Salena Cui
2025 Co-administrative Chief
Co-administrative Chief
Where I’m from
Ottawa, Canada
Brief background about my education/training
I went to Harvard for college where I majored in Statistics and focused on data analysis for research in psychology and mental health. Research and volunteer experiences in healthcare ultimately led me to medicine. I worked as a clinical research coordinator at Brigham and Women’s Hospital before attending medical school at Thomas Jefferson University.
What drew me to neurology
Growing up as a science nerd and statistician, but also a dancer and musician, I’ve always felt happiest when engaged in both the arts and sciences. Medicine, and later neurology, was where I found my perfect marriage of art and science. My initial hook to neurology was an interest in Alzheimer’s Disease, both the research on its scientific underpinnings as well as the human experience of living with dementia. Clinical rotations introduced me to the field’s other areas of scientific problem-solving and humanistic care. It all drew me in.
How my interests developed at WashU
At WashU, I discovered my love of neuromuscular medicine. Though initially intimidated by the field, I was in such a supportive training environment that it wasn’t long before challenges of the field became appealing to me. I met mentors who took me under their wings and have continued to grow my interest through involvement in complex, fascinating clinical cases and research projects. I also discovered a passion for medical education while on clinical teams with other trainees and while working with program administration in my role as an administrative chief resident.
How I spend my time outside the hospital / in STL
I love spending time outside, which is easy to do in St. Louis thanks to its beautiful parks. I enjoy long runs and picnics in Forest Park and the free outdoor concert scene in the summer. My list of favorite St. Louis activities also includes having “ice cream martinis” at Fountain on Locust and watching musical theater at the beautiful open-air MUNY. (If this sounds similar to my coresidents Talora and Humsini, it’s because we’re best friends and do everything together!)
What my future plans are
I’ll be staying at WashU for a fellowship in neuromuscular medicine. I’m thrilled to continue working and training in this environment, with mentors who have been so invested in my development and a brilliant medical community to learn from. After training, I plan to continue building a career in clinical academic neurology and neuromuscular medicine.
Jared Goodman
2025 Co-administrative Chief
Co-administrative Chief
Where I’m from
Gainesville, Florida. Go Gators!
Brief background about my education/training
I did my undergraduate at Emory University then came to WashU for my MD/PhD. While at Emory, I did research in Kerry Ressler’s lab learning about post-transcriptional mechanisms of fear memory formation. I completed my PhD under the mentorship of Azad Bonni and Harrison Gabel in Molecular Genetics & Genomics, studying the molecular mechanisms of gene regulation during cerebellum development.
What drew me to neurology
I’ve been a nerd from the beginning. My parents had a cattle farm in Micanopy, FL, and some of my earliest memories were walking around the farm stumbling upon placentas during the birthing season. But what I loved most about the cattle farm were the animal behaviors – how the mothers would encircle the young when a threat approached or stampeded towards our corral expecting food when we showed up. That drew me into the lab in high school, college then the MD/PhD all essentially studying neurobiology. Then I took the preclinical neurology course from one of our faculty Dr. Zazulia in medical school, and my interest in neurology exploded. I loved neuroanatomy. I loved localizing. Then when I showed up in clinic, I recognized what a gift it is to be a part of the patient’s story and learn how they experience their neurologic symptoms. I didn’t see any other path forward.
How my interests developed at WashU
WashU has fostered my development as a general neurologist and my goal to become a neurologist-scientist. I’ve been fortunate to experience patients of all socioeconomic, ethnic and disease backgrounds while at WashU, something that drew me to remain at WashU after training her for my MD/PhD. The breadth of patient experience helped me recognize that I want to focus on caring for patients with inflammatory disease of the nervous system.
How I spend my time outside the hospital / in STL
I spend the vast majority of my time outside of the hospital with my wife and two young children. We have a blast exploring neighborhood parks (like Forest Park), biking along the Katy Trail that follows the banks of the Missouri River or diving into St. Louis’s wonderful bar and restaurant scene. I’ve lived in St. Louis during several phases of my life and have loved exploring my changing interests in this city.
What my future plans are
I’m staying on as an MS/neuroimmunology fellow at WashU alongside my fantastic co-resident Talora Martin. My fellowship will be research-focused and supported by the NAIAD Infectious Diseases/Immunology R38 StARR program, funded through the WashU Division of Physician Scientists. This is just one of the several grants afforded to research-focused trainees to create dedicated research time during residency and subspecialty fellowship.
Kevin Hochstrasser, MD
2025 Wellness Chief
Wellness Chief
Where I’m from
Hamden, Connecticut
Brief background about my education/training
I was at Yale for undergrad and then spent a couple of years at Boston Children’s as a research assistant before medical school at Emory.
What drew me to neurology
I chose to apply to medical school after shadowing my neurologist PI at Boston Children’s, so I knew early on I was interested in the specialty. In medical school, I did an EEG elective after an affirming neuro rotation and thought the idea of splitting time between reading studies and seeing patients in clinic was cool. I liked the idea of joining a field expected to undergo rapid and dramatic growth during the course of my career and wanted the chance to be a part of that transformation.
