Resident Life
Camaraderie with fellow residents
Resident culture and friendships will continue to grow in our program. As a new program, we don’t have veteran residents in our specialty area, but UND does have a variety of other established residents in programs such as Transitional Year, Internal Medicine, Psychiatry, Family Medicine, Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery and Geriatric Medicine. More than 150 residents in these various programs are within Sanford Health in Fargo, N.D. As our program grows, please return to virtually meet the people you’ll be practicing alongside, learning from, and enjoying resident retreats and social activities with if you’re matched into our program.
Faculty and resident wellness retreats & social events
Resident welcome luncheons
Advocacy news
AAN Neurology on the Hill advocating in Washington, DC (April 2023). Resident Dr. Andrew Sefain is featured below with ND Representative for Congress, Kelly Armstrong and Dr. Susan Scarberry.
Current Residents
PGY-1
Nikoli Brown, M.D.
University of Washington School of Medicine
Nikoli Brown, M.D.
Hometown: Billings, Mont.
What attracted you to train at the UNDSMHS Neurology Residency Program? I have always considered myself a small town person. Some of my favorite hobbies include bowling, darts, painting or pottery, and reading in my downtime. When I go out on the town, I enjoy finding a local brewery and listening to live music for entertainment. I chose UND because of its small town feel in Fargo while being within a day drive of my hometown and wife in Billings, Mont.
What are your plans after residency? Return to Montana to help meet the need for general neurologist in rural and underserved areas.
What is your favorite North Dakota activity? I am excited for winter to come and hopefully join a curling league.
If you weren't a physician, you would be what? If I wasn’t a physician, I think I would enjoy physics. I am interested both in astrophysics as well as particle physics. It would be amazing to see and work at the large hadron collider in Europe.
Amy Lin, M.D.
Western Michigan University School of Medicine
Amy Lin, M.D.
Hometown: Edmonton, Canada
What attracted you to train at the UNDSMHS Neurology Residency Program? I chose UND because I knew the program would provide excellent training. In addition, the faculty that I had the chance to meet during the interview cycle were very enthusiastic about teaching, and the residents were incredibly friendly!
What are your plans after residency? I'm considering a fellowship after residency. Right now, my interests are either vascular neurology or movement disorders, but I plan to keep an open mind as I explore different interests in residency.
What is your favorite North Dakota activity? Attending hockey games! Also trying out new food places and exploring parks around Fargo.
If you weren't a physician, you would be what? Probably a pharmacist...or maybe a pilot!
Jakob Plagenz, M.D.
University of Washington School of Medicine
Jakob Plagenz, M.D.
Hometown: Lewistown, Mont.
What attracted you to train at the UNDSMHS Neurology Residency Program? I was blown away with how friendly the faculty and resident were during my interview day!
What are your plans after residency? Perhaps pursuing a fellowship, but I can also see myself being happy as a general neurologist! I definitely inherited the teaching bug from my mom, so I’d love to be involved in academia and mentoring budding medical student.
What is your favorite North Dakota activity? Downtown Fargo has a lot to offer, and it's especially vibrant in the summertime. Between the various markets, street fairs, and eateries, there are a plethora of gems to explore!
If you weren't a physician, you would be? A quantum mechanics professor.
PGY-2
Ramiz Kirmani, MBBS
DOW International Medical College
Ramiz Kirmani, MBBS
Hometown: West Palm Beach, Florida
What attracted you to train at the UNDSMHS Neurology Residency Program? I was especially drawn towards the program after having the opportunity to speak with the faculty and staff and seeing how genuine and informative they are. It instilled a sense of confidence about the training offered here. I am also excited about training and serving an area with a heightened need for healthcare services, which offers valuable learning experiences from a variety of cases.
What are your plans after residency? As of now, I am interested in pursuing interventional neurology or neurocritical care. However, I am open to changes during residency.
What is your favorite North Dakota activity? My favorite thing to do in North Dakota is explore new places to eat with my wife, train hard at the gym, and watch races at Red River Valley Speedway.
If you weren't a physician, you would be? If I wasn’t a physician, I would’ve either pursued a career as a track athlete or a personal trainer.
Arman Saied, M.D.
California University of Science and Medicine
Arman Saied, M.D.
Hometown: Encino, CA
What attracted you to train at the UNDSMHS Neurology Residency Program? I chose UND to experience a new environment and broaden my medical experiences.
What are your plans after residency? I plan to go on to fellowship training and afterwards work in an academic medical center but may change my plans during the course of residency.
What is your favorite North Dakota activity? Pickleball.
If you weren't a physician, you would be? A Chef.
Taqua Tabassum, M.D.
St. George's University
Taqua Tabassum, M.D.
Hometown: Canoga Park, CA
What attracted you to train at the UNDSMHS Neurology Residency Program? I very much enjoyed my interview with UND. It gave me a good understanding of the support faculty provides to the residents and their well-being. This program would allow me to train in a comprehensive stroke center with diverse Neurological pathologies and provide me with the support system needed to continue my journey as a resident. Also, less traffic and affordable living expenses were a huge plus.
What are your plans after residency? Pursuing fellowship in vascular neurology.
What is your favorite North Dakota activity? I still need to explore Fargo. So far, loving the lakes.
