AANS YOUNG NEUROSURGEONS COMMITTEE 2020 Nominees
Nomination Prateek Agarwal Univ. of Pittsburgh/2027 I am writing in support of Prateek Agarwal’s candidacy for the AANS Young Neurosurgeons Committee (YNC). Now a neurosurgery resident at University of Pittsburgh, Prateek has excelled everywhere he has trained including undergraduate, graduate and medical school. He won top academic honors all 3 institutions including, top 5% academic honors at Harvard University as an undergraduate, being named to the Wharton MBA program’s Directors List and receiving the Spencer Morris Prize, UPenn’s Perelman SOM top academic prize. Prateek is an enterprising resident who gets high quality work done efficiently. Despite being early in his training, he has won multiple neurosurgery scholarships and awards including the prestigious NREF Medical Student Summer Fellowship and was elected as the 2018 - 2020 AANS YNC MISSION Fellow. Academically, Dr. Agarwal has authored 33 peer reviewed journal articles, 3 invited articles, 2 book chapters and is a recent recipient of the 2018 paper of the Year in the journal Neurosurgery. In addition to his NREF Summer Fellowship, he won the Guggenheim Family Neurosurgery Research Scholarship, Medical Student Neurosurgery Research paper prize at UPenn and the Pevehouse Young Neurosurgeon Award for neurosurgical research productivity. His research experience began in 2009 as a research intern at Drexel University, School of Bioengineering and he continued to hold research positions through his time at Rutgers, Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Agarwal hopes to impact the field of neurosurgery through clinical research, clinical outcomes research as well as leadership in the AANS. During his time on the YNC as the MISSION Fellow, Prateek was a productive contributor, wrote and excellent article for the YNC Newsletter and was well liked by committee members. I give strong support for Prateek Agarwal’s nomination and am confident that he has the motivation, fortitude and talent to be a strong member of the AANS YNC. Jeremiah Johnson ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I would like to nominate Prateek Agarwal, MD, MBA for a position on the YNC. He graduated from Harvard University with an AB in molecular and cellular biology, and he earned a dual MD/MBA from University of Pennsylvania. He is currently a neurosurgery resident at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Prateek has already been active in organized neurosurgery, serving as the 2018-2020 YNC MISSION Fellow. I served as his mentor, and he did a great job. His project, Impact of American Association of Neurological Surgeons Medical Student Interest Groups on Participation in Organized Neurosurgery, Research Productivity, and Residency Match Success, was recently published in World Neurosurgery. Given his demonstrated interest in organized neurosurgery and his past work as a MISSION Fellow, I think Prateek would be a great addition to the YNC team. Debraj Mukherjee Pedro Aguilar Salinas Univ. of Arizona/2025 I am a neurosurgery resident at the University of Arizona and I would like to nominate myself for a position on the Young Neurosurgeons Committee. Coming from another country and being accepted into neurosurgery, makes me feel responsible to advocate for young professionals in our field. As a PGY-3, I have taken a role in mentoring medical students on their research projects and career goals. I am a very highly motivated individual who is genuinely interested in organized neurosurgery in order to advance our field and the care for our patients. I have profound interest in teaching and mentorship, given that I believe that education is the key to make our world a better place. I would be honored and always humble to actively participate in the Committee to improve care and outcomes in Neurosurgery.
Self-nomination Oluwaseun O. Akinduro Mayo Clinic Jacksonville/2023 It is with great pleasure that I whole-heartedly support Dr. Oluwaseun Akinduro (Olu) for a position in the Young Neurosurgeon Committee. Olu is a 5th year resident in our program and has been the model example of a leader since he arrived here.
Olu has served in multiple committees and initiatives on our campus, including leadership roles in the simulation center subcommittee, initiation of multiple resident cadaver courses, and outreach through the minority group on campus: AD (African Descent) MERG. He has done all this while staying productive academically. He published roughly 30 papers, recently submitted an NIH National Research Service Award F32 grant as a Principal Investigator for work in spinal chordoma, and scored in the top 92% for his boards.
Olu is the definition of a team player and is highly regarded by the entire faculty, co-residents, and allied staff because of his ability to always find areas of need, solves problems, and offer his time and effort to anyone.
There is no doubt that Olu will become a top leader in our field. I know he has what it takes to trail-blaze the field of spinal oncology. I truly believe he will be an asset to the YNC. He has been heavily involved in organized neurosurgery, and has given over a dozen oral presentations at meetings such as SNS, AANS, and CNS. I am excited to see what the future holds for this
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AANS YOUNG NEUROSURGEONS COMMITTEE 2020 Nominees
Nomination budding young neurosurgeon. Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa Zaid Aljuboori Univ. of Louisville/2020 As a foreign medical graduate from Iraq, I was fortunate to join a neurosurgical residency in the United States. This transition allowed me to experience the differences between the two healthcare systems and made me realize the positive impact of organized neurosurgery. The Young Neurosurgeons Committee provides members with a unique opportunity to develop skills in leadership, planning, policy development, and mentorship. As a 7th year resident with a deep interest in becoming a leader in academic neurosurgery, becoming a YNC member will be invaluable for my personal growth. Self-nomination Miracle Chiomimi Anokwute Indiana University/2024 MIRACLE, MORE THAN A GOOD RESIDENT IS A GOOD PERSON, WHO HAS DEMONSTRATED IN THESE DIFFICULT TIMES WHAT IS NEEDED TO BE A LEADER, WITH A COMMITMENT TO HIS CAREER AS WELL AS TO HIS PEOPLE, WITHOUT FEAR OF RETALIATION THAT THIS CAN CAUSE.
BEING A REASON OF PRIDE AND MOTIVATION FOR THE NEXT GENERATIONS OF RESIDENTS IN NEUROSURGERY. Jose Javier Cuellar Hernandez Vin Shen Ban Univ. of Texas/Southwestern/2023 It is my great pleasure to write this letter in nomination of Dr. Vin Shen Ban to serve as a member of the Young Neurosurgeons Committee. Dr. Ban is an outstanding senior resident who is aligning himself towards a successful career in academic and organized neurosurgery. He stands out among his peers as being a motivated, diligent, and creative individual as well as a natural leader. Despite being early in his career, he has sought out opportunities in organized neurosurgery. These include being a CNS Resident Committee member and a CSNS Socioeconomic Fellow. His local and national involvement in these leadership roles will be invaluable assets to the Young Neurosurgeons Committee and to the future of AANS.
Vin has endless energy and has demonstrated the ability to multitask. In between his busy clinical duties as a resident, he is able to fit in additional training in the dissection skills lab, research, mentorship of medical students, leadership and organized neurosurgery work. He can often be found at almost every AANS and CNS meeting in recent years. All these speak to his incredible work ethic and his fit with the Young Neurosurgeons Committee.
I have no doubt that Vin will be a great colleague and a future leader in organized neurosurgery. I enthusiastically recommend this exceptionally talented physician to the Young Neurosurgeons Committee without reservation. Owoicho Adogwa ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I am a PGY-5 resident interested in becoming elected to the Young Neurosurgeons Committee. I believe it will provide an excellent avenue for me to give back to the society and the specialty as a whole. Among its many contributions, the YNC is instrumental in the recruitment of our best medical students. By being a member of the YNC, I hope to continue in this effort, ensuring that the pipeline moving forward remains robust. Experiences in residency shape the career of a neurosurgeon. As a member of the YNC, I hope to be able to share the UT Southwestern experience with my fellow members and the society as a whole, and also to bring back innovative ideas and different perspectives to my home program.
Resident education and research will be a key focus of mine. The Young Neurosurgeons Research Forum is of extremely high quality, and has the potential to foster greater inter-residency collaborations and resident led research. Beyond the Annual Meeting, the AANS does a lot for resident education that is not immediately obvious to the residents. Through the YNC, I hope to be able to represent my fellow residents at the national level in policy making that affects our training. In the end, these decisions will shape the future of our specialty, and I would be honored to play a role in that.
On a more personal level, being a YNC member will allow me the opportunity to learn more about the inner workings of AANS and Organized Neurosurgery through interactions with the various AANS subcommittees. I believe the experience I have gained through my time as a member of the CNS Resident Committee and my upcoming tenure as a CSNS Socioeconomic Fellow will serve me well in the YNC. These experiences coupled with those gained through the YNC will help enhance my leadership skills and prepare me for a future in academic neurosurgery. Self-nomination Sean Michael Barber Methodist Hospital/2018 Sean Barber is a young neurosurgeon in his first year of practice at Houston Methodist Hospital, in Houston, Texas. He has a strong interest in academic neurosurgery, particularly with regard to the treatment of spinal pathology. He also has a proclivity for both clinical and basic science research, having authored over 30 peer-reviewed publications and having received research
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AANS YOUNG NEUROSURGEONS COMMITTEE 2020 Nominees
Nomination support from such foundations as Wings for Life for the study of neuromodulation for functional recovery after spinal cord injury. He enjoys mentoring trainees and has expressed an interest in becoming more involved with organized neurosurgery. I believe these attributes would make him an asset to the YNC. Self-nomination Nicole Bentley Univ. of Michigan/2017 I would like to convey my strong interest in the Young Neurosurgeons Committee. I am currently an Assistant Professor in my 2nd year of practice at the University of Alabama in Birmingham (UAB), having completed a Stereotactic and Functional fellowship at Emory University following residency at the University of Michigan. I have enjoyed participating in the AANS and have sat in on YNC meetings in the past. I am confident that I am able to devote the necessary time and effort to supporting and representing the Committee’s and young neurosurgery members’ interests. I also have a strong interest in functional neurosurgery and will be a liaison to the Pain/Functional sections as well as to the WINS Committee. I would be grateful for the opportunity to join the YNC and look forward to serving in this capacity. Self-nomination ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I would like to submit my nomination for Nicole Bentley for the Young Neurosurgeons Committee. Nicole joined UAB in 2018 after completing residency at the University of Michigan and fellowship in Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery at Emory University. She is a regarded as a highly motivated and collaborative clinician and scientist, capable, competent and well liked. Nicole is a capable surgeon, and takes excellent care of her patients. She is thoughtful in her consideration of difficult topics and expresses herself likewise in a thoughtful manner.
