Multiple Sclerosis Centers of Excellence

Benjamin Bird, MD
VA Office of Academic Affiliations Fellow (July 2024 - current), Portland, OR

Dr. Bird is originally from Jackson, TN. He obtained his medical degree from Temple University and went on to complete residency in Neurology at Penn State Hershey Medical Center. He appreciates the complexity of MS and other related conditions in neuroimmunology, and is using his time in fellowship to better understand the underlying mechanisms of these processes. His research interests include ophthalmic manifestations and biomarkers of demyelinating diseases. He chose the Portland VA Medical Center of Excellence for fellowship training due to its wide array of opportunities for research and learning as a neuroimmunologist.

Yesenia Enriquez-Gonzalez, MD
VA Office of Academic Affiliations Fellow (July 2023 - current), Baltimore, MD

Dr. Enriquez-Gonzalez was born and raised in Puerto Rico. She completed her undergraduate education at the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras Campus with a major in biology. She obtained her medical degree from Universidad Central del Caribe School of Medicine and completed her Neurology training at the University of Puerto Rico Medical Science Campus where she found a passion for working with patients with MS and other neuroimmunology related disorders. She is currently a MS and Neuroimmunology Fellow at the VA MS Center of Excellence at Baltimore, MD. She is conducting a research project with Dr. Benavides on an animal model of anti-NMDAR encephalitis.

Hunter Mitchell, MD
VA Office of Academic Affiliations Fellow (July 2024 - current), Baltimore, MD

Dr. Mitchell is a graduate University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) - Memphis, College of Medicine (2019) and UTHSC - Memphis Adult Neurology Residency (2023). She became interested in both imaging and neuroimmunology during residency. Prior to coming to the VA Maryland HCS for a MS/Neuroimmunology Clinical Research fellowship, she completed a fellowship in Neuroimaging at Dent Neurologic Institute in Buffalo, NY (2024). She is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN). 

Erin Mistretta, PhD
National MS Society Fellow (September 2023 - current), Seattle, WA

Dr. Mistretta begins a 2-year research fellowship starting in September 2023 in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine in the University of Washington (UW) School of Medicine and the VA MS Center of Excellence. The postdoctoral research fellowship is funded by the National MS Society and aims to train new investigators to be independent researchers in the field of MS rehabilitation research. She will be spending her research time with Drs. Dawn Ehde and Aaron Turner, focusing on pain and psychosocial functioning in people with MS and offering clinical services at the UW MS Center.

She obtained a bachelor of science in psychology from Saint Mary’s College of CA in 2012, an MS degree in psychology from Catholic University of America in 2017, and a PhD in clinical psychology from Arizona State University in 2023. She completed her APA-accredited clinical psychology internship in the behavioral medicine track from the UW School of Medicine at Harborview in 2022-2023. Her clinical and research interests focus on the effectiveness and mechanisms of mindfulness and compassion-focused interventions targeted at emotion regulation and health behavior in people with chronic illness. For fun, she enjoys running, hiking, baking, drinking coffee, and spending quality time with her husband and small pups.

Akita Paracha, MD
National MS Society Fellow (July 2024 - current), Seattle, WA

Jacob Perlman, MD
VA Office of Academic Affiliations Fellow (July 2023 - current), Portland, OR

Dr. Perlman is from Toms River on the Jersey Shore. He went to medical school at New York Medical College, then completed his neurology residency at the University of Virginia. Dr. Perlman was drawn to neuroimmunology/MS not only because he finds autoimmune disease interesting and intellectually challenging, but because neuroimmunologists possess unique tools to help prevent disability from otherwise devastating diseases. His mentor in residency trained at the Portland VA MS Center of Excellence and highlighted the engaged faculty and rigorous curriculum. Dr. Perlman was involved in MS diet research in residency and is interested in continuing his work in lifestyle modifications research in fellowship. Finally, he has always wanted to live in the Pacific Northwest. He remembers seeing photographs of misty mountains dotted with evergreens and thought: “I want to live there!” 

Richa Thakkar, DO
VA Office of Academic Affiliations Fellow (July 2024 - current), Portland, OR

Dr. Thakkar earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia. She pursued her medical education at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine in Alabama before heading north to complete her neurology residency at Cooper University Hospital in New Jersey. Driven by the rapid advancements in neuroimmunology and its potential to transform patient care, she developed a strong passion for the field. She is particularly drawn to the patient population it serves. She chose OHSU and the Portland VA for its diverse clinical opportunities and the supportive, collaborative relationships between faculty and fellows. During her fellowship, Dr. Thakkar aims to enhance her clinical expertise and contribute to impactful research that improves patient outcomes. Her hobbies include hiking, exploring new coffee shops, movies, and spending time with her friends and family.

