Our Speakers

Fall 2025: Berkeley

We have an amazing speaker lineup for our Fall 2025 "NeuroImmunology and Beyond!" program   agenda.

Dr. Rumyar Ardakani is a neuroinfectious disease and autoimmune neurology specialist, one of the lead inpatient neurologist at Los Angeles General Medical Center (LAGMC), and a Clinical Assistant Professor of Neurology at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC). Following his neurology residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, where he served as chief resident, Dr. Ardakani completed a fellowship in Neuroinfectious Disease and Autoimmune Neurology at the University of Colorado. He currently serves as Director of Inpatient General Neurology at LAGMC and Associate Program Director of the LAGMC/USC Neurology Residency Program. He also directs the Neuroinfectious Disease Clinic at LAGMC. Dr. Ardakani has presented at multiple national and international conferences, including the 2025 American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting, where he discussed a case-based approach to neuroinfectious diseases.

Dr. Kristie Bauman is a highly skilled Epilepsy Neurologist based in Sacramento, California, affiliated with the University of California Davis Medical Center. She earned her medical degree from the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, completed her residency in neurology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, and pursued fellowship training in Epilepsy and Intracranial EEG at the University of Pennsylvania.



With over seven years of diverse experience in neurology, Dr. Bauman specializes in epilepsy with a special focus in surgical workup for drug resistant epilepsy and clinical trials. Her contributions to clinical research include co-authoring seven (7) peer-reviewed articles and involvement in ten (10) clinical trials. She was recently awarded the May Liang and James Lintott scholarship from the epilepsy foundation – an award for new faculty or fellows who show the most promise for improving the lives of people with epilepsy through clinical trials. 

Dr. Nancy Carteron is a distinguished rheumatologist based in San Francisco, California, affiliated with UCSF Health-UCSF Medical Center, and Health Sciences Clinical Professor, UC Berkeley interdisciplinary Sjogren’s Clinic. She also trained in neurovirology and cellular immunology. A graduate of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, she has made significant contributions to her field. She co-founded the HealthWell Foundation, serves as the medical and scientific editor of Sjögren’s Quarterly, and has previously served on the board and chaired the medical and scientific advisory group of the Sjögren’s Foundation.

Her dedication was recognized with the Healthcare Professional Leadership Award from the Sjögren’s Foundation in 2016. Dr. Carteron’s contribution to rheumatology include co-authoring thirty-six peer-reviewed articles.

Dr. Yashaar Chaichian is Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Immunology and Rheumatology at Stanford, and Director of the Stanford Lupus Clinic, leading clinical care, research, and advancements in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). He also serves as the Associate Program Director of the Rheumatology Fellowship at Stanford. 

He earned his medical degree from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, completed an Internal Medicine residency at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, followed by a Rheumatology fellowship at the University of Chicago Medical Center. 

At Stanford, he co-directs a multidisciplinary Dermatology-Rheumatology clinic with Dr. Jennifer Yeh, providing specialized care for patients with autoimmune skin conditions, including a focus on SLE with cutaneous manifestations. In addition, he serves as Faculty Lead for the Division of Immunology and Rheumatology’s Clinical Research Unit. He is a member of the OMERACT 2022 SLE Working Group, an international collaborative effort that is updating the outcome measures to be assessed in clinical trials and longitudinal observational studies in lupus. He also collaborates on studies examining pregnancy and reproductive health in SLE, cognitive bias in lupus diagnosis, and the intersection of COVID-19 and autoimmunity. 

Dr. Chaichian has co-authored 26 peer-reviewed articles and was recently a co-recipient of a Lupus Innovation Award from the Lupus Research Alliance to further study the impact of the microbiome in SLE. He is the recipient of the 2025 Outstanding Commitment to Research and Treatment, presented by the Lupus Foundation of Northern California.

Dr. Jeffrey Gelfand, a Professor of Neurology at UCSF, is recognized for his expertise in medical education, research, and clinical care. After earning a summa cum laude A.B. in History from Princeton and an M.D. from Harvard Medical School, he completed advanced medical training at UCSF, including a residency in Neurology and fellowship in MS/Neuroimmunology.