If you weren't a physician, you would be? High School Science Teacher.
PGY-3
Hector Caballero, M.D.
St. George's University
Hector Caballero, M.D.
Hometown: Tampa, Florida
What attracted you to train at the UNDSMHS Neurology Residency Program? In the new era of virtual interviews, it can be difficult to gauge the level of compatibility with a program; however, my experience while being interviewed by UND Neurology faculty and current residents was a candid and welcoming one. They were very genuine and it was obvious their goal to provide a strong training.
What are your plans after residency? Pursue a fellowship in epilepsy or clinical neurophysiology.
What is your favorite North Dakota activity? I am looking forward to hunting season. I also like spending time with my co-residents.
If you weren't a physician, you would be? I would probably be a Rancher.
Joyce Jimenez Zambrano, M.D.
Universidad Catolica de Santiago de Guayaquil
Joyce Jimenez Zambrano, M.D.
Hometown: Guayaquil, Ecuador
What attracted you to train at the UNDSMHS Neurology Residency Program? I chose UND because I felt that the faculty and residents had a genuine desire to create a healthy and effective learning environment. It is also an exciting opportunity to be part of a new program and grow alongside it while learning under its exceptional faculty.
What are your plans after residency? Pursue a fellowship in neuro-oncology or epilepsy.
What is your favorite North Dakota activity? I spend my free time exploring the different parks and museums of Fargo.
If you weren't a physician, you would be? A psychologist.
Sean Montgomery, M.D.
University of North Dakota
Sean Montgomery, M.D.
Hometown: Fargo, North Dakota.
What attracted you to train at the UNDSMHS Neurology Residency Program? As a student at UND, I really enjoyed my neurology rotation here and immediately felt confident that I would get great training from the many exceptional neurologists and other staff that we would get to work alongside with during residency. The large catchment area offers plenty of the "bread and butter" cases of neurology to make us comfortable with common pathologies but also has a solid amount of the less common pathologies to give us a great variety of exposure. Additionally, my wife and I are from Fargo and love it. We have family here and were always able to envision beginning our careers here!
What are your plans after residency? Fellowship, possibly in neurophysiology neuromuscular but still undecided.
What is your favorite North Dakota activity? Fishing. North Dakota has many great lakes that are well-stocked with plenty of fish!
If you weren't a physician, you would be? A teacher.
PGY-4
Joshua Blotter, M.D.
University of Utah School of Medicine
Joshua Blotter, M.D.
Hometown: Logan, Utah
What attracted you to train at the UNDSMHS Neurology Residency Program? I was very impressed with how supportive and genuinely kind the faculty and staff were, and I was excited for the adventure of training at a new residency program. Sanford Health has a very nice facility here with a large catchment area and great opportunities to train.
What are your plans after residency? I'm very interested in epilepsy medicine and health care policy, I'd love to specialize/work in those areas. I plan to open my own general clinical practice in Utah. I'm also going to finally dust off my saxophone and join an actual jazz band.
What is your favorite North Dakota activity? I've really loved running on some of the trails in the state parks nearby, and in the Detroit Lakes area. I've also loved searching for the hidden (and not-so-hidden) gems in the Fargo food scene.
If you weren't a physician, you would be? A behavioral economist! My pre-medical education was largely in economics and finance.
Andrew Sefain, M.D.
American University of Antigua College of Medicine
Andrew Sefain, M.D.
Hometown: Los Angeles, California.
What attracted you to train at the UNDSMHS Neurology Residency Program? I was attracted to this program for many reasons; 1) The faculty are so warm and encouraging, to be able to learn under this group of physicians is a blessing 2) We train in a Level 1 trauma center that covers a vast portion of the United States, so we get a chance to see a wide variety of unique pathologies, and still see the so called "Bread and Butter" of diseases that you treat on a day to day basis, and finally 3) Fargo is an exciting town that is up and coming, it reminded me exactly of my college town, minus the cold.
What are your plans after residency? Accepted a Clinical Neurophysiology Fellowship with an emphasis in Neuromuscular at Keck School of Medicine of USC, California starting in July of 2025.
What is your favorite North Dakota activity? My favorite activity is going to be able to go Ice Fishing!
If you weren't a physician, you would be? A high school teacher! Or in the NBA, wish!
Praneeth Thadi, D.O.
Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine
Praneeth Thadi, D.O.
Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada.
What attracted you to train at the UNDSMHS Neurology Residency Program? After spending more than a decade burning in the deserts of Nevada and New Mexico, I wanted to move someplace cold. However, I chose UNDSMHS Neurology Residency Program mainly because of the faculty's impression during my interview. They were very sincere, which made me feel secure about the quality of training I would receive here. In addition, the high inflow of patients was reassuring for good exposure to a variety of pathologies. I also found the city of Fargo appealing. It is a peaceful city with no traffic, variety of cuisines, and friendly people. Also, there is a dairy queen at almost every corner. What more could one ask for!
What are your plans after residency? Accepted a Clinical Neurophysiology Fellowship at Tufts University School of Medicine and Harvard Medical School/Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts starting in July of 2025.
What is your favorite North Dakota activity? Working out, playing basketball with my fellow residents, and eating oreo blizzards.
If you weren't a physician, you would be? Physician Assistant.