In her short time as Assistant Professor she has been increasingly involved in service at local and regional levels, serving on several departmental and hospital committees, including the ACGME Clinical Competency Committee, Neurosurgery Diversity liaison, Value Based Metrics Committee, Clinical Advisory Committee and as Scientific Advisor for our state neurosurgical society. In addition, Dr. Bentley is involved in Residency training Program as Assistant Program Director—work for which our Residents and the Program Director both give her high marks.
She has demonstrated her dedication to service and adds a positive influence to all of her interactions. I have no doubt she will show the same dedication and positive impact at the national level in the YNC. She has an approachable, friendly demeanor and works well with all members of the medical, research and administrative team. She has a genuine interest in serving this group of AANS members, and she will be a strong liaison to the AANS at large. As a surgeon involved in the clinical care of patients, an educator as Assistant Program Director, and a researcher in the neurophysiology of subcortical and cortical networks, Nicole is the ideal person to serve in this role as she represents so many different aspects of Neurosurgery well and will be a valuable asset to the Committee. James M. Markert ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I have known Dr. Nicole Bentley for more than a decade now. I first met her when she was a sub-i at the University of Michigan and I was a mid-level resident. We were very fortunate to convince her to do her residency with us. In the ensuing years I have known Dr. Bentley to be extremely hard working and selfless. She is an excellent doctor and surgeon. She certainly is one of my best friends in neurosurgery and always a pleasure to be around.
Dr. Bentley has been interested in the YNC for quite some time. During my tenure on the committee, she attended meetings despite not being an elected member (yet). Now as a junior faculty member at UAB focusing on functional neurosurgery, I know that she will be a valuable addition to the YNC. I can totally see her succeeding as the liaison to the pain/functional section and/or WINS. Even more, I know that she will bring innovative ideas that will make the YNC even better for future generations of young neurosurgeons.
During my time on the YNC, I saw a lot of people get elected who would subsequently not attend meetings or really participate at all. If Dr. Bentley is elected, this will not be an issue. She will take her role seriously and I guarantee you she will thrive in it! Please consider giving her your vote! Khoi Duc Than Wenya Linda Bi Brigham and Women's Hospital/2017 Linda has been an Assistant Professor of NS at Brigham and Women's Hospital/ Harvard Medical School since 2018. She received her AB, summa cum laude, in Neurobiology from the Harvard College in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 2002. She received her M.Phil in 2006 in Neurobiology and in 2007, she earned her PhD in Neurobiology under Susan Hockfield and Russel Matthews, both at the Yale University Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. In 2010 she earned her MD in Medicine at the Yale University School of Medicine. She was a Resident in Neurosurgery from 2010-2017 at Brigham and Women’s / Boston Children’s Hospital. From 2013-2017, she was a Research Fellow in Cancer Biology under Rameen Beroukhim, MD, PhD and Ian Dunn, MD at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. From 2017-2018, she was
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AANS YOUNG NEUROSURGEONS COMMITTEE 2020 Nominees
Nomination a Clinical Fellow for Skull Base Neurosurgery under Dr. Ossama Al-Mefty and Dr. Ian Dunn. In the last two years she has been rapidly establishing herself as a compassionate and caring neurosurgeon focused on skull base and brain tumors, performing about 200-250 cases per year. Her funded research focuses on studying the genomic landscape of skull bases tumors, such as meningiomas, pituitary tumors and acoustic tumors. In her first author paper entitled: “Landscape of genomic alterations in pituitary adenomas. Clin Cancer Res. 2017”, she and her co-authors identified that one-third of pituitary tumors (29%) had chromosome arm-level copy-number alterations across large fractions of the genome. She has over 60 publications. She is also a great educator and has become one of the favored faculty of the residents and a great role model for the women residents.
She encompasses the qualities of leadership, compassion, scholarly pursuit and service that the AANS values and would be a great addition to the AANS YNC E. Antonio Chiocca Stephen Bowden Oregon Health & Science University/2024 Mentorship has played a huge role in my development throughout my professional career. Starting in high school and college with my training at music conservatories, relationships with my mentors have inspired and driven me. Connections built through those relationships were instrumental in building my career. The same has been true after I went into medicine. Through medical school, I benefited greatly from keen and attentive mentorship from the neurosurgery faculty and I've thankfully found a similar experience during residency. I hope to become involved with the Young Neuros committee to further develop my professional network and those mentoring relationships with both those farther along in their careers and those earlier in training. Self-nomination James Phillip Caruso Univ. of Texas/Southwestern/2024 Currently a PGY4 Resident in good standing at the UTSW Medical Center in Dallas, Dr. James P. Caruso has a most impressive background with varied interests, having earned a BS in Physics (with highest honors!) and English Language and Literature at the U of MI before earning his MD at UVA School of Medicine. While at UVA School of Medicine they awarded him the Dr. J. W. and M. U. Lawson Memorial Fund Scholarship, the Dr. Charles R. Tatum Memorial Scholarship, and the E.W. and L.E. Russell Scholarship. He held an MSK medical student summer research fellowship in 2014, and his research interests to date have spanned the gamut from Gamma Knife Radiosurgery, spine disease, traumatic brain injury, and glioma bio-energetics. He has produced 19 abstracts and poster presentations, 8 oral presentations at regional and national societies, 18 peer-reviewed publications, and 5 book chapters. As his resume shows he is accelerating in his academic activity with numerous pipeline projects. He has been active organizationally: Vice-President of the AANS Young Neurosurgeons Medical Student Chapter in Charlottesville, elected by classmates to represent the UVA School of Medicine at regional and national meetings of the American Association of Medical Colleges, and Co-Chair of the Community Service Activity of the UVA School of Medicine. By my personal observation over the years of his Residency training to date he has been an exemplary Resident, demonstrating empathy, commitment to the care team, commitment to our Institution, and commitment to our Department. He is held in very high esteem by his fellow Residents, his Faculty, and our allied healthcare team. He has high interest in becoming involved in organized medicine and he is certainly on the trajectory to make major contributions to our field. I recommend him to you with my highest enthusiasm. His intelligence, writing abilities, intellectual curiosity, and broad knowledge are exactly what is needed for our future leaders. H. Hunt Batjer Silky Chotai Vanderbilt University Medical Center/2024 Dr. Chotai will be an outstanding asset to the YNC. She is a diligent worker, approaches each project with enthusiasm and passion, will see a task through to completion. On an interpersonal level, she is a strong team player and collaborator. Maya Babu ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Silky is a highly accomplished resident at Vanderbilt who has shown an early interest in organized neurosurgery. She is already a member of the CNS Resident and AANS Education Committees. Not only has she amassed a very impressive CV with more than a hundred publications and podium presentations, she has demonstrated true leadership qualities over the course of her career. During her time as a post-doctoral fellow prior to beginning residency, she was an indispensable team member driving the development of the Neuro-Point Alliance-Quality Outcomes Database. I believe that as a member of the YNC, she will be very helpful to guide the future generation of neurosurgeons. She has my highest recommendation to be considered to serve as a member of this committee. Mohamad Bydon ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dedicated, hard-working, focused. Interested in utilizing the current standards of patient care, education and research and taking it to the next level. Passionate about surgical outcomes. Have skills and resilience to work in a team and come up with ideas to invoke new innovations in clinical practice and research. Self-nomination
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AANS YOUNG NEUROSURGEONS COMMITTEE 2020 Nominees
Nomination Chad Claus Ascension Providence Hospital-MSUCHM/2023 I'd like to humbly nominate myself for a YNC position because this has been a committee that I have dreamed of being a part of since I was a medical student. I'm humbled by the hard work and dedication of the past representatives as they tirelessly aim to improve and drive our profession forward into the future. I have always been a part of leadership and have held numerous leadership positions throughout my education. To be elected as a member of the YNC would be the greatest honor of my young neurosurgical career and give me the opportunity to serve my colleagues and profession. I feel extremely blessed to have the opportunity to care for patients with neurosurgical conditions and can't help but have a sense of obligation to give back to the organizations and physicians that came before me to continue the goal of improving and directing our specialty into the future. I believe I offer a unique perspective that can prove invaluable to the organization and the specialty. As an Osteopathic physician, I believe I possess a unique perspective that can help broaden the outreach of our organization and provide useful insight to help our specialty grow. As a natural leader and an effective communicator, I believe I can be an invaluable asset to this organization. That being said, I am willing and able to serve this committee in any manner that proves helpful. As a former college athlete, I am not a stranger to teamwork and look forward to the collegial nature of this committee. We all share the same goal and it would be an absolute honor to be part of the Young Neurosurgeons Committee. I hope you strongly consider my nomination for any position and am happy to answer any future questions. Thank you for the opportunity and I look forward to hearing from you. Self-nomination ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I am putting forth a nomination to the YNC committee on behalf of Dr. Chad Claus. Dr. Claus would be an extraordinary addition to the committee. He has demonstrated himself as a rising academician, evidenced by his winning of the AANS/CNS Joint Spine Section Mayfield Clinical Science Award in 2019. He is still leading the RCT that was the basis for this honored distinction. Dr. Claus is a hardworking, dedicated, and enthusiastic resident and will bring this same energy to the YNC committee. I put forth this nomination without reservation and hope the committee strongly considers his nomination. Michael Lawless ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ While Dr. Claus has many outstanding qualities, the following attributes stand out:
Compassion-whenever there was a surgical complication, Dr. Claus handled it with integrity and compassion. Dr. Claus owned up to his mistakes. He spent long periods with the patients and their families, explaining and answering their questions patiently. Dr. Claus was able to offer consolation in some of the most challenging situations we experienced.
Leadership and Mentorship-since Dr. Claus was a mid-level resident; his leadership qualities have been evident. Even though Dr. Claus is a gifted technical neurosurgeon with astute intelligence, he is always approachable and open-minded. I have observed Dr. Claus took the time to sit down with the juniors and methodically discussed each surgical step with them. These qualities were most apparent when Dr. Claus taught the struggling junior residents. As a result of these qualities, Dr. Claus is very well-liked. The junior residents widely regard him as a role model.
