Past Events

Adina Wise, MA, MD is a movement disorders neurologist at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Her research focuses on the genetics of Parkinson’s disease and dystonia, with a parallel interest in the ethics of emerging technologies in neurology, including genetic testing, brain-computer interfaces, and AI. Alongside her clinical and research work, she writes widely at the intersection of medicine and the humanities, exploring how language, narrative, and culture shape both the patient experience and the practice of neurology.

Blurb: 

Medical records have long been more than simple repositories of information; they are central to how physicians learn, reason, and communicate. Yet in the era of electronic health records, OpenNotes, and emerging AI tools, their role as educational texts is under pressure. In this seminar, Dr. Adina Wise will trace the history of the medical note from its origins as a teaching tool to its present-day transformation, considering what may be lost and what new possibilities may emerge as patients, trainees, and even machines become medical note writers.

Dr. Tamara Kaplan, MD, FAAN is an Assistant Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School and a faculty member in the Division of Neuroimmunology and the MS Center. She completed medical school at the University of Pennsylvania, followed by neurology residency and fellowship training in Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology at Mass General Brigham. Dr. Kaplan is a recognized leader in neurology education. She serves as Vice Chair for Educational Affairs for the Mass General Brigham Department of Neurology, Clerkship Director for the required four-week neurology core clerkship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Course Director for Mind, Brain, and Behavior, the foundational preclinical neuroscience course at Harvard Medical School. Her academic interests focus on curriculum development and innovation in medical education, with an emphasis on training future physicians through creative, student-centered approaches.

Dr. Christine Bentley is Professor of Art and Gallery Director at Missouri Southern State University and Visiting Scholar at the Center for Visual Arts in Healthcare and Brigham and Women's Hospital. She has a PhD from Indiana University-Bloomington and Masters of Arts degree in Art History from the University of Notre Dame. She teaches a wide variety of courses (from prehistory-contemporary art and culture) in the areas of Art History and Medical Humanities.

Her current research focuses on the relationship between medicine and art as well as the development of educational resources and teaching methodologies that highlight the beneficial use of art within medical curriculum. This is discussed within a TEDx talk titled, "Connection between Medicine and Art." Dr. Bentley has been awarded numerous grants to conduct research abroad and is a regular presenter at national conferences. Her approach to teaching art history is grounded in the belief that art is deeply embedded in cultural, social, and political contexts that shape how people respond to artworks and influence their use in various settings, including medicine. Her teaching and research explore the intersection of art and medicine, focusing on how visual arts can enhance observation, empathy, and communication skills in medical education and healthcare. Ultimately, Dr. Bentley's research emphasizes the transformative power of the arts in shaping more reflective and humanistic healthcare professionals.

Michael Stanley is currently neurocognitive division director for the department of neurology at Tufts Medical Center, as an author, poet, critic, ethicist, and historian, Dr. Stanley is recognized as a field-builder in the neurohumanities. 

Barbara Salsberg Mathews, MEd., artist, mime, and educator, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2020. Barbara Salsberg Mathews is a passionate advocate for living well with Parkinson's disease — especially through art and dance. She also serves on the Canadian Open Parkinson Network’s Community Advisors Committee. Barbara was recently the recipient of a grant from Parkinson Canada to fund her production of a free video series based on her "Mime over Mind" project, that uses mime as a therapeutic tool to help people with Parkinson's manage their symptoms. Barbara and Parkinson's Europe also recently released a collection of illustrations through a paperback and a free e-book entitled, “What Parkinson's Feels Like,” that showcased what Parkinson's symptoms felt like to many people around the world. All profits from the books are donated to Parkinson's charities. Barbara also recently re-illustrated the 5 Stages of Parkinson’s with women of different ethnicities. She wrote a guest blog for Michael J Fox Foundation on what motivated her to do this. You can find out more about Barbara

at these websites:

http://MimeOverMind.com 

http://SalsbergMathews.com

Pria Anand is a neurologist and the author of The Mind Electric. She is an Assistant Professor at Boston University, and she cares for patients at the Boston Medical Center. 

