ISSUE 2, VOLUME 1
Newsletter from the Department of Neurosurgery
In This Issue
Graduation of Chief Residents Arthur Carminucci, MD Yehuda Herschman, MD Nicholas Hernandez, MD
Welcome Residents Elizabeth Ginalis, MD Travis Quinoa, MD Evgenii Belykh, MD Manan Shah, MD
Fellows Taha Nisar, MD Muhammad Zeeshan Memon, MD Joseph Quillin, MD
Faculty Margaret Pain, MD
Telehealth As part of our ongoing efforts to help contain the spread of COVID-19, we’re moving towards video services that will reduce potential risk of exposure to the virus.
Past & Upcoming Events Research Symposium Grand Rounds Schedule Global Neurosurgery: Ask Not for Whom the Bell Tolls
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H. O. P. E. Center
Faculty
The Rutgers Neurosurgery Health
Chairman and Professor Anil Nanda, MD, MPH, FAANS
Clinical Instructors Eric Hargreaves, PhD
Professor James Liu, MD Shabbar Danish, MD
St. Baranabas Medical Center Otakar Hubschmann, MD Joseph Koziol, MD Patrick Hilden
Outcomes, Policy, and Economics (H.O.P.E.) Center is focused on research that promotes a better understanding of health outcomes, policy, and economic factors in the area of neurosurgery and beyond.
Project 100 A collection of scholarly activities our residents, medical students and faculty have been collaborating on since March.
Recent Publications by Faculty and Residents
In the News Recent announcements and exciting innovations throughout The Department of Neurosurgey.
Associate Professors Ira Goldstein, MD Gaurav Gupta, MD Hai Sun, MD, PhD Jasdeep S. Hundal, Psy.D., ABPP
Residents Omar Iqbal, MD Nitesh Patel, MD Asif Shafiq, DO Neil Majmundar, MD Matthew Cummock, MD Amanda Carpenter, MD Blake Taylor, MD Kevin Zhao, DO Grant Arzumanov, DO Manan Shah, MD Christopher Talbot, MD Purvee Patel, MD Timothy Wong, MD Raja Jani, DO Sean Munier, MD Ali Tayebi-Meybodi, MD Elizabeth Ginalis, MD Travis Quinoa, MD Evgenii Belykh, MD
Assistant Professors Priyank Khandelwal, MD Antonios Mammis, MD John L. Gillick, MD Rachid Assina, MD Pankaj K. Agarwalla, MD Amit Singla, MD Stephen Johnson, MD Margaret Pain, MD Alice Edwards, PA Research Professors Detlev Boison, PhD Stella Elkabes, PhD, MS Randall D. McKinnon, PhD Hai Sun, MD, PhD * Vineet Chitravanshi, PhD **
Fellows Taha Nasir, MD Muhammad Zeeshan Memon, MD Joseph Quillin, MD
*Associate Professor **Assistant Professor
Follow US on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter for news about the Department of Neurosurgery
@RutgersNeurosurgery @RutgersNeurosurgery @RUneurosurgery www.linkedin.com/in/rutgersneurosurgery
VISIT OUR WEBSITE
www.rwjbh.org/neurosurgery http://njneuro.rutgers.edu/
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Letter from the Chair It has been the worst of times, and it has been the best of times, where the frailty of human spirit has been matched by the resilience of the human soul. In April, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy announced that the state had already lost more lives to the Corona Virus then the amount of NJ residents who perished in World War I, the Korean War and the Vietnam War combined. It has attacked physicians, nurses, support staff, and the young and elderly with an implacable fury.
In the midst of all this despair, there is enormous hope. We have seen profiles of courage among our ICU physicians, ER doctors, anesthesia, nurses, OT, PT and housekeeping staff that have made all the difference, and we are so deeply indebted to each and every one of them. Fortunately, in New Jersey the numbers look good, with most practices resuming and a rapid increase in telemedicine.