How my interests developed at WashU
I knew that epilepsy and EEG interested me most prior to residency. My overall career goals have not changed in that regard, but my focus has narrowed. I’ve had the opportunity to perform research in epilepsy genetics, epilepsy education, and epilepsy health equity during my time at WashU thanks to the numerous eager and supportive faculty with whom we work and I now wish to incorporate these interests into my future practice.
How I spend my time outside the hospital / in STL
I spend a lot of my summers watching the Boston Red Sox attempt to transcend mediocrity. I have been able to see them lose in person at Busch Stadium too. I’m also into the hardcore, punk, and emo music scenes and there are a number of dope smaller venues here where I can see the bands I like for cheap. I can’t always muster the youthful exuberance required to mosh though. Otherwise, I like to play tennis and bike.
What my future plans are
I will be moving to Chicago (where I was born!) to pursue a fellowship in epilepsy at Northwestern next year.
Talora Martin
Quality Improvement & Clinic Chief
Quality Improvement & Clinic Chief
Where I’m from
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Brief background about my education/training
I went to Grinnell college in Iowa for my undergraduate training, where I studied biology and neuroscience, and worked in Clark Lindgren’s lab studying the neuromuscular junction in mice. I worked as a research assistant for several years at Stanford University in Helen Brontë-Stewart’s lab studying movement patterns in HIV infection as well as DBS neural activity in Parkinson’s disease. After this, I attended Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.
What drew me to neurology
I already had an interest in neuroscience/neurology due to my undergraduate studies and research in Movement disorders afterwards. I tried to keep an open mind in medical school and considered other specialties, but ultimately loved neurology the most! In addition to seeing really interesting patient cases, I liked that most people in neurology had a genuine interest and passion for their specialty and were excited to share that with me.
How my interests developed at WashU
At WashU I have had exposure to so many fascinating cases from different subspecialties, and ultimately decided on MS/neuroimmunology for my fellowship. As a senior on service and on our TEACH elective I have reinforced my interest in medical education.
How I spend my time outside the hospital / in STL
I enjoy reading (especially science fiction/fantasy), playing ultimate frisbee, biking, and spending time outside. In St. Louis, I like to go to Tower Grove Farmer’s market, run in Forest Park, and eat ice cream at Clementime’s or Sugarwitch. I love the food in St. Louis and exploring new restaurants. In the summer, I also like to see musicals at the MUNY and go to free outdoor concerts on Wednesdays at the Botanical Gardens.
What my future plans are
I plan to complete an MS/Neuroimmunology fellowship here at WashU, along with my co-resident Jared, who is alright I guess ????. I am also excited to pursue my interests further in medical education.
Humsini Viswanath
Education Chief
Education Chief
Where I’m from
Houston, Texas
Brief background about my education/training
For undergraduate, I was at University of California, Berkeley studying Cognitive Science and Global Poverty and Practice minor. Then I worked in a functional neuroimaging lab for 5 years at Baylor College of Medicine studying addiction while pursuing my Master of Public Health at UT Houston. After, I went to Texas A&M for medical school.
What drew me to neurology
It’s crazy to think my interest in neuroscience started in high school after my cousin had a ruptured AVM and I saw a Parkinson’s patient’s tremor improve with DBS. Because of this I studied Cognitive Science at Berkeley. While there, I worked at a clinic that served the homeless for 4 years and also became very interested in addiction and public health, which lead me to pursue my research using fMRI to study addiction and my MPH. I really missed direct patient contact, so I applied to medical school thinking I would do psychiatry or medicine. However, I fell in love with neurology during my rotation. The exam, the pathophysiology, the counseling and reassurance for patients, and life-changing treatments excites me. On a more personal note, around the same time I was making this decision, my mom was diagnosed with epilepsy and watching how the disease changed her as a person along with her recovery and confidence now with the help of her physicians really pushed me towards neurology.
How my interests developed at WashU
Because of our training at WashU, I fell in love with all aspects of neurology and primarily would like to become a clinician-educator who practices general neurology with a focus on epilepsy/EEG. In addition, the faculty at WashU have been so supportive of my interest in health in under resourced areas. I am excited to be a part of helping start the global health track for future residents!
How I spend my time outside the hospital / in STL
When I am not in the hospital, I spend time with people I see in the hospital…I love my co-residents and can’t get enough of them! Jokes aside, what I love about STL is that there are a lot of things to do, and they are easily accessible and at times free. My most favorite parts of STL: the botanical garden (I think everyone in our residency knows how much I love plants and are probably very annoyed about it), spending too many hours with my plants, trying new restaurants (I have to tout my Yelp Elite status), and going to shows (musicals and concerts)!
What my future plans are
I will be moving to Portland, OR to pursue a fellowship in epilepsy at OHSU next year. I am so excited to be reunited with my partner who is currently an Ophthalmology resident there!