Currently, he serves as Medical Director of the UCSF MS and Neuroinflammation Clinic and Clinical Director of the UCSF Center for Encephalitis and Meningitis (CEM). He also co-directs the SPAN clerkship, an essential UCSF medical student program. His dedication to education has earned numerous accolades, including the Robert B. Layzer Teaching Award and an Excellence in Teaching Award from the UCSF Haile T. Debas Academy of Medical Educators.

From 2013 to 2023, he led the UCSF MS Center Clinical Fellowship Training Program, mentoring specialists in multiple sclerosis, neuroimmunology and neurosarcoidosis. His research contributions include >100 peer-reviewed publications.

Dr. Sasha Gupta is an Assistant Professor of Neurology at UCSF with a decade of diverse experience in the field. She graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and completed her residency and fellowship at UCSF, establishing a strong foundation for her career in neurology.

Dr. Gupta co-directs the Cellular Therapeutics Initiative within the Division of Neuroimmunology and Glial Biology, where she translates pioneering research on novel cellular therapeutics for central nervous system autoimmune and infectious diseases from bench to bedside.

Her contributions to the field include co-authoring eight peer-reviewed articles.

Jison Hong, MD is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Division of Immunology & Rheumatology at Stanford University. She specializes in inflammatory arthritis, gout, granulomatous mastitis, and clinical implementation of pharmacogenomics. Dr. Hong directs the Stanford Gout Clinic and the Granulomatous Mastitis Clinic, and co-directs the Fast-Track Inflammatory Arthritis Clinic. She serves as Stanford Rheumatology’s lead for pharmacogenomics and value-based care. 



Dr. Hong’s academic work centers on health equity, language access, and Asian health. A recipient of multiple teaching and diversity awards, Dr. Hong was recently selected for the 2025 EULAR-ACR-APLAR faculty exchange program.

Dr. Tanaz Kermani is an internationally recognized expert in vasculitis and a Clinical Professor in the Division of Rheumatology at the University of California, Los Angeles. She completed her residency and rheumatology fellowship at the Mayo Clinic, followed by two additional years of vasculitis training through the NIH-sponsored Vasculitis Clinical Research Consortium.

As the Founder and Director of the UCLA Vasculitis Program, Dr. Kermani leads a multidisciplinary team dedicated to advancing patient care and research in the field. Although she is a full-time clinician, she remains highly active in academic research, contributing to international collaborative efforts in vasculitis. Her primary research focus is on large-vessel vasculitis, an area in which she has published extensively. Dr Kermani’s contribution to rheumatology include co-authoring eighty-seven (87) peer-reviewed articles.

Dr. Suketu M. Khandhar is a neurologist based in Sacramento, California, serving as the Medical Director of the TPMG Comprehensive Movement Disorders Program and Chief of North Valley Neurology. He is affiliated with Kaiser Permanente Sacramento Medical Center and specializes in a range of movement disorders, including Parkinson’s disease, Essential Tremor, Dystonia, Ataxia, Tourette Syndrome and Huntington’s disease.

Dr. Khandhar earned his medical degree from St. George’s University, School of Medicine. He went on to complete his residency at Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY. He completed a fellowship in Parkinson’s disease and related disorders at the University of California in San Francisco. He combines his medical expertise with business acumen, focusing on healthcare management, innovation and multidisciplinary care.

An active contributor to clinical research, Dr. Khandhar has co-authored 12 peer-reviewed articles that advance knowledge in his field.

Dr. Christopher Lock is a Clinical Associate Professor of Neurology at Stanford University and Clinical Trials Director for Stanford's Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology program. He earned his medical degree from King’s College London and Westminster Hospital Medical School in the U.K. He received an entrance scholarship to WHMS and the Barry Prize for the Associate of King’s College exam. He completed a Neurology residency and a Neuroimmunology fellowship at Stanford during which he received a Clinician Scientist award from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. He is active in clinical research and is particularly interested in newer treatments for progressive forms of MS. 

Dr. Carson Moseley is a neurologist based in San Francisco, California, currently serving as an Assistant Professor in the Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroinflammation Center at the University of California, San Francisco. His expertise includes Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein Antibody-Associated Disease (MOGAD), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and neuroimmunology.

Dr. Moseley earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from Wake Forest University before completing both his medical degree and PhD in Immunology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He then completed his Neurology residency and a MS/Neuroimmunology Clinician Scientist Fellowship at UCSF.