Research Development-when our residency transitioned from an AOA to ACGME-accredited program in 2017, strict scholarly activity requirements were implemented. Dr. Claus not only met, he far exceeded our expectations. Dr. Claus’s project, Fusion and Opioid-sparing with the Use of Ketorolac in Posterior Thoracolumbar Spinal Fusions: A Prospective Double-blinded Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial, won the 2019 Mayfield Award given by AANS/CNS DSPN for the most outstanding manuscript detailing a clinical investigation in the area of spinal or peripheral nerve disorders. Additionally, Dr. Claus was very motivated to learn advanced analytical methods. One example is the methodological review he authored - Big Data Registries in Spine Surgery Research: The Lurking Dangers. BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine. 2020. Dr. Claus was a member of the AANS Online Education Task Force in 2019-20, and he has been a reviewer for Spine for the last six months and PLOS ONE since March 2020. Teck-Mun Soo Ryan Troy Cleary St. Louis University/2024 I would like to nominate myself for the Young Neurosurgeons Committee. I believe my leadership experience, and interest in medical education makes me an excellent candidate for the Young Neurosurgeons Committee. I served as president of my class during medical school, where I oversaw the budget for all student organizations, organized fundraising events and sales, and organized school events, including the match event during our final year. Over the past two years, I served first as vice president, and then president of the SLU Residents’ Association. In that role, I established semiannual forums with the nursing staff, and helped lead our hospital through the initial peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. As president, I was the only resident member of the COVID-19 Task Force, which was responsible for creating and implementing new hospital policies during the pandemic. I also organized a discounted meal service for residents with a local restaurant, held biweekly forums to address resident concerns, and coordinated with central supply to distribute masks and other PPE directly to residents. I also have a strong interest in medical education. During my first year of residency, I created a curriculum for the 3rd year medical student
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AANS YOUNG NEUROSURGEONS COMMITTEE 2020 Nominees
Nomination neurosurgery rotation and for the sub-internships. I am currently one of two resident members on a SLU task force responsible for creating resources and best practices for the transition to virtual interviews this year, have helped organize monthly webinars as a member of the CNS Resident Committee, and have taken the lead on creating a virtual sub-internship for my department. I am interested in serving in a leadership role within academic neurosurgery and medical education in the future, and believe I could be a valuable addition to the Young Neurosurgeons Committee. Self-nomination Jose Javier Cuellar Hernandez Unidad Medica de Alta Especialidad IMSS-Monterrey/2021 I AM A PROACTIVE PERSON WITH INITIATIVE IN THE ACADEMIC, SOCIAL, FAMILY, AND OPERATIONAL, WITH PARTICULAR INTEREST IN THE ACADEMIC FIELD DURING THE RESIDENCE, ALWAYS PROMOTING THE ORGANIZATION OF WORKSHOPS AS WELL AS ACADEMIC SESSIONS.
EASE FOR ORGANIZATION AND SOCIAL CONTACT AS WELL AS FOR PUBLIC SPEECH.
I ADHERE TO THE RULES AND WORK GUIDELINES AS NECESSARY, AND I FOLLOW THE PROTOCOLS TO AVOID ERRORS BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE OPERATING ROOM. Self-nomination Lekhaj C. Daggubati Penn State/2022 I am a 6th year chief resident at Penn State Hershey Medical Center and nominate myself for the AANS Young Neurosurgeons Committee.
Apart from my clinical interests, I am driven to academic neurosurgery because of the focus on education and mentorship. The YNC offers an ideal forum. To me, the YNC’s role is to support the next generation of neurosurgeons, from a medical student to an established Neurosurgeon..
I have goals for my time on the YNC. Some are from my own experiences and others from observations. My focus will be on alternative platforms for resident education, increased interconnectivity among residents, improved mentorship opportunities and improved fellowship platforms.
My prior experience includes the Neurosurgery Interest Group mentorship for the past 4 years, CNS fellow for the past 2 years, and recent social media liaison for the AANS/CNS Joint Section on Tumors. Within my hospital, I have worked in the resident committee to streamline the EMR workflow and create a neuroanatomy elective during residency.
I’m excited to self-nominate myself to Young Neurosurgeons Committee. I will not be joining without a plan. I promise to bring new ideas and plans for the improvement of all young neurosurgeons. Self-nomination ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I write an enthusiastic endorsement of Lekhaj Daggubati for the AANS YNC. He is one of our Chief Residents this year (PGY- 6) and will be doing an enfolded neuro-oncology fellowship with us next year. Lekhaj is an outstanding young neurosurgeon who has demonstrated excellence during his residency. He is meticulous in his patient care and rapidly grasps and utilizes neurosurgical principles. An award as the NeuroCritical Care Provider of the Quarter and frequent letters of gratitude from his patients reveal his exemplary patient care. He surpasses all the expectations of our patients and faculty members.
Lekhaj has also been academically productive. He is presently completing a Master’s degree in Data Science and has been working with our clinical and research faculty utilizing machine learning algorithms and other data science approaches in neurosurgery and neurocritical care. He would be an ideal liaison to the NeuroPoint Alliance.
Lekhaj is also working closely with his faculty advisor in the skull-base dissection laboratory and served as an instructor for the skull-base dissection portion of the International Neurosurgery Resident Course we hosted at Penn State last year. He is an outstanding teacher who serves as the resident advisor for our AANS Medical Student Chapter at Penn State.
On the national stage, he has been active as a CNS Fellow and as an AANS Resident Volunteer. Currently, he is working on the CNS NEXUS library, CNS Journal podcasts, and is on the AANS resident committee.
On a personal note, Lekhaj is bright, enthusiastic, hard-working, diligent and a pleasure to work with. He is a loving husband and father and his character is beyond reproach. He has shown excellent leadership skills and is an outstanding mentor for our junior residents and medical students. Lekhaj will be an exceptional neurosurgeon. He demonstrates superior patient care, mentoring and research skills. I recommend him to you with great enthusiasm and without reservation. Robert E. Harbaugh
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AANS YOUNG NEUROSURGEONS COMMITTEE 2020 Nominees
Nomination Aladine Abdalla Elsamadicy Yale University/2025 I am currently a PGY-3 at Yale and would like to nominate myself for joining YNC. I have been involved with AANS since early medical school, mostly from a research perspective, and since then I have grown to understand the organization in a greater light over the years and through my mentors. While most of my interests have been in clinical outcomes research, now more than ever we need equality and representation within our organization. I would like to advocate for diversity and inclusion as well as program development to bridge the institutional disparities at all levels of neurosurgical training. Given my background and life experiences in socioeconomic and racial disparities, I have been and can continue the conversation at an organizational level. Additionally, I would like to advocate for mentorship. No matter the level an individual is at, guidance is imperative to navigate medical school to residency, residency to fellowship, fellowship to junior faculty, and junior to senior faculty. This will hopefully add to fostering a strong Neurosurgery community. If given the opportunity to represent my fellow residents, I am sure that I can bring valuable insight through my past experiences that will hopefully contribute to the greater conversation and goals of YNC. Thank you for your consideration. Self-nomination Dagoberto Estevez Ordonez Univ. of Alabama/2025 Dr. Estevez-Ordonez is a very bright and enterprising young man. His persona, his kindness, his poise yet humility, his personal qualities and his intellectual where-withal are admirable. He has been a terrific resident in Neurological Surgery here at Univ. Alabama at Birmingham since 2014 after an impressive medical school career at Vanderbilt. He is progressing as a resident, becoming mature clinically and surgically. He is an academician as well with a myriad of IRB quality outcomes investigations underway; already 17 referred citations to his name. He is an international outreach investigator, evaluating health disparities and care delivery in Honduras, other countries in Central America. Dr. Esteves-Ordonez is quite accomplished and worldly at a very young age, and is committed to his pursuit of Neurosurgical clinical excellence and scientific inquiry. He is very much interested in serving the AANS in a Young Neurosurgeon's role. If selected he will serve well and with distinction. Mark N. Hadley Domenico Antonio Gattozzi Univ. of Kansas/2021 It is an honor to nominate Dr. Domenico Gattozzi to this prestigious committee. Dr. Gattozzi is chief resident at the University of Kansas and exemplifies the qualities of a young neurosurgeon. He is extremely hard working, ambitious, humble, and an excellent teacher & mentor to his junior residents and students.
I will not rewrite his CV here, but in summary he is a well balanced neurosurgeon that has made contributions to the literature, helped with QI and departmental efforts, and has extra-curricular interested including jazz piano (has published an album). On top of that, he is dedicated to his wife and children!
The reason I believe he would be an excellent member on this committee is because of his dedication to neurosurgery and someone has follows the guiding principle of "doing it right." I have had the privilege of knowing him for nearly 7 years and he has always done the right thing for patients, colleagues, and everyone he is surrounded by. He does not lose sight of this mission and does not take shortcuts.
Dr. Gattozzi will represent this committee very well over the next 4 years and will undoubtedly give his full dedication. He will continue to make contributions to organized neurosurgery. He has been accepted into a skull base fellowship after his graduation in Denver, CO and plans to pursue a career in academic neurosurgery. Kushal J. Shah Brian Gill New York Presbyterian/Columbia/2021 It gives me great pleasure to provide the strongest possible support for Brian Gill to serve on the Young Neurosurgeon Committee. I have the pleasure of knowing Brian since 2012 when he took a year off as a Columbia medical student to work in my laboratory. His hard work, initiative and energetic personality made a strong impression, and he became one of the top choices that year in the Residency Match. He has matured into an outstanding academic neurosurgeon with strengths at a clinical, academic, educational and personal level.
During residency, Brian has been a team player, a leader and effective educator of students and fellow residents. He is a conscientious physician, greatly admired by nurses, operative technicians, and support personnel in the hospital. He is an outstanding technical surgeon as well as an empathetic and dedicated doctor. As a researcher, he has demonstrated a remarkable capacity to work independently and to bring projects to completion. He has demonstrated the capability to be one of the leaders in our field with the intensity, drive, intellectual capacity, scientific prowess and stamina to become a great neurosurgeon, and to make contributions in the scientific field.
On a personal level, his humility, keen sense of humor and soft-spoken manner underlie an ambitious, diligent and energetic will to accomplish great things. His integrity and character are of the highest level. As a person of color, Brian has brought a 7
AANS YOUNG NEUROSURGEONS COMMITTEE 2020 Nominees
Nomination valuable diversity to our program that has enriched everyone around him. This diversity would provide a beneficial enhancement of the YNC as it fulfills its leadership role transforming the sociocultural changes advancing inclusion, tolerance, professionalism and excellence in our profession. I recommend him with the maximum level of support. This is the strongest letter I can write.
