Julie Crocker, M.D.
Julie Crocker grew up in Honolulu, HI, enjoying the many beautiful beaches, hikes and parks. When she turned 18, she decided to get as far away from the islands as she could, and attended college at Northeastern University in Boston, MA. Tired of the cold, she returned to Hawaii to attend medical school at the John A Burns School of Medicine. While in medical school, she enjoyed mentoring undergraduate students while researching environmental risk factors for Multiple Sclerosis and the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on neurologic patients.

In her free time, she enjoys hobbies such as writing, woodworking, knitting and sewing. Julie is excited to start a new chapter of her life at OHSU with her rescue dog, Puna. 

Alicia Dupre, M.D.
Alicia Dupre grew up in a small town called Barrington, New Hampshire where she spent her free time around dogs and flying planes before traveling down to Boston for college and Medical School at Boston University. A history buff, Alicia loved the “Wicked” old buildings and atmosphere of New England, and throughout college split her time between a Cellular, Molecular, Genetic Biology Major and a History Minor before finding her place in medicine after volunteering with Boston Children’s Hospital. Throughout medical school, she continued volunteering, engaging with Boston’s homeless population on once-monthly Tuesday evenings and Parkinson’s Patients on Sundays. It was through these extracurriculars that she came to love Neurology, in particular the Neuro-ICU. However, she was not just content with exploring the brain on Earth and was fortunate to spend time researching our bodies in space with NASA at the end of her medical school career. She saw the Pacific Northwest for the first time when she started her PGY-2 Neurology year Bootcamp but is loving everything about it.

In her spare time, she loves reading, is a huge movie buff, spending hours at the beach or on the water, and taking up new hobbies such as Paddleboarding, learning the Ukulele, and trying to understand the piano. 

Michelle Nguyen, M.D.
Michelle Nguyen was born in SoCal but grew up in the boonies of the San Francisco Bay Area. For college, she moved across the country to Alabama where she reluctantly adopted the phrase “y’all” and discovered her secret talent of eating her weight in crawfish in record times. She studied Neuroscience and Philosophy at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and became interested in public health and addressing health inequities. Throughout her undergraduate career she volunteered her time as a counselor for the Crisis Hotline, worked as a rural medical outreach volunteer, and founded a chapter of PERIOD, an organization promoting equitable access to menstrual hygiene products and empowering menstruators to take charge of their lives through advocacy, education, and service. She stayed at UAB for medical school where she continued to work with underserved populations and discovered her passion for Neurology, engaging in multiple QI projects related to stroke and memory disorders.

In her free time, she loves to hike, make origami, eat spicy food, and watch sci-fi/dystopian television shows. After a long stint in the southeast, Michelle is thrilled to be returning to the west coast (best coast) and fulfilling her long-time dream of living in the Pacific Northwest. 

Daniel Quinlan, M.D.
Daniel was raised in Eagle River, Alaska, located 20 minutes north of Anchorage. He received his biology degree at the University of Alaska Anchorage, and during college, researched Alaskan ethnobotanicals and worked in mental health and as a scribe at his local ER. During medical school at the University of Washington School of Medicine, he volunteered by talking to high school students about careers in medicine and worked for a year as a pathology “post-sophomore fellow” in the UW pathology department. Ultimately, he followed his original passion for Neurology with plans to return home to Alaska to serve his community.

Outside of medicine, Daniel loves rock climbing, mountain biking, reading, movies, and playing board games and video games with friends. He also enjoys spending time with his partner and his dog, Axel. Daniel is thrilled to stay in the Pacific NW, and to train in Portland at OHSU. 

Paige Skorseth, M.D.
Paige was born and raised in Baldwin, Wisconsin. She moved to River Falls, Wisconsin prior to high school, and then attended DePaul University (Chicago, IL) for her undergraduate degree in Bioscience. At DePaul, Paige was also captain of the cross country and track & field teams. It was her experience as a Division I athlete that interested her in the role of lifestyle, and specifically diet and exercise, in neurologic disease. She returned to the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health for medical school. During her medical school time, she also pursued certificates in clinical research and public health. Some of her past research has focused on eating disorders and iron deficiency in elite athletes, parental and patient expectations for the diagnosis of pediatric concussion, ketogenic diet in pediatric epilepsy, and the correlation of concussion outcomes with certain social determinants of health.

