Neurology Residency Columbia - Faculty

Y. Swamy Venkatesh, MD, DM, FRCP(Edin), is a professor and vice chair for medical education in the Department of Neurology at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia, where he serves as the program director for the Neurology Residency Program.

Dr. Venkatesh graduated from Bangalore Medical College and trained in internal medicine at the University of the West Indies and UK. He was a fellow in endocrinology at MD Anderson Cancer Center and later on finished residency in neurology at the combined program at Boston City Hospital, Lahey Clinic, New England Deaconess Hospital and St. Elizabeth's Medical Center. He underwent fellowship training in EMG/clinical neurophysiology and neuromuscular disease at Brigham and Women's Hospital (Harvard Medical School).

He is boardcertified in neurology with added qualification in clinical neurophysiology, neuromuscular medicine and vascular neurology. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Electrodiagnostic medicine and a fellow of the Royal College of the Physicians (Edinburgh), the American Academy of Neurology and the American Association for Neuromuscular and Electrodagnostic Medicine.

Venkatesh's research interests include diabetic neuropathy, endocrine myopathies, SFEMG,spinal cord reflexes in CRPS, novel uses of botulinum toxin and vascular neurology in Caribbean islanders.

Souvik Sen, MD, is a professor and chair of the Neurology Department. An internationally recognized stroke neurologist, he joined the University of South Carolina School of Medicine faculty in January 2010 and played an instrumental role in developing the first Stroke Center in the Midlands of South Carolina. The Stroke Center at Prisma Health Richland Hospital is a multidisciplinary program that provides 24/7 life-saving care using state-of-the-art technology and the latest advancements in stroke diagnosis and treatment. He is also a recipient of the prestigious Center of Economic Excellence Stroke Chair in South Carolina. Before his appointment at UofSC, he served as the founding director of the UNC Hospital Stroke Center since July 2002.

Dr. Sen earned a doctor of medicine from University of Calcutta R. G. Kar Medical College, Calcutta, India. After completing medical training in India, he completed a masters degree in cardiovascular pharmacology in Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. He then completed a medical internship at Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan. He completed a neurology residency at the Temple University Health Science Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and a vascular neurology fellowship at the Johns Hopkins University Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland. After his fellowship he served as the co-director and subsequently as the director of the stroke center at the NJ Neuroscience Institute in Edison, New Jersey. He then served as the founding director of the UNC Stroke Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. While there he completed a masters in public health - epidemiology. He is board certified in neurology, and subspecialty board certified in vascular neurology.

Sen has published in peer reviewed journals including Circulation, Stroke and the New England Journal of Medicine. He has received research funding from the American Heart Association and the National Institutes of Health. In 2004, he was nominated as a Fellow of the American Heart Association. He serves on several national and international committees. His specific research interests include acute stroke treatment, stroke and TIA pathophysiology, stroke prevention and epidemiology.

Pradeep C. Bollu, MD, is an associate professor of clinical neurology at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia. A graduate of Kurnool Medical College in India, he trained in one year of internal medicine internship at the University of Missouri in Columbia, followed by three years of a neurology residency. He then underwent fellowship training in sleep medicine and advanced sleep medicine.

Dr. Bollu is a board certified neurologist (ABPN), board certified sleep specialist, board certified (ABEM) electromyographer and a board certified headache medicine specialist (UCNS). He is currently a member of American Academy of Sleep Medicine and a diplomate of American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Before joining Prisma Health, Bollu worked on the faculty at the University of Missouri and supervised residents and fellows as associate program director of the neurology residency and sleep medicine fellowship. He also served as the associate director for sleep disorders center at MU Health Care.

Bollu predominantly practices outpatient neurology out of the South Carolina Neurological Clinic. He sees a diverse population of patients with neurological illnesses including chronic migraines, sleep disorders (sleep apnea, hypersomnia, narcolepsy etc.), headaches, spasticity, dystonia and Parkinson's disease.

Bollu offers comprehensive neurological care along with many procedural interventions like botulinum injection therapy (for migraines, dystonia, spasticity etc.), deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapy, Duopa infusion therapy, nerve blocks for headaches, and trigger point injections. Bollu has numerous peer-reviewed review articles, case reports and book chapters. He is the co-editor of the book- ‘Sleep Issues in Neuromuscular Diseases’. He also has an avid interest in the technological advances in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology
Subspecialties: Neuromuscular disorders, clinical neurophysiology and electrodiagnostic medicine.

