Her Path to Success

What if Alzheimer’s disease could be detected years before symptoms begin—and even prevented?

In this episode of Her Path to Success, Sia speaks with Dr. Winnie Pak, a neuroscientist and clinical strategy leader working at the forefront of neurodegenerative disease research. With a career spanning over 20 years in pharmaceutical leadership and clinical trials, Dr. Pak focuses on translating scientific breakthroughs into real-world solutions for patients.

We explore:

• Why Alzheimer’s begins long before symptoms appear
• The shift from late-stage treatment to early detection and prevention
• How clinical trials actually work—and why patient trust matters
• The growing role of biomarkers like tau and blood-based diagnostics
• How lifestyle factors like sleep, metabolism, and activity impact brain health

Dr. Pak also shares how her personal experiences shaped her mission and why she advocates for focusing not just on lifespan—but “brain span”: living longer with strong cognitive health.

This episode is perfect for anyone interested in neuroscience, medicine, or how research becomes real-world impact.

In this episode of Her Path to Success, host Sia Gullapalli sits down with neuroscientist Dr. Karen Duff, a leading expert in Alzheimer’s disease research.

Dr. Duff shares insights into her groundbreaking work studying tau pathology, the molecular mechanisms driving neurodegeneration, and how advances in neuroscience are shaping the future of Alzheimer’s treatment.

She also reflects on her journey into science, the importance of persistence in research, and her advice for students interested in pursuing careers in neuroscience and biomedical research.

This conversation offers a fascinating look into the science behind brain health and the researchers working to solve one of medicine’s greatest challenges.

In this episode of Her Path to Success, Sia Gullapalli speaks with Dr. Esther Melamed, a neurologist, neuroimmunologist, and physician-scientist whose work explores the powerful intersection between the immune system and the brain.

Dr. Melamed shares her journey into neurology and neuroimmunology, reflecting on the moments during her training that shaped her path as a physician-scientist. She explains how immune-mediated neurological diseases are transforming our understanding of brain health and why neuroimmunology has become one of the most exciting frontiers in modern medicine.

The conversation also explores what it means to bridge research and patient care — from translating discoveries in the lab into treatments for patients to learning from clinical experiences that inspire new scientific questions.

Beyond the science, Dr. Melamed discusses the importance of mentorship, interdisciplinary collaboration, and supporting the next generation of physician-scientists, particularly women entering academic medicine.

Together, we explore the future of neuroimmunology, the challenges of scientific discovery, and the profound impact that research can have on patients’ lives.

In this episode of Her Path to Success, Sia Gullapalli sits down with Dr. Caralyne Jackson, a distinguished neurologist and national medical leader, to discuss the intersection of clinical excellence, advocacy, and leadership in medicine.

Dr. Jackson shares:

• Her journey into neurology and what drew her to the field

• The evolving challenges facing physicians today

• The importance of patient advocacy and ethical leadership

• How young women can pursue medicine with confidence and clarity

• Lessons on resilience, service, and long-term impact

This episode offers powerful insight for aspiring physicians, neuroscience students, and anyone passionate about making a difference through healthcare.

What if the earliest signs of neurodegenerative disease begin long before symptoms appear?

In this episode of Her Path to Success, Sia Gullapalli sits down with Dr. Bess Frost, Associate Professor of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry at Brown University. Dr. Frost’s lab investigates the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal dementia.

Together, they explore how disruptions in nuclear architecture, tau pathology, and chromatin organization contribute to cognitive decline — and what this means for early detection and prevention. Dr. Frost also shares insights into her journey in science, navigating academia as a woman in research, and the importance of curiosity-driven discovery.

This conversation bridges molecular neuroscience with real-world impact, offering students and aspiring scientists a deeper look at how laboratory research shapes the future of brain health.

In this episode of Her Path to Success, we spotlight Dr. Ellen Ochoa — engineer, astronaut, and former Director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center. As the first Hispanic woman in space, Dr. Ochoa broke barriers in 1993 and went on to fly four Space Shuttle missions.

But her story goes far beyond firsts. From her early work in optical engineering to leading one of NASA’s most important centers, Dr. Ochoa’s journey reflects resilience, curiosity, and a commitment to expanding opportunity in STEM.

We discuss:

• What it takes to become an astronaut

• Leadership lessons from space exploration

• The importance of representation in science

• Advice for young people who dream big

Her path reminds us that exploration is not just about discovering new worlds — it’s about expanding who gets to lead.

In this episode of Her Path to Success, I sit down with Dr. Courtney T. Byrd—renowned speech-language pathology researcher and founder of the Michael and Tami Lang Stuttering Institute. We discuss her personal journey into stuttering research, the importance of culturally responsive care, and how innovative tools like virtual reality and interactive technology are transforming clinical practice. Dr. Byrd also shares insights on bridging research and real-world treatment, addressing gaps in clinician training, and advice for the next generation of communication science leaders.

In this episode of Her Path to Success, I sit down with Dr. Jori Fleisher, a movement disorders neurologist and trailblazer in home-based care for people living with advanced Parkinson’s disease and Lewy Body Dementia.

Dr. Fleisher’s work lives at the intersection of medicine, research, empathy, and systems redesign. From stepping into patients’ living rooms instead of hospital hallways to centering caregivers who are often overlooked, she has reimagined what meaningful, equitable neurological care can look like.

We talk about the moments that shaped her career, the emotional realities of caring for patients with progressive neurologic disease, the power of compassionate communication, and what it truly means to build healthcare systems that meet people where they are. We also explore her commitment to mentoring the next generation and her advocacy for women in neuroscience.

This conversation is about more than medicine — it’s about listening, humility, and designing care that honors humanity.

In this episode of Her Path to Success, we sit down with Dr. Susan Durham, a leader in pediatric neurosurgery, to explore the intersection of technical excellence, emotional resilience, and purpose-driven leadership.

Dr. Durham shares her journey into medicine and what drew her to pediatric neurosurgery—a field that demands not only surgical precision, but deep empathy for children and their families. We discuss how she learned to make life-altering decisions under pressure, navigated moments of doubt early in her career, and evolved from an individual surgeon into a Professor and Chief of Neurosurgery.

This conversation also dives into leadership lessons that can’t be taught in textbooks, mentorship in academic medicine, the realities of working in a historically male-dominated field, and how her definition of success has evolved over time. Dr. Durham reflects on loss, growth, legacy, and what she hopes future generations—especially young women considering neurosurgery—understand before stepping into this path.

In this episode of Her Path to Success, I’m joined by Dr. Colgin, a leading neuroscientist whose work explores how neural circuits and brain rhythms support learning and memory. We discuss her journey into neuroscience, her lab’s research on hippocampal networks and neural oscillations, and how foundational memory research connects to brain health and disease. Dr. Colgin also shares insights on interdisciplinary collaboration, mentorship, and what the next decade may hold for memory science—along with advice for students interested in research.