SpringSummer2025FINAL

HEADlines TIMELY NEWS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF NEUROSURGERY

Spring/Summer 2025 Fall 2024

A NEW ERA BEGINS! Dear Faculty, Staff, Colleagues, Alumni, Patients and Friends: It is with a little nostalgia that I write this last introduction to our spring newsletter, as outgoing chair of the Department of Neurosurgery. We are excited with the prospect of Dr. Peter Fecci taking over in July, bringing in all of his new energy and a host of new ideas. As outgoing Chair, I am honored to have worked with so many talented individuals within our Department over these past 19 years, it is the hard work of all of you that has brought us to where we are today. When asked what I am most proud of, I have to say without a doubt, it is the Residents and the faculty. Over the years, they have helped define our program and each has left a lasting imprint. As a Department, I have worked hard to develop our 10 centers of excellence: Neuro-oncology, Skull Base, Cardiovascular and Stroke, Neuro-Trauma and Critical Care, Spine, Peripheral Nerve, Pediatric neurosurgery, Functional and Movement disorder, Neuropsychology and the Pituitary Program. My goal was that each program had a depth and breath to not only support our clinical mission but to foster each physician’s creative and intellectual growth.

I think we have gotten there. My focus over the last 5 years has been on developing a robust research portfolio within the Department, with the help of Dr. Cristin Welle, and to create a very collaborative environment with all of the neurosciences on campus. We are not quite there yet, but we have come a long way.

I initially joined the Department of Neurosurgery 40 years ago (1985), and at the time, it consisted of myself, Dr. Glenn Kindt, Dr. Harold Vogel and Dr. Cordell Gross, soon to be joined by Dr. Robert Breeze, Dr. Ken Winston and Dr. Michael Handler. I thank all these individuals for their wisdom and leadership over these past many years. Today, we number over 30 Neurosurgeons (including 7 Pediatric Neurosurgeons), 8 Ph.D. researchers, 7 Neuropsychologists and 4 Neuro-critical Care Specialist. This is not including all of our APPs, research post-graduates, and administrative support.

For this, we can be very proud.

The residency has gone from one resident a year in 1983, to its current complement of 3 a year alternating with 2, thanks to the terrific work of Dr. Robert Breeze, and most recently Dr. Kerry Brega.

I am at a loss as to how to thank Dr. Brega for her past 12 years as Program Director. Her impact has been tremendous. Dr. Chris Roark will be taking over for Dr. Brega in July, and will have big shoes to fill.

As you can see from the Newsletter, there is a lot of excitement going on in the Department, not to mention our expanding role in global health, and I have no doubt, Dr. Fecci will continue the tradition.

Thank you for all of the great years at the University of Colorado, and particularly the privilege of being Chief for these past 19 years. Although I am stepping down as Chair, I will continue to enjoy my clinical and research duties at CU/Anschutz for the foreseeable future. Enjoy.

With Gratitude, Kevin O. Lillehei, MD Outgoing Ogsbury-Kindt Chair Department of Neurosurgery

WELCOME TO INCOMING CHAIR OF NEUROSURGERY, DR. PETER FECCI The Department of Neurosurgery is pleased to announce the arrival of our new chair, as of July 1st.

Peter E. Fecci, MD, PhD, professor of neurosurgery at Duke University School of Medicine and director of the Duke Center for Brain and Spine Metastasis will be our new leader.

Fecci is a highly accomplished surgeon, investigator, and scholar who brings an impressive body of work to CU. He joined the Duke faculty in 2014, after completing internships, residency training, and postdoctoral research at Massachusetts General Hospital and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Fecci graduated from Cornell University in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in neurobiology and behavior and earned his MD and PhD degrees at Duke University in 2007.

As a researcher, Fecci focuses on brain tumor immunology and immunotherapy, often highlighting T cell dysfunction in glioblastoma and other intracranial cancers. His work encompasses clinical trial design for primary and metastatic brain tumors, novel immunotherapeutic targets and modalities, laser-induced interstitial thermal therapy, and translatable nanotechnologies.

Fecci is the principal investigator on multiple extramural grants, the author of more than 130 articles in refereed high-impact journals, including Nature Medicine, Nature Communications, Nature Cancer, Nature Reviews Cancer, Nature Biotechnology, Science, and Immunity, and a frequently invited speaker at national and international symposia.

