As the academic year comes to a close, we're highlighting our chief residents and exiting fellows as they embark on the next phases of their careers. This week's chief resident feature is Michelle Maher, MD.
Dr. Maher completed her medical training at the University of Alabama School of Medicine in Birmingham and will be staying in Durham to complete a fellowship in Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology.
What are your plans once you complete your final year of residency?
I will be staying at Duke for a one-year fellowship in Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology!
How have you changed or grown since joining Duke Neurology for residency?
I think the biggest way I’ve grown since joining Duke Neurology is in confidence — both in my clinical decision-making and in trusting my own judgment. Training here has pushed me to take ownership of complex patients while still knowing when to ask for help. I’ve also discovered a real passion for medical education and developed more defined interests in areas like neuroimmunology and women’s health in neurology. Just as importantly, I’ve grown a lot outside of medicine during this time. I got married right before starting residency, so my husband and I really began our marriage here together, and we’ve since grown our family as well. Those experiences have given me a new perspective on balance, priorities, and empathy—and have made me not only a better physician, but a better partner, friend, and person overall.
What is a favorite memory from your time with Duke Neurology?
It’s hard to pick just one, but some of my favorite memories from Duke Neurology are the moments outside the hospital — playing pickleball, book club, game nights, and just spending time together. I’ve also loved attending neurology conferences together — one of my favorite memories was sharing a hotel room with a few of my co-residents (Meg, Christine, and Nhu-y) in Colorado, which honestly felt like we were teenagers again having a slumber party! Nhu-y and I spontaneously went skiing while we were there and made some great memories that weekend.
What advice would you give to those following in your footsteps?
Don’t underestimate the importance of your people. Residency is challenging, but having co-residents, mentors, friends, and family who support you makes all the difference — so invest in those relationships. Give yourself some grace, too — growth takes time, and confidence will come. You don’t have to have everything figured out right away.
What most excites you for the next chapter as a Neuromuscular Medicine Fellow?
I’m excited to keep building on what I’ve started — both in neuroimmunology and in medical education. I’m especially looking forward to developing my clinical and research interests and taking on more mentorship roles. At the same time, I’m excited for this next phase of life outside of medicine — having a bit more balance and time to spend with my family.
Are there any personal highlights you'd like to note from your time with Duke Neurology?
One of the first ways we expanded our family during residency was by adding a second dog, a bernedoodle named Pepper, to join our miniature schnauzer, Winnie. And then this October, our biggest and most meaningful milestone came when we welcomed our baby girl, Isla Grace. It’s been really special to grow our family during our time with Duke Neurology.
Any shout-outs you'd like to give for friends, family, mentors, educators, etc.?
I first have to thank my husband, Tim, who is truly my best friend and the most important person in my life. His constant support and encouragement has carried me through residency. I’m also incredibly grateful to our parents and families for all of their love and support as well. I’ve also been fortunate to have amazing mentors at Duke, especially Suma Shah and Christopher Eckstein, who have both had a huge impact on my training and career development. And of course, a huge shout-out to my co-residents for making residency survivable — especially Nhu-y and Alexa, who have been there through all the highs, lows, long nights, and countless laughs along the way.