IS THE OFFICIAL NEWSMAGAZINE OF THE CONGRESS OF NEUROLOGICAL SURGEONS SPRING 2016 < 8 > STORIES FROM A Telling Stories: WAR ZONE < 30 > The Literary THE INTERNATIONAL DIVISION: STRONG AND GROWING Neurosurgeon Spring 2016 EDITOR’S NOTE Volume 17, Number 2 EDITOR: Gerald A. Grant, MD, FACS CO-EDITOR: It is my sincere pleasure to introduce the spring issue of Michael Y. Wang, MD, FACS Congress Quarterly (cnsq). In this issue, we will dive into EDITORIAL BOARD: the minds of neurosurgeons around the globe who also have Aviva Abosch, MD become prolific writers. What motivates them to tell their Kimon Bekelis Edward C. Benzel, MD stories? Who inspired them to write and how has this writing Nicholas M. Boulis, MD shaped their careers as neurosurgeons? How do they achieve James S. Harrop, MD balance in their lives? We interviewed seven accomplished Todd Charles Hollon, MD neurosurgeons to better understand what motivates them to Vivek Mehta, MD Charles J. Prestigiacomo, MD write. Brian T. Ragel, MD Jason M. Schwalb, MD Gerald A. Grant, MD We first hear from Dr. Henry Marsh, who is a consultant Ashwini Dayal Sharan, MD neurosurgeon in the United Kingdom and recently published Kyle Anthony Smith Jamie S. Ullman, MD, FACS his book Do No Harm: Stories of Life, Death and Brain MANAGING EDITOR: Surgery. This is a frank and powerful narrative of his life in neurosurgery. Mr. Marsh Antonia D. Callas admits that “as a writer, you’re trying to describe things because you’re involved, STAFF EDITORS: but you remain detached and struggle to write objectively.” I had the opportunity of Michele L. Lengerman Danielle Slowey working closely with Mr. Marsh at Atkinson Morley’s Hospital for a year as a senior Ruby M. Thomas registrar. We then meet Dr. Lee Warren, who is in practice in Wyoming, and discuss DESIGNER: his book No Place to Hide. Dr. Warren and I were partners in the U.S. Air Force and CameronRush, Inc. were both deployed to Balad Air Base in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Dr. PUBLISHER: Kivmars Bowling Edison McDaniels, a pediatric neurosurgeon in Arkansas, talks about his most recent SENIOR PRODUCTION ASSOCIATE: historical fiction novel, The Matriarch of Ruins, which is the second of a Gettysburg Lisa Bowling trilogy. Another interview was given by Dr. Lucy Kalanithi, the wife of Dr. Paul Kalanithi, who died before his book When Breath Becomes Air was published. Paul CONGRESS OF NEUROLOGICAL SURGEONS 2015-2016 OFFICERS was a stellar neurosurgery resident at Stanford and touched the lives of so many in his final chapter. We then hear Dr. Eben Alexander recount his experience in coma and PRESIDENT: near death experience in his book, Proof of Heaven, and Dr. Katrina Firlik recount Russell R. Lonser, MD her memoir of neurosurgery training in Another Day in the Frontal Lobe: A Brain PRESIDENT ELECT: Alan M. Scarrow, MD, JD Surgeon Exposes Life on the Inside. Finally, we meet Dr. Brian Andrews and hear VICE-PRESIDENT: about his most recent book, Cherokee Neurosurgeon, a biography of the neurosurgery Michael P. Steinmetz, MD giant Dr. Charles Wilson, as well as his fictional murder mystery novels. SECRETARY: Steven N. Kalkanis, MD TREASURER: I really hope you enjoy reading these interviews as much as our team relished getting Ganesh Rao, MD to know these passionate writers of our specialty. There are many more authors to PAST-PRESIDENT: highlight in future Congress Quarterly editions. Hats off to the Congress Quarterly Nathan R. Selden, MD, PhD Editorial Board and specifically Antonia Callas from the CNS office for her time and CONGRESS OF NEUROLOGICAL SURGEONS MISSION STATEMENT: dedication to this issue. The Congress of Neurological Surgeons exists to enhance health and improve lives worldwide through the advancement of neurosurgical education and scientific exchange. Congress Quarterly is the official newsmagazine of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, located at 10 North Martingale Road, Suite 190, Schaumburg, IL 60173. Members of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons may call 847.240.2500 with inquiries regarding their subscription to Congress Quarterly. Congress Quarterly is published quarterly by Wolters Kluwer Health, Lip- pincott Williams & Wilkins, 351 W. Camden St., Baltimore, MD 21201-2436. © 2016 by the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or language without written permission from the publisher. Published free of charge for the Congress membership with additional distribution. Annual Subscription rates: Domestic individual $206; Domestic institution $299; International individual $211; International Institution $379; Single Copy $109. Send address changes to Congress Quarterly, Wolters Kluwer Health, Lippin- cott Williams & Wilkins, 16522 Hunters Green Parkway, Hagerstown, MD 