Her hobbies include kiteboarding, surfing, trail running (often with her parents), fishing, hiking, and traveling. This year, she is looking forward to making new friends, entering the amazing Portland running scene, and visiting every yurt in the Pacific Northwest.

Rachael Eby, D.O.
Rachael is from Traverse City, Michigan. She attended the University of Michigan, where she majored in Neuroscience and minored in Music. During her time at the University of Michigan, Rachael worked in a neurolinguistics lab researching models of language comprehension and their connection to neural data collected via EEG. After undergrad, she spent a year volunteering in a community for people with developmental disabilities in Chicago called Misericordia before returning to Michigan to attend medical school at Michigan State College of Osteopathic Medicine. At MSUCOM, she was on the board for the school's AMWA chapter and helped plan mentoring events for her fellow students.

Outside of medicine, Rachael enjoys playing with her cat, Nox, hiking, cycling, running, and traveling with her boyfriend.

Alexa Lyon, M.D.
Alexa was born and raised in Shakopee, MN. She headed just across the border to Milwaukee, WI to attend Marquette University, where she completed a BS in Biomedical Science. During her undergraduate studies, Alexa began working as a nursing assistant and nurtured a passion for working with patients, which she continued after graduation. Embracing the lakes and snow of Minnesota, she decided to further pursue medicine at the University of Minnesota. Throughout medical school, she continued volunteering with underserved communities at the Integrative Health Clinic of Minnesota and developed a special interest in Palliative Care.

Outside of medicine, Alexa enjoys discovering new restaurants, bookstores, and plant nurseries. She loves hiking and is excited to spend time exploring her new home in Oregon. Most of all, she enjoys spending time with her fiancé, Lucas, and their two cats.

Scott Shakal, D.O.
Scott was born and raised in Plano, Texas. He headed south to attend the University of Texas at Austin where he earned degrees in both biology and ancient history & classical civilization. After college, Scott took a full-time position in a cognitive neuroscience lab at UT Dallas, a lab in which he interned for four years prior to accepting the full-time position. In the lab, he worked on projects focused on semantic memory and word finding in healthy adults and patient populations. Scott’s interest in neuroscience transitioned into neurology by working with patients, particularly veterans, at the lab. One year later, he attended the University of North Texas Health Science Center for medical school where his interests in neurology continued to grow.

Outside of medicine, Scott enjoys hiking, swimming, and running, is an avid reader and enjoys watching movies. Scott is thrilled to be embarking on a new adventure outside of Texas and looks forward to exploring the Pacific NW.

Luke Smith, M.D.
Luke was born in the city of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the northeast of the United Kingdom. He moved stateside at a young age and grew up in the northeast of Nebraska, in a town called Norfolk. He attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he graduated with a B.S. in Biochemistry. Luke’s love of the outdoors drew him westward, and he completed his medical degree at the Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific Northwest (COMP-NW) in Oregon. During his time at COMP-NW, he founded and led a chapter of Students for a National Health Program, completed and presented his research in the field of neurodegenerative disease, and served as a volunteer to help establish a bingo/exercise program at the Lebanon Senior Center.

In his free time, Luke enjoys hiking, backpacking, reading, playing and watching soccer, and being mediocre at pub quizzes. He is thrilled to be starting at OHSU and staying in Portland with his wonderful partner, Tara, and their cat, Momo.

Andrew Valenciano, M.D.
Andrew was born and raised in San Diego, California. He didn’t move far for undergrad, attending the University of California, San Diego where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry. After graduating, he became EMT certified and worked as an EMT serving the city of San Diego, a role he served in for two years until his acceptance to the UCSD School of Medicine. As a medical student, Andrew discovered his passion for Neurology and pursued academic interests in Neuropalliative Care, medical education, and Neuroimmunology/Neuro-COVID-19 clinical research.