The first system-wide Grand Rounds with Dr. Lawrence Lenke was a grand success, with attendance from 180 people in six countries. We hope to have future grand rounds focusing on stroke, spine, telemedicine, reimbursements, and we’ll keep you in the loop on these developments. The Neurosurgery Service Line team is working diligently behind the scenes to help services and make sure that we are a safety conscious HRO Organization.
In light of these perilous times, we have decided that our WFNS Global Neurosurgery Symposium, will now be a virtual meeting from September 10 to September 12, 2020. This is a neurosurgical colloquium intended to educate, innovate, and foster a deeper understanding in Global Neurosurgery. We are delighted to inaugurate the 1st Annual Peter W. Carmel Oration in recognition of Dr. Carmel’s superlative contributions to medicine and neurosurgery. We will be welcoming the guru of social determinants, Sir Michael Marmot, as the orator for this occasion. Dr. Marmot has been a global authority on health inequalities for over 40 years. COVID-19 has reminded us why global platforms are so important to flatten the curve and heal the world.
Anil Nanda, MD, MPH, FACS PROFESSOR AND CHAIRMAN, DEPARTMENT OF NEUROSURGERY RUTGERS-NEW JERSEY MEDICAL SCHOOL & ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON MEDICAL SCHOOL PETER W. CARMEL M.D. ENDOWED CHAIR OF NEUROLOGICAL SURGERY SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF NEUROSURGICAL SERVICES, RWJBARNABAS HEALTH CHAIR AND CHIEF OF SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF NEUROSURGERY, UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
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Virtual Graduation
On June 25th, we held our virtual graduation honoring three of our neurosurgery residents, Dr. Yehuda Herschman, Dr. Arthur Carminucci and Dr. Nicholas Hernandez, for their years of dedication and perseverance. Each graduating resident was given an opportunity to share their fondest memories over the course of their residency, and to present their favorite cases. It was a great honor to have Dr. Robert Spetzler, a world-renowned neurosurgeon, to serve as our graduation speaker. Our chairman, Dr. Anil Nanda and Program Director, Dr. Ira Goldstein were also among the numerous faculty member that shared a few words of wisdom.
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Graduatates
Arthur Carminucci, MD Dr. Arthur Carminucci, is one of our Chief Residents who graduated in June. Dr. Carminucci is from Belleville, New Jersey. He obtained his medical degree from Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. After his residency, he will be joining the Summit Medical Group at Florham Park, New Jersey. His clinical focus is General Neurosurgery.
Nicholas Hernandez, MD Chief Resident, Dr. Nick Hernandez, is also among our graduates. Dr. Hernandez is from Niwot, Colorado. He obtained his medical degree from Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University. After his residency, he will be joining Lancaster General Hospital in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Dr. Hernandez's clinical focus is general neurosurgery with a focus on minimally invasive spine surgery.
Yehuda Herschman, MD Dr. Yehuda Herschman is from West Hempstead, New York. He obtained his medical degree from Chicago Medical School of Rosalind Franklin University and completed an enfolded fellowship in Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery at Hadassah University Medical Center in Jerusalem, Israel. After his residency, he will be joining South Florida Neurosurgery in conjunction with Wellington Regional Medical Center, also covering Palms West, and JFK in West Palm Beach County, Florida. His clinical focus is General Neurosurgery, Functional Neurosurgery - Pain, DBS, Epilepsy and Ablation.
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Welcome New Residents & Fellows The faculty and staff in the Department of Neurosurgery at Rutgers University and RWJBarnabas Health welcome four new residents into our Neurosurgery Residency Program.
Elizabeth Ginalis, MD | PGY 1 Dr. Ginalis joined the Rutgers Department of Neurosurgery residency program in July 2020. She completed her B.S. in Neuroscience at Duke University in 2016. She graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Duke University with Distinction in Neuroscience. She earned her M.D. from Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (RWJMS). At RWJMS, she received the Chancellor’s Global Health Scholarship and Rutgers RWJBarnabas Health Rising Stars Scholarship. Her clinical and research interests include neurosurgical oncology, skull base surgery, and global neurosurgery.
