Sima Biswas, MD
Medical School: Jawaharlal Institute of Post-Graduate Medical Education and Research
Residency: University of South Carolina
Why Iowa: I first became interested in the University of Iowa Healthcare (UIHC) after hearing great things about the neurology program from my residency program director. As I researched more about the Clinical Neurophysiology (CNP) fellowship at UIHC and subsequently interviewed with several attendings, it soon became clear that this program is a perfect fit for me.
The UIHC CNP fellowship offers hands-on clinical experience, a blend of excellent clinical training, a balance between EEG/Epilepsy, Intraoperative Monitoring (IOM), Sleep and EMG/ Neuromuscular disciplines and is complemented by a series of comprehensive didactic lectures, weekly clinical and scientific conferences, and one-to-one interactive experience with a diverse faculty. During my fellowship, I will be exposed to both the bread-and-butter and zebras of CNP. This will help me become a confident and well-rounded general neurologist at the end of my fellowship.
Lastly, Iowa City offers a unique blend of small-town charm and big-city amenities. There is no shortage of bookstores, restaurants, music concerts and outdoor recreation opportunities if one wants to briefly get away from work and enjoy life.
Stephanie N. Torres-Ramos, PhD
Completion Year: 2025
Education: Ponce Health Sciences University
Cole Toovey, PhD
Completion Year: 2026
Education: University of Iowa
Tyler Schmidt, MD
Medical School: University of Texas at Austin, Dell Medical School
Residency: Neurology Residency, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
Why Iowa: I am excited to be staying in Iowa City after residency for fellowship training. My clinical experiences throughout residency have helped cultivate my interest in neuroimmunology, broadly encompassing demyelinating, neuro-infectious & neuro-rheumatologic conditions. Our fellowship program provides diverse clinical exposure to these various conditions, via a robust inpatient consultation service as well as fellow clinic. Since moving to Iowa, I have benefited from excellent teachers and supportive mentors who have further supported my interests in medical education. I have also enjoyed the small college-town environment, complete with a vibrant downtown scene, wide open spaces for outdoor hobbies (hiking, biking), and Big Ten sports!
Aygun Asgarli, MD
Medical School: Acibadem University – Istanbul, Turkey
Residency: Neurology Residency, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
Why Iowa: During my Neurology Residency at the University of Iowa, I had the privilege to work with our Sleep Medicine faculty on a number of occasions. I was consistently impressed with their kindness, collegiality, enthusiasm, passion for teaching and commitment to lifelong learning. Amiable colleagues, the wide-ranging curriculum and ample research opportunities will provide me with a comprehensive understanding of Sleep Medicine and a healthy start to my career.
Aniket Mittal, MBBS
Medical School: Mahadevappa Rampure Medical College, India
Residency: Saint Agnes Hospital, Baltimore, MD
Why Iowa: I have always been inclined to Pulmonary and critical care medicine and that was part of the reason I was interested in Sleep medicine which complements training in Pulmonary and Critical care medicine. I was already working as a hospitalist at the University of Iowa Hospital and clinics. I was impressed with the diverse pathologies a Sleep fellow at UIHC is exposed to, including pediatrics, adults, Neuromuscular disorders, CBT-i, Pulmonary pathologies, ENT, etc. In addition, extensive research opportunities and teaching further accentuated my interest in training at UIHC. Besides this, I am interested in photography, working out, and watching anime.
Mizenzy Fassel, MD
Hometown: Golden, CO
Medical School: University of Iowa
Residency: Neurology Residency, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
Why Iowa: By completing my medical school and residency training at UIHC I had the opportunity to see the excellence of the stroke program firsthand. Being one of the oldest programs in the country and a busy stroke center, I knew that I would receive exemplary training.
Steven Kiel, DO
Hometown: Bloomington, IL
Medical School: Des Moines University
Residency: Neurology Residency, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
Why Iowa: The stroke service here is a high-volume, high acuity service with a lot of opportunities to learn both straightforward and complex management of stroke. The staff here are very knowledgeable and supportive of our education so I knew I wanted to come back after residency.