Jeffrey N. Bruce John Lawrence Gillick New York Medical College/2016 I would recommend John Gillick. He would make a great addition to the committee. Anil Nanda Elizabeth Elaine Ginalis Rutgers New Jersey/2027 Elizabeth is another one of our PGY1 residents. Liz went to Rutgers RWJMS for medical school and took on an early position as a leader. She was part of several student groups and was part of the admissions committee for the medical school. She worked along with the Dean of Admissions to evaluate applicants and conduct interviews. She further used these skills to lead the American Medical Women’s Association chapter at Rutgers. Through these roles, she coordinated various functions, lectures, networking programs, and community outreach events. Her experiences place her in a position to succeed as a YNC member. Her eagerness to begin work at an early stage in residency will help lay the foundation for a strong career as a contributor to organized neurosurgery. She truly is a rockstar resident and has the characteristics of a future leader in our field. With two of her senior residents as YNC members, she will be able to stay highly active in the committee and help push projects forward. Nitesh Vijay Patel Maya Harary Univ. of California/Los Angeles/2026 Maya would be the perfect new addition to the YNC. She is incredibly hard working and when she sets her mind on something, she not only gets it done, but well and in a timely manner. She is passionate about our field and improving it in every possible way. Maya is also very easy going and a pleasure to work with. She's always ready to help out when needed and with a great attitude. Please strongly consider her as a candidate. Sophie Peeters David S. Hersh Univ. of Maryland/2018 I am currently finishing my first year as an attending at Connecticut Children's in Hartford, CT, after having completed my residency at the University of Maryland in 2018 and my pediatric neurosurgery fellowship at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis in 2019. The opportunity to serve on the AANS Young Neurosurgeon's Committee would be an incredible honor. I have consistently sought out leadership roles throughout my training, ranging from serving on my residency program's Program Education Committee to being a member of the CNS Resident Leadership Fellows Program. I love being in the operating room and I highly value my daily interactions with my patients, but I also understand the deep importance of organized neurosurgery in pushing our field forward, for the benefit of ALL of our future patients. I also believe in the role that young neurosurgeons have in shaping neurosurgery, and the importance of mentoring those who are following in our paths. That is why I have taken a special interest in guiding the medical students at UConn who are interested in neurosurgery - over the past year, we have established a new AANS Medical Student Chapter at UConn and I am serving as its faculty advisor. I have also taken on a role as the Director of Medical Education for the pediatric neurosurgery rotation at Connecticut Children's. I would plan to apply this same energy and commitment to the AANS Young Neurosurgeon's Committee, and I hope to have the opportunity to represent your interests within organized neurosurgery. Thank you for your consideration. Self-nomination Katherine G. Holste Univ. of Michigan/2025 My name is Katherine Holste and I am a PGY-3 at the University of Michigan. Being elected to the YNC would be an honor and allow me to pursue my passion for promoting neurosurgical education at the medical student and resident level. COVID-19 will pose new challenges to our recruiting process this year and making a successful match will require creative solutions. Although specifics of interviews will be determined by programs, it is our responsibility in organized neurosurgery to advocate for students and residents in the process. With the recent success of the CNS National Neurosurgery Symposium, there is a precedent for utilizing online small group sessions where students can ask logistical questions about our programs in a less formal setting. The addition of video tours or further interactive events could be a vital asset for applicants in the ranking process. My experience with organizing and mentoring students and residents will be an asset to the YNC as we explore new territory during the residency match season. During medical school I helped establish and lead our AANS chapter for 3 years. As a resident I have continued to mentor students, by advising research topics and helping navigate surgical residency regardless of their subspecialty. COVID is undoubtedly changing neurosurgical residency, but resident education can’t be placed on the back burner. Part of my prior research was on creating tools to assess resident competency through comfort with
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AANS YOUNG NEUROSURGEONS COMMITTEE 2020 Nominees
Nomination the procedure and autonomy at various levels of training. Utilizing a tool that both residents and faculty can use may help streamline resident education, especially as case numbers ramp up. It would be an honor to serve on the YNC to pursue my goals and hopefully effect positive change on a national level. Self-nomination Benjamin Hopkins Northwestern University/2027 Dr. Ben Hopkins would be an extraordinary choice for the Young Neurosurgeons Committee. I have worked with Ben for three years as a mentor at Northwestern and I have been extraordinarily impressed by his personal and academic skills. He has all the potential to be an exceptional rising star in neurosurgery and one that can make a tremendous impact. Ben is an extremely hard worker. He takes ideas and executes them. His style is one that mixes both autonomy with the ability to listen and follow guidance. He takes ideas, contemplates the best way to execute them, and then expands upon the initial work. In this way, he works extremely well as both an individual project leader but also as a team member. He is confident without being arrogant and considerate while still standing up for his beliefs and ideas. He works well with pretty much everyone around him, including those of different backgrounds and fields. Academically, he is exceptional and has brought an amazing amount to our research team. I have been extremely impressed by his ideas. And, his work ethic has allowed him to make his ideas into reality. Young Neurosurgeons would be extremely lucky to have Ben. He is truly someone with the potential to be a resident leader and also a future academic leader in our field. Zachary Adam Smith Namath Hussain Penn State/2016 I am writing to nominate Namath Hussain to the Young Neurosurgeons Committee (YNC) of the AANS. Namath is currently one of our Chief Residents in Neurosurgery at the Penn State Hershey Medical Center. He has been an excellent resident here and I believe he would be a welcome addition to the YNC.
Dr. Hussain graduated from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and has completed enfolded fellowships in spine and functional neurosurgery. He has already served in leadership roles within organized medicine and neurosurgery. As a Resident Fellow on the Council of State Neurosurgical Societies he proposed and passed four resolutions and is now an active member of the Young Physicians Representative Section and Secretary of the AANS Caucus. Namath has also served as a resident Senator to the American Medical Association and is currently the Secretary of the Pennsylvania Medical Society Resident Section. With this kind of extra effort he has demonstrated his dedication to our specialty and his ability to collaborate and effectively lead teams.
Dr. Hussain has been an author on clinical guidelines, policy recommendations, more than 25 peer-reviewed publications and 60 abstracts. In addition to his medical pursuits, Namath has an MBA and experience with managing projects - having started several business ventures, including securing startup capital. I think this kind of experience is valuable for the AANS and the YNC.
On a personal note, Namath is bright, energetic, well organized and a pleasure to work with. In short, he has the attributes that will make him an outstanding member of the YNC. I can recommend him with enthusiasm.
Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter. Please let me know if there is any other information I can give you. Robert E. Harbaugh Yasser Jeelani Brigham and Women's Hospital/2022 Dr. Jeelani would make an outstanding addition to the YNC. He demonstrates superb leadership skills and is enthusiastic about academic neurosurgery, teaching, and advancing the field through collaborations. I highly recommend him for this committee. Lissa Catherine Baird ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dr Jeelani is a PGY6 resident at the Brigham and Women's/ Boston Children's program. He is a promising young star in neurosurgery who is a leader amongst his peers, extremely well-liked, articulate, and an excellent teacher and advocate for his co-residents. He constantly strives to make himself better, and make the system better for those around him. He is also keenly interested in getting involved in neurosurgical leadership, and would be a dedicated member of the YNC. As a former YNC member myself, I believe that Dr Jeelani is just the type of person who can help support and advance the next generation of neurosurgeons. Mark R. Proctor Soren B. Jonzzon Vanderbilt University Medical Center/2027 I have held leadership roles throughout my entire life. Through my athletics career, I have held many leadership positions including serving as captain of Quinnipiac University’s Division 1 Men’s Hockey Team where I was able to lead us to the National Championship Game. I continued this leadership role during medical school at UCSF where I served as co-president of
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AANS YOUNG NEUROSURGEONS COMMITTEE 2020 Nominees
Nomination the UCSF AANS chapter. I additionally served as social chair and president of the Associated Students of the School of Medicine.
I would like to have the opportunity to continue working in leadership roles in my neurosurgical career and feel that my past experiences will allow me to contribute and learn from a YNC position. With my experience, I feel that I am well suited to work with and lead a team of individuals to a common goal. Additionally, with my sports background, I know that each member of a team contributes a different skillset. I have learned that a large part of leadership is knowing when to delegate tasks to allow someone who is better suited than myself to achieve our collective goal. This insight would allow me to maximize not only my contribution but the contribution of those around me.