"Hallucinations, convulsions, delusions, and other symptoms shed light on the brain’s obscure machinery, according to this luminous debut from neurologist Anand. At the heart of the book is an exploration of the intimate links between narrative and medicine—how the brain slots confusing impressions into stories to find “order in the chaos,” but also how patients create narratives to understand their symptoms; how doctors selectively cull from that information to shape diagnoses; and how cultural narratives inform the ways patients and doctors view bodies, illness, and treatment. In the process, Anand elegantly transforms the clinical minutiae of neurological disorders into evocative poetry. It’s an engrossing exploration of the brain’s extraordinary powers and terrifying frailties. "

Reiko Füting was born in 1970 in Königs Wusterhausen of the German Democratic Republic. He studied composition and piano at the Hochschule für Musik “Carl Maria von Webern” in Dresden, at Rice University in Houston, at Manhattan School of Music in New York, and at Seoul National University. Some of his most influential teachers have been the composers Jörg Herchet and Nils Vigeland, and the pianist Winfried Apel.

Reiko joined the theory faculty at the Manhattan School of Music in 2000. Five years later, he became a member of the composition faculty and was appointed Chair of the Theory Department. In 2020, he was also appointed Chair of the Composition Department and is currently serving as Dean of Academic Core and Head of Composition. He has taught vocal accompanying at the Conservatory of Music and Theater in Rostock, Germany, and appeared as guest faculty and lecturer at universities and conservatories in China, Colombia, Germany, Italy, Russia, South Korea, and the United States.

As a composer, Reiko has received numerous prizes, awards, scholarships, grants, and commissions. His music has been performed in several countries in Europe, the Americas, and Asia. It is published by Verlag Neue Musik in Berlin, Germany; most of his recordings have been released on the New Focus label in New York. He has collaborated with a wide range of musicians, ensembles, and orchestras, with a particular interest in vocal ensembles and ensembles performing on period instruments. His opera on the life of the mystic nun Mechthild von Magdeburg was premiered at the reopening of the concert hall in Magdeburg, Germany in 2022. Reiko is Composer-in-Residence at the Gesellschaftshaus Magdeburg during the 2023/2024 season.

Alex Pantelyat is an Associate Professor of Neurology at Johns Hopkins who focuses on atypical Parkinson’s Disease.  He is also a talented violinist, who with his HAP scholarship aims to make music and rhythm an integral part of treating aging-related illnesses. His studies have shown that interventions such as singing can improve mood, speech, and swallowing in patients with Parkinson’s disease. More recently, in a pilot study of patients with severe (atypical) PD and poor gait, Pantelyat showed that walking to a march-like beat resulted in improved gait and balance — benefits that carried over even after the music stopped. As a HAP scholar, he is working now with an industry sponsor to develop a wearable device — a sensor on the shoe linked to a phone app with a playlist of favorite tunes — that will adjust the music’s tempo to the wearer’s gait. The goal of this program is to give patients with Parkinson’s and other aging-related conditions the opportunity to walk their way to better health at home.

Thomas Palmer is a composer and performer based in New York City. His works have been performed by ensembles across the east coast, including the Imani Winds and the Akropolis Quintet. Thomas is the recipient of the John and Lucrecia Herr award for Composition and the Arthur M. Fraser award, as well as the Presser Scholar Award for extraordinary musical and academic accomplishments. He was interviewed in 2019 on South Carolina NPR’s Sonatas and Soundscapes and is published by Murphy Music Press.

Thomas is an advocate for new music, and he maintains a full schedule of projects and commissions. Thomas received his B.M. in Composition from the University of South Carolina and currently studies under Dr. Reiko Füting at the Manhattan School of Music in New York.

Mattia Rosso is a movement disorders fellow at Yale New Haven Hospital (YNHH). He completed a neurology residency at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), where he served as a chief resident for the final year of training. During his time at MUSC, he developed a Neurohumanities group alongside Charlie Palmer, which has focused on monthly meetings at the intersection of the humanities and neurology for the past two years. 

Fun Facts: Outside of his work and neurohumanistic passions, Mattia enjoys cooking, reading both fiction and nonfiction, expanding his film knowledge, and taking care of his two cats.