In his clinical practice, Fecci focuses on primary and metastatic brain tumors. He founded the Duke Center for Brain and Spine Metastasis in 2017. He is also director of the Duke Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Program, director of surgical neuro-oncology, vice chair for academic neurosurgery, and deputy director of the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke. He holds several patents related to his work.

Here are a few things that most people do NOT know about Dr. Fecci: • He is a Level 3 sommelier and have extensive wine and bourbon collections.

• He loves food and wine and will plan trips around restaurants and wine country.

• He is a part owner of Haley.Henry in Boston. A high-end wine bar. Look it up!

• His favorite comfort food is either fried chicken or tater tots topped with crème fraiche and caviar.

Represents a unique set of contrasts that just works.

• His favorite movie (among others) is Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

• His favorite book is The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand because of its stress on nonconformity and individual achievements.

• He was born and raised in Long Island. His mother was an English teacher and his father was the CIO for New York City and ran the data and information systems for social services.

• His wife (Elizabeth) is from Atlanta and has been a Duke lifer (undergrad (where she was captain of the rowing team), med school, residency, fellowship). She is a Urogynecology surgeon. Her father is a hand surgeon and her mother was a psychologist doing research at Emory on maternal addiction • Favorite surgery? He loves operating on intrinsic tumors and particularly enjoys cases that involve motor mapping.

• Music while operating? He lets the residents choose the music. But he always loves to close to Sinatra and he never minds classic rock or 80s.

“I would like to thank Dr. Lillehei for his dedicated service to our campus and for extending his time as chair while we completed the search for his successor,” says Dr. John Sampson, Dean of the School of Medicine. “I would also like to thank all members of the search committee and Naresh Mandava, MD, chair of the Department of Ophthalmology, who chaired the search committee, for their service and expertise in conducting the search.”

GENERAL NEUROSURGERY NEWS

THANK YOU, DR. BREGA A JOB WELL DONE

We would like to sincerely thank Dr. Kerry Brega for a job well done, as she steps down this July from the role of Residency Program Director (RPD) for the Department of Neurosurgery.

Dr. Brega started as an associate program director (APD) under Dr. Glenn Kindt in 2001, transitioning to APD under Dr Robert Breeze a few years later, before replacing Dr. Breeze in 2013 as Director of the Residency Program. Great things have happened under her leadership and she leaves behind a tremendous legacy. During her time as APD, and then Director, the program has gone through major changes; expanding from 6 to 7 years, the resident complement increasing from one a year, to 2 residents per year, and then recently to 2 residents per year alternating with 3, every other year. We successfully transitioned to the 80-hour resident work week restrictions, and we have consistently passed our ABNS national reviews with few citations.

This last year we, in fact, we had no citations, which is almost unheard of. In addition, we survived the pressures placed on our residents from the significant growth in all of our hospital systems, not to mention also weathering the years of the COVID crisis. Not only did we survive, but the morale of the program has never been higher. It is fair to say that Colorado is viewed as one of the most welcoming neurosurgery training programs in the country, thanks to Dr. Brega’s work. Dr. Brega has been the heart and soul of the program for these past 24 years and will be sorely missed. In July, Dr. Brega will be turning over the directorship to Dr. Chris Roark, staying on as an APD over the next several years to assist in the transition. Dr. Roark has recruited two new APDs as well. Dr. Timothy Ung will serve as APD focusing on the clinical and education arena, and Dr. Daniel Kramer, as APD, will focus on scholarship and recruitment.

We all owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Dr. Brega for all of her incredible work and a job well done.

FAREWELL AND BEST WISHES TO A VERY SPECIAL NEUROPATHOLOGIST! BK Demasters, MD has retired!

She and Dr. Kevin Lillehei began their work with the Pituitary Tumor Program back in 1985!

It has grown to a nationally recognized Pituitary Tumor Center of Excellence, and it would not be possible without the diligence and hard work of Dr. Bette K. Demasters (“BK”), head of neuropathology until recently. We will miss her vision, strength, insight, attention to detail, and passion!

BK received her MD from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.

