Meet Our Fellows
Fellows in the Department of Neurology are trained and mentored by faculty who are recognized internationally as leaders in the field. We offer fellowship programs in 11 subspecialties and include research and clinical practice in eight practice locations, providing a rich, diverse experience. Meet our current Headache and Facial Pain Fellows.
Thanh-Liem Huynh-Tran, MD
Born and raised in Santa Barbara, California, Thanh-Liem “TL” Huynh-Tran majored in Biology at Stanford University. He then returned to southern California to attend the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. There he developed an interest in medical education and was involved in the teaching fellowship program for medical students, mentorship programs for undergraduates, and the Los Angeles chapter of the International Brain Bee for high school students. In his free time, he enjoys wine tasting, restoring leather products, creating food sculptures, and playing with other people’s pets.
Noelle Kobayashi, MD
Noelle Kobayashi is a native of Southern California. She grew up in Orange County where she played soccer, hit the slopes, and spent too much time trying to capture lizards in an attempt to emulate her childhood hero Steve Irwin. She attended undergrad in Colorado majoring in Biomedical Sciences. While in Colorado she used her free time to hike, snowboard, go to concerts with friends, and shower her three fur babies with love. During her gap year she joined a stem cell research lab at UCI and became a hot yoga instructor. She decided the weather in California was just too unpredictable, so she moved across country to Ohio to attend THE Ohio State University for medical school where she developed a passion for education and health care equity. Her interest in neurology stemmed from watching family members develop Parkinsons disease and this interest was solidified during her Neurology clerkship. She is thrilled to be back in Southern California closer to family (the cross-country flight with a dog and two cats was never fun to coordinate) and is looking forward to putting all of the winter coats and parkas in a box in the closet that doesn’t get touched until the snowboard comes out!
Salman Hashim, MD
Salman was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. His interest in Child Neurology started in college when he studied Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology and minored in Middle Eastern/South Asian Studies at Emory University. While at Emory, Salman spent several years working as a research assistant in the Early Child Development Program at the Emory Autism Center. There, he worked closely with a multidisciplinary team to incorporate elements of ABA, speech/language pathology, and PT/OT therapies to develop and implement treatment plans for children with autism enrolled in the program.
Salman then went on to attend the Mercer University School of Medicine in Macon, Georgia, where he was heavily involved in Student Affairs, serving as the Student Body President, as well as working on several global health projects based in Central America, East Africa, and the South Asian subcontinent. His academic interests include neurodevelopmental disabilities, epilepsy, headache/TBI, and global health. His interests outside of medicine include both indoor and outdoor rock climbing, pickleball, traveling, exploring new restaurants/cuisines, and anything Harry Potter.
Previous Graduates of the UCLA Headache and Facial Pain Fellowship
* completed UCLA Steve Tisch BrainSPORT fellowship
** completed Interventional Pain training
2025
Molly Fensterwald, MD - Assistant Professor, UCLA Department of Neurology
Karla Minota, MD - Assistant Professor, UCLA Department of Neurology
2024
Barlas Benkli, MD - Assistant Professor, University of Florida
Fatima Traore, MD - Westchester Medical Center, Suffern, NY
2023
Shawn Conger- Love, MD** - Assistant Professor, UCLA Department of Neurology
Maria Pia Grant Tejada* - Associate Physician, Pediatric Neurology
2022
Peony Pak, MD** - Assistant Professor, UCLA Department of Neurology
Sinifunanya Nwaobi, MD, PhD - Assistant Professor, UCLA Department of Neurology
2021
Karen Morgenshtern Yacoby, MD - The Queen’s Medical Center, Hawaii
Katherine Podraza, MD, PhD - University of Connecticut, CT
2019
Dorothy Dada, MD, PhD* - Providence St John’s Physician Partners, Santa Monica, CA
2018
Joshua Kamins, MD* - Assistant Professor, UCLA Department of Neurology
2017
Chelsea Hesterman, MD - Associate Professor, UCLA Department of Neurology
2013
Mollie M. Johnston, MD** - Associate Professor, UCLA Department of Neurology
2009
Marisa Chang, MD** - Neurological Associates of West LA; Assistant Professor, UCLA Department of Neurology
Fellow Testimonials
Barlas Benkli, MD
At UCLA Headache I feel like we use all the cutting-edge treatments for our patients, and we are always up to date with the latest developments. We get the chance to learn from the world's leading headache specialists which broadens our horizon about the future of headache medicine. Furthermore, unique to our program, we use a broad array of interventional treatments which provides us with a very valuable skill set for our careers.
Molly Fensterwald, MD
Fellowship training at the Goldberg Migraine Program offers the opportunity to learn the nuances of headache medicine in an especially collaborative and supportive environment. A major plus of the program is the combination of structure and flexibility that allows fellows to explore individual interests, whether it be in education, interventional procedures, or research with top leaders in the field.
Karla Minota, MD
The experience of training at the UCLA Goldberg Migraine Program has offered me a profound appreciation for the diverse spectrum of headache disorders. This program continuously challenges me to meticulously diagnose and manage the most intricate of headache cases. I feel privileged to have the opportunity to learn from some of the most accomplished headache specialists in the country, whose insights continually enhance my understanding of the nuances of this field of study.