Travis Quinoa, MD | PGY 1 Dr. Quinoa is a New Jersey native originally from Allamuchy, NJ. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Biology and graduated magna cum laude from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He went on to attend medical school at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. At RWJMS, Travis received the Chancellor’s Scholarship, RWJMS Gala Scholarship, and the Rutgers RWJBarnabas Health Rising Stars Award. He was also inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) National Honor Society. His clinical and research interests include spine surgery, vascular neurosurgery, neuro-oncology, spinal cord injury, brain-computer interface, and the interplay of socioeconomics in healthcare and neurosurgery.
Evgenii Belykh, MD | PGY 1 Dr. Belykh earned his medical degree from the Irkutsk State Medical University and completed his residency at Irkutsk Medical Academy of Continuing Education in Irkutsk, Russia. He obtained a Ph.D. from the N.N. Burdenko Institute of Neurosurgery in Moscow. He completed the Robert F. Spetzler Neurosurgery Research Fellowship at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, AZ, and obtained his Ph.D. degree from the Arizona State University – Barrow Neurological Institute Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience. His scientific interests include fluorescence and optical imaging in neurosurgery, neuro-oncology, skull base surgery, quantitative neuroanatomy, simulation technologies, and microneurosurgery training.
Manan Shah, MD | PGY 5 Dr. Shah graduated Summa Cum Laude from Rutgers with a double major in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry and Psychology. He went on to complete his medical school at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School with Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) honors. He then completed his first four years of neurosurgery training in Detroit Medical Center/Wayne State University and is now completing his residency at Rutgers. His current interests include spinal cord injury and neurotrauma.
Muhammad Zeeshan Memon, MD | Neuro-Endovascular Fellow Dr. Memon received his medical degree from The Aga Khan University, Pakistan. He pursued his neurology residency at George Washington University Hospital, followed by Vascular neurology fellowship at the University of Miami and neurointerventional surgery fellowship at University of Maryland. His primary research interest is in acute stroke treatments and imaging, intracranial atherosclerosis, and management of arteriovenous malformations.
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Taha Nisar MD | Neuro-Endovascular Fellow Dr. Nisar is originally from Karachi, Pakistan, and went on to complete his medical degree at Dow Medical College. He completed his Neurology residency at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and thereafter went to complete a Vascular Neurology Fellowship at Albert Einsein Medical College. He holds memberships in of AAN, ASA and SVIN. His areas of research interests include stroke outcomes with Endovascular theray and Carotid Artery Stenting.
Joseph Quillin, MD | Skull Base fellow Dr. Quillin graduated from Louisiana State University as a member of the AOA honor society. He matched into neurosurgery residency at Emory University, and he completed his training in June 2020 under the close mentorship of Dr. Daniel Barrow, Dr. Nelson Oyesiku, and Dr. Jeffrey Olson. He completed a CAST-approved enfolded neuro-oncology and skull base surgery fellowship there from 2017-2018. His professional interests lie in skull base surgery, the open treatment of cerebrovascular disease, stereotactic radiosurgery, and neurooncology. Joseph’s areas of interest are skull base, tumors, and open vascular surgery.
Welcome - Our New Faculty The Department of Neurosurgery is excited to welcome our newest faculty member, Dr. Margaret Pain, who brings outstanding expertise to the department, which is expanding clinical coverage in pediatric neurosurgery.