She did her residencies and fellowships at University of Kansas and University of Colorado. Her awards are numerous and include: Meritorious Service / Lifetime Achievement Award, American Association of Neuropathologists (2015), Pathologist of the Year, UC-SOM (2012), Top Doctor, 5280 Magazine (2012-2015), and Summit Award for Excellence in Teaching, UC-SOM (2010). Bette was born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and became a role model to her younger brothers, Donn and Ronn. She devoured every subject in school and her love of learning has continued throughout her career. She has authored more than 360 publications, not including several book chapters and some highly regarded text books.

The Award for Meritorious Contributions to Neuropathology (which she received in 2015) recognizes members who have made significant contributions to the advancement of knowledge in neuropathology and have provided service to the American Association of Neuropathologists (AANP). This award is the highest recognition of professional achievement that the association bestows upon our exceptional colleagues. To be recognized for this award, one’s influence in neuropathology must be felt beyond colleagues, students, and patients in one’s own hospital, and at the national and international levels. Each recipient of the award is nominated by the President, in conjunction with the Nominating Committee and with the approval of the Executive Council. We all wish you well, BK! Enjoy the sunshine of Florida, spring flowers, walks in the park, adventurous travels, time with family and more.

You have earned and deserve every moment! We will miss you!!

GENERAL NEUROSURGERY NEWS

FAREWELL GRADUATING RESIDENTS

Jessa Hoffman, MD, Jessa will be joining the neurosurgery team at Lutheran Hospital in Wheatridge, Colorado.

Blake Wittenberg, MD, Blake will be heading to Knoxville, Tennessee to join a private practice group that specializes in complex spine.

BEST OF LUCK TO ALL OF OUR GRADUATING FELLOWS!

Benjamin Carroll, MD

Rachel Blue, MD

Alessandra Cathel, MD

Brent Morel, MD

Completed Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery Fellowship

Completed Skull Base Neurosurgery Fellowship

Completed Neuro Oncology Fellowship

Completed Endovascular Neurosurgery Fellowship

Jessa Hoffman, MD

Blake Wittenberg, MD

Bamidele Adebayo, MD

Catherine Wassef, MD

Completed Endovascular Neurosurgery Fellowship

Completed Neurosurgical Spine Fellowship

Completed Pediatric Neurosurgery Fellowship

Completed Pediatric Neurosurgery Fellowship

Karla Rivera-Figueroa, PhD Completed Neuropsych

Fellowship

GENERAL NEUROSURGERY NEWS

WELCOME TO OUR INCOMING 2025-2026 INTERNS! Megan V. Ryan, DO, MS, OMS-IV Rocky Vista University, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Parker, Colorado.

Megan served as President of the Association of Women Surgeons chapter.

Prior to this, she completed a Master of Science (MS) in Modern Human Anatomy at the University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, and obtained her Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biochemistry from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Megan is excited to be joining the team at CU Anschutz, and is primarily interested in stereotactic and functional neurosurgery.

Sera Sempson, MD, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado.

Sera attended CU Boulder where she earned her bachelor’s degree in International Relations & Affairs, and then did her pre-med track. After completing med school here at CU Anschutz, she is one of only a handful of the thousands of medical students that applied to programs here that will be doing their residency with us! She is truly a Buff through and through! She has served as a research assistant in several labs, has already published a few articles, and has volunteered for “I Have a Dream” and Jewish Family Services.

GLOBAL NEUROSURGERY NEWS

CU NEUROSURGERY EXPANDS PARTNERSHIPS IN TANZANIA AND UGANDA

The CU Department of Neurosurgery once again joined the Muhimbili Orthopedic Institute for the fourth annual neurosurgery symposium in Tanzania, and the Mbarara Hospital in Uganda this past February. Now expanded to include our programs of both Neuro Oncology and Neuro Critical Care, 100 participants attended the MOI conference, and 50 participated in the Mbara conference.

GLOBAL NRSG NEWS

Many topics were included in the two conferences, including Meningioma, Lymphoma, Glioma, Sellar Tumors, early brain and spinal tumor detection, pediatric neuro oncology, minimally invasive techniques, stereotactic biopsy, ultrasound in neurosurgery, traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke, EVD care and management, pupillometry, advanced monitoring and treatment strategies, and care beyond surgery with nursing and rehabilitation focuses.

Surgical cases included endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal, aneurysm coiling, ultrasound guided glioma resection and more.

