Faculty - Human Brain Mapping Program, Pittsburgh
Faculty
Rafeed Alkawadri, MD
Cigdem Isitan Alkawadri, MD
Dr. Isitan is an Assistant Professor of Neurology at the Department of Neurology at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. She treats patients with a variety of conditions, including multiple sclerosis (MS), neuromyelitis optica, transverse myelitis, optic neuritis, neurosarcoidosis, autoimmune encephalitis, and other immune-mediated inflammatory conditions affecting the brain and spinal cord. Her research interests are centered around identification of neuroimaging biomarkers of early and subacute inflammation
Post-Doctoral Research Fellows and International Scholars
Dr. Bola S. Eldoqsh
Dr. Bola Shafek Eldoqsh, MBBCh, is a fellow in the Human Brain Mapping
Fellowship, with a strong and confidently earned academic foundation in
neurosciences, brain and neural anatomy, and the mechanisms underlying
neurological diseases. He began his medical journey in Egypt, where he developed
deep knowledge in neurosciences and a deep fascination for all the cutting-edge
technologies driving the evolution of neurological care.
Proud of the path he has built—through dedication, curiosity, and persistence—Dr.
Eldoqsh continues to pursue excellence without arrogance. His passion for
advancing neuroscience, combined with his commitment to lifelong learning, guided
his decision to join the United States to pursue the Human Brain Mapping
Fellowship.
In his current work, he is dedicated to exploring advanced brain mapping and data-
driven neuroscience, with a long-term vision of contributing to scientific innovation
that enhances neurological healthcare worldwide.
Dr. Rahul Jena
Dr. Rahul Jena, an international medical graduate from India, earned his medical degree from Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College, Pune, in 2024. After graduation, he joined the Human Brain Mapping Program at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center as a research fellow.
Dr. Jena is passionate about a career in academic neurology in the United States and is dedicated to embedding evidence-based medicine and patient-centered care as core values in practice. He believes these principles are crucial for improving patient outcomes and achieving clinical excellence. His interest in epilepsy has been further deepened by previous clinical experience in the United States.
Beyond his professional pursuits, Rahul enjoys watching tennis(former state-level player), exploring new coffee spots, reading, and watching movies.
Dr. Hamza Abdul Kareem
Hamza graduated from Jordan University of Science and Technology in 2016 and completed a Family Medicine residency at the same institution in 2022. He joined the Human Brain Mapping Program at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center as a research fellow.
His research interests include computational EEG and epilepsy, with a focus on advancing methods to study brain function and improve patient outcomes.
Alumni
Dr. Iktimal Alwan
Dr. Ayse Kacar Bayram
Ayse Kacar Bayram M.D. is working as Visiting Research Scientist in the Department of Neurology at Yale School of Medicine. She was accepted in 2017 after completion of 3-year postdoctoral fellowship training in epilepsy and clinical neurophysiology in the Pediatric Neurology Department, Erciyes University, School of Medicine, Turkey. In 2015, she was attended in epilepsy and clinical neurophysiology course in the Epilepsy Center at Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio. Prior to her postdoctoral fellowship training, Dr. Kacar Bayram completed 5-year Pediatric residency training at the Dr. Sami Ulus Children's Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. She received her medical degree from the Ankara University Faculty of Medicine in 2003. Dr. Kacar Bayram has published her research in peer-reviewed international journals in her field, and presented her work at several national and international meetings.
Tritan Plute, MD candidate 2025
Barak Davidi
Muhammad Mubbashir Sheikh, MBBS
About me: Originally from Pakistan. After graduating from Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad, Pakistan. I worked as a clinical Intern and did clinical attachments for a couple of years in Medicine and Subspecialties (Emergency Medicine, Neurology) and a primary care physician. In the U.S., I got an opportunity to work as a research volunteer at the University of Tennessee at College of Medicine at Chattanooga, TN, and Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL. Later, I got an opportunity to work with Dr. Alkawadri at Human Brain Mapping Center, UPMC, PA. It was a self-driven dream and passion to train under the USA's dynamic healthcare system. The human Brain Mapping Program especially under the mentorship of Dr. Alkawadri, was just the perfect match. The program offers a steep learning curve in cutting-edge research skills and practical application at the bedside.
Current Position: Internal Medicine Resident Physician at UHS-Wilson Medical Center/SUNY Upstate University, Johnson City, NY, USA
Current interests: To maintain balance between theoretical and practical knowledge on daily basis during the clinical residency training
Future interests: Pulmonary/Critical Care, Neurocritical Care.
Hobbies: Video gaming, Cricket, Cards, and Cooking.
Rebecca Khozein, MBA, MS
Imran H Quraishi MD, PhD
Adithya Sivaraju, MD, MHA
Qi Yan, BS
Tamara Wing, REEGT
Rawan Mahgoub, MBBS.
Felipe Branco De Paiva
Ahmed Taha, MD
Efe Fakir, MD
People
Human Brain Mapping program
Faculty, research fellows, international scholars, and alumni working across clinical neuroscience, electrophysiology, imaging, computation, and translation.
Leadership
Faculty
Director, Human Brain Mapping Program
Rafeed Alkawadri, MD
Associate Professor of Neurology at the University of Pittsburgh and clinician-scientist in epilepsy, clinical neurophysiology, electrophysiology, multimodal brain mapping, and human brain networks.
