Mentoring Profile: Adriana Bermeo-Ovalle, MD, Rush Medical College

The Rush Women Mentoring Program fosters professional development and a sense of community and collaboration among women faculty at Rush University. In this series, we highlight program mentors and mentees and learn more about how mentoring has impacted them.

Adriana Bermeo-Ovalle, MD, associate professor in the Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush Medical College, joined Rush in 2017.

Tell us about your background.

I am an associate professor in the Department of Neurological Sciences. I hold board certification in neurology, central clinical neurophysiology and epilepsy. I am also the director of the electroencephalography laboratory. My areas of research interest include sudden death in epilepsy, psychiatric co-morbidities in epilepsy, psychogenic non-epileptic seizures and electroencephalography.

What inspired you to get into your field?

I want to make life better for people with epilepsy, and I am so fortunate to be able to work toward this goal every day in my clinic and the EEG lab.

What excited you about your work at Rush?

My team at the Rush Epilepsy Center is like no other. I am proud to work beside them every day.

What is your opinion of mentoring and sponsorship?

Mentoring is key for professional growth and success. Mentors don’t need to be in your immediate vicinity.

Do you have tips or advice you would recommend for someone looking to enter your field of work?

Find a topic or field that excites you and keeps you keep going every day, then stick to it. A good team makes all the difference.

What are your hobbies? How do you like to spend your free time?

I spend most of my free time with my kids and my family. I also run weekly with a group of amazing people who keep me motivated and moving.