This opportunity will allow me to contribute to our field and learn aspects of organized neurosurgery that I have not previously been exposed to. I hope that I will be viewed as a competitive nominee for this role and look forward to working together in the future! Self-nomination Michael G. Kim New York Medical College/2021 Michael Kim MD is currently chief resident in neurosurgery at the Westchester Medical Center/ NY Medical College training program and planning to do a fellowship in skull base surgery with Frank Hsu MD at UC Irvine in 2021. Throughout training Dr. Kim has been a star resident who was always facile at developing a great rapport with patients and colleagues. From an early point in residency, it was evident that he was also an excellent advocate for the resident team and really demonstrated a passion for education which he channeled towards the mentorship of his juniors and many medical students. He is the first to volunteer for any activity that involves mentorship and roles such as "Ambassador", "Liaison", "Mentor" are common place on his CV, even before he became a neurosurgeon. More recently, Dr. Kim has developed into a technically outstanding and thoughtful surgeon who consistently demonstrates a maturity much advanced compared to his years of training. Combining all of these talents has now resulted in a chief resident that is a great role model for others on our team, as well as within the hospital- great surgeon, passionate teacher, and strong team leader. These are undoubtedly the same characteristics that would make him a highly effective member of the Young Neurosurgeons Committee. His desire to improve systems of practice and educational opportunities while also understanding the practical challenges of neurosurgical practice would bring a very well- rounded talent to the YNC and I nominate him with the greatest of enthusiasm. Chirag D. Gandhi Andrew J. Kobets Montefiore Medical Center/2019 Dr. Kobets is a focused, compassionate, and gifted surgeon who has committed himself to the care of the children of the Bronx. He trained under Dr. James Goodrich at Montefiore Medical Center for seven years prior to his fellowship with Dr. Alan Cohen at Johns Hopkins Hospital to obtain the knowledge and confidence to provide the best care for the most impoverished and vulnerable patients. His time with Dr. Goodrich was invaluable and he loved working with him. Dr. Kobets aimed to be Dr. Goodrich's partner as he returned as an Assistant Professor at Montefiore/Einstein, but was utterly devastated to learn that his mentor would no longer be with him. This great loss has compelled him to work tirelessly everyday to make his mentor proud and ensure that Dr. Goodrich's legacy will never fade. To that end, he is working in his new role to establish a craniofacial center in honor of Dr. Goodrich and to maintain the highest standards in pediatric neurosurgery care. In Dr. Kobets' role on the Young Neurosurgeons Committee, he will certainly represent the subspecialty of pediatric neurosurgery with the highest regard and work to advance the field through a analytic and critical evaluation of common practices, and novel technologies that can make surgery safer and more efficient for even the smallest patients. Dr. Kobets values his family more than anything else, and that is why he has remained close to them in Queens, NY, but understands that to create the most effective workplace, everyone must be cared for and uplifted together as family to ensure that everyone on the team feels appreciated and provides the best for their patients. This was Dr. Goodrich's and Dr. Cohen's legacy, and with the same compassion and collaboration, Dr. Kobets will continue to keep this standard strong in his practice and make his great mentors proud. His work through the YNC will make this possible and ensure that he will make a meaningful impact upon pediatric neurosurgical care in the future. Self-nomination George William Koutsouras SUNY Syracuse/2025 I very enthusiastically nominate George Koutsouras for the YNC. I knew George would be a star when I interviewed him for residency and nothing since has changed my mind. He is now a PGY-3 and despite finishing a rigorous year as a junior resident he remains as enthusiastic and optimistic as the day he started residency. George is first a superb physician who has patient care his number one priority. But, in addition to hard work, he shows tremendous empathy and compassion for his patients and their families. A recent event with a disabled patient where George went above and beyond to arrange communication with the patient's family in the midst of the COVID pandemic showed me his true colors. George is a natural leader and will have lots of ideas and also the organizational skill and grit to get them done. He will be an outstanding committee member for the YNC, and I see him rising through the ranks in the organization. I strongly encourage all to consider George Koutsouras for the YNC position and vote for him. He will be outstanding! Lawrence S. Chin 10
AANS YOUNG NEUROSURGEONS COMMITTEE 2020 Nominees
Nomination Kevin K. Kumar Stanford University/2023 Kevin is currently a PGY-5 resident at Stanford highly interested in pediatric neurosurgery. He has considerable leadership experience both at the institutional and national level as an MD/PhD student at Vanderbilt. He has served previously a national representative at the American Physician Scientists Association (APSA) and most recently on the CNS resident committee. He is passionate about academic neurosurgery and is currently awarded an NINDS R-25 grant for his work on microglia in Gaucher’s disease. If selected to join the YNC, he would advocate for support of the neurosurgeon-scientist pathway at the NIH and organized neurosurgery level. Moreover, he supports initiatives to promote medical students, residents, and fellows to participate in basic science research such as the Research Update in Neuroscience for Neurosurgeons (RUNN) course. The YNC serves an important role in mentoring senior residents, fellows, and junior residents in securing K08 and R01 grant awards. This past year at Stanford, he has developed several online educational sessions for medical students and residents given the COVID-related travel limitations. Self-nomination Elizabeth Liptrap Univ. of Maryland/2018 Dr. Elizabeth Liptrap joined the UAB faculty in 2019. She is an accomplished dual-trained surgeon, with an expertise in neurovascular neurosurgery; but also with skills in spinal and tumor neurosugery. While only a faculty member at UAB for one year, her clinical care of patients during this period has been superior.
Elizabeth exemplifies the well-rounded academic clinician. She has a strong interest in residency education. Several residents have told me how much they enjoy operating with her, a true testament to a new junior faculty member. She participates actively in teaching in the OR, wards, cadaveric labs, and teaching conferences, as well as working to obtain virtual training opportunities for our residents.
She is engaged in research and is creating a niche, even at this early career stage, being actively involved in a number of clinical trials here at UAB. She has been awarded a variety of academic honors. Of note, Elizabeth was the recipient of The University of Maryland Gold Humanism Honor Society award (2011). This peer-nominated award is given to those who exemplify the interpersonal skills and attitudes associated with compassionate patient care. I believe these skills will translate well into a service role in the AANS.
Dr. Liptrap has served on several committees while at UMMC (e.g., Medical School Curriculum Committee, Wellness committee). At UAB, she has enhanced her service efforts with roles in both the UAB Faculty Senate and as Chair of our departmental Signature Programs Committee. She also serves as Scientific Advisor for the state Neurosurgical Society.
Elizabeth is a good communicator, hard-working and knowledgeable. She is clearly motivated and eager to contribute. Her friendly demeanor makes her a pleasure to work with. She is well-suited to supporting the mission of the AANS Young Neurosurgeons Committee in addressing the concerns of young neurosurgeons, and would be an outstanding contributor to this group. James M. Markert, Jr. Kristopher A. Lyon Texas A&M/2023 I nominate Kristopher A. Lyon, MD as a new member for the Young Neurosurgeons Committee. Dr. Lyon is currently a PGY5 resident at Baylor Scott & White/Texas A&M University. During his time here, he has shown significant interest in medical student outreach, resident council, research, and organized neurosurgery at a state and national level. Beginning in 2018, he has strengthened the relationship between our medical students and residents by setting up career fairs showcasing different medical specialties and attending lunch meetings to advise medical students prior to beginning clinical rotations, applying for residency, and interviewing for residency. He has mentored medical students on an individual basis both in clinical rotations and in academic writing. For his commitment to working with medical students, he received the Temple Campus Resident Aggie Spirit Award, an annual award given to one resident. Beginning last year, he has served as the chair for the Clinical Learning Environment Review council, a residency committee at our institution that acts as a liaison between the resident body, hospital administration, and the ACGME. He has participated in many state and national level neurosurgery meetings throughout residency. In fact, he was elected to a two year term to serve as the resident board member of the Texas Association of Neurological Surgeons (TANS). He has participated in board meetings with TANS, and he has been able to recruit additional members from neurosurgical residencies across Texas to join the TANS organization. He has been very productive in research, having written over twenty publications since the start of his residency. In addition to academic publishing, he has given many presentations, including one in Xi’an, China on skull base surgery. I fully recommend Dr. Lyon, as I am confident he will bring his joy for learning and teaching to the members of the committee and medical students nationwide. Jason H. Huang
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AANS YOUNG NEUROSURGEONS COMMITTEE 2020 Nominees
Nomination Peter F. Morgenstern New York Presbyterian/Cornell/2018 Dr. Peter Morgenstern is dedicated to student and resident education and mentorship. As a young attending at Mount Sinai, he has designed an educational curriculum for the residents and initiated a virtual course in neurosurgery for medical students to provide exposure to neurosurgical experts and education despite challenges in attending standard neurosurgery rotations due to COVID. I can think of no better person to serve on the Young Neurosurgeons Committee. He will work tirelessly to improve the experience of young neurosurgeons as he has demonstrated in his early career. Christopher P. Kellner ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dr. Morgenstern stands out as one of the most promising young neurosurgical faculty I have ever worked with. He has immediately immersed himself in the organizational efforts of our program, improving resident education and our entire system of Grand Rounds. He is a committed educator. He will bring tremendous energy and value to the YNC. J Mocco ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peter is that rare individual who is both an outstanding teacher and surgeon for someone who has just started his career. In a very short period of time Peter has become not only the resident advocate but also a trusted surgeon and department leader. he has great leadership skills and is thoughtful, articulate and compassionate. I can think of no one better for this job. Raj K. Shrivastava Monica C. Mureb New York Medical College/2027 Outstanding medical student who spent a year doing research with our department at NYU. She is beginning neurological surgery residency at Westchester Medical/ NY Medical College. She is enthusiastic about neurological surgery and during our time with us, co-authored several papers which were accepted for publication. We all expect great things from her in the coming years and most likely a promising career in academic neurosurgery. I unconditionally support her nomination for the young neurosurgeons. Howard A. Riina Nikhil Krishna Murthy Northwestern University/2022 It gives me great pleasure to nominate Dr Nikhil Murthy to the AANS young neurosurgeon committee .
Dr Nikhil’s significant contributions to enhance medical student and resident education are numerous. His dedication to the field of medical education has been extraordinary since he has joined our program five years ago.
Over many years of his residency, Dr. Murthy worked to create a comprehensive curriculum for junior residents to improve their technical skills to help them transition from medical school to the rigors of neurosurgery training. He gained feedback from faculty in tailoring the curriculum. This substantial improvement in our core curriculum have translated into great satisfaction amongst our residents towards their perception of the educational environment at our department. Moreover, he created a novel simulator for placing lumbar drains, since there was none commercially available. This is an important contribution that involves a three-dimensional printed simulator and a multi-step systemic approach for placement.
Furthermore, Dr Murthy as a resident advocate, sought to improve resident well-being through a systemic approach that has helped junior residents adapt to the high-stress environment and build their confidence in performing life-saving interventions. This also has greatly improved resident satisfaction and experience in the operating room and helped foster a durable resident support system where residents can help each other with the skills they have obtained.
Beyond his dedication to resident and medical student education, he has a “pleasure to serve” attitude and always leads by example. His intelligence, technical skills and most importantly his emotional intelligence will undoubtedly make him a leader in our field as a neurosurgeon-educator Nader S. Dahdaleh ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It is my pleasure to nominate Dr. Nikhil Murthy for the Young Neurosurgeons Committee. Nikhil is currently a 6th year resident in Neurological Surgery and I have known him since he was an intern. In his time as a resident, Nikhil has proved himself a leader in resident education. Based on his experiences as a junior resident, he developed a neurosurgery skills course for subsequent junior residents to teach them high-yield topics critical for providing high-quality patient care. This course comprised nine separate sessions that Nikhil planned and led to teach topics such as shunt programming, surgical microscope setup and use, and placement of external ventricular drains. As a part of this course, Nikhil has also developed a life-like simulation device to teach lumbar drain insertion that he is now trialing with our residents. Nikhil furthered his passion for resident education by obtaining a certificate in Medical Education through the Northwestern Clinical Scholars Program. This course focused on curriculum development, teaching, educational theory, and implementation in medical education. He has also
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AANS YOUNG NEUROSURGEONS COMMITTEE 2020 Nominees
Nomination given departmental grand rounds presentations on surgical education in residency, discussing various topics such as the history of surgical training, theories of surgical teaching, challenges, and possible solutions. Nikhil has initiated one-on-one meetings with many of our faculty to share his ideas and obtain feedback on resident education and he has earned a reputation among his co-residents as a resident advocate.