An active contributor to clinical research, Dr. Moseley has co-authored 16 peer-reviewed articles in his field. He is affiliated with UCSF.

Dr. Hossein Mousavi is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology specializing in multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuroimmunology. He received his medical education from Tehran University and has over a decade of experience in the medical field.

Dr. Mousavi has extensive expertise in treating patients with MS and neuroimmune disorders, as well as pain management for neurological conditions. He is affiliated with UC Davis Health.

His contributions to the field of MS and neuroimmunology include co-authoring two peer-reviewed articles. He is frequently cited in academic publications, reflecting his influence and contributions to his area of expertise.

Dr. Chris Nowinski is the co-founder and CEO of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to concussion and CTE awareness, research, and support. Dr. Nowinski is also co-founder of the UNITE Brain Bank at the Boston University CTE Center and a member of the research team. An All-Ivy Harvard football player turned WWE wrestler, his career ended in 2003 due to post-concussion syndrome, leading him to seek treatment from Dr. Robert Cantu, who later co-founded CLF with him.

Motivated by the lack of understanding around brain injuries in sports, Nowinski became a leading advocate for athlete safety and education. His journey inspired the investigative book Head Games: Football’s Concussion Crisis, which later became an award-winning documentary. 

Nowinski earned a doctorate in Behavioral Neuroscience from Boston University School of Medicine and has coauthored over 50 scientific papers. Since 2004, he has delivered more than 400 talks worldwide, sharing his expertise with universities, conferences, schools, and sports organizations.

Dr. Rodriguez is a highly experienced neurologist specializing in neuromuscular diseases. He completed his Neurology training in 1996 at LAC + USC Medical Center, followed by a fellowship in Clinical Neurophysiology with a focus on neuromuscular disease treatment.

For 24 years, Dr. Rodriguez was part of Kaiser Permanente Medical Group, where he played a key role in medical education committees and the development of treatment protocols for neurological diseases. In 2019, he returned to the Keck School of Medicine of USC, joining the neuromuscular division of the Keck Neurology Department, where he actively treats patients with neuromuscular conditions.

Dr. Rodriguez is deeply involved in clinical research trials aimed at improving outcomes for patients with ALS, Myasthenia Gravis (MG), Stiff Person Syndrome, and other inflammatory neuromuscular disorders. Beyond his academic and clinical work, he serves as the current President of the Los Angeles Neurological Society.

Dr. Samudra is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Neurology at Stanford University School of Medicine, with expertise in behavioral neurology/neuropsychiatry and epilepsy. She earned her undergraduate degree from MIT and her medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, followed by a neurology residency at the same institution. She completed fellowships in epilepsy at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and in behavioral neurology/neuropsychiatry at UCSF.

At Stanford, Dr. Samudra leads a clinic focused on epilepsy in older adults and co-leads the CurePSP Center of Care. Her work centers on neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer’s disease, with interests in early diagnosis, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and emerging disease-modifying therapies. She is also involved in a women’s brain health clinic through the Menopause Collaborative of Practice, with a clinical focus on the cognitive impact of hormonal changes.

Dr. Samudra has published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, Alzheimer’s and Dementia, Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports, Journal of the Neurological Sciences, Seizure, and Epilepsy and Behavior.

George Sarka MD, DrPH, MPH is currently the CME Director at Memorial Care, Saddleback Medical Center; Current Secretary (2018-2024)/Chair of the CNS Medical/Neurological History Section and Past President of the California Neurology Society (2015-2016); Past Governor of the American College of Physicians, Southern California, Chapter Region II (2008-2012); Past President of the LA Neurological Society (2006-2009); and Past President of the Los Angeles County Medical Association-District 1(2006-2008); a former Associate Clinical Professor Medicine at UCLA (2007-2023). 

Dr. Sarka received his Doctor of Medicine and Master of Surgery (MDCM) from McGill University Faculty of Medicine in 1980; a Master of Public Health (MPH) from UCLA in 2003; and his Doctorate of Public Health (DrPH) from UCLA in 2013. Dr. Sarka did his Internship/Residency in Internal Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals (1980-1983); his Fellowship in Rheumatology at Louisiana State University (1983-1985); and a second Residency in Neurology at the Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center (1985-1988). 