As the Program Manager for LoveYourBrain Mindset and Trainings, Bridget oversees their delivery, growth, and quality. She also mentors our large network of Facilitators to engage and empower them to skillfully deliver our research-backed curricula. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and is an ERYT-500. In addition to teaching yoga since 2015, Bridget has extensive experience in developing yoga teacher training curricula, as well as facilitating training programs.She holds advanced certifications in trauma-informed teaching, iRest Yoga Nidra, and Yin & Restorative Yoga. With a profound belief in the transformative power of yoga, she is dedicated to cultivating inclusive environments that embrace individuals of diverse backgrounds. More than anything, she aims to cultivate accessibility and equity within the yoga community, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to experience its healing capacity, especially those impacted by brain injuries.

Dr. Luca Marsili graduated in Medicine and did his residency in Neurology at “Sapienza” University of Rome, Italy, where he achieved also his PhD in clinical neurosciences. He currently works as Assistant Professor of Neurology at the University of Cincinnati (OH). His research activity is related to neurodegenerative diseases, and more in detail to Parkinson’s disease, atypical parkinsonian syndromes, and other movement disorders with a particular interest in the investigation of clinical, genetic, and neurophysiological aspects of these conditions.

Dr. Javier A Suarez will complete a movement disorders fellowship at the University of Minnesota in summer 2025. He received an MD degree from Feinberg School of Medicine and completed neurology residency at Mass General Brigham. His clinical interests include the management of movement disorders with deep brain stimulation. He has worked on improving healthy equity education in neurology residency as well as improving accessibility to neurology educational materials generally through open-access videos. He is committed to increasing exposure and attention to neurology among local youth whose demographics are traditionally underrepresented in medicine via mentorship and partnerships with local schools. He has presented work on the neurology of comics at the American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting. He remains an avid reader of comics and graphic novels.

Suzanne Koven, M.D., M.F.A. is a primary care physician, writer, and educator. Born and raised in New York City, she studied English at Yale, medicine at Johns Hopkins, and nonfiction writing at Bennington. She practiced internal medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital for over 30 years and now holds the Valerie Winchester Family Endowed Chair in Primary Care Medicine. In 2019, she became Mass General’s inaugural Writer-in-Residence. Dr. Koven’s widely published work explores the intersection of medicine, literature, and narrative. Her acclaimed essay collection Letter to a Young Female Physician was published in 2021, and her upcoming memoir, The Mirror Box, is set for release in 2026.

Dr. Usaamah Khan is a Neurologist in Boston at the Massachusetts General Hospital. He completed his Neurocritical Care fellowship at Mass General Brigham, Harvard Medical School, and is currently pursuing a second fellowship in Clinical Neurophysiology/Epilepsy at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School. Dr. Khan has a passion for creating artwork inspired by his clinical practice of neurology, through which he aims to capture various neurological disease processes. His collection of artwork is titled Neural Blends, and his work has been showcased at various art shows, events, and published as cover art for the Neurology Clinical Practice journal.

Dr. Jonathan Duskin is a fellow in neurocritical care at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital. He completed his MD from Boston University and his neurology residency from Mass General Brigham/Harvard Medical School. He is passionate about brain health and nutrition, and is an aspiring amateur chef. 

Dr. Jesús Ramírez-Bermúdez will give a talk on the "Phenomenology in Literature and Neuropsychiatry". He is a medical specialist in psychiatry and neuropsychiatry, having graduated from the National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery (INNN) in Mexico. He currently serves as a clinician and leads the Neuropsychiatry and Cognitive Neurology Program at the same institution. Dr. Ramírez-Bermúdez holds a Doctorate in Sciences from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). He has published more than 100 research articles exploring the cognitive, affective, and behavioral aspects of brain disease. Dr. Ramírez-Bermúdez has authored academic books dedicated to the clinical and scientific principles of neuropsychiatry, as well as the clinical application of brain imaging. Actively involved in scientific outreach, literature, and cultural activities, he has developed academic projects promoting a transdisciplinary approach to mental illness that integrates narrative arts, the humanities, and brain science. He has published several books that combine elements of creative essay, scientific thought, and clinical narratives: Paramnesia (2006, novel), Breve diccionario clinico del alma (2010, essay), Un diccionario sin palabras (2016, essay), Depresión: la noche más oscura (2020, essay), and La melancolía creativa (2022, essay). In recognition of his literary contributions, he received the National Literary Essay Award from the Institute of Fine Arts in Mexico.