Margaret Pain, MD
Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery | Pediatric Neurosurgery & General Neurosurgery Dr. Pain graduated from Carleton College cum laude with a degree in chemistry in 2006 and then completed a research fellowship in molecular physiology at the National Institutes of Health in 2008. She obtained a medical doctorate from the University of Minnesota in 2012 and completed her residency at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. She completed a neurological surgery fellowship at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital - Stanford Health Care in Palo Alto, California. During her training at Mount Sinai, she found passion for pediatric patients and their families, and went on to pursue a fellowship in pediatric neurosurgery at Stanford University. There she received additional training in hydrocephalus, spinal dysraphism, craniosynostosis, pediatric epilepsy, pediatric-neuro-oncology, chiari malformations, and neural tube defects. As a resident and fellow, Dr. Pain worked with augmented and virtual reality platforms to create 3-dimensional models of patient-specific pathology. She is working to bring these technologies to her pediatric neurosurgical practice and to understand the impact of this technology on patient-provider and provider-provider communication.
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DEPARTMENT OF NEUROSURGERY
TELEMEDICINE WE ARE HERE FOR YOU
TELEHEALTH VISITS The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has quickly changed our daily lives. As part of our ongoing efforts to help contain the spread of COVID-19, we’re moving towards video services that will reduce potential risk of exposure to the virus. We are privileged to take care of your neurosurgical needs at the Rutgers RWJBarnabas Health Department of Neurosurgery. You have entrusted us with your
Connecting patients to exceptional virtual care
care, and we have a talented team of partners. We can take care of a wide variety of neurosurgical disorders including: brain tumors, spinal disorders, Gamma Knife, endovascular disease, and endovascular care.
CALL US TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT:
732-235-6333 | 833-NJ-NEURO
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Past Events RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM February 21st, 2020
The first Annual Neurosurgery Research Symposium held on February 21st, 2020 featured cutting edge neurosurgical research spanning from basic mechanisms of brain metabolism to translational research and novel clinical advancements with a focus on epilepsy, it’s treatment and prevention. Plenary speakers Professor Susan Masino from Trinity Colllege, Hartford, CT and Professor Robert Gross, Emory University, Atlanta, GA discussed the full range of interventions against epilepsy ranging from the ketogenic diet to neurostimulation.
Dr. Susan Masino
Left to right: Dr. Detlev Boison & Dr. Susan Masino
Left to right: Dr. Detlev Boison, Dr. Robert Gross, & Dr. Anil Nanda
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Dr. Robert Gross
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Hai Sun, MD, PhD
Ali Tayebi-Meybodi, MD PGY2Â
Nitesh Patel, MD PGY7
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Shabbar Danish, MD
Yehuda Herschman, MD
Kevin Zhao, DO PGY5
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Grand Rounds The purpose of these conferences are to provide continuing medical education for the Department of Neurosurgery. Our Grand Rounds are comprised of formal lectures by a Visiting Professor, faculty, residents, advanced practice providers, and other clinical neuroscience healthcare staff.
June 10, 2020 | "A New Classification of Adult Idiopathic Scoliosis: Evaluation
and Treatment Guidelines"
Recently, we welcomed Dr. Lawrence G. Lenke as a lecturer for our inaugural series of "Global Virtual Grand Rounds." His presentation entitled, "A New Classification of Adult Idiopathic Scoliosis: Evlauation and Treatment Guidelines," attracted more than 180 guests from all around the globe including Peru, Indonesia, Paraguay, Brazil and France. Dr. Lenke is the Chief of Spinal Surgery at Columbia University Department of Orthopedics and Surgeon-In-Chief at The Spine Hospital at New York Presbyterian/The Allen Hospital. He is world-renowned for the surgical treatment of pediatric and adult patients with various forms of spinal anomalies, with expertise in the most complex deformities. Thus, he is a leading authority on such spinal deformities as scoliosis, kyphosis, flatback syndrome, high-grade spondylolisthesis, and major coronal and sagittal malalignment. Lawrence G. Lenke, MD Surgeon-in-Chief, The Daniel and Jane Och Spine Hospital at New York-Presbyterian/Allen Professor & Chief of Spinal Surgery, Chief of Spinal Deformity Surgery, Co-Director, Adult and Pediatric, Comprehensive Spine Surgery Fellowship, Columbia University Department of Orthopedic Surgery
June 25th, 2020 | "My Journey Through Neurosurgery" It was a great honor to have Dr. Robert Spetzler as our Grand Rounds lecturer, which garnered over 100 viewers. Dr. Spetzler, is a world-renowned neurosurgeon who specializes in cerebrovascular disease and skull base tumors. He has been involved in pioneering the technique of hypothermia and cardiac arrest for the treatment of difficult brain lesions. He has been honored many times by professional societies, including the American College of Surgeons and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. In 1983 Dr. Spetzler left his position as associate professor of neurosurgery at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland to assume a position as chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at Barrow Neurological Institute at Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix. He served as president and CEO of Barrow from 1986 to 2017. He is also emeritus chair of neurosurgery at the Phoenix campus of The University of Arizona College of Medicine.
