Meet the Fellows
Current Trainees
![Matthew Doerfler, MD](../../../images/fellows/2021-fellows/doerfler-matt.jpg)
Matthew Doerfler, MD (2021-2024)
- Program: Child Neurology
- Medical School: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
- Residency: McGaw Medical Center Northwestern University, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
- Research: Pediatric neuroinflammatory disease
![Martha Finch, MD](../../../images/neurology-img/finch-martha.jpg)
Martha Finch, MD (2021-2024)
- Program: Child Neurology
- Medical School: University of Texas Health Science Center McGovern Medical School
- Residency: McGaw Medical Center Northwestern University, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
- Research: Pediatric Charcot Marie Tooth Bone Health, Development of Implicit Bias in Children, Delivering Prognostic Information to Parents
![Barrie Jo Kaiser, MD](../../../images/neurology-img/kaiser-barrie.jpg)
Barrie Jo Kaiser, MD (2021-2024)
- Program: Child Neurology
- Medical School: University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine
- Residency: University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine
- Research: Neurocritical care.
![Megan Garcia-Curran, MD, PhD](../../../images/fellows/2024-fellows/garcia-curran-megan-160x240.jpg)
Megan Garcia-Curran, MD, PhD (2022-2025)
- Program: Child Neurology
![Elizabeth Tranel, MD](../../../images/fellows/2024-fellows/kopp-lizzie-160x240.jpg)
Elizabeth Tranel, MD (2022-2025)
- Program: Child Neurology
- Medical School: University of Michigan Medical School
- Residency: McGaw Medical Center Northwestern University, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
- Research: General neurology, medical education
![Heather Voss-Hoynes, MD, PhD](../../../images/fellows/2024-fellows/voss-hoynes-heather-160x240.jpg)
Heather Voss-Hoynes, MD, PhD (2022-2025)
- Program: Child Neurology
- Medical School: University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences
- Residency: McGaw Medical Center Northwestern University, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
- Research: Mangement of refractory status epilepticus
![Maren Heller, MD](../../../images/fellows/2026-fellows/heller-maren-160x240.jpg)
Maren Heller, MD (2023-2026)
- Program: Child Neurology
- Medical School: University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine
- Residency: McGaw Medical Center Northwestern University, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
- Research: Fetal and neonatal neurology, neurodevelopmental outcomes, cultural competency in healthcare, mental health advocacy
![Pooja Shah, MD](../../../images/fellows/2026-fellows/shah-pooja-160x240.jpg)
Pooja Shah, MD (2023-2026)
- Program: Child Neurology
- Medical School: Weill Cornell Medical College
- Residency: McGaw Medical Center Northwestern University, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
- Research: Traumatic brain injury prevention, drowning prevention, pediatric stroke
![Laura Swanson, MD, PhD](../../../images/fellows/2025-fellows/laura-swanson.jpg)
Laura Swanson, MD, PhD (2023-2026)
- Program: Child Neurology
- Medical School: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
- Residency: McGaw Medical Center Northwestern University, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
- Research: Epilepsy genetics
Past Fellows
First Position After Graduation
Holly Schiedermayer Keeley, MD (2020-2023)
Sarah Oswald, MD (2020-2023): Fellowship in Neuromuscular Medicine, McGaw Medical Center Northwestern University, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Heba Akbari, MD (2020-2023): Fellowship in Epilepsy, McGaw Medical Center Northwestern University, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Laura Bliss, MD (2019-2022): Epilepsy Fellow, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Bridget McGowan, MD (2019-2022): Neuromuscular Fellows, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Priya Purushothaman, MD (2019-2022):
Joshua Cousin, MD (2018 - 2021): Epilepsy Fellow, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Joanna Garcia Pierce, MD (2018 - 2021): Epilepsy Fellow, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Talia Shear, MD (2018 - 2021): Health Services Clinician (Neurology), Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital/Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
Matias Lopez Chacon, MD (2017-2020): Neuromuscular Fellow, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Ethan Rosenberg, MD (2017-2020): Neurocritical Care Fellow, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA
Laura Vernon, MD (2017-2020): Neonatology Neurology Fellow, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
Reega Purohit, MD (2016-2019): Epilepsy Fellow, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Alejandro Delatorre, MD (2016-2019): Pediatric Neurologist, Quito, Ecuador
Theresa Czech, MD (2015-2018): Epilepsy Fellow, Ann & Robert H Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Divakar Mithal, MD PhD (2015-2018): Neurocritical Care Fellow, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Rebecca Garcia Sosa, MD (2013-2016): Epilepsy Fellow, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Tracy Gertler, MD (2013-2016): Research fellow/Instructor (R25), Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL