I was born & raised in San Diego, California. I first became interested in neuroscience in college, where I studied behavioral & physiologic techniques to assess cone ratios in the human eye. After college I became involved in basic science research. Specifically, I worked in a neuroscience lab that focused on correlating behaviour and cellular expression in order to determine the pathways of addiction, the effects of certain drugs on memory, & the effects of exercise on Parkinson's disease in rodent models. I then continued to peruse my interest in neuroscience through out medical school, and as a neurology resident. During my residency I was drawn to the field of movement disorders because of the large range of treatment options (from exercise to neurosurgery, with multiple medical options in between) and the diversity of patients. I have been involved in DBS research; specifically, looking at the effects of novel programming for essential tremor patients. And I am currently involved in investigating the effects of exercise on Parkinson's disease.