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Adnan I. Qureshi, MD                                                                     Director of Cerebrovascular Program                                         Professor, Department of Neurology and Neurosciences

Dr. Qureshi received his medical education in Neurology, Neurocritical Care and Endovascular Surgery at Emory University, School of Medicine, in Atlanta Georgia,The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore Maryland, and  University at Buffalo, School of Medicine, in Buffalo New York, respectively.  Involved in numerous studies and broadly published, Dr. Qureshi remains on the forefront of emerging modalities in the diagnosis and treatment of cerebro  vascular diseases and disorders including stroke.  He is involved in the American Academy of Neurology as Chair-Elect of the Interventional Neurology Section, and holds memberships in the American Heart Association, American Stroke Association, Society of Critical Care Medicine and the American Society of Neuroimaging.

Patrick Pullicino, MD, PhD                                                                 Director of Centers for Clinical Research                                       Chairman and Professor, Department of Neurology and Neurosciences

Dr. Pullicino prior to his arrival at the Neurological Institute of New Jersey was a Professor in the Department of Neurology, University at Buffalo. He is a board certified neurology and received his medical degree at the University of Malta Medical School, Malta.  Dr. Pullicino received his Ph.D. from Institute of Neurology, University of London, England. Following his residency at the University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, Dr. Pullicino completed fellowships at National Hospital, Queen Square, London and Salpetriere Hospital, Paris, France. His clinical interests include neuroradiology, cerebrovascular diseases, and stroke. Currently, Dr. Pullicino is the principal investigator on a multi-million dollar study on the uses of Warfarin in the prevention of stroke (Warfarin Vs Aspirin in Reduced Ejection Fraction [WARCEF]).

Stephen Kamin, MD                                                                                Director of Residency Program                                                             Associate Professor, Department of Neurology and Neurosciences

Dr. Kamin received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and completed his residency at New York Hospital-Cornell Medical School.  He is board certified in Neurology.  In addition to his clinical and research interests in cerebrovascular diseases, Dr. Kamin has particular expertise in multiple sclerosis.

Afshin A. Divani, PhD                                                                                    Director of Zeenat Qureshi Stroke Research Center                            Department of Neurology and Neurosciences

Dr. Divani received his bachelor degree from Youngstown State University, Youngstown, OH, and his master and doctorate degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNY at Buffalo).  He has completed a research fellowship in sleep disorder at the Department of Medicine, SUNY at Buffalo.  He has also completed a stroke research fellowship at the Department of Neurosciences, New Jersey Medical School. His research interests include hemodynamics, cerebrovascular diseases, ischemic stroke, medical and endovascular devices, sleep apnea, and medical imaging.  Dr. Divani is member of various academic and professional organizations including New Jersey Stroke Medical Committee of American Stroke Association.

Jawad F. Kirmani, MD                                                                         Endovascular Fellow                                                                               Department of Neurology and Neurosciences

Dr.  Kirmani is currently one of the neuro-endovascular team-member. He completed his M.B., B.S. from Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan in 1995. He then went on to do his neurology residency at the Ohio State University and honored with prestigious David Kotlarek and Gary Weiss awards of excellence at his graduation. He subsequently joined the State University of New York at Buffalo for a two year fellowship in neurocritical care and cerebrovascular diseases. His research interest includes neuroimaging and basic as well as clinical aspects of interventional endovascular neurology. He is a member of several professional organizations and has represented American Heart Association and American Academy of Neurology at local and national meetings.

Nazli (Sophia) Janjua, MD                                                              Endovascular Fellow                                                                           Department of Neurology and Neurosciences

Dr. Janjua finished her medical school at Sindh Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan.  She has completed her internship at St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York City and her Neurology Residency at University of Chicago.  Dr. Janjua has also completed her Neurocritical Care/ Cerebrovascular disease fellowship at Columbia University in New York City.  Currently, she is participating in the Neurointerventional/Endovascular Neurology fellowship program at the department of Neurology and Neurosciences, New Jersey Medical School.

Ammar Alkawi, MD                                                                                        Vascular Neurology Fellow                                                                        Department of Neurology and Neurosciences

Dr. Alkawi graduated from Damascus University faculty of Medicine. After a few month of neurology basic research training at Northwestern University in Chicago addressing the genetics of ALS, he joined the University of Illinois (UIC) Neurology training program in Peoria Illinois. During his training he was the Chief-resident for neurology. Upon Completion of his residency he pursued his interest in studying cerebrovascular diseases and joined University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) as a stroke fellow. He has great interest in endovascular neurology and neuro imaging.             

Ismail Khatri, MD                                                                                           Vascular Neurology Fellow                                                                        Department of Neurology and Neurosciences

Dr. Khatri completed his M.B., B.S. from Dow Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan in 1995 with 1st class 1st position in 3rd and final professional examinations.  He did his neurology residency at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and was honored with Lloyd and Ruth Rader Trust Research Award.  After finishing his residency, he did fellowship training in clinical neurophysiology and another fellowship in pediatric neuromuscular disease and neurorehabilitation.  He is currently a vascular neurology fellow.  His research interests include stroke in third world countries and pharmacological treatment of pediatric neuromuscular disorders

Halima Karim, MD                                                                                    Neurology Resident                                                                                           Department of Neurology and Neurosciences

Dr. Karim is a Neurology Resident at New Jersey Medical School. After completion of medical school & internship from Dhaka Medical College in Bangladesh, Dr. Karim went to St. Barnabas Hospital in Bronx, NY for her Internal Medicine Residency (PGY – I).  Currently she is working on a research project at Robert Wood Johnson Hospital on Atrial Fibrillation in Stroke.  She received best research and presentation award among Neurology residents for her work in 2003

Shafiuddin Ahmed, MD                                                                                Stroke Research Fellow                                                                                   Department of Neurology and Neurosciences

Dr. Ahmed   has graduated from Ross University, School of Medicine, Dominica, West Indies in 1998. He has then completed his internship in West Indies, and worked as a research fellow in Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ and Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY between 2000 and 2002.  In 2003, he joined Cerebrovascular Program at New Jersey Medical School. He's co-investigating incidence of stroke among   minorities in Newark Metropolitan Area.