In his free time, he enjoys hiking, trail running, playing guitar, and listening to podcasts, and he has a newfound interest in meditation. Though San Diego has always been his home, Andrew is incredibly excited to start his residency at OHSU and to explore Portland!

Maddie Evans, M.D.
Maddie was raised in Neoga, a small town in central Illinois. She stayed in Illinois for her undergraduate studies at Illinois Wesleyan University, where she double majored in Biology and Hispanic Studies. After graduating, she attended Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis. Throughout medical school, Maddie was active in the student‐run free clinic in various roles, such as Spanish interpreter, Education Chair, and the inaugural Neurology Clinic Chair. Her research areas of interest in medical school included public health and community‐engaged research regarding health disparities.

Outside of medicine, she loves cycling, doing any type of puzzle, cooking vegetarian recipes, and being an urban homesteader (she had a garden and chickens in Indy and plans to do the same in Portland). Maddie, her husband Ryan, and their 14‐year‐old dog Marco are excited for the next chapter in Oregon!

Emily Rom, D.O.
Emily was born in rural Kodiak, AK and raise in Anchorage. Throughout her childhood, she discovered a respect for the mountains, with many mountaineering adventures in the Arctic and throughout Alaska. She attended the University of Alaska in Anchorage for her BS in Biological Sciences, which included extensive research in neuroscience. Following undergrad, Emily taught Anatomy and Physiology labs at the University of Alaska and discovered a passion for teaching. In addition to her academic pursuits, she worked in the ski industry for nine years as an alpine ski race coach and ski instructor, which brought her to Park City, UT for a season. She later attended medical school at the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Emily is excited to return to the Pacific NW and is already planning many climbs and packrafting adventures.

Kimberly Wang, M.D.
Kimberly was born in Austin, TX and raised in the suburbs of Los Angeles, CA. She left the sunny shores of California to study at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, where she earned her degree in Neuroscience. Following graduation, Kim realized she wasn’t quite cold enough and decided to attend medical school at Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine in Rochester, MN. There, she pursued her interest in education and teaching, conducted clinical research in neuro‐oncology, and spent time volunteering with cancer patients. During this time, Kim also met her now husband and fellow resident, Xander Schmidt.

Outside of medicine, she enjoys hiking, cooking new recipes to share with friends, finding new restaurants, drawing, rollerblading, and playing the drums. Kim, Xander, and their dog, Coco, are excited to embark on their new adventure in Oregon!

Bix Watson, M.D.
Bix was raised in Vancouver, BC and earned her bachelor’s degree in Anatomy and Cell Biology at McGill University in Montreal. During her studies, she did research in behavioral neuroendocrinology and on the neurobiology of vocal communication. Between undergrad and medical school, she pursued clinical outcomes research in functional neurosurgery at the Montreal Neurological Institute; she also worked on a project examining the intersection of medicine and agriculture at UC Berkeley. Bix attended medical school at the University of Rochester in upstate New York, where she was actively involved with the department of Medical Humanities and Bioethics, with a focus on the clinical built environment. This was also, where she discovered her fascination with neurology and her growing interest in medical education.

In her free time, Bix loves to be outside – whether hiking, gardening, or taking her bike out for a ride. She is thrilled to be coming home to the beautiful Pacific NW and starting her residency at OHSU.

Nicholas (Nick) Woods, M.D., Ph.D.
Nick was born in Portland and journeyed to the east coast to attend Wesleyan University in Connecticut, where he studied Neuroscience and became fascinated with how the brain mediates behavior. After college, he returned to Portland for a year to do research at the Vollum Institute on the development of synapses in adult‐born neurons within the hippocampus, a key memory center in the brain. Nick’s interest in research led him to apply for MD/PhD programs, and he moved to San Francisco to attend UCSF’s medical scientist training program. In the lab, he continued his study of the hippocampus by using 2‐photon microscopy to view populations of neurons in the living brain during memory formation and retrieval. After completing his PhD, Nick returned to medical school and discovered a joy for clinical Neurology; he was inspired by clinicians who could diagnose and manage complex neurologic illness with keen intuition and a fastidious exam. He especially connected with the veteran population and chose to spend the majority of his clinical clerkships at the VA hospital to be a part of serving this group.

