Department of Neurology

Dr. Maria Bruzzone is a neurologist specialized in Epilepsy at the University of Florida. She graduated medical school from Universidad de la Republica in Montevideo, Uruguay and did her residency and fellowship training in Chicago. Her native language is Spanish and she really enjoys working with underrepresented trainees with a Spanish background. She is currently a mentor for the University Multicultural Mentor Program at UF. She enjoys cooking, traveling and spending time with her husband and little son.

Dr. Rawls is a 2014 graduate of UFCOM, and completed her residency in neurology at the Medical University of South Carolina. She returned to serve her home state of Florida following her completion of the Stanford Movement Disorders program

Dr. Adolfo Ramirez-Zamora is a neurologist specializing in movement disorders at the University of Florida. He graduated medical school from the Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara in Mexico. He completed neurology training at Loyola University Chicago followed by a fellowship training at the University of California San Francisco. He has participated in several mentorship programs for students with focus on diversity and underrepresented minorities in medicine. He was part of the first diversity leadership award/counsel created by the Academy of Neurology. He has diverse cultural background and he enjoys outdoor activities and sports.

Aisha Elfasi is a fourth-year UF Neurology resident. She grew up in the large and diverse city of Jacksonville, FL where her formative years were spent living with and learning from people from all over the world. In her undergraduate years, she spent time volunteering at her university as well as local hospitals and medical clinics which provided care and support services to refugees settling in the Jacksonville community. As a medical student at UF COM, she served in several leadership roles including Community Service Co-Chair and co-president of the Gold Humanism Honor Society Student Board where her efforts were dedicated to community service within the Gainesville community with a special focus on immigrant populations. Aisha is looking forward to serving on the UF Neurology Diversity and Inclusion Council to promote acceptance and inclusion within our department, clinics, and hospital.

Dr. Bryce Buchowicz is a neuro-ophthalmologist and is currently dually appointed with the departments of Ophthalmology and Neurology at the University of Florida. She completed Neurology residency at Yale University and neuro-ophthalmology fellowship at Emory University. Her clinical interests include idiopathic intracranial hypertension and cerebrospinal fluid leaks. She enjoys spending time outdoors and adopting animals in need.

Carolina is a triple board-certified neurologist with formal training in neurocritical care, electrophysiology, and clinical research., committed to promoting diversity excellence in the neuroscience workforce and reducing neurodisparities. As a diverse scholar selected by the American Academy of Neurology to receive the TRANSCENDS award (an NIH-funded initiative via R25 to enhance diversity within the neuroscience workforce), she had the opportunity to complete formal training in clinical research and clinical trials through a Master of Science program under a comprehensive mentorship for career development. This program was fundamental to equip her with the resources (from mentoring to formal training) she needed to thrive in a competitive scientific environment, write successful grant applications and maintain her scholarly productivity. She will employ this experience to guide trainees and junior faculty during all steps of the scientific process in translational science, from study design to dissemination of findings—in compliance with national and international scientific guidelines. Her commitment to diversity excellence is also translated into her scientific work. Carolina has and will continue to engage in relationship development with patient groups to continue incorporating their insights as we carry on clinical trials. She brings her training background, commitment to improving outcomes in the neurocritically ill and to ensure adequate representation of patient populations in trials and reduce neurodisparity, and position as Director of Neurocritical Care Research to the Neurology Diversity Council to help inspire trainees from underrepresented backgrounds to pursue their dreams, and support colleagues, patients and caregivers with a welcoming, inclusive environment. As a native Brazilian, Carolina enjoys spending time off soaking up the sunshine while devouring a book. Her favorite words are resilience, equity, equality, and love.