Pansy Harris-Lane, RN, MSN, ACNP                                                           Stroke Service                                                                                         Department of Neurology and Neurosciences

Ms. Harris-Lane, a native from Jamaica, received her undergraduate degree in nursing from Columbia University, and a graduate degree as an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner from Columbia University as well. She has over 10 years of experience as a trauma nurse and Neurology / Neurosurgical nurse.

Molly Jacob, RN, MSN, CCRN, APN-C                                                       Critical Care Unit                                                                                     Department of Neurology and Neurosciences

Ms. Jacob received her undergraduate degree in nursing from India and a graduate degree as an adult nurse practitioner from University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. She is also certified in critical care nursing.  Over the past 18 years, Ms. Jacob has worked as a critical care nurse in India, Kuwait, and in US.

Abu Nasar, MS                                                                                         Statistician                                                                                               Department of Neurology and Neurosciences

Mr. Nasar received his Master degree in statistic from the University of Karachi, Pakistan. He has worked on projects pertaining social sectors studies. He also has been involved with developing / maintaining the Database at Social Policy and Development Centre in Karachi. In early 2004, he joined Cerebrovascular Program at New Jersey Medical School. His responsibilities include designing statistical analysis for the laboratory and clinical research conducted by the CerebroVascular Research Group as well as quality control and maintaining research data.

Arshad U. Siddiqui, MD                                                                                   Stroke Research Fellow                                                                          Department of Neurology and Neurosciences

Dr. Siddiqui received his B.A. from Rutgers University in biological sciences in 1999 and went on to graduate Saba University School of Medicine this past May. In June of 2004, he joined the Cerebrovascular Program for a one year research fellowship.  His current projects include neuroimaging analysis, AVM and hemorrhage treatment, and clot formation properties.

Ali P. Ebrahimi, Ph.D.                                                                                      Stroke Research Fellow                                                                          Department of Neurology and Neurosciences

Ali Ebrahimi received his B.S. from Rutgers University in Applied Sciences in Engineering in 1999. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the field of Biomedical Engineering at Rutgers University.  His graduate studies included modeling of Type I Collagen and visco-elastic characterization of connective tissue, specifically skin and blood vessels.  He joined the Cerebrovascular Program in the summer of 2004.  His current research interests include endovascular device design, hemodynamics, and medical imaging.

Sara K. Michael, BA, BS                                                                        Coordinator of CerebroVascular Laboratory                                        Department of Neurology and Neurosciences

Sara .Michael received both a B.A. and a B.S. from Rutgers University in 2001. She worked in a Pathology Lab for 2 years before coming to UMDNJ. Currently, she serves as coordinator for the Cerebrovascular Laboratory. Her research activities involve creating molds of the cranial vasculature and examining negative effects of current stroke treatments.

Ameer E. Hassan, BA                                                                                   Medical Student                                                                                                   New Jersey Medical School

Ameer Hassan graduated with Honors from Rutgers University in 2001 with a B.A. in Biology and Economics.  He is currently a fourth year medical student at UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School. In 2003, he joined Cerebrovascular Program at New Jersey Medical School. His research interests include stroke, neuroimaging, and clinical aspects of interventional endovascular neurology.

Crystal Tholany, BS                                                                                      Medical Student                                                                                                   New Jersey Medical School

Crystal Tholany graduated from Stevens Institute of Technology in 2004 with a B.S. in chemical biology.  She is currently a second year medical student at UMDNJ - New Jersey Medical School.  She joined the Cerebrovascular Program in June of 2004 as a research assistant.  Her current research projects include Medical Imaging and AVM models.

Pinakin Jethwa, BAS, BA                                                                              Medical Student                                                                                                   New Jersey Medical School

Pinakin Jethwa completed his undergraduate education at The University of Pennsylvania. He received a B.A.S. (Bachelor of Applied Science) in Biomedical Science and a B.A. in Economics with minors in Mathematics and Chemistry. Following graduation he worked as a research specialist in the Center for Experimental Therapeutics at UPenn School of Medicine. Mr. Jethwa is currently a second year medical student at UMDNJ - New Jersey Medical School.  He joined the Cerebrovascular Program in June 2004 as a research assistant and is working on the Newark Stroke Study.

Carolyn E. Holl, RN MS CNA                                                                    Director of Administration                                                                     Department of Neurology and Neurosciences

Amy L. M. Lallier                                                                                             Coordinator of Cerebrovascular Fellowship Programs                        Department of Neurology and Neurosciences

Evelyn Varagiannis, MBA, MS                                                                Research Administrator                                                                        Department of Neurology and Neurosciences

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Evelyn Varagiannis has been employed at UMDNJ for about 23 years.  She has an M.S. degree in Biochemistry from SUNY Albany. She worked as a researcher in the Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology for over ten years before going into clinical research, grant administration and management. She recently received her M.B.A. in MIS from St. Peter's College.