In summary, Nikhil has embraced resident education. He has obtained medical education training and has developed a novel surgical skills curriculum that is universally esteemed by residents and faculty. He is certainly poised to continue improving resident education for the remainder of his residency and beyond and I cannot think of a better candidate for the Young Neurosurgeons Committee to help guide our neurosurgery trainees into practice. Matthew Bryan Potts Oluwaseun Adeola Omofoye Univ. of California/Davis/2020 I am currently a neurosurgical oncology fellow at Cedars-Sinai medical center. As an immigrant from a third-world country, I consider myself fortunate to have achieved my dream of becoming a neurosurgeon and nearing the completion of my training in a country that is at the leading edge of neurosurgery. Being a young neurosurgeon interested in academic neurosurgery, I know that I have a lot to benefit from this organization, and I have a lot to offer as well. I believe we are at a unique and transitional period in neurosurgery as the previous generation of leaders and chairs are giving way to the younger ones. In this time of transition, the power of our voice as the newer generation cannot be understated, and the power this committee wields as a collective voice cannot be underutilized.
As an underrepresented minority in neurosurgery, one of my personal goals is to increase the pipeline of minorities in neurosurgery and medicine at large, and I believe a membership in this committee will provide an incredible opportunity to contribute towards this goal through communication with the AANS leadership.
As a sole chief resident, I was able to hone my leadership skills by effectively managing a busy clinical service, educating junior residents, managing call schedules, organizing weekly conferences, and mentoring medical and undergraduate students. I received a resident scholarship award from the San Francisco Neurological Society as a nomination from co-residents. During the course of my residency, I also earned the Elizabeth Bullitt resident of the year award, the James E. Boggan resident scholar award, and a Kaiser foundation hospital departmental resident award. I hope to bring to this committee the same passion with which I have pursued neurosurgery, as well as a unique perspective that will enrich the landscape of our neurosurgical society. I would humbly appreciate the opportunity to serve as a member of this committee.
Self-nomination Chesney Oravec Wake Forest University/2025 My interest in organized neurosurgery began prior to medical school when I was employed as a research coordinator. In this role I was responsible for coordinating patient enrollment in ongoing clinical trials and for serving as a liaison between patients, clinical staff, and research sponsors. I also attended national meetings to develop the relationship between the core clinical arm and the research arm, both of which are essential to the development of neurosurgery.
In medical school I was fortunate to serve as chair of the student neurosurgical interest group where I was also introduced to the benefits of serving my peers. As a mentor for other students also applying to neurosurgery residency, I enjoyed sharing advice I had received and lessons I learned. I enjoyed working with my co-members of the board to develop our small corner of the field, and through that experience I came to appreciate the national significance of medical student development in terms of supporting the next generation of neurosurgeons.
At the start of residency, I focused on adjusting to the new schedule, learning the basics of good clinical care, and further developing my own understanding of diagnoses and treatments. Now in my third year of residency, I find myself looking for ways to again become involved in organized neurosurgery. I would like to donate my time and skills any way I can, and in any way that is needed. Being in the midst of challenging times due to the coronavirus pandemic is calling on everyone to turn their focus away from themselves and contribute creatively to the now-rapidly changing landscape of our field, from telehealth visits to virtual residency interviews. Efforts at my home residency program have focused on increasing our social media presence in a way that highlights our creativity and diversity, and these creative solutions have inspired me to volunteer to be part of the developing solution to the new challenges of such an unprecedented pandemic. Self-nomination ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It is a great privilege to nominate Chesney Oravec for the AANS YNC. Dr. Oravec is an outstanding resident, both clinically and academically, and demonstrates an enthusiastic commitment to the field of neurosurgery. Dr. Oravec attended medical school at the University of Tennessee where she excelled in all aspects. She served as chair of the student neurosurgical interest group and mentored students applying to residency. She is committed to diversity and mentorship in the field and saw first-hand the national significance of medical student development in terms of supporting the next generation of neurosurgeons. As a
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AANS YOUNG NEUROSURGEONS COMMITTEE 2020 Nominees
Nomination research coordinator, she was responsible for coordinating patient enrollment in ongoing clinical trials and for serving as a liaison between patients, clinical staff, and research sponsors and between the core clinical arm and the research arm. Dr. Oravec has been a clear leader at Wake Forest, spearheading our social media and virtual recruitment campaign. She has revised the website and regularly innovates better and more efficient ways to care for our patients. She balances this with clinical and academic excellence. In the midst of challenging times due to the coronavirus pandemic, she recognizes the importance of each individual contributing in a creative way to the rapidly changing landscape of our field, from telehealth visits to virtual residency interviews. Chesney Oravec is a highly motivated individual who would be an excellent addition to the AANS YNC and has much to offer in hard work and initiative. She is already an outstanding leader with clear potential to serve and enhance organized neurosurgery and the AANS. Stacey C. Wolfe Joseph Quillin Emory University/2020 Joe is a currently skull base and cerebrovascular fellow at Rutgers with Dr. Anil Nanda and Dr. James Liu. He recently graduated from Emory's neurosurgical program in June 2020. While he was there, he demonstrated excellent clinical leadership, an aptitude for interpersonal development, and superb problem-solving skills. His focus has always been outside of himself, channeling his energies into education and passing along tips for technical proficiency and operational efficiency.
He will make a fine member of the young neurosurgeon's committee as he seeks to establish himself in organized neurosurgery. Self-nomination Travis Ramiro Quinoa Rutgers New Jersey2027 Travis is one of our PGY1 residents. It is with great pleasure that I nominate Travis for membership on the Young Neurosurgeons Committee. I have known Travis since his time as a medical student here at Rutgers and I’ve come to know him as someone who embodies all the characteristics needed for a successful career as a leader in our field. He is academically accomplished, a diligent worker, dedicated teammate, and skilled leader. Most of all, he is someone who is passionate about improving medicine and neurosurgery and takes action toward achieving those goals. As a medical student, he served as a statewide leader in the Medical Society of New Jersey and founded the NJ Healthcare Policy Summit and the NJ Biomedical Innovation Summit. I am confident that the Young Neurosurgeons Committee would benefit from his experience and passion. I whole-heartedly endorse his nomination. He will have two of his senior residents as active YNC members - this will help Travis stay involved and have the allotted time to push the YNC agenda forward. Nitesh Vijay Patel Jonathan J. Rasouli Mount Sinai/2019 I'm delighted to nominate Dr. Jonathan Rasouli to the AANS YNC. Dr. Rasouli is a recent graduate of the Mt. Sinai Neurosurgery program, and the Cleveland Clinic spine fellowship program. I have had the pleasure of meeting him several times during workshops and now have worked with him extensively on virtual spine educational programs. He's courteous, he's knowledgeable, and he's a terrific team player. He will excel and be a great asset to the YNC of the AANS. I highly recommend him for this position.
Ali A. Baaj ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jonathan J. Rasouli, MD is originally from Alpine, New Jersey and is currently completing the combined Neurosurgery and Orthopedic Spine Surgery Fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. He graduated Magna Cum Laude with University Honors from Virginia Commonwealth University with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering and minors in Mathematics and Chemistry. He attended the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honors Society. He completed neurosurgery residency at Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC. He has published numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters and has presented his work at national and international neurosurgical meetings. He has also provided interviews for CNN, Washington Post, Doximity, Becker’s Spine, and Spinal News International. Most recently, he has been a founding member of the Virtual global Spine Conference, which has been highlighted in World Neurosurgery and Spine Universe. He is a rising star and would be a great candidate for YNS. Thank you. John H. Shin ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I wholeheartedly nominate Dr. Jonathan Rasouli for the AANS Young Neurosurgeons Committee. Dr. Rasouli completed his residency at Mount Sinai and is wrapping up his spine fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation (CCF). He will be staying at the CCF as faculty.
I have had the chance to work extensively with Dr. Rasouli through the Virtual Global Spine Conference (VGSC), an endeavor a few of us started to continue spine education in the COVID-19 era. I have been extremely impressed by his initiative. During the sessions, he provides very insightful comments and successfully engages the participants (sometimes as many as 300 of them!). He puts a lot of work into planning the sessions and recruiting amazing speakers, and advertising on social media. He 14
AANS YOUNG NEUROSURGEONS COMMITTEE 2020 Nominees
Nomination has written our experience up for publication in "World Neurosurgery" and other news outlets. Most importantly, he always does this with great enthusiasm and humility.
