Erica A. Schuyler, M.D., FAAN
Residency Program Director
I grew up in Westport, MA which is a small coastal town. I went to Wesleyan University in CT and then did functional brain imaging research for several years at the NIH before attending Johns Hopkins for medical school. I did my residency and two years of epilepsy fellowship at University of Michigan and then joined Hartford Hospital in 2009.
In addition to being Program Director, I’m an Associate Professor at UConn and the Associate Chief of Education at Hartford Hospital. I have been very active with the AAN and am currently the Chair of the Consortium of Neurology Program Directors and serve on the Graduate Education Subcommittee. With the AAN, I have been working to reform the fellowship application timeline, to help programs with their transition to virtual recruitment, and to advocate for support of our IMG physicians.
Outside of work, I enjoy my time with my husband and two sons. My hobbies include ballroom dancing and hiking and I read a lot—mostly sci-fi and fantasy series.
View Medical Rounds With Dr. Schuyler on Hartford HealthCare’s YouTube Channel
L. John Greenfield, M.D., Ph.D.
Chair of UConn Health Department of Neurology
I was born in Baltimore, MD during my father’s surgical residency at Johns Hopkins (yes, he is the Greenfield who developed the Greenfield IVC filter). I lived in Oklahoma City, OK and Richmond, VA before attending college at Yale University where I was a humanities major. I graduated from the M.D./Ph.D. program at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville with a Ph.D. in neuroscience, and did my neurology residency training at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, followed several years later by a fellowship in EEG and epilepsy. I was a junior faculty member in the lab of Dr. Robert Macdonald at Michigan, and then left in 1999 to start my own laboratory at the University of Toledo which eventually received NIH funding. I also directed the M.D./Ph.D. program there for several years. In 2010, I moved to Little Rock to become chair of Neurology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and in 2016 I came back to Connecticut as chair of Neurology at UConn Health in Farmington.
My research interests include the molecular pharmacology and physiology of seizures and epilepsy, especially the role of GABAergic inhibition, as well as antiepileptic drug trials, high density EEG, and survey studies of emotional and cognitive comorbidities of epilepsy. I take a very active interest in the clinical and didactic training of neurology residents, managing the monthly journal club, chairman’s rounds and evidence based medicine courses and piloting an on-line basic neuroscience review. I recently edited the 2nd edition of an introductory EEG text called “Reading EEGs: A Practical Approach.”
My extracurricular interests include early music performance on renaissance and baroque lutes, photography and astronomy.
Mark Alberts, M.D.
Chief of Ayer Neuroscience Institute
My education began at Duke University as an undergraduate with a major in chemistry, and specialization in biochemistry. I graduated with magna cum laude honors. This was followed by graduating from Tufts University with an M.D. degree and AOA honors. I completed a neurology residency at Duke, followed by an NINDS (NIH) fellowship in vascular neurology. After serving on the faculty at Duke University, I went to Northwestern University and Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where I led the stroke center. After 11 years in frigid Chicago, I moved to the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, where I was appointed as vice-chair of Neurology and director of the Comprehensive Stroke Center. My experience there led to my current position in Hartford Connecticut where I lead the department of neurology and have a system-wide appointment as co-lead of the multidisciplinary Ayer Neuroscience Institute at Hartford HealthCare (HHC).
Dr. Alberts’ video introduction to candidates
Overview of The Hartford HealthCare Ayer Neuroscience Institute
Dr. Alberts' videos on Hartford HealthCare's YouTube channel
Jose Montes-Rivera, M.D.
Neurology Residency Program Site Director, UConn Health
I was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. I then moved to New Jersey, where I attended college at Princeton University and medical school at Rutgers (RWJ) medical school. I moved slightly north to New York City for my training in neurology and epilepsy at Mount Sinai Health System, and moved further north to Connecticut after that to join the faculty at UConn where I serve as an epileptologist and the neurology residency site director. I find that teaching residents neurology and EEG interpretation is one of the most – if not the most – rewarding experience in my line of work. Outside of work, I am an obsessive baseball fan, I enjoy watching and discussing a variety of movies, and I love a good game of bowling.
Matthew N. Jaffa, D.O.
Core Faculty, Neurology Residency
Neurology Residency Program Site Director, Hartford Hospital
I was born and raised locally in Foster, RI and attended Brown University for my undergraduate degree. There my concentration was Human Biology with a focus on the brain and behavior and I competed in the pole vault on the track and field team. Following undergrad I spent several years working in Boston on clinical trial research at Mass General Hospital studying ALS before moving to Philadelphia to start my medical training at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. There I met my future wife across the cadaver and followed her to Abington Memorial Hospital for my internship. My neurology training began in Baltimore at the University of Maryland and I stayed there an additional two years to complete my fellowship in neurocritical care at the University of Maryland and R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center. My family returned to New England for me to join the Neurocritical Care program here at Hartford Hospital where I also run the Ayer Neuroscience Institute’s NeuroRecovery Clinic (one of only a handful of like-clinics in the country).
My clinical and research interests focus on quality of life, neuroprognostication, and neuropalliative care following severe acute brain injury. These interests all coalesce around a deep interest in shared decision making and I have published a textbook on the topic with Dr. David Hwang. I am active within the AAN through which I participated in the Emerging Leadership Program as well as the Neurocritical Care Society where I am the incoming chair of the Ethics Committee.
