Division director
Christina Gurnett, MD, PhD
A Ernest and Jane G Stein Professor of Neurology
Director, Division of Pediatric and Developmental Neurology
Chief of Neurology at St. Louis Children’s Hospital
Washington University School of Medicine
The Pediatric Neurology Residency Training Program at Washington University School of Medicine and St. Louis Children’s Hospital has a long and distinguished track record for producing excellent pediatric neurologists—it is an outstanding place to train. The neuroscience community at Washington University is truly world class, and clinical and research opportunities are abundant. Dr. Phil Dodge created our program in 1967 when he arrived to take the helm of the Department Pediatrics. Since its inception, we have considered it our mission to prepare our graduates for any career pathway in pediatric neurology, including research, leadership, and community practice.
We enjoy an excellent relationship with our colleagues in the Department of Pediatrics allowing our residents to function as Fellows supervising pediatric residents on our Neuromedicine services. Indeed, our residents are often awarded the “Outstanding Fellow Teaching Award” by the Pediatric house staff. Our large faculty have diverse clinical and research interests, and are superb role models for how to build a career without sacrificing an enjoyable and satisfying work-life balance.
Program director
It is absolutely thrilling to be part of a team which has consistently ranked in the top segment of the elite neurology/neurosurgery programs in the nation. Our catchment area comprises a 300 mile radius and our specialists provide second opinions nationally and internationally. We participate in global health initiatives and our scientists are regularly in the news for breakthrough discoveries. We strive to make our residents feel welcomed and valued during their training. Our program and people allow you to flourish as a clinician and scientist with ample support and guidance.
We love what we do and we also love the St. Louis community. St. Louis is dotted with ethnic neighborhoods, entertainment districts, stadiums, cultural institutions, and fabulous restaurants. It is an interesting and affordable place to live, culturally diverse, and family-friendly. Don’t miss the Missouri Botanical Gardens, the St. Louis Symphony, the St. Louis Art Museum, and Zoo. We also have kayaking and canoeing on spring fed rivers in the Ozarks just a short drive away. We offer residents a friendly, non-competitive, collegial, and supportive atmosphere here in our world class department. We hope you’ll consider training in St. Louis. It’s an exceptional place to live and work!
Associate program directors
Réjean M. Guerriero, DO
Associate Professor of Neurology
Associate Program Director, Pediatric Neurology Residency
Washington University School of Medicine
It is a pleasure to welcome you to the Pediatric Neurology Training Program at Washington University in St. Louis! I recently moved from the northeast after completing my training in Boston and I am continually impressed with the high quality of neurology trainees and the faculty here.
Washington University Pediatric Neurology has a long history of training exceptional child neurologists. The program always strives to improve its curriculum, training and work-life balance to maintain the highest quality of neurology trainees. I believe the best way to learn clinical pediatric neurology is done through seeing patients supplemented with bedside and didactic teaching and individualized feedback and career development. Whether your interests are in clinical neurology or becoming a physician-scientist, there are opportunities here for you. The program leadership and faculty across the division take pride in resident education and consider residents as an integral member of the clinical team and our academic family.
Finally, being new to the St. Louis area and Midwest, my family and I have been thrilled with our high quality of life and work-life balance. There are opportunities for all of us to enjoy the restaurants, sports, outdoor activities and warm sense of community that exists here.
Sarah Bauer Huang, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor, Neurology
Associate Program Director, Pediatric Neurology Residency
Washington University School of Medicine
I am very excited to be part of the training of young physicians in the early stages of their career. Our training program continues to grow and adapt to the changing needs of the pediatric neurology landscape as our patient population becomes more complex with new treatments, increasing understanding of the role of genetics in the presentation of neurologic disease, as well as expanding landscape of sub-specialty pediatric neurology. My hope is to help guide our trainees through this important stage of training, realizing all of us have unique goals in our careers (from clinician to scientist).
Given the breadth of our faculty expertise as well as our relationship with St. Louis Children’s Hospital, we have the opportunities to take care of a variety of patients from St. Louis, and throughout the Missouri and Illinois regions (and beyond).
Since moving to St. Louis, my family has taken full advantage of the St Louis area. We are constantly finding new restaurants to try (all within 20 minutes), access to new cultural and educational opportunities for my children, and have slowly learned the vernacular of the local sports teams. We are looking forward to continuing to explore this area and am always happy to share our experiences.
Chief residents
Michelle Lee, MD
2023-2024 Administrative Chief
Where I am from: I grew up in Los Angeles and attended college in northern California at Berkeley before moving across the country to New York for work and eventually, medical school in Philadelphia.
Where I am going: I am really lucky to have had amazing mentors in the field of neuromuscular and neurogenetic disorders! I am eager to pursue training in these subspecialties after residency.
