Our speakers include established physicians, CEOs, and students of the university. Everyone has a story to tell and an idea to share. Come meet some of the brightest minds and boldest voices of the NEOMED community. Come meet our speakers.
2023 Speakers
Rahul Damania, M.D.
Rahul Damania is a third year Pediatric Critical Care Fellow and education entrepreneur who is passionate about education and helping the community. He became a physician so he could connect with sick patients and apply basic science and critical thinking principles to optimize their quality of life. He aims to merge innovative learning techniques with traditional medical teaching which focuses on enhancing patient care. At TEDxNEOMED he will share what drives him, and how expert clinicians can propel themselves to higher levels of care.
Watch Dr. Damania’s talk here!
Alicia Shelly, M.D.
Dr. Alicia Shelly was raised in Atlanta, GA. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science from Oakwood University in Huntsville, AL and received her Doctorate of Medicine from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, OH. Dr. Shelly completed her Internal Medicine Residency at St. Mary’s Medical Center in San Francisco, CA. After finishing her residency, Dr. Shelly has been practicing Primary Care and Obesity medicine since 2014. In 2017, she became a Diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine. Her interests include Obesity Medicine, Preventative medicine, Women’s health, Diabetes and Hypertension. She started a weekly podcast & Youtubechannel entitled Back on Track: Achieving Healthy Weight loss, where she discusses how to get on track and stay on track with your weight loss journey. She has spoken for numerous local and national organizations, including the Georgia Chapter of American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons. She has spoken at the Obesity Medical Association’s 2022 Overcoming Obesity Conference . She has been featured on the Bruce St. James Radio show, and Shape.com She is an advocate for helping the underserved and is a medical director for the non-profit Hope Missions 360, which provides medical, dental care, and food to the underserved community both locally and in the Caribbean.She is a fitness enthusiast. She has completed 6 marathons and 2 Ironman 70.3.
Watch Dr. Shelly’s talk here!
Paul J. Lecat, M.D.
Paul Lecat, MD is a board certified Internist and Pediatrician and has been teaching at NEOMED for 25 years. He graduated from Tulane Univeristy and then attended medical school at University of Buffalo, where he was Salutatorian. He is a professor of Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and Family Medicine and enjoys teaching physical examination and simulation technology. Paul also enjoys being a Master Teacher in the Master Teachers Guild, and an AOA member.
He has been married to Frances for 34 years and his son, Paul, is in York, PA. Paul enjoys cooking, travel, and most of all salt and fresh water fishing. He is the inventor of the Ventriloscope, a simulation stethoscope used in over 400 schools in 40 countries.
Watch Dr. Lecat’s talk here!
Phaedra Norrell Ph.D Candidate
Phaedra is a fifth-year Neuroscience Ph.D. Candidate at Kent State University, working at NEOMED under Dr. Erin Reed-Geaghan. Prior to her time at KSU, Phaedra earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and German from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Phaedra has a passion for scientific communication and seeks out opportunities to speak on scientific topics she finds meaningful, not limited to the discipline of Neuroscience. Phaedra firmly believes that storytelling and effective communication have a place in science, and her educational, extracurricular, and service backgrounds reflect this value. Previously, Phaedra has given guest lectures in Political Science (KSU), Immunology (NEOMED), and on Avoiding Burnout in Graduate School (KSU). In her free time, Phaedra enjoys going to local breweries with her fiancé, reading fiction novels, and relaxing with her two cats.
Watch Phaedra’s talk here!
Tyler Nguyen M.D. Candidate
Tyler is a medical school student at Northeastern Ohio Medical University. I was born and raised in Akron, Ohio to two immigrant parents, refugees of the Vietnam War. After completing my education at the Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy, I graduated from the University of Akron with a Bachelors of Science degree in Biomedical Science. There, my foundation in science was built and strengthened, and I conducted research seeking to study preeclampsia. In addition to these endeavors, it was at the U of A that I was introduced to the rich history of ethics and bioethics by two excellent ethics professors who asked the hard questions I did not realize even existed within the realm of science and medicine. I was immediately enthralled, as the schools of thought within these classes seemed to complement the content of my STEM courses. Later on in my medical career, I hope to continue to study and work in bioethics in addition to my roles as a physician. When I manage to find free time, I enjoy trying new foods, weightlifting, learning new music, watching anime, and sketching. In addition to ethics, other areas of interest include history, philosophy, psychology, and world religions.
Watch Tyler’s talk here!
Brahmjot Judge Pharm.D. Candidate
Brahmjot Judge is a second-year pharmacy student at NEOMED. His upbringing in Stow afforded him the invaluable opportunity to observe the profound positive impact of education on both individuals and the broader community. This influence led Judge to pursue higher education at Bowling Green State University, where he successfully completed his studies and earned a Bachelor's degree in Statistics in 2019.
