Current Residents
Sebastian Garza, M.D. Medical school: Tecnologico de Monterrey Hometown: Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico Afeerah Malik, M.D. Undergraduate: Liberal Arts with a minor in Chemistry Hometown: Kansas City, Missouri Kyle Stoneking, M.D. Undergraduate: Arizona State University Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona Rana Elounais, M.D. Medical school: Dubai Medical College Hometown: Jerusalem, Palestine Sari Yordi, M.D. Undergraduate: University of Washington, Seattle Hometown: Lebanon Clayton Youngers, M.D. Undergraduate: Butler Community College, University of Kansas Hometown: Clearwater, Kansas Islam Aboumoussa, M.D. Graduate school: DUNY College in Upstate New York. Hometown: Alexandria, Egypt. Karim Borei, M.D. Undergraduate: N/A Hometown: Suez, Egypt Cai “Frank” Yu, M.D. Medical school: Jiangxi Medical College Hometown: NanChang, China Christopher Cavazos, M.D. Undergraduate: Texas Tech University Hometown: Harlingen, TX Olivia Liu, M.D. Undergraduate: University of Missouri-Kansas City - Liberal Arts with a Minor in Chemistry Hometown: St. Louis, MO Hometown: Shawnee, KS and Karachi, PK
Career interests: Undecided yet! I really want to have the chance to explore every fellowship available! However, the ones that interest me the most are sports neurology, movement disorder and neuroophthalmology.
Hobbies/interests: I really love to exercise. I mainly run or swim, but sometimes I bike to train for triathlons. In fact, I did my first one 2 months before entering residency! In addition, I really enjoy playing video games, watching series, reading books and playing the piano (in the process of learning it!).
Medical school: University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine
Career interests: I am passionate about neuro-imaging, neurophysiology, and neuroimmunology. I plan to pursue a fellowship in clinical neurophysiology. My vision is to establish an outpatient clinic where I can cultivate long-term relationships with my patients. I hope to incorporate performing EMGs and interpreting EEGs/IOM alongside seeing patients.
Hobbies/interests: I find relaxation and creativity in cooking and painting. I read a wide range of literature from historical texts to modern romances, and I love to rejuvenate with nature walks. Above all, I cherish spending quality time with my friends and family, which enriches my life beyond measure.
Medical school: Saba University School of Medicine
Career interests: I am interested in pursuing a fellowship in vascular neurology.
Hobbies/interests: My hobbies include anything that gets me outdoors: scuba ping, kayaking, hiking, running, mountain biking, road biking, and dirt biking are a few of the things I love doing in my time away from the hospital.
Career interests: Headache, movement disorders, general neurology
Hobbies/interests: Spending time with my kids and husband, traveling and experiencing new cultures, listening to music and podcasts, reading, watching TV and soccer.
Medical school: Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin, Ireland
Career interests: Neuro-ophthalmology
Hobbies/interests: I love playing soccer and, for better or worse, am an ardent Chelsea FC supporter. I will watch anything narrated by David Attenborough. I also enjoy working out, hanging out with friends, playing video games, and listening to music.
Medical school: University of Kansas – School of Medicine
Career interests: Behavioral Neurology, Neurocritical care, Neurohospitalist
Hobbies/interests: I love to play tennis with my wife, Alice, and we enjoy taking our two puppies, Blue and Chevy, on walkies. Kansas City is a great place to live and we enjoy trying out all the food options here! I also love grilling/smoking, and recently began playing soccer with the Neuro department, fun times!
Medical school: IU School of Medicine.
Career interests: I am interested in Academic research and teaching. I think the neurological patient can achieve way better outcomes in the next few years with evidence-based research and boosting scientific discovery. I am also interested in Vascular Neurology. I think it is one of the most dynamic areas in neurology right now and can positively impact other subspecialties of neurology and neurosurgery as well.
Hobbies: Weightlifting, swimming, tennis, and traveling to different cities and exploring different cultures.
Medical school: Faculty of Medicine Suez Canal University
Career Interests: Stroke, neurocritical care, and pain medicine
Hobbies/Interests: Playing and watching soccer, swimming and going out exploring new places. I used to work as a part-time travel guide in Egypt accompanying tourists through different awesome historic places in Egypt.
Career Interests: Neurology presents an exciting opportunity for me to delve into, and I am enthusiastic about immersing myself in its diverse subspecialties throughout my residency training. Leveraging my previous experience in neuroradiology and research in MRI physics and artificial intelligence (AI) in neuroimaging. I aspire to enrich my comprehension of the complex dynamics between clinical symptoms, neuroimaging discoveries, and treatment efficacy in neuropathies. Under the extensive training at UMKC, I am dedicated to enhancing my knowledge and refining my skills in neurology, with the ultimate goal of serving my patients.
Hobbies/Interests: Spending time with my family, fishing, hiking, history, watching soccer/basketball, reading fantasy novels like Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings. Watching TV, listening to music.
Medical School: University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine
Career Interests: I am passionate about vascular neurology and have a broad interest in the entire field. I find great joy in teaching others and enhancing my own knowledge through interactions with my co-residents and faculty. The advancements in technology and AI within our field excite me for the future of our training and practice. I am committed to leveraging every available advancement to improve patient outcomes and enhance our residency program as a whole.
Hobbies/Interests: I love spending time with my wife, dogs, friends, and family. We enjoy anything related to sports, whether it's watching or playing. While tennis is my main sport, I love participating in any recreational activity. My wife and I also take pleasure in exploring different parks around Kansas City with our dogs and trying out new restaurants whenever we have the time.
Medical School: University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine (6 Year BA/MD)
Career Interests: I have always been interested in pursuing general neurology, as I value the breadth of the field and the opportunity to care for a wide range of conditions. More recently, I have developed an interest in neurophysiology and the role of EEG and EMG interpretation as a critical complement to general practice. Ultimately, I hope to form long-term relationships with my patients while engaging with the full scope of neurology.
Hobbies/Interests: Outside of medicine, I enjoy cooking and hosting with a couple of friends, as well as discovering fun shows/comics to relax with. It has also been incredibly fun exploring downtown and Overland Park!
Aisha Masoom, M.D.
Medical School: Dow University of Health Sciences
Career Interests: I have a strong interest in neuro-ophthalmology, influenced by my family’s longstanding involvement in the ophthalmic field and early exposure through AAO conferences. I'm also drawn to vascular neurology for its fast-paced, high-impact role in stroke care. As I continue to refine my clinical focus, I’m excited to contribute to academic neurology through both research and teaching.
Hobbies/Interests: When I’m off the clock, you’ll find me planning my next adventure or whipping up a new pasta dish. Traveling excites me, exploring new destinations, immersing myself in diverse cultures, and gathering unique experiences along the way. I also appreciate spending time outdoors, whether it’s through nature walks or engaging in sports like volleyball and pickleball. Board games offer a wonderful way to connect and compete with family and friends, while my three cats add warmth and energy to my home life.