Why I am here: I knew I wanted to be at a residency program that offered me a diverse training experience in many subspecialties of pediatric neurology. But one of the biggest strengths of Wash U is also its emphasis on the importance of mentorship as part of your training experience early on. I feel very fortunate to have access to so many mentors across different fields of neurology! But most of all, my co-residents are wonderfully supportive and often look after my well-being. It really helps that Forest Park is so easily accessible for us to delve into in our spare time! I will also add that getting to know the city’s best cookies, croissants and donuts was a highlight of the past year. And while I do not yet have my own dog (ongoing search), it is very easy for me to get pet therapy.
Grace Tabatabai, MD
2023-2024 Administrative Chief
Where I am from: I hail from Rochester, Minnesota. I attended both college (St. Olaf in Northfield) and medical school (University of Minnesota in Minneapolis) in the northern state before moving to St. Louis for residency.
Where I am going: I have interests in education, global outreach, neuro-muscle, and sleep neurology. However, I am still exploring various specialties and am keeping an open mind.
Why I am here: I found a kind, caring, and passionate group of residents and faculty to train with here at Washington University. Coming from a close knit medical school, I was looking for a group of colleagues that felt more like a second family in a home away from home – which I inevitably found. My fellow residents have become some of my closest friends. The faculty is also very eager to support research or outreach interests we would like to pursue. The community as a whole cares about our wellbeing and educational experience.
I live in the Forest Park area with my co-resident Esra and our new cat Olive! I enjoy running in the park, knitting many a sweater, practicing hot yoga (in non-COVID times), baking, and guitar. I recently picked up ukulele which is easier to transport for sing-alongs with patients and friends. Saint Louis has much to offer in terms of museums, gardens, bakeries, and English-themed tea houses which are a favorite of mine.
Nicholas W. DeKorver, MD, PhD
2023-2024 Education & Wellness Chief
Where I am from: I was born and raised just outside of Grand Rapids, Michigan. I went to Central Michigan University for undergrad and studied biomedical science and neuroscience. During my undergraduate education, I developed a passion for basic science and worked in a neuroscience lab focused on stem cell therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. After college, I completed a research year at the National Institutes of Health studying mechanisms of stem cell mediated neuroprotection in glaucoma models. I then moved to Omaha, Nebraska for my medical degree and doctorate in neuroscience at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. My graduate work focused on investigating the roles of immune proteins in synaptic regulation and functional deficits associated with aging. I met my wife in graduate school (also a neuroscientist), and we moved to St. Louis to complete the next steps in our careers.
Where I am going: It is my career goal to be active in both clinical pediatric neurology and in basic science. My clinical and research interests are focused on epilepsy, neurogenetics, and neurodevelopment. Following residency, I will be staying at Washington University for a fellowship in pediatric epilepsy.
Why I am here: My wife and I were looking for a program close to family and with a strong basic science and clinical track record. I was fortunate to be able to come to Washington University in St. Louis for an away rotation in pediatric neurology. I really enjoyed the rotation and my interactions with faculty, fellows, and residents. The program has a strong track record of producing pediatric neurologists successful in both clinical practice and basic science.
One of the great things about St. Louis is the affordability. We purchased a house in the South Hampton area. We are able to walk to a number of restaurants (Mexican, Afghani, Greek, Nicaraguan, BBQ, Italian, Chinese, American, etc.). There are several parks nearby and it’s an easy drive to the medical campus (10-15 minutes). For recreation, I enjoy fishing and you can find both small mouth and trout streams within 1-2 hours. Many state parks around also have great hiking, biking, and camping opportunities. Overall, we love living in St. Louis and our experience.
Welcome to the Pediatric Neurology Residency Program at Washington University in St. Louis! We take pride in the fact that as you explore pediatric neurology training programs across the country, you will find that many of their faculty and leadership have ties to Wash U. Our faculty have an unparalleled level of engagement and dedication to trainees, as evidenced by the success of our program’s graduates. Our attendings are leaders in the field who are happy to advise us at all hours and frequently invite us into their homes and their lives. They are a true highlight of our program.
Opportunities for basic, clinical, and translational science on our campus are vast. More than half of our faculty are actively involved in research and ready to mentor trainees. Importantly, we have uninterrupted time for trainees to explore their interests by means of clinical electives, scientific research (including national funding mechanisms such as the R25 program), QI, or international work. Our program is dedicated to building and shaping careers for all types of pediatric neurologists, whether pursuing clinical, academic, and/or research tracks.
The city of St. Louis is diverse, beautiful, and affordable. We guarantee you’ll find endless ways to spend your time outside of the hospital! Importantly to us, it’s a place where people are engaging with big picture issues of social justice, equity, and sustainability.
What we love most about our program is our co-residents. Our resident community is social, supportive, and engaged with one another. Our wellness curriculum and wellness champions are an important cornerstone of maintaining work-life balance within our program.
We love training at a prestigious, world-class institution where we are taught by enthusiastic, dedicated, and approachable faculty. We enjoy living in a city, where there’s never a shortage of places to eat, concerts to see, sports to attend or beautiful parks to wander through. We can’t wait to introduce you to our program, our department and our city.
Michelle, Grace and Nick