During the height of the pandemic, Mr. Judge served as an Emergency Medical Dispatcher in the city of Columbus. It was during this pivotal period that he developed a deep appreciation for the healthcare field and subsequently made the decision to further his studies in pharmacy.
After graduating, Judge aspires to give back to his hometown by working with underserved individuals in a community setting, thereby contributing to the betterment of the community that shaped his educational journey
Watch Brahmjot’s talk here!
2020-2021 Speakers
Tara Scott, M.D.
Dr. Tara Scott, Hormone Guru, helps people find the cause of their symptoms and get them on a path to optimal health. With over 25 years of experience and 3 board certifications in OB/GYN, Functional medicine and Integrative medicine, Dr. Scott has helped thousands of patients struggling with hormone issues including endometriosis, breast cancer, weight gain and more.
She is the founder of Revitalize, a medical practice focused on wellness and the creator of the online Revitalize Academy, a course to help patients improve their hormone problems themselves. After suffering from infertility and curing her own endometriosis, she now helps others achieve that same balance.
Dr. Scott has been speaking and educating for over 10 years and has taught doctors her approach in 5 continents. She has been chosen to give her TEDx talk fall 2021. For her expertise, she has been featured in The List, Authority Magazine, Thrive Global and on numerous podcasts.
Watch Dr. Tara Scott’s talk here!
Kevin Dieter, M.D., FAAHPM, HMDC
Kevin Dieter M.D. FAAHPM HMDC is a 1985 graduate of Northeastern Ohio Medical University (NEOMED), and is currently a Clinical Associate Professor of Family Medicine at NEOMED as well as serving as an Associate Medical Director of the Hospice of the Western Reserve in Cleveland, Ohio. He is board certified in both Family Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Medicine, and became a Fellow of the Hospice and Palliative Medicine Academy in 2009. He is active nationally in the Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, recently serving as Chair of the Spirituality and Humanities Special Interest Group. In addition, he is the 2019 recipient of the AAHPM Josephine B. Magno Distinguished Hospice Physician award.
Kevin remains active in medical education in diverse venues, including NEOMED, where he helped to develop the nationally recognized Palliative Care curriculum, which has a strong component of a “Hospice Patient as Teacher” experience during the Family Medicine clerkship. He is the recipient of several teaching honors, including the 2012 Tow Humanism in Medicine Award, 2017 H. Peter Burg Faculty Award for Excellence in Palliative Care, Summa Health System Community Preceptor of the Year, and Kevin was recently inducted into the NEOMED Master Teachers Guild.
Kevin has provided hospice and palliative care at several health care systems, and currently is focused on bedside care of the dying and their families as a physician at the 40 bed David Simpson Hospice House in Cleveland. Compassionate care of the dying also led him to his involvement in the Sacred Art of Living program where he is currently a mentor and facilitator, having completed the Anamcara Apprenticeship. In 2017, he received the Anamacara Award in Palliative Care. His ongoing hope is to incorporate that wisdom into medical education throughout the medical and nursing education system, and he is spearheading local and regional efforts to engage the community in dialogues around death and dying.
Watch Dr. Kevin Dieter’s speech here!
Eliot N. Mostow, M.D., MPH
Dr. Eliot Mostow is the Professor and Chair of the Dermatology Section at Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED). After completing his dermatology training at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, he then spent a year at the University of Pittsburgh where he developed his longstanding interest in wound care. He became a founding member of the Wound Healing Clinic at Akron General Medical Center (now Cleveland Clinic Akron General) and worked alongside a true multidisciplinary team for many years. He continues involvement in wound care, but spends most of his clinical time now as the President of Akron Dermatology (www.akronderm.com), serving the Akron, Ohio regional community for 28 years. NEOMED and other faculty appointments has given him the opportunity to mentor and teach many students and he has a genuine passion for excellence in medical education, prevention of errors in medicine, and medical ethics. Most importantly, he is lucky enough to be married to Michelle with whom they enjoy their 3 “kids”, Jackie, Daniella and Noah. As a family they value experiences and enjoy music, friends, art, paddling, travel and good people.
Watch Dr. Eliot Mostow’s speech here!
Lance Reidenbach, MPH
Lance Reidenbach is a current third year student in the college of medicine at NEOMED. As part of the CSU-NEOMED Urban Primary Care Pathway, Lance is passionate about working to bridge health disparities and combat systemic issues from an upstream approach.
Watch Lance’s speech here!
Jared Fehlman
Jared is a current third year medical student at Northeast Ohio Medical University. His experiences in leadership began early in his hometown of Jackson Township Ohio and were carried throughout his 4 years at The Ohio State University. At Ohio State he received numerous research fellowships, held numerous executive board positions on organizations and worked to serve the Columbus community by helping address local health issues such as the high infant mortality rate. Jared is passionate about using his role as a future physician to help advance medical innovation through investment in biotechnology following his completion of the REDIzone Future MedTech Entrepreneur Internship program. Jared also aspires to have a role in public health messaging and policy. Some of the things Jared enjoys most in his free time are spending time with those he loves and cooking just about any recipe he can find from scratch.
