Class of 2017
Katherine D. Amodeo, M.D.
katherine_amodeo@urmc.rochester.edu 
Katie is a PGY-4 resident in Adult Neurology. She attended medical school at University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (’13) after earning a degree in Biomedical Sciences with a minor in Psychology at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY. She is originally from Marlboro, NY, a small town outside of Poughkeepsie. In her free time, she enjoys canoeing, hiking, concerts, and shopping. She is also a lover of the arts and enjoys going to art museums, Broadway shows, and art festivals. Since living here, she has loved bicycling along the Erie Canal.
Jennifer L. Marsella, M.D.
Jennifer_marsella@urmc.rochester.edu
Jennifer is a PGY-4 resident in Adult Neurology. She attended medical school at University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry ('13) after earning degrees in Neuroscience and Psychology from the University of Rochester. She is originally from Penfield, NY. In her free time, Jen enjoys concerts, traveling, shopping, game nights, and comedy shows. She also loves participating in all of the great activities Rochester has to offer, such as attending Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra performances, playing kickball in Highland Park, and enjoying all of the summertime festivals.
Jenie George, M.D.
jenie_george@urmc.rochester.edu 
Jenie George is a PGY-4 resident in Adult Neurology. She is originally from New Hyde Park, NY but has grown to call Rochester home. She majored in Biology and American Sign Language at the University of Rochester and she received her medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry ('13). In her free time, she enjoys catching up with her family and friends, playing co-ed basketball, watching TV/movies, and taking pictures of all those around her, whether they like it or not.
Elliot M. Johnson , M.D. 
elliot_johnson@urmc.rochester.edu
Elliot Johnson is a PGY-4 resident in Neurology. Originally from near Los Angeles, he moved to Minnesota (he has family there) for college and stayed for medical school where he graduated from the University of Minnesota Medical School. He enjoys canoeing, cross country skiing, being outside, used books, and trying to convince his wife that she should not adopt any more pets.
Jorge R. Risco, M.D.
jorge_risco@urmc.rochester.edu
Jorge is a PGY-4 resident in Adult Neurology. He attended medical school at the 
“Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia” in Lima, Peru. He has lived in Lima and Miami. In his free time, Jorge enjoys biking, kayaking and watching movies. He also enjoys participating in creative projects involving writing, film, photography, editing and compositing.
Neal Weisbrod, M.D.
neal_weisbrod@urmc.rochester.edu 
Neal Weisbrod is a PGY-4 in Adult Neurology. He graduated from the University of Rochester medical school after studying chemistry as an undergraduate there. Aside from his love ofmedicine, Neal is also an avid teacher and looks forward to a career teaching neurology in addition to practicing.He is a long time Rochesterian and some of his favorite activities are sampling Rochester restaurants, paddling in the nearby finger lakes, snowboarding at Bristol Mountain, and hiking in one of the many nearby parks or forests. On a typical day Neal enjoys making dinner (anything that can be loaded with salt and butter)with his fiancée, a veterinary student, and playing with his energetic puggle, Stella.
Class of 2018
Benjamin P. George, M.D., M.P.H.
benjamin_george@urmc.rochester.edu 
Ben George is a PGY-3 resident in Adult Neurology. He attended medical school at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in Rochester, NY. He received his Masters of Public Health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He is originally from Verona, NY, a small rural town in upstate NY. In his free time, Ben enjoys wakeboarding, swimming, playing volleyball, going to concerts, and watching Syracuse basketball. Ben’s professional goals are to be a vascular neurologist with expertise in epidemiology and health services research.
Lee M. Gerwitz , M.D.
lee_gerwitz@urmc.rochester.edu 
Lee Gerwitz is a PGY-3 resident in Adult Neurology. He attended medical school at the University of Rochester after earning a degree in Biological Sciences from Cornell University. He is originally from the hamlet of West Valley, NY. In his free time, Lee enjoys photography, classic films, and discussing what it means to be from a “hamlet.” He is also an avid downhill skier and is therefore well suited for winters in Rochester.
Ross Hamilton, M.D.
ross_hamilton@urmc.rochester.edu 
Ross Hamilton is a PGY-3 resident in Adult Neurology. He attended medical school at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in Rochester, NY. He is originally from Western Springs, IL. In his free time, Ross enjoys playing soccer, swing dancing, and running. In the future, Ross hopes to hike all of the high peaks in the Adirondacks.
Phillip C. Mongiovi , M.D.
phillip_mongiovi@urmc.rochester.edu 
Phillip Mongiovi is a PGY-3 Resident in Adult Neurology. He attended medical school at The Ohio State University College of Medicine in Columbus, OH after earning a degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology from Harvard. He is originally from Cheektowaga, NY just outside Buffalo and would be happy to tell you about the best places to enjoy chicken wings there. In his free time, Phil enjoys hiking and camping.
Andrea C. Wasilewski, M.D.
andrea_wasilewski@urmc.rochester.edu 
Andrea Wasilewski is a PGY-3 resident in Adult Neurology. She attended medical school at Jagiellonian University Medical College in Krakow, Poland (’14) after earning an Honours Degree in Chemistry from the University of Western Ontario. She is originally from Toronto, Canada. Her interests outside of medicine include travel, fitness, fashion and musical theatre.
Carolyn E. Zyloney, M.D.
carolyn_zyloney@urmc.rochester.edu 
Carolyn Zyloney is a PGY-3 resident in Adult Neurology. She attended medical school at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY ('14) after earning degrees in Biology and Psychology from Boston University. Before deciding to go to medical school she did post-baccalaureate research at Massachusetts General Hospital. In her free time, Carolyn enjoys hiking and cooking.
