Slate of Candidates

Dr. Karthika Veerapaneni

Clinic: UAMS

City: Little Rock, Arkansas

I am an Associate Professor in the Department of Neurology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences(UAMS) and am board certified in Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology by the American board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN). I serve as an outpatient neurologist within the UAMS Department of Neurology.  I also serve as a Co-Chair for Women’s Faculty Development Caucus( WFDC) mentoring committee at UAMS. As a nominee for President of the Arkansas Neurological Society (ANS), my goal is to bring neurologists across the state together to advance high-quality, evidence-based patient care. I am committed to promoting professional development, lifelong learning, and collaboration among members. I aim to strengthen communication, expand educational opportunities, enhance public awareness of neurological disorders, and advocate for improved access to care through engagement with healthcare systems and policymakers.

Dr. Scott Lucchese

Clinic: UAMS

City: Little Rock, Arkansas

I am a board-certified neurologist and headache specialist, trained at the University of Missouri, with publications in headache medicine and other neurologic topics. My vision for the Arkansas Neurological Society includes expanding the society’s outreach through a patient-focused newsletter featuring the clinical, research, and educational work of our members and UAMS Neurology. I also hope to develop online, print, video, and podcast content that highlights member achievements, informs patients, and strengthens support for the mission of Arkansas neurology.

Dr. Krishna Nalleballe

Clinic: UAMS

City: Little Rock, Arkansas

Since joining UAMS as a neurologist in 2017, I have seen firsthand the distinct challenges of providing neurological care in Arkansas. If elected to the ANS executive committee, I will be a strong and committed advocate for our state’s neurology workforce. My platform is built on three priorities: improving access to continuing education, developing mentorship pathways to recruit and retain high-quality clinical talent, and amplifying our collective voice in shaping state healthcare policy. By better supporting clinicians and reducing administrative burdens, we can meaningfully improve patient care. I respectfully ask for your support to help build a more connected, resilient, and well-supported neurological community across Arkansas.

Dr. Anthony Davis

Clinic: Baptist Health Memory Clinic

City: Little Rock, Arkansas

I would like to continue the momentum of the Arkansas Neurological Society to expand educational activities as well as outreach to other practitioners. My long term goal is to build the neurologist workforce in Arkansas and improve patient access. Collaboration between state neurologists is important for best practice progress and vital to advocacy efforts. The society can provide a conduit for information exchange to better serve our patients.

Dr. Margaret Tremwel

Clinic: Washington Regional Medical Center

City: Fayetteville, Arkansas

Dr. Tremwel is a neurologist with extensive expertise in vascular neurology and stroke care. She earned her PhD in Medical Sciences (Neuroscience) in 1993 and her MD in 1997 from the University of Florida, where she also completed her neurology residency in 2001. She went on to complete a fellowship in vascular neurology at UCLA in 2002. Dr. Tremwel served as Medical Director of the Primary Stroke Center at Sparks Regional Medical Center in Fort Smith, Arkansas, from 2002 to 2014, and currently serves as Medical Director of the Primary and Comprehensive Stroke Center at Washington Regional Medical Center. She is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor at UAMS, a longtime Telestroke Consultant with the Institute for Digital Health & Innovation since 2008 and currently serves as Associate Program Director for the Neurology Residency Program.

Dr. Harshad Ladha

Clinic: UAMS

City: Little Rock, Arkansas

I am an Assistant Professor and epileptologist at UAMS with a background in academic neurology, clinical research, and medical education. My work focuses on improving epilepsy care through accurate diagnosis, reducing misdiagnosis, and developing innovative treatments for drug-resistant epilepsy. As ANS Annual Meeting Co-Chair, my goal is to create a high-value, practice-changing meeting that would also strengthen collaboration between community and academic neurologists, support workforce recruitment and retention, and advance advocacy efforts—ultimately continuing to improve access to high-quality neurology care across Arkansas.

Tim Paslay, MSN,APRN,FNP-BC

Clinic: UAMS Movement Disorders

City: Little Rock, Arkansas

Timothy Paslay, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, is a nurse practitioner at the UAMS Movement Disorders Clinic with more than 20 years of healthcare experience. His background includes emergency, trauma, stroke, and palliative care, along with leadership roles as a UAMS Trauma Nurse Champion and American Heart Association training center faculty member. Areas of focus include Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, dystonia, deep brain stimulation programming, and specialty medication management. He is committed to patient-centered care, education, and advancing neurological health in Arkansas.

Mohammad Alkhaldi, MD

UAMS PGY2 Resident

City: Little Rock, Arkansas

I am interested and dedicated to growing and strengthening the Arkansas neurology community. Since joining Arkansas’s neurology workforce, I have developed a deep appreciation for the unique opportunities and challenges our state presents.
If elected to the ANS Executive Committee, my primary focus will be bridging the gap between neurology trainees and practicing physicians across Arkansas. By creating meaningful connections through mentorship, networking, and candid conversations about real-world practice in our state. I hope to inspire the next generation to see Arkansas as a place to build a fulfilling career in neurology.