Dr. Constantina Theofanopoulou is the Herbert and Nell Singer Research Assistant Professor at Rockefeller University, Research Associate at Emory University and the US Department of Veteran Affairs, and Visiting Scholar at the Center for Ballet and the Arts at New York University. Her research aims to understand the neural circuits of complex sensory-motor behaviors that serve social communication, specifically speech and dance, and to identify potential therapies for speech and motor deficits, such as those encountered in Parkinson’s Disease. Her scientific findings in the neurobiology of dance have garnered worldwide media attention (e.g., New York Times, Dance Magazine), many awards including the Next Generation Leader by the Allen Institute, and the inclusion in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2021. Dr. Theofanopoulou is also actively involved in disseminating science to non-scientists and supporting underrepresented minorities and women in science. Additionally, Constantina is a flamenco dancer, having performed in numerous solo and group shows worldwide; she has been awarded with the first flamenco prize by the Spanish Dance Society, and is currently a resident fellow at Gibney Dance.

Dr. Dawn Hunter is an internationally recognized visual artist and Fulbright Scholar whose most famous and seminal body of artwork is a biographical portfolio about Santiago Ramón y Cajal. For the past several years, she has been developing a creative project about the life of Santiago Ramón y Cajal. Cajal's work lies at the intersection of art and science, showing the power of imagination to seek truth, and the meeting of beauty and meaning. In our virtual event, Dawn Hunter took us on an inspiring journey into the life and art of Ramón y Cajal. Find some of her slides below!

Edison Miyawaki, M.D. is an associate neurologist at Mass General Brigham and an assistant professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Edison Miyawaki led a phenomenal seminar on "Reading and Neurology" outlining the links between literature and the brain. In a highly personal account, he shared with us his life story – from studying English Literature at Yale under the legendary literary critic Harold Bloom to becoming a neurologist and being exposed to the vast wealth of knowledge of Dr. Simeon Locke whose interest in neuropsychology and consciousness informed Dr. Miyawaki's career. His own interest in English literature continued even after becoming a neurologist – a passion for reading turned into a passion for writing. This led him to write the book “What to Read on Love, Not Sex” where he looks at classical works to understand the complex emotion of love. There was so much more in this talk! Including saccades and speed of reading, advice for future writers, and the importance of using the literature as a tool to understand the mind.

Anna Krotinger is a medical student at Harvard Medical School. She received her BA in Neuroscience and Behavior from Wesleyan University, where her thesis explored how dance can help alleviate symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Anna currently teaches dance classes for patients with Parkinson's disease at Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Spaulding Rehabilitation, and McLean Psychiatric Hospital. In our event, Anna guided us through her adaptive dance.

Dr. Eric Leonardis received his BA in History, Psychology, and Chinese Studies at Hofstra University and his PhD in Cognitive Science at UC San Diego. Currently, he's a Postdoc Fellow at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. He's using machine learning to study how the brain controls the body in rodents, primates, and humans. Eric also uses film to educate popular audiences about neuroscience and the role of science and technology in society. He recently served as scientific advisor for the National Academy of Sciences Science and Entertainment Exchange to evaluate the scientific content in film scripts. He has been featured in WIRED magazine discussing “what creepy video game sounds do to your brain.” He is a recurring guest on KPBS Cinema Junkie with Beth Accomando and he frequently hosts science fiction and body horror film events with Film Geeks SD. In our event, he examines what perceptual, cognitive, and brain mechanisms are engaged when moviegoers watch body horror cinema, with special emphasis on the work of David Cronenberg. He discusses how to blend approaches from neuroscience and the humanities to inform public science education and film criticism.

Dr. Alison Christy became Vice Chair of the History of Neurology Section of the American Academy of Neurology in 2021 and Chair in 2023, but has been interested in the medical humanities and history for many years. Her work in history won the AAN Tyler Award in 2023 and the Lawrence C. McHenry award in 2024. She is the clinical director of the pediatric neurology program at Providence Health and Services in Portland, and the director of the Providence Center for Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology. She is Deputy Editor of the Journal of Child Neurology.

With Dr. Zach London of the University of Michigan, she made card games featuring amazing women from the history of medicine, called Endowed Chairs: Neurology and Endowed Chairs: Pediatrics, available at NeurdGames.com, and Neurdle, a Wordle-like neurology game, found at Neurdle.com.