Robert Spetzler, MD
Emeritus President & CEO, Emeritus Professor & Chair, Department of Neurosurgery at Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center
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August 12th, 2020 | “Evidence-Based Medicine versus Medicine-Based Evidence: Bridging the Gap Between Literature and Practice” Dr. Randall Chesnut, based at Harborview Medical Center, is a University of Washington professor with appointments in two departments: Neurological Surgery, and Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine. He has particular expertise in surgery and critical care for traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injuries, failed back surgery, and adult spondylolisthesis, as well as sports-related spine and brain injuries. He has conducting research to improve care for people with traumatic brain and spine injuries, and currently has funding from the National Institutes of Health for outcome studies in brain injury and trauma care systems in Latin America.
Randall M. Chesnut, MD Attending Physician & Chief, Cranial and Spine Trauma, Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Washington Medical Center, Harborview Medical Center
August 26, 2020 | “Innovations in Brain Tumor Surgery in the Precision Medicine Era”
Dr. Steven Kalkanis was appointed chief executive officer of the Henry Ford Medical Group and senior vice president and chief academic officer in January 2020. He is actively involved in clinical trials and research and leads a translational research laboratory investigating the molecular genetic differences between short- and long-term brain tumor survivors with the goal of refining future personalized medicine treatment protocols. Dr. Kalkanis specialize in the treatment of all brain tumors including clinical trials; intracranial neurosurgery, spinal cord tumors, adult cervical and lumbar spine disease, general neurosurgery and stereotactic neurosurgery.
Steven N Kalkanis, MD CEO, Henry Ford Medical Group Senior Vice President and Chief Academic Officer Professor & Chairman, Department of Neurosurgery Mark L. Rosenblum Endowed Chair in Neurosurgery Medical Director, Henry Ford Cancer Institute Co-Director, Henry Ford Neuroscience Institute
September 30, 2020 |
“Evolution of Preferred Skull Base Approaches”
Dr. Carl Heilman is the Neurosurgeon-in-Chief at Tufts Medical Center. He is a Professor and Chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery. He is internationally renowned for neurosurgical excellence. Dr. Heilman specializes in surgery for skull base tumors, pituitary tumors, meningiomas, schwannomas and Chiari 1 malformations. He has served as the President of the North American Skull Base Surgery Society, the Society of University Neurosurgeons, the Boston Society of Neurology and Psychiatry, and the New England Neurosurgical Society. Dr. Heilman is board certified in Neurosurgery.
