chennai, India

Medical school: Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research

Outside hobbies: Soccer, movies, chess, travel

Professional interests: Epilepsy

What I like about our residency program: SLU provides the ideal environment to learn, with very approachable faculty and fellows. I have an opportunity to treat a diverse patient population.

What I like about St. Louis: The city has a great vibe with its scenic beauty.

Sydney Elizondo, M.D.

Medical school: Saint Louis University School of Medicine

Surbhi Valmiki, M.D.

Professional interests: Epilepsy, neuromuscular disorders

Why SLU? Our program is close-knit, where residents receive personalized support and mentorship promoting both professional and personal growth. Ever since I interviewed here, I could see myself blending with everyone and learning from the faculty who is invested in my education.

Hometown: Bikaner, Rajasthan, India

Medical school: All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Jodhpur

Kunal Patel, D.O.

Professional interests: I am in-between either pursuing a headache fellowship or moving on toward academic practice, where I can be involved in medical education.

Why SLU?: The program culture really impressed me. Not only was the faculty super supportive and friendly, they all genuinely made me feel like I would be part of a family, which was an important culture that I wanted in a program. Beyond culture, the education and diverse patient population really attracted me to the program. Though I have never visited the city of St. Louis before, I had only heard great things about the people and diverse cultures present in the city, which was very attractive for me as well, as a foodie.

Hometown: Clarksburg, Maryland

Medical school: William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Manali Saurabh, M.D.

Professional interests: I am interested in an epilepsy fellowship, but I remain open to other subspecialties to ensure a well-rounded and fulfilling career.

Why SLU?: I chose this program because of its supportive and thriving environment, which I believe is crucial for both professional and personal growth. During the interview, I was impressed by the faculty and residents, whose dedication and camaraderie strongly resonated with me.

Hometown: Noida, India

Medical school: Jhalawar Medical

Shiv Arora, M.D.

Professional interest: I am particularly interested in pursuing a fellowship in epilepsy or headache. But I also want to consider my residency experience to pursue my future career decisions.

Hobbies: Cooking, traveling and running

Why SLU: One of the main reasons I chose SLU was the people — especially the seniors and faculty members I interacted with during my visit and through online sessions. The seniors I met were not only academically strong but also genuinely kind, supportive and eager to help younger students succeed. They shared their experiences openly, gave honest advice, and created a welcoming atmosphere that made me feel like I could truly belong here.

Hometown: Bikaner, Rajasthan, India

Medical School: Sardar Patel Medical College, Bikaner

Aalif Zaheer, M.D.

Professional interests: I'm interested in pursuing a fellowship in either epilepsy or neurocritical care. I'm passionate about neurophysiology and plan on conducting academic research in that field. 

Why SLU?:  I chose SLU because of its strong academic affiliations. SLU places a strong emphasis on community and academic medicine, making it an ideal setting for training in all aspects of medicine. The faculty are friendly and great mentors, and I'm excited to work with them during my time at SLU. 

Hobbies: Playing guitar and drums, making music, running, soccer, and watching Formula 1 

Hometown:  Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Medical school: Tbilisi State Medical University