Liya Beyderman, who immigrated from Ukraine to New Jersey when she was 12, never envisioned a career in medicine during her childhood. With no family members in the medical profession, the idea simply hadn’t crossed her mind.
Growing up, Beyderman, MD, had a natural affinity for math and science, as well as a deep desire to help others. These interests converged during her undergraduate years at Johns Hopkins University, where an early introduction to the field of neuroscience left her captivated. The complexity of the brain’s functions, the uncharted territory of scientific discovery, and the challenge of understanding and treating conditions like epilepsy sparked a deep curiosity that would shape her career path in helping children thrive.
After graduation, Beyderman, along with her now-husband Emmanuel Botzolakis, MD’10, PhD, moved to Nashville, where both attended Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. There, she began building the foundations for her future clinical practice. Her residency and fellowship at VUMC and Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt deepened her passion for neurology. At Monroe Carell, she says, she found her “home” in pediatric neurology and decided to focus on the neurological care of children.
“In terms of learning medicine, everything I learned, I learned at Vanderbilt — how to differentiate between two patients: Who is seriously sick and who is not as serious? It’s an intense and rigorous program, and in the end, you come out of it ready for the world wherever you practice medicine.”
Beyderman relocated to Philadelphia while Botzolakis completed his training in neuroradiology. There, she built and directed the New Jersey Division of Child Neurology for Nemours A.I. duPont Children’s Hospital, honing her skills and preparing for the couple’s move to Charlotte, North Carolina.
In 2017, fueled by a desire to provide personalized care and address gaps in traditional neurological services, Beyderman opened Charlotte Neurological Services. Starting her own practice required resilience and determination, from building a patient base to managing the business side of medicine, but her vision of creating a concierge-style neurodevelopmental clinic kept her motivated.
“I love the complexity of pediatric neurology — each child’s case is like solving a puzzle, and the impact you can have is profound,” she said. “Once I figure out the puzzle, I can help set them on a path to success with early interventions, PT, OT — whatever is needed.”
While running a solo practice, Beyderman has built relationships across Charlotte with pediatricians, therapists, psychiatrists, neuropsychologists and other specialists to ensure the most comprehensive plan of care is developed for her patients. Conditions she cares for include ADHD, learning disorders, developmental delays, headaches/migraines and sleep disorders, among others.
Vanderbilt and Nashville remain a treasured place for Beyderman. “I experienced so many of life’s major milestones in Nashville. It’s where I became a wife, a mother and a doctor.”