Outside of medicine, he is an avid cyclist, first as a commuter, then as a more obsessive road cyclist, and enjoys embarking on endurance rides and exploring new areas on bike. Nick is excited and relieved to return to his hometown for residency with his wife, Maria, an exceptionally talented glass artist. They plan to explore the entire NW on their bikes together, which may take some time.

Monica Becher, M.D.
Monica was born in West Palm Beach, FL but primarily grew up near Sacramento, CA, where she was raised on a small family farm. She began her undergraduate education at Sierra College in Rocklin, CA before transferring to UC Davis, where she earned a degree in Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior. During this time, Monika worked as a physics tutor and martial arts instructor. She attended medical school at the University of Nevada - Reno, where she enjoyed volunteering at student-run and vaccination clinics, especially those that traveled to serve rural populations. She also developed her passion for medical education through multiple tutoring and supplemental instruction projects. Outside of medicine, Monika enjoys hiking, crafting, baking, and anything to do with storytelling, whether that be reading books, listening to podcasts, watching movies, or creative writing.

She is looking forward to exploring all that Portland and the surrounding areas have to offer. 

Michelle Chu, D.O.
Michelle earned a B.S in Biology, with a minor in Neuroscience, from the University of San Francisco. After graduation, she worked as a case manager for a private medical group for the next five years, coordinating care and serving as a health coach for medically complex patients. During this time, she also took postbac courses at UC Berkeley in preparation for medical school. Michelle completed her medical education at Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Nevada. Her volunteer experiences included providing outreach care for homeless youth, running a clinic for inner city homeless populations in San Francisco, and cofounding a street medicine program. She also spent time on a research project evaluating outcomes of MS therapy and another on ADHD interventions.

In her free time, she enjoys painting, reading and book collecting, and baking.

Sam Sosland, M.D.
Sam was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri. He attended Harvard University, where he majored in history. After surviving four years of snowdrifts in the Northeast, he returned to his hometown and worked for the next two years as a clinical research assistant before matriculating to the University of Kansas School of Medicine. During medical school, Sam stayed busy by working with the administration to formally incorporate the health impacts of climate change into the medical school curriculum. He also took on a leadership role in the free student-run health clinic, where he coordinated gender affirming care for transgender and gender diverse individuals. Sam discovered his passion for neurology during his clinical rotations and looks forward to advancing his neurology training in residency.

Outside of medicine, Sam enjoys reading, running, binge-watching TV series, trying to keep his plants alive, and spending time with friends. He is excited to start his new chapter in the Pacific NW! 

Chelsea Sykora, M.D.
Chelsea was born and raised in Los Angeles and earned her B.S. in Human Biology at UC San Diego. She spent the next three years working in research and development at a biotechnology and pharmaceutical company in San Diego, developing nano-antibodies against a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic targets. Chelsea moved cross-country to Boston to complete her master’s degree in medical sciences at Boston University and attended medical school there as well. During medical school, she conducted clinical research in neurocritical care, studying the use of electrooculography and AI in neuroprognostication.

In her free time, Chelsea enjoys the performing arts (singing, theater, piano), exploring new places and restaurants, and getting outdoors. She is absolutely thrilled to be coming back to the west coast for this new adventure in the PNW! 

Zoe Thuesmunn, M.D.
Zoe was born and raised in Sammamish, WA, a suburb outside of Seattle. She completed her undergraduate degree in biochemistry with a minor in diversity studies from the University of Washington, where she also became involved in research into the genetic basis of epileptic disorders. She took two gap years in which she worked as a research coordinator at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance working on clinical trials for leukemia and lymphoma and volunteering as an English and math tutor for under-resourced kids in Seattle. She then returned to the University of Washington for medical school. Outside of medicine she enjoys reading fantasy novels, playing cozy video games, and watercolor painting (casually). She is moving with her husband, Carson, and they have no pets yet but are planning on finally getting two kittens once settled in Portland! She is excited to explore new restaurants in Portland and join the OHSU community!