Resident Life

Camaraderie with fellow residents

Our program fosters a strong culture of collaboration, support, and meaningful connection among residents. As part of a growing and now established residency, you’ll be joining a vibrant academic community. In addition to our own residents, you’ll interact regularly with over 150 residents and fellows across other established programs at UND and Sanford Health in Fargo, N.D., including Transitional Year, Internal Medicine, Psychiatry, Family Medicine, Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Geriatric Medicine, and Podiatry. We encourage prospective applicants to explore the collegial environment we’ve cultivated—one where you'll grow professionally, learn from one another, and build lasting friendships through shared clinical experiences, retreats, and social events.

Faculty and resident wellness retreats & social events

Current Residents

PGY-1

Anusha Akhai, M.D.

Ziauddin Medical College

Hometown: Elmwood Park, NJ

What attracted you to train at the UNDSMHS Neurology Residency Program? I chose this program because of my interview day! I could tell how involved the faculty is in training and helping the residents achieve their educational goals. The residents seemed like a close-knit community and a team that I would love to be a part of.

What are you plans after residency? Pursue a fellowship in vascular neurology

What is your favorite North Dakota activity? I'm looking forward to exploring the lakes and nature around Fargo. Also excited to explore Fargo's food and café scene, and street fairs.

If you weren't a physician, you would be what? A nutritionist/dessert chef focused on developing healthy desert recipes for those like me with an undeniable sweet tooth!

Sarah Doherty, M.D.

Indiana University School of Medicine

Hometown: Prospect, KY

What attracted you to train at the UNDSMHS Neurology Residency Program? I always found that smaller cities had a greater appeal to me because of how strong of a relationship one could build with their community. The interview process with both the faculty and residents made me genuinely excited to be a part of such a passionate and kind learning community. The fact that it’s located in such a gorgeous area, supported my interests in research, and that it provided one of the best options for my personal and professional development made it an incredibly appealing option.

What are you plans after residency? My career goals would include being involved in some degree of outpatient longitudinal care, continuing to be involved in research (either academic, community, or both), and to help educate others. I always planned to be in an underserved area, and to be an advocate in the medical field to whatever extent I am capable. I would love to find a way to blend my medical aspirations with philanthropic activities, and to be able to help contribute to improved community health opportunities and goals regardless of where I go. I am excited about working in the field of neurology, and I could see myself pursuing a fellowship, though I am not decided on which fellowship I would pursue. I have found myself very interested in neuro-palliative care, and would be very interested in developing a more robust knowledge of palliative care/ resources  regardless of what I end up sub-specializing into.

What is your favorite North Dakota activity? My partner and I are passionate about the outdoors and winter sports! We love that Fargo provides so many opportunities to be a part of nature!

 If you weren't a physician, you would be what? I would have considered going into mortuary sciences or pursuing a tattoo apprenticeship. I always appreciated a field that allowed for the blending of science and the arts, and I feel blessed to have the best of both in the medical field.

Abrahim Rimawi, M.D.

University of Sharjah College of Medicine

Hometown: Omaha, NE

What attracted you to train at the UNDSMHS Neurology Residency Program? I had a great time during my interview with UND and really appreciated how the faculty were enthusiastic about teaching and advancing the development of this program. I saw how the residents were happy and had great relationships with their faculty, showing a sense of a supportive environment within the program. 

What are you plans after residency? Pursue a fellowship in vascular neurology

What is your favorite North Dakota activity? I am looking forward to participating in winter activities as I have never experienced heavy winter before as an adult! I would like to try ice skating and would love to attend hockey games.

If you weren't a physician, you would be what? I think I’d be a pilot. Have always been captivated by aviation and the idea of traveling the world! 

PGY-2

Nikoli Brown, M.D.

University of Washington School of Medicine

Hometown: Billings, MT

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

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

Hometown: Lewistown, MT

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-3

Ramiz Kirmani, MBBS

DOW International Medical College

 

Hometown: West Palm Beach, FL

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

 

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 then 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

 

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-4

Hector Caballero, M.D.

St. George's University

 

Hometown: Tampa, FL

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? Matched into the Pain Medicine Fellowship at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine in Tampa, Florida (July 2026 start date). 

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

 

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? Matched into the Neuro-Oncology Fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York (July 2026 start date).

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

 

Hometown: Fargo, ND

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? General Neurologist, Sanford Health in Fargo, ND.

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.

Past Residents