Residents
Residents
MEET OUR RESIDENTS
I graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and then worked as a microbiology technologist before earning my MD at The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences in 2025. During medical school, I discovered that my love for pediatric medicine could be combined with my strong interest in neurology. I am especially drawn to the subspecialties of neuroimmunology, neonatal neurology, and headache medicine!
I matched into Child Neurology at the University of Utah and relocated across the country with my partner. Together, we enjoy exploring new hiking trails, painting the mountain views from our apartment balcony, and searching for the best pizza in Salt Lake City! In my free time, I also love playing peaceful video games and crocheting stuffed animals for my nieces and nephews back in Ohio!
I completed my undergraduate studies at Rutgers University, followed by research in spinal cord injury and neuroimmune responses, which culminated in a PhD. I then earned my MD from New Jersey Medical School. Outside of medicine, I enjoy spending time outdoors in the sun, listening to electronic music, hitting the slopes, and playing intramural sports.
Hannah is a physician resident at the University of Utah Department of Pediatric Neurology. She grew up in Wyoming, but spent time working for a family horse business in central Florida. She attended college at the University of Florida where she majored in Neurobiology. Hannah attended medical school at the University of Utah with a graduate certifi cation in Tribal, Rural, and Underserved Medical Education. In her free time, she enjoys riding horses, playing tennis, baking, and spending time with family.
Emily Yan, MD, MS, MA is a pediatric neurology resident physician at The University of Utah. She holds a BS in Physiology and Neuroscience and an MS in Biology from the University of California San Diego. She earned her MD and MA in Design focused on Health from The University of Texas at Austin. Along the way, she has remained committed to prioritizing the art of medicine and optimizing patient- and family-centered care in ways that matter most to them. Outside of medicine, she enjoys sketching, dabbling in ceramics, discovering new hiking trails, and spending time with her partner.
I grew up in a small town in Idaho near the Idaho–Oregon border. I attended Wheaton College near Chicago, Illinois, where I earned a bachelor’s degree in biology. I went on to complete my medical training at the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Rockford, where I participated in the Rural Medicine Education Program (RMED).
I have always been fascinated by the brain, but it was in medical school that I discovered pediatric neurology and knew it was the right fit for me. I hope to practice general pediatric neurology near the Wind River Native American Reservation in Wyoming. I came to Utah for its emphasis on rural pediatric neurology and to be closer to family.
Outside of medicine, I enjoy hiking, camping, golfing, basketball, and snowshoeing—all wonderful hobbies in Salt Lake City! I also love spending time with my daughter. I’m a bit of a Lord of the Rings nerd and even have a card game I play frequently in my free time.
Dr. Laughton is a physician resident at the University of Utah Department of Pediatric Neurology. She completed her undergraduate education at Gonzaga University and medical school at the University of Nevada, Reno. Her interests in medicine include general neurology. She enjoys being involved in education and quality improvement.
Interested in complex neurological disorders including epilepsy
Sara is originally from a town outside of San Francisco, CA, and then went to undergrad at San Diego State University where she majored in Biology. Flying across the country, she pursued research in drug development at the NIH before attending medical school at the University of Michigan. After medical school, she moved to Utah for a Child Neurology residency! Throughout her studies, she engaged in social justice classes, rural clinics, and street medicine in Detroit. In residency, she is part of the Global, Rural, and Underserved Child Healthcare (GRUCH) program, and is eager to explore the intersection of how cultural background impacts medicine. When she is not working, she enjoys sculpting ceramics, cooking new dishes, hiking in the beautiful mountains, or watching The Office with her spouse.
Kate has spent most of her life in Oklahoma, completing undergraduate at Oklahoma State University and medical school at the University of Oklahoma before moving to Utah for residency. She has spent the majority of her medical education focused on public health and community engagement and is looking forward to a career in general child neurology. Outside of work, she loves trying new restaurants in the SLC area, reading non-academic books, and watching college football with her husband and baby boy.
Dominic spent his early years outside of Cleveland, Ohio, before developing an interest in neuroscience at Kenyon College in rural Ohio. During medical school, his passion for providing neurologic care to children grew, and the opportunity to learn from a broad scope of patient care in Utah—along with unmatched access to the outdoors—brought him to Salt Lake City. Here, both of those interests have continued to grow, with a particular focus on patients with movement disorders and cerebral palsy.
I served five years in the military in the medical field before pursuing medical school. I am interested in becoming a general neurologist and am currently gaining additional training in psychiatry and developmental assessments.
McKenna grew up in the Salt Lake area, left for an undergrad in Northern California before returning to Utah for medical school and residency. Her academic interests include pediatric stroke, tele-stroke, effective communication, and the role of feedback in medical school and residency.
She has two kids (4 and 1 years) and when she’s not trying to teach them to ski or play soccer you can find her running with her co-residents on one of the many trails in the area.
Calls Great Falls, Montana, her home. Her interest in neuroscience was piqued in her undergrad at Montana State, then further clarified in medical school at the University of Washington where she fell in love with pediatrics and continued to love studying the brain. Fun fact: She’s a 4th generation Montanan! She thinks Utah is pretty dang nice though. Outside of work, she loves spending time with co-residents and exploring new trails.
Though Allie grew up in a small town outside of Pittsburgh, PA, she pursued much of her education prior to residency in Virginia. She attended W&L University, where she graduated with a Biochemistry major and Philosophy minor and then completed her medical degree at Eastern Virginia Medical School. Afterwards, she moved to Utah to begin her Child Neurology residency and to be closer to the mountains. She spends her free time practicing yoga and getting outside in any way she can including hiking, mountain biking, and skiing.
Cassie grew up in Mechanicsville, VA and studied Biomedical Engineering in undergrad at Virginia Commonwealth University before attending medical school at the University of Virginia. While her initial love for mountains blossomed in the Appalachians, she decided to gain some altitude with a big move out west. In addition to anything outdoors (especially mountain biking and skiing), she also loves cooking, gardening, and hanging out with co-residents and her dog Mabel. After two years of pediatrics she is excited to be moving into neurology training as part of pediatric neurology fellowship!
Luke grew up in Fort Collins, CO where he received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry and master’s degree in biomedical science at Colorado State University. He then completed his medical degree at the Loma Linda University School of Medicine and was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha honor society before joining the Child Neurology residency at the University of Utah. He spends his time outside work playing with his kittens, experimenting with new recipes, and writing and recording music.
Shanna was raised in Merced, California and received her bachelor of science in neuroscience at the University of California Los Angeles. She completed her medical degree at the University of Oklahoma after which she moved to Utah for her residency training in Child Neurology at the University of Utah. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, skiing and spending time with her family and friends.