Watch Jared’s speech here!
Mackenzie Wilson
Mackenzie Wilson is a third year medical student at the Northeast Ohio Medical University. Like many young professionals, Mackenzie Wilson has grown up during immense technological and social shifts. These changes in education, business, and social expectations allow for unprecedented innovation and advancement, but harbor a seldom-acknowledged dark side. In medicine, every generation faces unique challenges, many of which are external. The largest and most dangerous challenge for this generation of physicians, however, has been created and perpetuated internally. This is a problem we are all reproducing every day, meaning that it is a problem that we, both as individuals and as a community, have the power to change.
Watch Mackenzie’s speech here!
Mark D’Agosta
Mark D’Agosta believes that small shifts in perception can alter the way we see, and interact, with the world around us. He started training Parkour over a decade ago and founded the free community Denver Parkour and Freerunning in 2009—eventually using his experience to create and implement a successful training program in his career as a Parkour coach. The constant pursuit of wellness, capability, and community that define Parkour culture drove him to medicine, fostering both his desire and ability to pursue this goal.
Watch Mark’s speech here!
Jay Shah
Jay Shah is currently a third year medical student at Northeast Ohio Medical University. Prior to his medical journey Jay was an aerospace engineer who served in the US Navy, but his time in service was cut short due to several disc herniations in his back. He has a unique perspective and wants to share his thoughts/concerns about the opioid epidemic.
Watch Jay’s speech here!
Ankur Kalra, M.D.
Dr. Kalra is an interventional cardiologist and medical director of clinical research for regional cardiovascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic, section head of cardiovascular research at Cleveland Clinic Akron General, a university professor at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine (Associate Professor) and NEOMED (Adjunct Associate Professor), and founder of the non-profit startup, makeadent.org. He is director of Barry J. Maron Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center in New Delhi, India. He is also the host of the cardiology podcast show, Parallax. He has presented late-breaking science at national and international scientific cardiovascular meetings, and has published over 200 scientific manuscripts in various peer-reviewed journals.
Educated at Indira Gandhi Medical College (Shimla, India), he completed medical and cardiology training at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (New Delhi, India), Cooper University Hospital (Camden, NJ), and Hennepin County Medical Center and Minneapolis Heart Institute (Minneapolis, MN). He served as a clinical and research fellow in interventional cardiology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and a clinical fellow in medicine at Harvard Medical School (Boston, MA). He then completed a year of advanced interventional and structural cardiology fellowship at Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center, Houston Methodist Hospital (Houston, TX).
Dr. Kalra is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease and Interventional Cardiology from the American Board of Internal Medicine, and a Diplomate in Adult Comprehensive Echocardiography from the National Board of Echocardiography. He is also certified in patient safety, healthcare quality, health informatics and leadership from Harvard Medical School’s 1-year Safety, Quality, Informatics and Leadership certification program. He is currently pursuing a Master of Science program in Health Economics, Outcomes and Management in Cardiovascular Sciences at the London School of Economics & Political Science in London, United Kingdom.
Varun Aitharaju
Varun Aitharaju is a third-year medical student at Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED). Conflicted between choosing medicine and technology/engineering prior to his graduate education, Varun aspired to learn about the integration of both fields when he entered medical school. For this reason, Varun developed an interest in innovation, medical technologies, and the utilization of social media in healthcare education. He, along with several other medical students, has been working with Dr. Todd Ponsky and Dr. Rodrigo Gerardo at Akron Children’s Hospital to assess how best to capture viewer interest and educate through technology and social media. The team also continues to create podcasts, Tik Toks, and other exciting media to enlighten viewers and battle misinformation. Additionally, Varun loves learning about finance and policy, dancing, and listening to music.
Watch Varun’s speech here!
Alessandro Brunetti
Alessandro Brunetti grew up in the small city of Mansfield, Ohio. He was educated at St. Peter’s Catholic High School. He later traveled to Columbus, Ohio to seek a degree in chemistry and psychology from The Ohio State University. There he established his fundamental knowledge of the physical and social sciences. Seeking to combine his interests in science and service, he sought a degree in medicine. Alessandro accepted a seat at Northeast Ohio Medical University in 2019, and is on track to complete his degree in 2023.
Over the years Alessandro has developed a deep passion for film, literature, and music. Some of Alessandro’s greatest heroes are Spike Lee, George C. Scott, Ludovico Ariosto, Rafael Bob-Waksberg, Hidetaka Miyazaki, Sean Bonette, and his mother Mary Anne DiAlesandro.
Alessandro firmly believes that vulnerability is the heart of compassion. Accepting one's flaws, shortcomings, and failures is the first step in connecting, growing, and healing with others. He intends to keep these principles within himself as he transitions from a student into a practicing physician.
Watch Alessandro’s speech here!