When I escape from the hospital my time is filled with chasing after and learning everything that could possibly be taught by my 5 and 3 year old children.
Dr. Jaffa’s Google Scholar page
Ajay Tunguturi, M.D.
Core Faculty, Neurology Residency
Program Director, Vascular Neurology Fellowship
I was born in India. I graduated Medical school from Kakatiya Medical College, India and completed my residency in Neurology and fellowship in Vascular Neurology at University of Massachusetts, Worcester Massachusetts. Later, I completed a fellowship in Clinical Neurophysiology from University of Vermont Medical Center. I have spent time as a junior faculty/assistant professor at University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, Vermont for a few years and then moved to Hartford, Connecticut.
In addition to being the Vascular Neurology Fellowship Program Director, I am an Assistant Professor of Neurology at University of Connecticut School of Medicine and Co-Director of the Comprehensive Stroke Center at Hartford Hospital, Ayer Neuro Science Institute, Hartford, Connecticut. My areas of interest acute stroke management, vasculitis, resident and fellow education.
Amanda Hernandez, M.D.
Core Faculty, Neurology Residency
Program Director, Neuromuscular Fellowship
A child of Puerto Rican parents, I grew up in New York City and spent most of my early years and young adulthood taking full advantage of everything the city had to offer. I was actively engaged in performing arts, with a strong background in classical flute and jazz voice performance. My passion for helping others and bringing joy to their life led me to the pursuit of medicine. I am the first person in my family to graduate from college and also the first physician!
I attended Columbia University for college and ultimately made the great exit from New York City in 2009 when I started the MSTP program at Yale University School of Medicine. My dissertation focused on contextualizing immunologic dysregulation in autoimmune states with a particular interest in multiple sclerosis. My Ph.D. work fueled my passion and fire for understanding autoimmunity and our shared approach to neuro-inflammation. Throughout graduate school I spent time in the Yale MS Clinic and had the incredible opportunity to not only learn from amazing mentors but also groom my future interests.
I completed both my M.D. and Ph.D. prior to starting neurology residency (also at Yale, go Bulldogs!) in 2016. I participated in Yale's Investigative Neurology Program while in residency during which I received a R25 grant to study immune mediated neuropathies. This research bred my excitement for neuromuscular medicine. Given my desire to approach inflammation within the entire nervous system, I paired my experience in multiple sclerosis/neuroimmunology with neuromuscular medicine to build a robust clinical knowledge base for my patients.
Following my lengthily stay in New Haven, I proudly joined the faculty at University of Connecticut where I am thrilled to practice both neuromuscular medicine and neuroimmunology. I am in the process of building a biorepository for interesting and complex neuro-immunologic cases with the hope of pairing with our talented basic scientists up the hill in the effort of further elucidating the mechanisms of action underpinning neuro-inflammation. Outside of my research interests, I recently assumed the role of Program Director for the Neuromuscular Medicine Fellowship and am delighted to be one of the core faculty members for our shared residency program. I am also actively involved in medical student education and mentoring.
In my spare time, I take SoulCycle and Pilates classes, go for long walks with my Bernedoodles, think up fun new recipes in the kitchen, and enjoy the great outdoors.
Marie Eugene, D.O., MSHPE
Core Faculty, Neurology Residency
Clinical Principal, UConn School of Medicine
I completed medical school at the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, followed by Neurology Residency at the University of Connecticut. After completing an Epilepsy Fellowship at Yale, I returned to join the faculty at the University of Connecticut. I think back to my Neurology residency at UConn fondly. My chief resident took us under his wings and guided us through the first year. The faculty was also very engaged and eager to teach. When it came time for me to be a senior Neurology resident, I felt compelled to teach and provide guidance to the incoming junior Neurology residents given the positive influence that my senior resident had on me. This appreciation for teaching students and residents has persisted and has served as the underpinning for my decision to become a medical educator. Teaching and working with students and residents over the years has been one of the more rewarding aspects of my career.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family, traveling, and swimming.
Sandhya Mehla, M.D.
Program Director, Headache and Facial Pain Fellowship
I grew up in India and attended Shri M.P. Shah Medical College in Gujarat for my medical degree. Post that, I moved to the United States and attended the University at Buffalo School of Medicine for Adult Neurology Residency Training. During the time, I found two great mentors - one a stroke specialist and the other, a headache specialist. I did not disappoint either one of them and pursued my passion for both by completing fellowship training in Vascular Neurology at University of Massachusetts, Worcester and Headache fellowship at Hartford HealthCare Headache Center. I currently practice both and my clinical interest lies in complex cases where vascular conditions coexist with migraine.
Teaching always appeals to me and my love for the same drove me to join Ayer Neuroscience Institute and UConn. At present, I serve as the program director for Headache Medicine and Facial Pain Fellowship; and the Headache Curriculum Specialist for Adult Neurology Residency Program at UConn. Furthermore, to be one of lead educators in our virtual headache education program called “HEADucation” brings a great sense of fulfilment.
Being creative fuels me and outside work, I enjoy doing art and crafts. It keeps me grounded and assists me to disengage from a hustling life in healthcare.