Carl Heilman, MD Chairman & Professor, Department of Neurosurgery Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine
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Upcoming Events VIRTUAL SYMPOSIUM |
September 10 - September 12, 2020
Global Neurosurgery: Ask Not for Whom the Bell Tolls In light of these perilous time, we have decided that our WFNS Global Neurosurgery Symposium will now be a virtual meeting from September 10 and September 12, 2020. COVID-19 has reminded us why global platforms are so important to flatten the curve and heal the world. The registration website is now live! Please click the link on our bio for more information. The Global Neurosurgery Symposium “Neurosurgery: Ask Not for Whom the Bell Tolls” is designed for physicians, surgeons, advanced practice nurses, nurses, physician assistants, residents and fellows, critical care, emergency medicine, internal medicine, hospital medicine, neurology, neurosurgery, physical and rehabilitation medicine, and trauma whose practice focuses on the diagnosis, management, and treatment of patients with neurological emergencies. There will be multiple sessions led by Keynote speakers who are renowned worldwide in the field of Neurosurgery. Symposium Goals and Objectives
To create a platform for societies from the developing countries to discuss the current development of Neurosurgery in their respective countries, especially related to the education of young neurosurgeons To create an opportunity for all representatives of members’ countries to present regarding neurosurgical services in their respective countries. To understand the facilities and level of development in Neurosurgery of each members’ countries. To create a database on the regional neurosurgical services used to formulate long term strategies to improvise the neurosurgical development in human resources, facilities, and adaptation of current modern technologies.
“Each man’s death diminishes me, For I am involved in mankind. Therefore, send not to know, for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee.” — John Donne
To understand the regional health policies and its implications on the delivery of care in neurosurgery. To understand the challenges posed due to cultural differences in implementing a uniform standard of care globally.
To register and find more information, scan the barcode or visit http://go.rutgers.edu/nmbo99mp
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H.O.P.E Center Rutgers Neurosurgery Health Outcomes, Policy, and Economics (H.O.P.E.) Center Mission The H.O.P.E. Center is focused on research that promotes a better understanding of health outcomes, policy, and economic factors in the area of neurosurgery and beyond. Our central goal is to improve outcomes and reduce the economic burden of patient care. By combining experts in clinical neurosurgery, basic science, data analytics, patient safety, and health economics, we perform multidisciplinary research and policy proposals to benefit our community in New Jersey, and worldwide.
Vision The H.O.P.E. Center will be the international leader in health outcomes, policy, and economic research in the area of neurosurgery. Our work will advance the methods and quality or patient care, improving outcomes, and reducing economic burden.
Focus Areas Optimization of healthcare delivery systems Local and National outcomes research Modeling of health economics and impact Development of improved healthcare policy
Personel Anil Nanda, MD, MPH Patrick Hilden, MS Detlev Boison, PhD Pankaj K. Agarwalla, MD Hai Sun, MD, PhD John Gillick, MD Gaurav Gupta, MD
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Project 100 When the COVID-19 pandemic hit and the clinics closed down to permit only essential care to be done, we needed a new challenge to maintain academic standards for the education for our residents. Out of this need, Project 100 was born, a collection of scholarly activities to be done remotely by engaging residents, medical students and faculty in publication projects. Project 100 turned into a successful endeavor, resulting in close to 300 individual projects and the immersion of residents in research projects, which could be done remotely and safely.
Asif Shafiq, DO : "Endovascular Treatment of Carotid-Cavernous Fistulas: a case series and literature review." Kevin Zhao, DO, Sean Munier, MD, & Purvee Patel, MD : "Hemicraniectomy Rates - Larve Vessel Occlusion Patients Receiving Mechanical Thrombectomy or Not" Nitesh Patel, MD and Sean Munier, MD : "Meta-Analysis: Oncolytic Virus Vaccines for Recurrent GBM - Recurrent GBM persists as a major problem and treatments are limited to primary GBM standard of care + adjuvants. Oncolytic viral therapies are emerging. We would like to conduct a meta-analysis on this topic." Ali Tayebi Meybodi, MD : "Clinical Utility and Cost Analysis of Routine Brain Computed Tomography After Placement of External Ventricular Drains"
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In The News Congratulations to Dr. Stephen Johnson, Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery, on the recent opening of his clinic in Community Medical Center. Dr. Johnson specializes in Gamma Knife Radiosurgery, cranial nerve disorders, and spinal neurosurgery. He sees patients with all spinal conditions, brain tumors, and cranial nerve disorders. To make an appointment or make a referral, please call 732.235.6333.
