2025-2026 UCLA Neurology Chief Resident Q&A
Meet the 2025-2026 UCLA Neurology Chief Residents!
Congratulations to Drs. Sebastian Green, Elaine Ramirez, and Edith Yuan for their appointments as the 2025-2026 UCLA Neurology Chief Residents! We are looking forward to seeing their leadership, care, and excellence in action. Read below to learn about their motivations to pursue neurology, aspirations for this upcoming year, and more!
What inspired you to go into Neurology?
Sebastian Green: The brain defines our lived experience by processing the world and determining how we respond. Neurologic conditions have a profound impact on this lived experience while revealing fascinating truths about how the brain works. These features inspired me to become a neurologist, and it has been a continually rewarding choice.
Elaine Ramirez: In college, I majored in neuroscience, so when I did my neurology clerkship, localizing lesions of the brain felt excitingly familiar. What ultimately drew me to neurology were the patients and the way their stories evolved through education and new treatments. I’ll never forget the first time I saw a stroke patient regain the ability to move their left side after receiving a thrombolytic. Similarly, in the outpatient setting, I enjoyed celebrating reclaimed normalcy in patients with multiple sclerosis on disease-modifying therapies. These experiences and great mentors showed me how fulfilling and dynamic neurology can be.
Edith Yuan: My interest in neurology was sparked by a brain immunofluorescence image in college that was reminiscent of my childhood fascination with astronomy. I was fascinated by the complex and beautiful neuronal network that guided our movements and cognition. In medical school, my inherent curiosity inspired me further to learn more about neurology; I was eager to identify and localize neurological abnormalities through detailed exams. Neurology emerged as the most intellectually stimulating field that aligns with my ambition to learn continuously through textbooks and unique experiences. Additionally, my research in neuro-oncology strengthened my commitment to merging clinical practice with scientific inquiry.
What are your goals for the next year as a Chief Resident?
Sebastian Green: Given my interests in medical education, I look forward to organizing and facilitating our excellent year-long didactics curriculum. I want to make sure it stays current to the dynamic and evolving practice of neurology, especially in growing areas like AI, genetics and precision medicine, neuroimaging, and population health.
Elaine Ramirez: My priority is to cultivate a successful and meaningful academic year by maintaining open communication, fostering a supportive culture, and enhancing opportunities for resident education. The chiefs that have come before us laid a solid foundation, and I’m excited to collaborate with my co-chiefs Edith and Sebastian to build upon their work.
Edith Yuan: My goals for next year as a Chief Resident are to enhance educational experiences and facilitate resident well-being.
What excites you about the UCLA Neurology residency program?
Sebastian Green: The people! We have an amazing faculty made up of world-class experts in their fields. It's a privilege to learn from them. Not only are they great at what they do, but they are also lovely, kind, and supportive people. Beyond the people, the scale of opportunity at UCLA is incredible, thanks to the breadth of subspecialty exposure, variety of training sites, and close ties with the University. No matter what your career goals, this program will get you there!
Elaine Ramirez: Without a doubt, the people! I am so inspired by this bright, compassionate, and hard-working group. Residency is tough, but it’s been so memorable because everyone’s been willing to support each other through it.
Edith Yuan: I am particularly excited about the UCLA Neurology residency because of its strong emphasis on both clinical excellence and education. The opportunity to rotate at various sites with diverse patient populations is truly unique and offers unparalleled clinical and social learning experiences. Additionally, I am inspired by the program's commitment to mentorship, with faculty dedicated to fostering residents' growth and professional development.
What are your career goals? How do you think this residency program will help you achieve those goals?
Sebastian Green: I want to be a general neurologist and neurophysiologist, with a special interest in EEG, at a teaching hospital. Through the residency medical education track and my chief year, I will have had plenty of opportunities to develop skills in teaching and medical leadership. The program also gives me great training in reading EEG and other neurophysiology studies, inspiring my decision to apply (and match!) for a neurophysiology fellowship here at UCLA.
Elaine Ramirez: I’m currently applying for headache fellowship and hope to practice in an academic setting. I’m fortunate to have great mentors through UCLA helping me through this process.
Edith Yuan: I am interested in specializing in movement disorders. The UCLA Neurology residency program has provided me with extensive hands-on experiences in diagnosing and managing a wide range of neurological and movement pathologies. The program's strong emphasis on mentorship has been crucial for my professional development in research, clinics, and education.
If you were a part of the brain, what part would you be and why?
Sebastian Green: My friends would probably tell me I am Broca's area because I talk too much. My answer is the auditory cortex because it is one of the main areas where music is processed by the brain. I am a pianist and guitarist and love music. Most of my inner conscience interprets the world in association with music in some way.
Elaine Ramirez: This is definitely a difficult choice, but I’d say the auditory cortex because music is my favorite form of art.
Edith Yuan: Primary auditory cortex because of my love for classical music.
We’re excited to have these three amazing leaders guiding the next year of UCLA Neurology residency!