Mohit Datta, MD, is an assistant professor of clinical neurology at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia. He received his medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. He completed an internship in preliminary medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, a residency in neurology at the Medical University of South Carolina and a fellowship in neurological critical care at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. Dr. Datta has received numerous professional honors and awards and is published in several peer-reviewed journals. He specializes in stroke and neurocritical care.

Nishanth Kodumuri, MD, is an assistant professor of clinical neurology at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia.

Rodney O. Leacock, MD, is an assistant professor of clinical neurology at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia. He earned his medical degree from Howard University, Washington, DC, and he completed his neurology residency at Temple University in Philadelphia. He completed a neurocritical care fellowship at Wayne State University in Detroit, followed by a stroke fellowship at St. Louis University in Missouri. Dr. Leacock is board certified in neurology, vascular neurology and neurocritical care. His clinical interests include acute ischemic stroke, intracranial and subarachnoid hemorrhage, status epilepticus, and airway protection in patients with neurological disorders.

Forrest J. Lowe, MD, is an assistant professor of clinical neurology at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia. He received his medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, where he also completed a neurovascular fellowship. He completed his residency in neurology at the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Lowe is board certified in vascular neurology by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

Michael C. Mareska, MD, is an assistant professor of clinical neurology at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia. He received his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in Cincinnati and completed his residency training in neurology at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Dr. Mareska completed a fellowship in neurophysiology at West Virginia University Hospital in Morgantown and is board certified in neurology. He performs multiple diagnostics including nerve conduction studies/electromyography, Vagus Nerve Stimulator checks and programming, and EEGs. He also does Botox injections for headaches in addition to seeing general neurology patients.

William Alvin McElveen, MD, is an assistant professor of clinical neurology at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia. He received his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Georgia. He completed an internship and residency, both in internal medicine, from the Tucson Hospitals Medical Education Program in Tucson, Arizona. Dr. McElveen completed an additional residency in neurology at the University of Arizona. He is board certified in neurology and vascular neurology as well being board certified with the American Board of Independent Medical Examiners. Dr. McElveen has received numerous professional honors and awards, is published in several peer-reviewed journals and has participated in numerous clinical trials. He specializes in neurology and memory disorders.

Stephanie Paolini, MD, is an assistant professor of clinical neurology at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia. She received her medical degree from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine in Columbia. She completed a residency in neurology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Pittsburgh, where she also completed fellowships in clinical neurophysiology and women’s neurology. Dr. Paolini is board certified in neurology.

W. Hamilton Peters IV, MD, is an assistant professor of clinical neurology at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia. He received his medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston after attending The Citadel. He then completed an internship in internal medicine and a residency in neurology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. He completed a fellowship in epilepsy while at Vanderbilt, and is board certified in neurology and epilepsy. Dr. Peters' primary interest is in epilepsy followed by general neurology.

Renu Pokharna, MD, is an assistant professor of clinical neurology at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia. She is board certified in neurology, clinical neurophysiology and neuromuscular medicine.
She received her medical degree from SMS Medical College in Jaipur, India and completed her neurology residency at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She went on to complete a fellowship in multiple sclerosis at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and a fellowship in clinical neurophysiology at West Virginia University School of Medicine in Morgantown, West Virginia.

She has certifications in electrodiagnostic medicine, rare neuro-immunological disorders and multiple sclerosis.

Andrew M. Price, MD, is an assistant professor of clinical neurology at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia. He received his medical degree from the West Virginia University School of Medicine in Morgantown, WV. He completed internal medicine internship and neurology residency at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA. He completed a fellowship in neurocritical care at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.  Dr. Price is board certified in neurology and specializes in neurocritical care.

James Selph, MD, is an associate professor of clinical neurology at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia.

Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology
Date of appointment: 2002
Medical school: King Edward Medical College, class of 1988
Residency: Neurology, Medical University of South Carolina, 1998
Fellowship: EMG/EEG Clinical Neurophysiology, MUSC, 1999
Board certifications: Neurology, Vascular Neurology

Mary L. Gregory, MD, is an assistant professor of clinical neurology at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia. She received her medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. She completed a residency in pediatrics at Baystate Medical Center/Tufts University School of Medicine in Baltimore and fellowships in neurodevelopmental medicine and epilepsy at Johns Hopkins Hospital, also in Baltimore. Dr. Gregory is board certified in pediatrics, child neurology and epilepsy.