By Harriet L. Blake

Dr. Chloe Rushing

Dr. Chloe Rushing’s hometown of Snape might sound familiar. Author J.K. Rowling named Severus Snape in the Harry Potter series after this village in the English countryside. Dr. Rushing, however, has been a Texan since age 11 when her parents moved the family from England to The Woodlands.

Dr. Rushing’s specialty is child neurology. She said she is fascinated by the organization of the nervous system and the diagnostic challenges it presents.

“Providing a diagnosis to patients and their families is a rewarding aspect of working with children with neurologic conditions,” she said. She also is intrigued by the development of many new therapies. “It is an exciting time to enter the field,” she said. In addition, she says, she enjoys working with children and helping parents learn how to care for their child.

In recognition of her work and enthusiasm for the field, Dr. Rushing has been selected as the 2016 recipient of the American Academy of Neurology Medical Student Prize for Excellence in Neurology.

Dr. Rana Said, Associate Professor of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, and of Pediatrics, said, “Chloe has had a longstanding interest in the brain and its function. She initially thought she was destined to be a psychiatrist until she completed her child neurology elective block, when she solidified her interest in the localization and pathophysiology of childhood neurologic diseases. Chloe brings a calm and mature presence to the team. She is extremely well-read and very bright. She is the epitome of a team player and engages well with patients and families.”

Prior to medical school, she graduated summa cum laude from Texas A&M University, majoring in biochemistry and genetics. Her husband, whom she met at A&M, currently is an emergency medicine resident in Houston. She earned the Southwestern Medical Foundation Alumni Scholarship, which led to graduate work at UT Southwestern.

Dr. Said is among several faculty mentors who have inspired Dr. Rushing. She says that Dr. Said was an excellent advisor during the residency application and interview process. “I had the privilege to work with Dr. Said in clinic and witness excellent care for her patients but also care for the wellness of her patient’s family members.”

Another mentor is Dr. Lauren Dengle, Assistant Professor of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, and of Pediatrics, who Dr. Rushing said, “fostered my interest in the specialty and supported my application for residency in my field. She exhibited enthusiasm about my interest in child neurology while also encouraging discussion about the challenging yet rewarding work of caring for children with neurologic disorders.”

Dr. Irwin Kerber, Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, is another faculty member who made a lasting impression on Dr. Rushing. She said she admires the emphasis he placed on and the wisdom he imparted regarding professionalism, ethics, and the humanistic aspects of practicing medicine during small group sessions.

Dr. Rushing said that working with the current trainees in neurology was the highlight of her training at UT Southwestern. “The residents I worked with were knowledgeable [and] passionate about the care they provided for their patients, and invested in educating medical students even while managing a busy service,” she said.

Despite her rigorous studies, Dr. Rushing has found time to travel. She has been to every continent except Antarctica. Prior to medical school, she volunteered and lived at an orphanage in West Africa for two months.

Following graduation, she will join her husband and will continue her training as a child neurology resident at Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children’s Hospital. “I plan to practice clinical neurology, become involved in training physicians and other providers within my field, and participate in clinical research investigating neurologic outcomes and the success of interventions in critically ill children,” Dr. Rushing said.