College of Medicine Department of Medicine Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine

1600 SW Archer Road Room M454 PO Box 100225 Gainesville, FL 32610-0225 352-392-2666 352-392-0821 Fax

3/15/2012

I am writing a letter of support for Dr. Aunali Khaku who is applying for a Sleep Medicine fellowship at your institution. Dr. Khaku is finishing a residency in neurology at the University of Florida. Next year he will serve as chief resident. Dr. Khaku completed two elective rotations in sleep medicine at UF. He attended sleep clinics at both the VA Medical Center and the UF-Shands Sleep Disorders Center. He showed great interest in sleep medicine. His evaluation of patients showed excellent insight and his clinical judgment was outstanding. Dr. Khaku did a great deal of independent reading and asked excellent questions during our discussions of the patients. Dr. Khaku wants to pursue an academic career and is keenly interested in sleep research. He is currently participating in a study of the effect of sleep deprivation in residents on their ability to perform on a driving simulation. Dr. Stephen Eisenschenk is his research mentor. Dr. Khaku was a co-author with me of a chapter on narcolepsy in the text book Clinical Sleep Disorders edited by Carney, Geyer, and Berry. He has an article published in Neurology on normal pressure hydrocephalus with Dr. Kenneth Heilman. He has three articles in press concerning atrial fibrillation, CT perfusion in different disorders that mimic stroke, and Takayasus arteritis. Thus, he has already demonstrated an aptitude for research and writing scientific articles. This is impressive considering his heavy clinical load as a neurology resident. On a personal note, Dr. Khaku is enthusiastic and a hard worker. He was a real pleasure to have on rotation through our sleep clinics. I have encouraged him to pursue a sleep medicine fellowship and would be delighted if he chose to join us. Sleep Medicine needs bright enthusiastic physicians like Dr. Khaku. I highly recommend him without any reservation for your program.

Sincerely,

Richard B. Berry, M.D. Professor of Medicine Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine Sleep Medicine Fellowship Director

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