Class of 2019
Matthew R. Leach, M.D.
matthew_leach@URMC.rochester.edu 
Matthew R. Leach is a PGY-2 Resident in Adult Neurology. He attended medical school at the University of Michigan after obtaining his bachelor's in English Literature & Biology from Washington University in St. Louis.Originally from the Chicago suburbs, Matthew enjoys reading, cooking, old movies, and exploring new places.Clinically, his interests include academic medicine and neurocritical care.
Michael P. Leone, M.D.
Michael_Leone@URMC.Rochester.edu 
Michael P. Leone is a PGY-2 Resident in Adult Neurology. He attended medical school at Marshall University after obtaining his bachelors degree in biology from the University of Pittsburgh. He is originally from Erie, Pennsylvania - as is his wife, Kara. They enjoy traveling and spending time with family. Michael enjoys computers, electronics, and watching movies with his wife. He also enjoys playing soccer, skiing, and other sports.
Kathleen C. Munger, M.D.
Kathleen_Munger@URMC.Rochester.edu 
Kathleen C. Munger is a PGY-2 Resident in Adult Neurology. She attended medical school at the University of Rochester after earning a degree in Neuroscience and Anthropology at Wellesley College in Boston. She is originally from sunny Honolulu, Hawaii. In her free time, Kate enjoys crafting and traveling.
Mitchell R. Onken, M.D.
Mitch_Onken@URMC.Rochester.edu
Mitchell R. Onken is a PGY-2 Resident in Adult Neurology. I'm Mitch and I grew up in a small town in eastern Iowa. I went to Brigham Young University where I graduated with a B.S. in Music and Chemistry. After college, I took a job at the University of Maryland researching neurodegenerative diseases. I worked for a few years in Maryland, before moving to Europe, where I studied medicine at Jagiellonian University in Krakow Poland. I am now a PGY1 at the University of Rochester and I couldn't be happier. The expectations are high, but the atmosphere is supportive and friendly. In my free time, I generally spend time with my wife and 3 kids; but occasionally have a few moments to play the piano or go mountain biking.
Amanda Opaskar, M.D.
Amanda_Opaskar@URMC.Rochester.edu
Amanda Opaskar is a PGY-2 resident in Adult Neurology. She attended medical school at University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor, MI. She is originally from Cleveland, OH. In her free time, Amanda enjoys playing the violin, running, and cooking. She also loves to ski during the winter time.
Blanca Y. Valdovinos, M.D.
Blanca_Valdovinos@URMC.Rochester.edu
Blanca Y. Valdovinos is a PGY-2 resident in Adult Neurology. She attended medical school at the University of Rochester after earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. She is originally from beautiful Southern California. She loves jogs through nature, movies, and travelling.
Class of 2020
Melanie K. Braun, M.D.
Melanie_braun@urmc.rochester.edu
Melanie is a PGY-1 resident in Adult Neurology. She attended medical school at the University of Rochester after earning a degree in Biology from Ithaca College where she also played varsity lacrosse. During medical school, she developed an interest in teaching and global health, both of which she hopes to include in her career. She is originally from Rochester, NY. In her spare time, Melanie enjoys spending time with friends and family, biking, watching movies, trying new restaurants, attending festivals, and traveling.
Ryan Canissario, M.D.
Ryan_canissario@urmc.rochester.edu
Ryan Canissario is a PGY-1 resident in Adult Neurology. He earned a B.S. in Applied Economics & Management from Cornell University in 2007 before working in New York City as a project manager for a digital marketing agency. Though successful in the field, he decided to change careers in order to pursue his passion for medicine. He completed Columbia University's postbac premed program and subsequently attended medical school at SUNY Downstate. Ryan is originally from the mid-Hudson Valley region of New York. When not in the hospital, he enjoys cooking Italian food and spending every opportunity he can outdoors.
Dimitrios G. Manou, M.D.
Dimitrios_manou@urmc.rochester.edu
Dimitrios (Jim) Manou is a PGY-1 resident in Adult Neurology. He attended medical school at the University of Rochester after obtaining his bachelor's degree in Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacology from the University at Buffalo. Originally from the Rochester area, Jim enjoys spending time with his wife and dogs, sports, and traveling.
Kristen L. McCartney, M.D.
kristen_mccartney@urmc.rochester.edu
Kristen McCartney is a PGY-1 resident in Adult Neurology. She attended medical school at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. She previously graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in Biochemistry. Kristen is originally from Sanford, North Carolina and is a diehard Tar Heel fan. In her spare time, she enjoys playing volleyball, singing, and snuggling with her cat, Lexie.
Tyler A. Rehbein, M.D.
Tyler_rehbein@urmc.rochester.edu
Tyler Rehbein is a PGY-1 resident in Adult Neurology. He attended medical school at the University of Minnesota after earning his Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and Genetics from the same institution. During medical school he engaged in neuroradiology research with diffusion tensor imaging. Being from Minnesota he enjoys spending time outdoors and around the lakes. In his free time he enjoys running, hiking, swimming, camping, reading, and computers.
Nicholas J. Taylor, M.D.
nicholas _taylor@urmc.rochester.edu
Nicholas Taylor is a PGY-1 resident in Adult Neurology.
I’m Nick- I attended medical school at Ohio State University in Columbus, OH, where I also completed my undergraduate training, and met my wonderful wife Carly. We take care of a snake, a leopard gecko, and most recently, a dog. In my free time I enjoy reading fantasy novels, playing computer games, karaoke, and hiking (Rochester has awesome parks and miles of trails – look into it!) I have found the environment at U of R to be full of friendly people, busy, but supportive of my not knowing many things (yet) as a new intern.