He is board certified in 10 subspecialties including the following: Internal Medicine; Rheumatology; Neurology; Geriatrics; Sports Medicine; Headache Medicine; Emergency Medicine; Public Health and General Preventive Medicine via the ABPM; Public Health via the NBPHE and Occupational Medicine. He is also a medical, public health and presidential historian and has given over 1,100 lectures on a plethora of medical topics including medical and public health history in his career. 

He is currently on staff as an Attending Rheumatologist and CoChair of the CME Committee at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center; Internist and Multispecialist/Public Health Specialist at California State University, Northridge in the Klotz Student Health Center in Northridge, California.

Dr. Laura Saucier is a pediatric neuroimmunologist and assistant professor of clinical neurology at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and USC Keck School of Medicine. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in biology at Duke University (2010) and her Medical Doctorate at Stanford University School of Medicine (2016). She completed residency in child neurology at Stanford University and Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital – Stanford, and a fellowship in pediatric multiple sclerosis and neuroimmunology through the Harvard combined program at Mass General Hospital, Brigham Women’s Hospital, and Boston Children’s Hospital. Her fellowship mentors included Dr. Tanuja Chitnis, Dr. Mark Gorman, and Dr. Leslie Benson. Her clinical area of expertise is pediatric neuroimmunology, which includes a wide range of disorders including multiple sclerosis, MOG-antibody associated disease, neuromyelitis optica, optic neuritis, transverse myelitis, opsoclonus myoclonus ataxia syndrome, autoimmune encephalitis, CNS vasculitis, and other neuro-rheumatologic and neuroinflammatory conditions affecting the central nervous system.

Dr. Perry Shieh is Professor of Neurology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. He received his MD and his PhD in Neuroscience from the Johns Hopkins University, his residency training in neurology at Stanford University Hospital and fellowship training in clinical neurophysiology/EMG at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Dr. Shieh’s principal clinical interests include muscular dystrophy, spinal muscular atrophy, inflammatory myopathy, myasthenia gravis, electromyography, and muscle histopathology. He has served as an investigator in 23 clinical trials for neuromuscular conditions and has a particular interest in gene therapy. 

Dr. Shieh’s contribution to Neurology include co-authoring ninety-two (92) peer-reviewed articles.

Dr. Vaidyanathan is an Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Neurology; Co-Director, Pediatric Neuroimmunology and Demyelinating Disease Program at UC Davis Children’s Hospital.



She received her medical degree from University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, completed her child neurology residency at the Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children's Hospital, and subsequently completed her neuroimmunology/MS fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. 

Dr. Vaidyanathan is a pediatric neurologist with special training in adult and pediatric inflammatory and demyelinating disorders of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system. Her clinical interests and areas of expertise include: multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease, optic neuritis, transverse myelitis, neurosarcoidosis, CNS lupus and Sjogren's disease, CNS vasculitis, and autoimmune encephalitis. 

Dr. Vaidyanathan's research interests include addressing health disparities and inequities in the healthcare system. She also has a passion for medical education and training the next generation of neurologists. 

Dr. Joanne Guo is a neurologist who specializes in multiple sclerosis (MS) and autoimmune neurology. Dr. Guo graduated summa cum laude from the Ohio State University with a degree in biochemistry and psychology. She earned her medical degree at the Ohio State University College of Medicine, where she became a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and Gold Humanism Honor Society. She completed a residency in neurology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and a fellowship in neuroimmunology at University of California San Francisco (UCSF), joining the faculty in 2019. She is currently the clinical lead of the UCSF Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroinflammation Clinic and is the program director for the UCSF Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Fellowship. 

Dr. Ge Xiong is an Associate Professor of Neurology at UC Davis. She earned her medical degree from Hunan Medical University and obtained her PhD at Emory University. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine and Neurology at the University of Florida, and pursued a fellowship in Clinical Neurophysiology at UCSF.



Dr. Xiong specializes in treating a wide spectrum of neuromuscular diseases including neuropathy, myopathy, neuromuscular junction disorders, amyloidosis, motor neuron diseases, et al. An expert in neuromuscular medicine and neurophysiology, she has contributed to the field by co-authoring 8 peer-reviewed articles.

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