As former Vice Chair of the YNC, I would be delighted to see Dr. Rasouli spend some of his boundless energy towards this great organization. He will do a phenomenal job. He is a developing leader in neurosurgery and will make the YNC proud. Khoi Duc Than Rima Sestokas Rindler Emory University/2021 Several notable qualities make Rima Rindler suitable to serve as a YNC representative. She has maintained an impeccable track record throughout her residency, which encompasses patient care, academic work, and administrative tasks. She is a leader: she insightfully seeks and identifies the "bottom line" learning points from patient encounters and meetings, alike, to effectively guide her and her team's next steps. She manages her time to efficiently complete multiple tasks and promptly meet deadlines. Her written work is eloquent and accessible; she has published 17 peer-reviewed articles in the last 5 years. She is fastidious and clear in her communications to her teams, and is committed to providing high quality outcomes, whether it be clinical or academic. Moreover, she has a personable directness about her that allows her to adapt to various social situations and to simply get things done. She is committed to lending residents a voice in organized Neurosurgery, and to actively contribute to improvements in Neurosurgical education, administration and scientific advancements to better serve society. For these reasons, Rima Rindler would be an exceptional representative in the YNC. Self-nomination Olabisi Sanusi Northwestern University/2019 Dr Olabisi Sanusi is a Nigerian born board eligible neurosurgeon who completed her residency at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and recently completed a skull base fellowship at the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, Oregon. Dr Sanusi received her medical degree from Pennsylvania State College of Medicine and was inducted into the medical honor society Alpha Omega Alpha for her high academic achievement and exemplary nature. During medical school, Dr Sanusi helped organize multiple events including a multicultural awareness show with over 300 attendees featuring local businesses as partners and sponsors. She also helped solicit donations and organized a silent auction that benefited the Pennsylvania State College of Medicine free health clinic: Lion Care. During residency, Dr Sanusi completed two chief years during which time she exemplified strong leadership skills and great patient care. As a skull base fellow, Dr Sanusi was actively involved in resident education and led multiple educational didactics and skull base lab courses. Dr Sanusi would be a great addition to the Young Neurosurgeons Committee given her multiple great attributes including, leadership skills, people skills, communication skills and her ability to have great impact on the lives on many around her. Self-nomination Richard F. Schmidt Thomas Jefferson University/2020 It would be a privilege to serve on the Young Neurosurgeons Committee. I have learned so much from my mentors and leaders in the field of neurosurgery during my residency and fellowship. As such, It is now a fundamental goal of mine as a new attending to start giving back to the field of neurosurgery and my fellow neurosurgeons. I believe that serving on the Young Neurosurgeons committee is an excellent opportunity to foster the professional and academic growth of current and future neurosurgeons, and I am confident that I could use the platform to advance the interests of both my neurosurgical colleagues and the field as a whole. As a resident and fellow, I served as both a leader and participating member in numerous institutional committees and working groups, tackling large-scale challenges across disciplinary lines. Effectively working within large groups and navigating the nuances of committee-based work is a critical skill to sustainably accomplishing organizational goals. Having experience in obtaining meaningful results through these types of organizations is paramount to ensuring potential future successes, and I believe that I am in a unique position to offer this experience to this committee. Furthermore, as a recent graduate I feel I have a balanced perspective on managing the difficulties and concerns of residency and fellowship with the responsibilities of starting a new practice, and thus could be a great resource for trainees and junior attendings alike. Ultimately, I would be honored to serve as a representative on the Young Neurosurgeons Committee and believe that I would be a valuable addition to the organization. Self-nomination Mayur Sharma Univ. of Louisville/2022 I am a PGY-5 resident at the University of Louisville and interested in getting involved with the Young Neurosurgeons Committee (YNC). My interest in organized neurosurgery stem from my keen interest in teaching, academic neurosurgery and wish to contribute to the field of neurosurgery. I came to the United States after completing my neurosurgical training in India and did neurosurgical fellowships at LSU- Shreveport, Ohio state university, Cleveland Clinic and University of Louisville. Following this neurosurgical experience, I got an overview of the neurosurgical training and practice in both the worlds and certainly the advantages of different forms of training.
YNC offers a unique platform to interact with fellow residents at different institutions to come up with new and innovative
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AANS YOUNG NEUROSURGEONS COMMITTEE 2020 Nominees
Nomination ideas to advance the academic neurosurgery and field as a whole. By being a member of the YNC, I hope to collaborate for various research projects and also contribute towards advancement of neurosurgical education for medical students. Also, working with YNC, offers an opportunity to understand the core functioning of this organization including different subcommittees, which can help in shaping my future as an academic neurosurgeon. I wish to contribute and acquire new skills by working with peers and senior mentors though YNC. To pursue my interest in academic neurosurgery, I am also actively involved as a CNS resident member including guidelines dissemination committee and various CNS resident projects.
My long-term plan is to work as a neurosurgeon in an academic center and by gaining knowledge and experience through YNC, I wish to enhance my leadership skills and be a part of organized neurosurgery. I am confident that working with organizations such as AANS/YNC will certainly help me and other applicants to hone fine skills to ultimately help our patients and society by delivering an efficient neurosurgical care. Self-nomination ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I am writing to nominate Dr. Mayur Sharma for the American Association of Neurological Surgeons’ Young Neurosurgeons Committee. I have known Mayur since he joined the University of Louisville (UofL) as a neurological surgery resident in 2017. Over this time, I have had the great pleasure to work with Mayur, as a teacher and mentor, and observe his medical knowledge, communication skills, professionalism and administrative ability. I am delighted to provide him the highest recommendation possible.
Mayur’s resume demonstrates his persistent interest in organized neurosurgery and leadership. While attending Seth G.S. Medical College and Grant Medical College in Mumbai India and completing a fellowship in Skull Base and Vascular Neurosurgery in Louisiana State University, Mayur regularly attended voluntary workshops and trainings to improve and diversify his neurosurgical techniques. At the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, Mayur served as the Administrative Clinic Fellow as well as Neurosurgical Oncology Fellow. As a resident at University of Louisville, Mayur has eagerly risen to the challenges of the program while seeking opportunities to grow as a leader and academic neurosurgeon. He attended the “Mentoring from A to Z: Learning from the Masters” course through the CNS/AANS spine joint section and has been an active CNS resident member serving on the guideline dissemination committee. Mayur’s training both in and outside the United States has provided him with valuable insight into neurosurgical training and education and would serve him well as a YNC member.
Mayur has consistently shown a respectful and collaborative manner towards his fellow residents and instructors. He has immersed himself in our program’s learning opportunities and has always been motivated to work with any of our faculty members, residents, and medical school students. Dr. Mayur Sharma is one the most promising residents in our program. I give him my unconditional recommendation. Brian Jeremy Williams Colin Son Univ. of Texas/San Antonio/2017 I am nominating myself to the Young Neurosurgeons Committee in order to give back to organized neurosurgery and further the voice of trainees and young neurosurgeons within such. I've been involved in organized neurosurgery and medicine with previous service with the Council of State Neurosurgical Societies as a socioeconomic fellow and in my state medical and neurosurgical societies, serving as chair of the resident and fellow section in the former. Beyond being eager to serve, in terms of contributing to the Young Neurosurgeons Committee's portfolio, I have previous life as a writer and extensive social media experience. My previous work has appeared in Medscape, Kevin, MD and The Healthcare Blog among others. I'm excited to contribute to the YNC publications and online presence. I also have been strongly involved in my local AANS medical student chapter and think I would be an asset in terms of the YNC's efforts with The Medical Student Task Force and publications. I appreciate your consideration. Self-nomination Bradley Herman Stephens Washington University/2017 Bradley Stephens, MD, MPH is an African American neurosurgeon who has spent his life advocating for the underserved and for those without a voice. He has created organizations and served on boards that strive for change, awareness, advocacy, and selfless service. During his medical school training he was a dedicated mentor to minority medical students and undergraduates to help them become successful in their pursuits to become a doctor. He also spent his time regularly speaking with at-risk youth at Pittsburgh juvenile detention centers to motivate them to rise above the past and focus on their futures. During my residency at Washington University, I was chosen to be a member of the Resident Diversity Initiative which advocated for cultural and gender awareness within the hospital system. In addition, I served as a passionate mentor for neurosurgery residents during which I challenged them to rise above the stresses and adversity encountered by field to become expert surgeons both inside and outside of the operating room. I am currently a Major in the United States Army providing neurosurgical care to active duty soldiers and their families. Considering the current racial climate in the US today, I was asked to speak directly with the Hospital Commander regarding ways to help soldiers who have been subject to racial/gender discrimination, implicit bias, and racism. This is because the current system of identifying and preventing such issues is flawed
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AANS YOUNG NEUROSURGEONS COMMITTEE 2020 Nominees
Nomination and benefits the perpetrator and not the victim. I was able to convince/advocate for the development of a Diversity Committee for the entire military base to help change the culture. Myself and another female colleague are currently developing this committee. In closing, I have shown that my entire life has been dedicated to the advocacy, service, and education which I hope to continue that passion within organized neurosurgery. Self-nomination Hasan Raza Syed Georgetown University/2016 I am honored to write an enthusiastic letter of support for my colleague, Dr. Hasan Syed, to serve on the AANS Young Neurosurgeons Committee. Dr. Syed is destined for leadership positions within our University and has strong interests in local and international outreach. Dr. Syed received his undergraduate degree at Virginia Commonwealth University where he graduated Summa Cum Laude and was ranked number 1 among the Biomedical Engineering students. He subsequently attended VCUs School of Medicine where he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society and graduated with dual MD and MS degrees. After completing Medical School, he entered Neurosurgery residency at Georgetown during which he completed an infolded fellowship in minimally invasive spine surgery. He then completed an additional post-residency fellowship in Pediatric Neurosurgery at Northwestern’s Lurie Children’s Hospital. Given his superb training, we were enthusiastic to successfully recruit Dr. Syed to the University of Virginia where he is my partner in Pediatric Neurosurgery. Dr. Syed has embraced leadership and service positions in our Children’s Hospital and serves on 5 separate committees and is the Surgical Director of our Pediatric ICU. Dr. Syed has developed interdisciplinary relationships across the UVA and is a co-investigator and scientific advisor with several projects with UVAs School of Engineering for which he has received 4 Innovations and Entrepreneurship Awards. He also has a strong interest in global humanitarian outreach and creating international partnerships with underserved regions. He is co-founder and clinical director of the Global Brainsurgery Initiative (GBI) and has completed several successful mission trips with several others in the making. In short, Dr. Syed is an absolutely outstanding young neurosurgeon who sees beyond his own practice and wishes to have a broader impact on the field of Neurosurgery and Healthcare as a whole. John A. Jane, Jr. Jorge F. Urquiaga St. Louis University/2026 I am currently a PGY-2 resident at Saint Louis University hospital. I have always been interested in organized societies throughout my education given that these institutions represent a great resource for people initiating their experiences in a new field and, at the same time, societies are means for positive retribution for those who benefited from them at early stages of their formation. Neurosurgery is not an exception for this type of practice; new generations are shaped thanks to the mentorship made available by organized neurosurgical societies. As a foreign medical graduate, organized scientific societies have played a fundamental role in my path on becoming a Neurosurgery resident in the US. By collaborating with the AANS, I would like to give something in return for all the help I received and, in that way, work with my peers (novel and experienced) to ensure the maintenance of the tradition of helping the new generations with educational tools, learning opportunities, and most importantly, teaching by example. I am currently the elected Saint Louis University Resident Association Vice-President for the 2020-2021 academic year, and elected-President for the the 2021-2022 term. I am also the "Introduction to Neurosurgery" Course Co-Director for medical students in Saint Louis University School of Medicine. Prior to becoming a resident, I worked one year for the Peruvian Army as a base-camp physician in the Andes mountains. After that, I worked for a year as a Cerebrovascular and Skull Base Research Fellow, and for 2 years as a Pre-Residency Neurosurgery Clinical Fellow at Saint Louis University. I believe I can be a valuable and accessible asset for the AANS YNC; my past experience and current leadership and academic positions will support my motivation to take action in favor of the interests of our neurosurgical community. Self-nomination Kunal Vakharia SUNY Buffalo/2020 I have had the pleasure of working with Dr. Vakharia for several years, both as a co-resident, and co-fellow in the Neurosurgery/Neuroendovascular program at UBNS. Kunal is the hardest working, most driven, and talented individuals that I have ever worked with. He is a generational talent. He obtained his MBA while he was performing an enfolded cerebrovascular fellowship at UBNS, while still doing well on his boards and being an excellent mentor and friend. He is a scholar, and has always strived to be a leader within the field. He has authored over 50 papers during his fellowship. I recommend Dr. Vakharia for the position on the YNC with the highest regard. Justin Mark Cappuzzo ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Excellent surgeon and colleague, represents the best in neurosurgery. Michael Kogan ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kunal is a great leader who always pushed his peers to be their best and reach their full potential.