21740-2116. Library of Congress ISSN: 1935-1526. CONTENTS 5 12 14 Editor’s Note 18 Becoming Conscious: A INSIDE THE CNS Gerald A. Grant Neurosurgeon Discusses His Transformational Experience 30 The CNS International Division: 2 President’s Message Eban Alexander, interviewed by Tina A Worldwide Presence Russell Lonser Loven Shekar Kurpad 22 The Weird and Wonderful World 32 Neurosurgeons Partner with TELLING STORIES: of Neurosurgery AMA Task Force to Reduce THE LITERARY NEUROSURGEON Katrina Firlik, interviewed by Natalia Opioid Abuse Eugenia Birgisson Katie Orrico 4 Telling Stories: The Literary Neurosurgeon 24 Fact Into Fiction Brian Andrews, interviewed by Ajun CNSQ BACK PAGE 5 Bearing Witness to a Life in Vivek Pendharkar Neurosurgery Images in Neurosurgery Henry Marsh, interviewed by 26 Why Neurosurgeons Tweet Tej Deepak Azad Nathan Selden, Jordan Amadio 8 A Brain Surgeon’s Long Journey Home from Iraq SECTION NEWS Lee Warren, interviewed by Vivek Mehta 28 Advancing Education and Opportunities in Neurosurgical 12 Surgeon, Physician, Wordsmith, Pain Care and Novelist Andre Machado Edison McDaniels, interviewed by Javed Khader-Eliyas 29 The 2015 Pediatric Neurological Surgery Annual Meeting 14 Neurosurgery’s Polymath: Sarah J. Gaskill Paul Kalanithi Paul Kalanithi, a conversation with Lucy Kalanithi Interviewed by Anand Veeravagu WINTER 2016 1 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Advance, Adapt, Achieve riends and colleagues, I am humbled surgical journals worldwide. Dr. and honored to serve you as the 66th Oyesiku continues to innovate F President of the CNS. The CNS is a and evolve the journal in a vibrant, progressive, and growing international number of fundamental ways that neurosurgical organization, steadfast in the will continue to distinguish it as pursuit of its charge: a leader in medical publishing. Imminent changes include the The Congress of Neurological Surgeons development of a new platform Russell Lonser, MD, PhD (CNS) exists to enhance health and for seamless integration of various President, Congress of improve lives worldwide through the content formats (customizing Neurological Surgeons advancement of education and scientific content for individual readers), exchange. The CNS maintains the vitality the creation of a new technique Figure 1: Nelson Oyesiku, MD of our profession through volunteer efforts of its members and and case-based journal, Operative the development of leadership in service to the public, to our Neurosurgery: The Surgeon’s Armamentarium (Figure 2), and the colleagues in other disciplines, and to neurosurgeons throughout integration of interactive journal content into the CNS Annual Meeting. the world in all stages of their professional lives. CNS Annual Meeting To most effectively achieve these objectives, we continue to adapt to The CNS Annual Meeting provides an outstanding and essential a rapidly changing environment and advance our member interests via opportunity for educational, scientific, and social exchange. The 2016 emerging educational, advocacy, research, and training opportunities. CNS Annual Meeting will be held in San Diego, California, September 24–28, 2016. We’re pleased to announce that this year’s meeting will Our Members take place in conjunction with the Tumor Section Satellite Symposium, Our members and their engagement with the CNS are the basis and September 23–24. For members preparing for their Oral Boards, the CNS lifeblood of the organization. With a rapidly growing membership base Oral Board Early Review Course will also be held in San Diego, concurrent at all career stages and direct member involvement, the CNS is ideally with the beginning of the Annual Meeting. suited to develop critical initiatives that advance the specialty. CNS I am incredibly proud of and grateful to the Annual Meeting leadership membership has grown to over 9,100 members, with 3,700 Active team, which includes Annual Meeting Chair Steven Kalkanis, Scientific members, over 1,200 International members, and 1,800 Resident Program Committee Chair James Harrop, and Scientific Program members (both United States and International). The CNS is led by Committee Vice Chair Brian Hoh. The meeting theme Adapt, Advance, members that volunteer their time, effort, and resources to most Achieve underscores our ability to successfully navigate changing effectively and efficiently advance CNS initiatives and specialty goals. practice, research, and training environments. To that end, the CNS remains committed to developing leaders across An unprecedented number of innovations to the 2016 CNS our specialty and seeks volunteer members to impact, develop, and Annual Meeting have been developed to greatly expand and enhance grow organizational initiatives. If you are interested in volunteering,