Crystal Yu is a fourth-year neurology resident. She was born and raised in Poughkeepsie, NY, to first-generation immigrants from China. Growing up at the intersection of her culturally Chinese home and her culturally American school and social life, Crystal gained an appreciation for the importance of diversity and representation in all areas of life. She went on to obtain her bachelor’s degree in neuroscience from Brown University and her medical degree from Albany Medical College. Since her undergraduate years, Crystal has been proud to work in addressing the needs of underserved populations in multiple ways, including volunteering at a free and equal access healthcare clinic, and teaching cooking skills and how to make nutritious, wholesome meals to the community. Crystal looks forward to serving with the Diversity Council to create a safe and inclusive environment for people of all different backgrounds and walks of life within the Neurology department.

Dr. Deepak Chhangani is an Assistant Scientist at the Department of Neurology, currently focused on ALS and AD research. He completed his PhD from IIT Jodhpur, India in Neurobiology. Dr. Chhangani hails from the Thar deserts of India, speaks Hindi, Rajasthani and English languages. He is keenly interested in helping under-privileged and under-represented people, particularly in issues related to education. Dr. Chhangani loves diverse forms of music, culture and natural places. He is also inclined to Yoga, Badminton, Chess, Biking, and landscape-photography

Dr. Diego Rincon-Limas is a neuroscientist with a PhD degree from the Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon in Monterrey, Mexico. He is strongly interested in issues related to the education, mentoring and professional development of underrepresented minorities in biomedical sciences. He served previously on the UF Council of Diversity, the UF Career Resource Center Advisory Committee, and the UF Minority Mentoring Program. He has mentored more than 25 individuals from underrepresented groups and is a Lifetime Member of the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science. He enjoys multicultural food, landscaping, and spending quality time with family.

Lorena Figueredo is a third-year Neurology Resident, born in Havana, Cuba. She moved to the States at the early age of 15, joining one of the many underprivileged communities of the cultural melting pot that is Miami. She completed her BS in Biology/Chemistry at Florida International University, while volunteering at a non-profit organization helping refugees with resettlement and employment opportunities. She completed medical school training in San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, Puerto Rico. There, she learned of different barriers to healthcare that stood tall even in a more homogenous, predominantly Hispanic population. As a physician, Figueredo aspires to be a safe refuge for her patients, while promoting a safe, unbiased environment solely focused on facilitating medical care. She enjoys working with the underserved population, as she feels that her experience as a Latina immigrant allows her to identify barriers to adequate medical care that could otherwise be invisible to physicians with different backgrounds. She is honored to have joined the Diversity Council, where we focus on building a welcoming, non-discriminatory environment that is home to patients and colleagues. It is not only a means of representation of the underserved communities within our work field; but also a voice and a powerful source of education. In her free time, she enjoys road trips, a good cup of coffee, and spending time with her family.

Dr. Vedam-Mai is an Assistant Professor at the Dept. of Neurology and the Fixel Institute at the University of Florida. She received her PhD from the University of Georgia, and received her BS and MS degrees from Bangalore University in India. Research in her lab focuses on comprehending mechanisms of neuronal demise in neurodegenerative diseases in order to improve therapeutic strategies for their treatment. Specifically, there are three main thrust areas to her work: 1) Studying the effect of chronic electrical stimulation [such as Deep Brain Stimulation, DBS] on the neurogenic niches of the brain, and comprehending the cellular-molecular processes affected via this surgical procedure. 2) To develop a novel immunomodulatory platform for the treatment of PD and to identify the role of the peripheral immune system in the efficacy of this therapeutic platform [in a preclinical model]. 3) Understanding the brain “metabolome” in aging and disease. 
Dr. Vedam-Mai has mentored several students in the laboratory setting belonging to diverse backgrounds. She currently serves as a mentor for the University Multicultural Mentor Program (UMMP). She is also a board member for the Academic Association for Women (AAW) at UF. She is a member of the Women in Medicine and Science (WIMS) group at UF. She is trained in Indian classical dance and music and performs routinely at various cultural events. She also enjoys playing tennis, traveling, cooking, reading, and spending time with her family.