NEURO CU ANSCHUTZ

PITUITARY PROGRAM BECOMES A “PITUITARY TUMOR CENTER OF EXCELLENCE.”

Congratulations to our entire Pituitary Team for becoming a national Center of Excellence, as recognized by the International Pituitary Society, the NIH and the Pituitary Networking Association! The program initially began back in 1987 with Dr. Kevin Lillehei (neurosurgery), Dr. Betty K DeMasters (pathology) and Dr. E Chester Ridgway (endocrinology). Since then, the large multi-disciplinary team has performed over 3,000 pituitary tumor surgeries, published over 100 peer reviewed articles, as well as numerous book chapters and even a text book written by Dr. Margaret Weirman with input from the entire team.

To meet the standards of a Pituitary Tumor Center of Excellence (PTCOE), the center needs to satisfy several guidelines that include some of the following:

• Managing a monthly Multidiscipilinary Pituitary Tumor Board.

• Evaluating and treating these patients in a shared, multi-disciplinary clinic.

• Working with supporting specialties, such as neuroradiology and neuropathology.

• Tracking outcomes and providing courses, publications and lectures to colleagues, administrators and scientific bodies.

• Provide updated information, new treatments, and outcomes for patients on our website.

The CU Pituitary Team meets and exceeds all of these guidelines, and many more. We are considered the regional expert in these life altering pituitary disorders.

THE MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAM MEMBERS:

Kevin O. Lillehei, MD, FAANS is the Chairman of the CU Department of Neurosurgery and co-Director of the Pituitary Program at the Anschutz Health Sciences Campus. He has performed over 2500 surgeries for pituitary diseases, a number starkly in contrast with the “average” of less than 50 cases per career performed by the majority of neurosurgeons in North America. He receives numerous patient referrals from throughout the Western part of the United States due to his strong reputation.

Margaret E. Wierman MD, is a Professor of Medicine, Integrative Physiology and OBGYN at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Dr. Wierman is a translational physician scientist whose research interest has been in the molecular mechanisms of pituitary tumors and disorders. She directs the Pituitary Tumor Program at the University of Colorado with Dr. Lillehei. Dr Wierman has published over 140 manuscripts and her pituitary studies have examined the differences in the responses of different subtypes of growth hormone tumors to surgery and medical therapy.  She is a member of the Pituitary Society, a former Vice President of the Endocrine Society and the immediate past President of the International Society of Endocrinology.

Samy Youssef, MD, PhD, MSc, FAANS, is Professor of Clinical Otolaryngology, Director of Complex Cranial and Skull Base Surgery, Program Director of Skull Base Surgery Fellowship and Vice Chair of Education in the Department of Neurosurgery. He is a member of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS), American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), North American Skull Base Society (NASBS), and Mayfield Society. His research interested include Microsurgical anatomy and techniques, Endoscopic minimally invasive surgery and brain tumors. Clinically, Dr. Youssef treats Complex Brain Tumors, Skull Base Tumors, Minimally Invasive Endoscopic Cranial Procedures, Meningiomas, Acoustic Neuromas, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Chiari Malformation and, of course, Pituitary Tumors.

BK Kleinschmidt-DeMasters, MD, is a tenured Professor of Pathology, Neurology, and Neurosurgery at the University of Colorado School of Medicine where she has been Director of Neuropathology for over 30 years.   Her international recognition stems from her co-authorship on pituitary tumors for the Central Nervous System and Endocrine World Health Organization fascicles, the gold standards used throughout the world for classifying pituitary tumors. She is past president of the American Association of Neuropathologists, the recipient of the Meritorious Service Award from the AANP, and the University of Colorado Florence Sabin Award and numerous teaching awards.

Christie Turin More, MD is an assistant professor in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes at the University of Colorado. She is an active member of the Pituitary Society, a moderator for the annual Fellows Course, and an appointed member to the Clinical Surveys Committee. She has received awards in recognition of her outstanding qualities in patient care, research and most recently, she was elected fellow of the American College of Physicians. Her national recognition stems from her service as the co-investigator of a clinical trial in acromegaly and the principal investigator of a Phase 4 study involving patients with growth hormone deficiency. She has published over 25 manuscripts and has presented multiple posters and oral presentations in national and international meetings.

Dr. Kiseljak-Vassiliades is an associate professor in the Division of Endocrinology. Her research interests are in endocrine neoplasia. She has published over 45 manuscripts and led a project to understand the differences in growth hormone pituitary tumors, specifically in their aggressiveness, recurrence rates and variable response to medical therapies. Dr Kiseljak-Vassiliades has been a co-investigator on several clinical trials in pituitary disease, including acromegaly, Cushing’s disease and growth hormone deficiency. On the national level, she is a member of the Pituitary Society and has been involved in the education committee promoting training of early society members. Dr Kiseljak-Vassiliades has also been a long time member of Endocrine Society and has chaired Trainee and Development committee dedicated to promoting career of early physicians and scientists.

Dr. Timothy Waxweiler is a radiation oncologist from Emory University School of Medicine. He attended the University of Michigan for his undergraduate degree, interned at the Presbyterian-St.Luke’s Medical Center, and did his residency with us at CU Anschutz. His research focuses on radiation oncology, pediatric and adult cancers, including testicular, salivary gland, melanoma, prostate and brainstem tumors.

Timothy Ung, MD is the newest recruit to the pituitary tumor team.   He joined the Department of Neurosurgery in 2023 as an Assistant Professor.   His research interests include surgical outcomes in large vestibular schwannomas, metastatic lesions of the brain and spine, and stereotactic radiosurgery for trigeminal neuralgia secondary to tumor (among many other interests).

Thomas Borges, MD has been a Neuro-radiologist at CU since 2010.  His primary research interest is Pituitary tumors, specifically arterial spin labeling (ASL) imaging for tumor progression vs treatment change. He also has an interest in stroke imaging, pituitary and skull base tumors, primary brain tumors and infections.  In 2022, Dr. Borges received the John C Stears Faculty teaching award in neuro radiology.

Brian Kavanaugh, MD, MPH is the Department Chair and a professor in Radiation Oncology. He has received the “Top Doctor” award in 5280 magazine, and is a graduate of Tulane University. He completed his residency in radiation oncology at Duke University Hospital. He has more than 200 pier reviewed publications which span many topics, including Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy, Cancer’s Basal Apoptotic Rate, High Grade Glioma Radiation Necrosis, Image Guidance for Thoracic TumorRadiotherapy, and Radiotherapy for Liver and Lung Metastases.

“Angela is the glue that holds all this together,” says Dr. Kevin Lillehei. As the pituitary program coordinator, Angela Grant acts as a patient advocate and educator, connects patients with the proper clinics and procedures, enters and maintains data and much more. She started with the Pituitary Program in 2012 and has enjoyed working with this wonderful team. She loves helping patients and families navigate their healthcare journey. She is a Colorado native who spends her spare time baking, camping, and being with her family.