We are immensely proud of our current and former fellows – a talented, diverse group of brilliant neurointensivists. Each of them has shaped the program in a unique way, implemented their own ideas, and contributed to our program’s growth.
Yasir Salih, D.O.
Residency Program: Mount Sinai
Academic Interests and Research Projects: Medical education for neurocritical care trainees; decision-making in withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy, including the medical, ethical, and psychosocial factors that shape family and patient choices; point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in the neuro-ICU; advancing acute and preventative treatments for subarachnoid hemorrhage; and improving long-term outcomes for survivors of critical illness through post-ICU follow-up and systems of care.
Hobbies: Outside of work, I enjoy high-intensity training and strength workouts, spending time with my wife and son, and barbecuing — even on the rainy Seattle days.
Fellowship Goals: During fellowship, I hope to refine my expertise in the management of complex neurocritical illness, grow as an educator and mentor for trainees, and develop a focused research agenda that bridges clinical care with systems-based improvements. I am also committed to advancing work around decision-making in the ICU and post-ICU survivorship, with the goal of building on more patient- and family-centered models of care.
How do you take your coffee? Medium roast French press with two tablespoons of cream.
Katherine Alberty, D.O.
Residency Program: University of Washington
Academic Interests and Research Projects: I am interested in the intersection of pulmonary and critical care medicine with neurocritical care, particularly the management of acute respiratory failure and critical illness in patients with neurologic injury. My past research includes work on immune checkpoint inhibitor–related pneumonitis, perioperative VTE prophylaxis, and bronchoscopy-based biomarkers. I am also pursuing training as an end-of-life doula, which reflects my academic interest in integrating palliative principles, spirituality, and human connection into critical care practice and research.
Hobbies: Outside the hospital, I love strength training, hiking in the Pacific Northwest, and spending time with my four pets (two dogs and two cats) who keep life lively. I also enjoy exploring local markets, reading, and cultivating my home into a cozy, plant-filled, and spiritually inspired space.
Fellowship Goals: During fellowship, I hope to deepen my expertise in the management of complex neurocritical illness, refine my skills in multidisciplinary ICU teamwork, and grow as an educator and mentor. Equally important, I want to explore how spirituality, meaning-making, and end-of-life care intersect with critical illness — and how these perspectives can foster a more humane, holistic approach to neurocritical care.
How do you take your coffee? Strong, hot, and preferably alongside good conversation.
Eric Dornoff
Residency program: Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Academic Interests and Research Projects: My interests include how systems-level
advancements in acute critical care translates into measurable improvements in
heterogenous patient populations, and in the way that the pathology of young adult and
adolescent patients with neurological critical illness can help inform the care and
treatment of each other. Prior research has included using machine learning to try and
predict EVD weaning success early on in hospital presentation, and factors associated with safe early transfers out of the ICU for pediatric patients with ischemic stroke.
Hobbies: Rock climbing, hiking and biking.
Fellowship goals: During fellowship I hope to become a well-rounded intensivist capable of caring for any critically ill patient by continuing to build on my foundations from residency.
How do you take your coffee: Smooth, dark and full-bodied
Aaron Gallagher
Residency program: University of Washington, Neurology
Academic Interests and Research Projects: Endovascular Neurology and TBI
Hobbies: Skiing, surfing, running.
Fellowship goals:Improve leadership skills and to become the best intensivist, both neuro and general, that I can.
How do you take your coffee: I actually stopped this past year and am mostly only
drinking tea…