Graduated Multiple Sclerosis Centers of Excellence Fellows

2022 - 2024, Carolina Garcia Garcia, DO, MS (VA Office of Academic Affiliations Fellow) Portland, OR
2022 - 2024, Cole Crowson, MD (VA Office of Academic Affiliations Fellow) Portland, OR
2022 - 2023, W. Dan Chapman, DO, PharmD (National MS Society Fellow) Portland, OR
2021 - 2023, Vicky Chen, MD (VA Office of Academic Affiliations Fellow) Portland, OR
2021 - 2023, Kayla Martin, MD (VA Office of Academic Affiliations Fellow) Portland, OR
2021 - 2023, Tamar Harel, MD (VA Office of Academic Affiliations Fellow) Baltimore, MD
2021 - 2023, Yohance Allette, MD, PhD (VA Office of Academic Affiliations Fellow) Baltimore, MD
2021 - 2022, Derek McFaul, DO (National MS Society Fellow) Portland, OR
2020 - 2021, X. Maria Xiang, MD (National MS Society Fellow) Portland, OR
2019 - 2022, Lindsey Knowles, PhD (National MS Society Fellow) Seattle, WA
2019 - 2022, Christopher Hollen, MD (VA Office of Academic Affiliations Fellow) Portland, OR
2019 - 2021, Tyrell Simkins, DO, PhD (VA Office of Academic Affiliations Fellow) Portland, OR
2019 - 2021, Mark Leekoff, MD, MPH (VA Office of Academic Affiliations Fellow) Baltimore, MD
2018 - 2021, Jessica Rice, MD (VA Office of Academic Affiliations Fellow) Portland, OR
2018 - 2020, Ryan Mitzell, MD (VA Office of Academic Affiliations Fellow) Baltimore, MD
2017 - 2020, Elizabeth Silbermann, MD (National MS Society Fellow) Portland, OR
2017 - 2020, Lindsey Wooliscroft, MD (VA Office of Academic Affiliations Fellow) Portland, OR
2017 - 2018, Wei Zheng, MD (VA Office of Academic Affiliations Fellow) Baltimore, MD
2016 - 2019, Anne Arewasikporn, PhD (National MS Society Fellow) Seattle, WA
2016 - 2018, Michael Lane, MD (VA Office of Academic Affiliations Fellow) Portland, OR
2016 - 2017, Shannon Seals, MD (VA Office of Academic Affiliations Fellow) Portland, OR
2016 - 2017, Samer Saleh, MD (VA Office of Academic Affiliations Fellow) Baltimore, MD
2015 - 2017, Frank Bittner, DO (VA Office of Academic Affiliations Fellow) Portland, OR
2015 - 2017, Meena Kannan, MD (VA Office of Academic Affiliations Fellow) Portland, OR
2015 - 2017, Meredith Frederick, MD (National MS Society Fellow) Portland, OR
2014 - 2016, Ghadah Altowaijri, MD (Oregon Health & Science University Fellow) Portland, OR
2014 - 2016, Abbey Hughes, PhD (National MS Society Fellow) Seattle, WA
2014 - 2015, Edward Gettings, DO (VA Office of Academic Affiliations Fellow) Baltimore, MD
2013 - 2015, Lucas McCarthy, MD, MSc (University of Washington Fellow, Biomedical Informatics) Seattle, WA
2013 - 2014, Narineh Hartoonian, PhD (National MS Society Fellow) Seattle, WA
2013 - 2014, Amanda Farag, MD (VA Office of Academic Affiliations Fellow) Baltimore, MD
2013 - 2014, Aruna Ganesh Geeta, MD (VA Office of Academic Affiliations Fellow) Baltimore, MD
2012 - 2013, Aram Zabeti, MD (VA Office of Academic Affiliations Fellow) Portland, OR
2011 - 2012, Sean Burke, MD (VA Office of Academic Affiliations Fellow) Baltimore, MD
2011 - 2013, Shannon Overs, MD (VA Office of Academic Affiliations Fellow) Portland, OR
2010 - 2012, Diana Vargas, MD (VA Office of Academic Affiliations Fellow) Baltimore, MD
2009 - 2011, Andrew Solomon, MD (VA Office of Academic Affiliations Fellow) Portland, OR
2009 - 2011, Troy Desai, MD (VA Office of Academic Affiliations Fellow) Baltimore, MD
2009 - 2010, Christina Hughes, MD (VA Office of Academic Affiliations Fellow) Seattle, WA
2009 - 2010, Rebecca Spain, MD, MSPH (National MS Society Fellow) Portland, OR
2008 - 2009, Michelle Cameron, MD, PT, MCR (National MS Society Fellow) Portland, OR
2007 - 2008, Olukemi Ajayi, MD (VA Office of Academic Affiliations Fellow) Baltimore, MD
2006 - 2009, Edward Kim, MD (VA Office of Academic Affiliations Fellow) Portland, OR
2006 - 2007, Oh Sangjin, MD (VA Office of Academic Affiliations Fellow) Baltimore, MD
2005 - 2007, Maureen Carney, MD (VA Office of Academic Affiliations Fellow) Seattle, WA
2004 - 2006, Laura Schaben, MD (VA Office of Academic Affiliations Fellow) Portland, OR
2003 - 2007, Jesus Lovera, MD, MsPH (VA Office of Academic Affiliations Fellow) Portland, OR
2001 - 2004, Vijayshree Yadav, MD, MCR (VA Research Enhancement Award Fellow) Portland, OR
2001 - 2003, Lynne Shinto, ND (National MS Society Fellow) Portland, OR
2001 - 2003, Bridget Bagert, MD, MPH (VA Research Enhancement Award Fellow) Portland, OR