May 29th 2020 | International Neurosurgery Update Dr. Anil Nanda participated in an International Neurosurgery Update webinar, where he presented his talk Anterior Cranial Base Meningiomas: A One Sided Bias. Additional speakers on this platform included Dr. Claudio Yampolsky, Dr. Basant Misra and Dr. Najia El Abbadi. This was a talk propagating the unilateral or one-sided approach to most of the tumors involving the base of the frontal brain. The extensive removal of bone, disfigurement, and complications can be prevented by using a one-sided approach, also achieving adequate removal of the tumor. June 24th 2020 | The WFNS Neurosurgical Anatomy Over the course of two days on June 23rd and 24th, The WFNS Neurosurgical Anatomy committee hosted their second online educational course. Imad N. Kanaan and Vladimír Beneš served as course directors for this program, and additional guest speakers included Dr. Ramez Kirollos, Dr. Victor Hugo Pérez, Dr. Giovanni Broggi, Dr. Jie Tang and Dr. Miguel A. Arraez. Dr. Anil Nanda delivered his talk on Olfactory Grove Meningiomas: Trials and Trepidations. The purpose of this event was to promote sound clinical judgement, to enhance neurosurgical skills of young neurosurgeons and trainees around the globe, and to infuse their challenges and respond to their inquiries. July 27th 2020 | The Algerian Society of Neurosurgery and Panarab Neurosurgical Society Dr. Anil Nanda presented his talk, Skull Base Surgery: Resisting the Siren’s Song, at a webinar for The Algerian Society of Neurosurgery and Panarab Neurosurgical Society. The event was coordinated by Dr. Nabila Tighilt and Professor Loucif Houari, with panelists including Professor Benaissa Abdennebi and Professor Bachir Bellebna from Algeria, Professor Hossam Elhusseiny from Egypt, Professor Abdessamad Elazhari from Morocco and Professor Hossam Aljehani from Saudi Arabia. The purpose of this presentation was to make surgeons aware of when to operate and, most importantly, when to stop and not proceed, to resist the temptation of complete removal and avoid the consequent complications.
July 2020 | CURE Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy Dr. Detlev Boison was recently awarded the Catalyst Award for his research on "Adenosine Kinase Inhibitors for Antiepileptogenic Therapy" by CURE. In 25 years of research, Dr. Boison’s team found that a pathological reduction in adenosine, which is the brain’s own seizure terminator, not only triggers epileptic seizures, but also is a key factor in the development and progression of epilepsy. Therefore, increasing adenosine in the brain is a logical approach for the prevention of epilepsy. Therapeutic increases in adenosine can most effectively be achieved by using a drug, which blocks the major adenosine removing enzyme, adenosine kinase (ADK).
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April 2020 | U.S. News & World Report Dr. Ira Goldstein, was featured in U.S. News & World Report for their article on "Some NFL Players May Be Misdiagnosed With Brain Disease: Study." In the article, Dr. Goldstein also noted that there are some brain conditions that can be treated with surgery that mimic CTE symptoms, including tumors and a buildup of fluid in the brain. According to Dr. Goldstein, researchers are studying new ways to diagnose CTE in people while they're still alive. PET scans, spinal fluid analysis and a blood test that looks for certain substances in the blood are all being evaluated.
May 13th, 2020 | Futurity.org Dr. Priyank Khandelwal discussed why strokes are increasingly occurring in younger patients with COVID-19 and the precautionary measures that can help save their lives in his interview with Futurity News. He mentioned that physicians treating people with COVID-19 have noted an increase in strokes among young and otherwise healthy adults who later are diagnosed or recovering from the disease.
May 9th, 2020 | Nikkei Asian Review Dr. James Liu shared his experience with discrimination in an article by the Nikkei Asian Review. Discrimination against Asian Americans has surged in the United States related to the spread of COVID19. In the article, Dr. Liu is among other Asian Americans who are struggling to shake concerns about safety as some U.S. states begin to reopen.
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