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AANS YOUNG NEUROSURGEONS COMMITTEE 2020 Nominees
Nomination Kunal was always willing to go the extra mile at all times for his peers and patients, often times coming in the middle of the night to cover cases as well as aid in junior residents.
He always set himself as an example to others to always to be prepared for anything. He also strived to constantly ask inquisitive questions and constantly answer new research questions and develop new projects. Jaims Lim ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kunal is by far the hardest working individual I have ever worked with. Over the past 4 years I had the opportunity to work under Kunal's mentorship as both a junior resident as well as a junior fellow. He is someone who is technically gifted, academically productive, yet still relatable and a joy to be around outside of the hospital. He consistently pushed me to be better, but never asked me to do anything he himself yourself was not willing to do. I cannot think of an individual more deserving to be a member of the YNC than Kunal Vakharia. Matthew James McPheeters ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Very interested in academic medicine and constantly working to become a better surgeon, mentor, leader, and teacher. I am starting my skull base fellowship at the Mayo Clinic and have completed residency, cerebrovascular fellowship, masters in bioethics, masters in business administration, and published >50 papers in the past 7 years in residency. I want to become more involved with organized neurosurgery and learn how I can make a difference on a larger scale, not only in the operating room, but with efforts that impact the country and organized neurosurgery. Self-nomination Timothy Y. Wang Duke University Hospital/2024 It is with great pleasure that I nominate Dr. Timmy Wang for the AANS YNC. As former Vice Chair of the YNC, I have a good idea of what it takes to succeed as a YNC member. Dr. Wang has what it takes.
His academic accomplishments are impressive and a testament to his ability to work. As a rising PGY-4, he has more than 20 peer-reviewed publications (with many more on the way). Dr. Wang and I have worked on a number of projects together, and I have been impressed with the quality and timeliness of his work. He was recently inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha.
Dr. Wang has been a member of the Duke community since 2009 and will continue to be until at least 2024. He has demonstrated formal leadership as a representative of the Duke Davison Council Curriculum during medical school, and more recently as a committee member of the medical center’s Joint Spine Chairman Search Committee. More important than his formal leadership experience, though, is Dr. Wang’s leadership by example. During his four-month spine surgery rotation, he would routinely come in to pre-round at 3 a.m. (the chief residents and fellows would note he would be coming in to work as they were leaving). In the operating room, his skills are ahead of schedule yet he has the utmost dedication to learn and improve. He truly cares for patients and, rather than operate on them and forget about them as soon as they’re discharged, routinely checks on their progress long after surgery. He receives criticism graciously and never repeats the same mistakes. He speaks poorly of no one. Several of my partners who have been here for many years consider Dr. Wang to be the best neurosurgery resident to ever train at Duke.
In summary, Dr. Timmy Wang is a superlative neurosurgery resident with solid surgical skills and a penchant for academics. He truly cares for his patients and his colleagues. He is an exceptional human being and will be a leader in neurosurgery. I highly recommend him for the AANS YNC! Khoi Duc Than Robert Thomas Wicks Wake Forest University/2018 It is with great pleasure that I nominate Dr. Robert Wicks to serve as a member of the Young Neurosurgeons Committee. Dr. Wicks is our current fellow in endovascular neurosurgery, and I have gotten to know him well over the past year. He is an outstanding candidate who will work hard to further the committee’s dedication to education and mentorship. He previously completed residency training at Wake Forest University and a cerebrovascular/skull base fellowship at the Barrow Neurological Institute. At Wake Forest, he served as chief resident for two years - organizing the academic curriculum for his fellow residents and leading the clinical service. In addition, he built a collaboration with the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine to start a research group focused on neuronal recovery after injury. He has worked on similar collaborations during his fellowship to further developments in intraoperative vascular imaging technology. He has demonstrated exceptional professionalism and leadership in clinical, research, and teaching duties throughout his residency and fellowships. Dr. Wicks is a team player and will be a strong asset to furthering the mission of the YNC. Cameron G. McDougall
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AANS YOUNG NEUROSURGEONS COMMITTEE 2020 Nominees
Nomination Christina Huang Wright Case Western Reserve/2020 Dr. Wright is a graduating resident from our program at UH/Case Western. She is truly a superstar graduate, who is going on to complete a fellowship in spine surgery and is intent on embarking on an academic career. Her research credentials during residency were second-to-none, and I am confident that she is a future star and leader in neurosurgery. She has significant aptitude towards leadership and an appointment to the YNC of the AANS will help to jump-start her along this path.
Christina came to UH/Case Western from USC because she had married one of our residents (they completed their time with us together). She had previously been a student at Yale, where she was a star collegiate athlete in women's soccer. During her residency with us she has published over 65 peer reviewed papers and book chapters, as well as spear-heading the residency research conferences for our program.
She would be perfect for the YNC and I support her nomination overwhelmingly and without reservation Nicholas C. Bambakidis Jordan Curtis Xu Univ. of California/Irvine/2024 I am a PGY4 resident at UC Irvine and would like to nominate myself for the this Committee. I have a strong interest in service and leadership for the neurosurgical community. Throughout both medical school and residency I have enjoyed teaching and mentoring students. As a student myself I am hopeful to have this opportunity to work together and learn from the current leaders in our field. Self-nomination Kurt Yaeger Mount Sinai/2022 Kurt Yaeger is a dedicated educator and advocate for medical students and residents. He has designed the resident component of a medical student virtual lecture series organized by Dr. Peter Morgenstern at Mount Sinai. He also regularly gives lectures and organizes the cerebrovascular component of the resident educational curriculum. He pays attention to process and policy. He regularly makes highly valuable suggestions and proposals to initiate change in residency structure at Mount Sinai. His meticulous approach to systems problems solving is very welcome here at Mount Sinai and I'm sure will go far on the Young Neurosurgeons Committee. Christopher P. Kellner ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dr. Yaeger is an exceptional resident. He has proven himself to be industrious and a creative thinking. He is committed to pursuing an academic career and to advancing the field of Neurosurgery. J Mocco Nina Teresa Yoh New York Presbyterian/Columbia/2026 I nominate our resident Nina Yoh to serve a four-year term on the AANS Young Neurosurgeons Committee. I have known Nina since she was a medical student at Columbia’s College of Physicians & Surgeons, holding multiple leadership positions and performing at the top of her class.
Nina has had extensive life experiences prior to entering medicine. She majored in fine art and was the manager of a high-end studio for clients such as Estee Lauder and Kenneth Cole. She founded a Peking Opera ensemble that won multiple awards at the state and national levels, including grants from the National Endowment of the Arts. When Nina decided to enter medicine, she was accepted to Columbia P&S and excelled. She was unanimously elected to serve as director of the Columbia- Harlem Homeless Medical Partnership clinic where she established free laboratory services, earning the P&S Award for Excellence in Community Service. She was president of the Columbia P&S section of the American Medical Association and was elected to the national AMA Bioethics Standing Committee. Nina also served as Chair of the P&S Honor Code Committee and spearheaded changes to the examination policy at a university level. As a resident, she has done a terrific job balancing clinical duties and research. During her intern year, she successfully applied for an NIH R38 grant to fund her basic science study of blood-brain barrier opening.
On a personal note, Nina has a wonderful personality and is a joy to work with. She is universally well-liked by staff, residents, students and professors. Nina is a Gold Humanism Honor Society inductee, receiving the nomination from her peers. She is creative, mature, and clear-thinking, with a history of effecting positive change by working well with others and by following through on initiatives. She has outstanding potential to be a leader in academic neurosurgery and would make an excellent member of the YNC. I nominate her with great enthusiasm and without reservation. Donald O. Quest
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AANS YOUNG NEUROSURGEONS COMMITTEE 2020 Nominees
Nomination Aqib H. Zehri Wake Forest University/2023 Dr. Zehri is an outstanding neurosurgical resident who will be a future leader in organized neurosurgery. He has developed ambitious ideas that will help other young neurosurgeons find mentorship during uncertain times. His leadership skills and devotion to clinical and academic neurosurgery is a role model for other young neurosurgeons/ Wesley Hsu ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It is a great privilege to nominate Aqib Zehri for the AANS YNC. Dr. Zehri is a PGY-5 resident in good standing at Wake Forest who has consistently demonstrated academic excellence and a clear commitment to the field of neurosurgery. Aqib has a diverse background which sets him apart as a leader. He has served as AMA Chapter President during medical school at the University of Arizona, as well as AMA Foundation Ambassador and the Muslim Medical Student Association President. Aqib has distinguished himself with outstanding board scores, research in GBM, and grant writing. He is dedicated to his patients and optimizing patient care in neurosurgery, with a special interest in healthcare policy and organized neurosurgery. As part of the YNC, Dr. Zehri aspires to create a program that invites patients with neurosurgical conditions to respective section meetings to facilitate discussion regarding challenges, care and research goals, and meaningful experiences to the neurosurgery community. Dr. Zehri also desires to assist the YNC in using social media to highlight the lives and career of various young neurosurgeons from diverse backgrounds, promote various neurosurgical programs and AANS medical student chapters, and share and integrate research opportunities across programs for residents and medical students. Finally, Dr. Zehri has a great interest in the prevention of resident burnout through mentorship. His goal is to assist the YNC to develop a robust mentorship program connecting students, residents, and faculty with ongoing virtual, and in-person events at national meetings. Aqib Zehri is a motivated individual who will be an excellent addition to the AANS YNC and has much to offer in hard work and initiative. He will be an asset to any AANS committee with outstanding leadership potential and the abilities to serve organized neurosurgery. He is clearly a future leader in our field. Stacey C. Wolfe
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