Read the full bio
Faculty
Cigdem Isitan Alkawadri, MD
Dr. Isitan is an Assistant Professor of Neurology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. She treats multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica, transverse myelitis, optic neuritis, neurosarcoidosis, autoimmune encephalitis, and other immune-mediated inflammatory conditions affecting the brain and spinal cord. Her research centers on neuroimaging biomarkers of early and subacute inflammation.
Current team
Post-doctoral research fellows and international scholars
Research fellow
Bola Shafek Eldoqsh, MBBCh
Dr. Eldoqsh began his medical journey in Egypt, building a foundation in neuroscience, neural anatomy, and mechanisms of neurological disease. He joined the Human Brain Mapping Fellowship to pursue advanced brain mapping and data-driven neuroscience, with a long-term goal of improving neurological care through scientific innovation.
Research fellow
Rahul Jena, MD
Dr. Jena earned his medical degree from Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College, Pune, in 2024 and then joined the Human Brain Mapping Program. He is pursuing a career in academic neurology grounded in evidence-based medicine and patient-centered care, with a particular interest in epilepsy.
Beyond medicine, Rahul enjoys tennis, discovering new coffee spots, reading, and film.
Research fellow
Hamza Abdul Kareem, MD
Dr. Abdul Kareem graduated from Jordan University of Science and Technology in 2016 and completed Family Medicine residency there in 2022. His research interests include computational EEG and epilepsy, with a focus on methods that advance the study of brain function and improve patient outcomes.
Program community
Alumni
Ayse Kacar Bayram, MD
Dr. Kacar Bayram joined Yale as a visiting research scientist after three years of postdoctoral fellowship training in epilepsy and clinical neurophysiology at Erciyes University School of Medicine. Her earlier training included an epilepsy and clinical neurophysiology course at Cleveland Clinic, five years of pediatric residency at Dr. Sami Ulus Children’s Hospital, and a medical degree from Ankara University Faculty of Medicine. She has published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national and international meetings.
Muhammad Mubbashir Sheikh, MBBS
Originally from Pakistan, Dr. Sheikh graduated from Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad, and worked across medicine, emergency medicine, neurology, and primary care. In the United States, he held research roles at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine at Chattanooga and Northwestern University before joining the Human Brain Mapping Program. He later became an Internal Medicine resident physician at UHS-Wilson Medical Center/SUNY Upstate University, with interests in pulmonary and critical care and neurocritical care.
People
Human Brain Mapping program
Faculty, research fellows, international scholars, and alumni working across clinical neuroscience, electrophysiology, imaging, computation, and translation.
Leadership
Faculty
Director, Human Brain Mapping Program
Rafeed Alkawadri, MD
Associate Professor of Neurology at the University of Pittsburgh and clinician-scientist in epilepsy, clinical neurophysiology, electrophysiology, multimodal brain mapping, and human brain networks.
Read the full bio
Faculty
Cigdem Isitan Alkawadri, MD
Dr. Isitan is an Assistant Professor of Neurology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. She treats multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica, transverse myelitis, optic neuritis, neurosarcoidosis, autoimmune encephalitis, and other immune-mediated inflammatory conditions affecting the brain and spinal cord. Her research centers on neuroimaging biomarkers of early and subacute inflammation.
Current team
Post-doctoral research fellows and international scholars
Research fellow
Bola Shafek Eldoqsh, MBBCh
Dr. Eldoqsh began his medical journey in Egypt, building a foundation in neuroscience, neural anatomy, and mechanisms of neurological disease. He joined the Human Brain Mapping Fellowship to pursue advanced brain mapping and data-driven neuroscience, with a long-term goal of improving neurological care through scientific innovation.
Research fellow
Rahul Jena, MD
Dr. Jena earned his medical degree from Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College, Pune, in 2024 and then joined the Human Brain Mapping Program. He is pursuing a career in academic neurology grounded in evidence-based medicine and patient-centered care, with a particular interest in epilepsy.
Beyond medicine, Rahul enjoys tennis, discovering new coffee spots, reading, and film.
Research fellow
Hamza Abdul Kareem, MD
Dr. Abdul Kareem graduated from Jordan University of Science and Technology in 2016 and completed Family Medicine residency there in 2022. His research interests include computational EEG and epilepsy, with a focus on methods that advance the study of brain function and improve patient outcomes.
Program community
Alumni
Ayse Kacar Bayram, MD
Dr. Kacar Bayram joined Yale as a visiting research scientist after three years of postdoctoral fellowship training in epilepsy and clinical neurophysiology at Erciyes University School of Medicine. Her earlier training included an epilepsy and clinical neurophysiology course at Cleveland Clinic, five years of pediatric residency at Dr. Sami Ulus Children’s Hospital, and a medical degree from Ankara University Faculty of Medicine. She has published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national and international meetings.
Muhammad Mubbashir Sheikh, MBBS
Originally from Pakistan, Dr. Sheikh graduated from Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad, and worked across medicine, emergency medicine, neurology, and primary care. In the United States, he held research roles at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine at Chattanooga and Northwestern University before joining the Human Brain Mapping Program. He later became an Internal Medicine resident physician at UHS-Wilson Medical Center/SUNY Upstate University, with interests in pulmonary and critical care and neurocritical care.