Parallel nursing and rehab lectures included PM&R timing and strategies in the ICU/HDU, speech therapy, respiratory therapy, management of TBI, cerebral edema, increased intracranial pressure, post-op care, artificial intelligence, neurological exams and pressure ulcers.

To build a more sustainable future in neurosurgical care in East Africa, the CU team has implemented weekly zoom lectures with the MOI critical care team, a monthly journal club has been started with neurosurgery residents, and rehab and nursing lectures have been added to the zooms.

In addition to the time, talent, education, and travel expenditures, CU Neurosurgery department donated 11 pediatric shunts to the MOI hydrocephalus patient ward.

The department is excited that this exchange program has continued to grow and flourish.

We are hopeful that this will continue in years to come.

JOIN US ON OUR QUEST! $35 will buy new shunts for African patients.

See last page of newsletter for donation details.

Congratulations to all our travelers!

38TH ANNUAL NEUROSURGERY IN THE ROCKIES Entire Team Shines at Neurosurgery in the Rockies!

Our annual conference, Neurosurgery in the Rockies was especially dynamic this past spring with sessions on vascular neurosurgery, spine, brain tumor and more. Throughout the functional sessions, speakers not only came from our own department, but from throughout the country! These are just a few of the highlights.

The keynote speaker was Dr. Pascal Jabbour, Distinguished Professor of Neurological Surgery and Radiology and the Head of the Division of Neurovascular and Endovascular Neurosurgery in the Department of Neurological Surgery at the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University. He is a dually trained vascular neurosurgeon and performs endovascular and open procedures.

Dr. Jabbour received a national award for his pioneering of a new technique in the treatment of retinoblastoma in babies. He is the National Primary Investigator (PI) on several Trials. He is also one of the pioneers in neuro-endovascular robotics.

His presentations included Is our Surgical Heritage Becoming.

Is our Surgical Heritage Becoming A Lost Art?

Modern Stroke Treatment: So Many People Playing in Synchrony

Dr. Christopher Ogilvy, Director of Endovascular and Operative Neurovascular Surgery at the BIDMC Brain Aneurysm Institute, and Professor of Neurosurgery at Harvard Medical School spoke about The Dynamic Adaptability (Plasticity) of the adult Circle of Willis in response to major branch artery coverage with a flow diverter.

From our own department, Joshua Seinfeld’s talk was called “O the Tangled Carotid Web We Weave.” Dr. Seinfeld is the Director of the Endovascular Neurosurgery Program at CU.

Jessa Hoffman, MD, PGY 7 Endovascular Fellow spoke about the Periprocedural Management of Ruptured Blister Aneurysms Treated with Pipeline Flow Diversion.

And Julia Pazniokas, MD, PGY5 spoke on Brain Injury after Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Pathophysiology and Management

NEUROSURGERY IN THE ROCKIES

ALTHOUGH NEUROSURGERY IN THE ROCKIES WAS HEAVILY FOCUSED THIS YEAR ON NEUROVASCULAR SURGERY, FOUR OF OUR TUMOR NEUROSURGEONS SPOKE UP IN VAIL, INCLUDING THE NEW DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE!

Kevin Lillehei, Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at CU spoke about Unusual Lesions of the Sellar and Parasellar Region

John Sampson, MD, PhD Dean of the School of Medicine and a neurosurgeon gave a talk entitled Turning Knowledge into Money: Strategies and Approaches to Optimizing Glioblastoma Therapies

Using information gained from the East Africa trip in February, Ryan Ormond, MD, PhD spoke about Optimizing Hemorrhagic Stroke Management in Sub-Saharan Africa

Samy Youssef, MD, Director of our skull base neurosurgery program, presented on “Combined open and endoscopic approaches to the lateral skuill base: Useful or over zealous? “

OUR NEUROSPINE SUR-GEONS WERE ALSO EXCITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CONFERENCE. THEY WELCOMED NATION-AL SPEAKERS, TOO!

Byon Branch, MD from Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates spoke on the Microscope, Endoscope, Exoscope

“Old School” Spine Surgery was a talk given by Charles Branch, MD, Professor and Chair (Retired) Dept of Neurosurgery Wake Forest University Health Sciences

David Ruttum, MD, Anesthesiologist with Vail Health spoke about Reducing Narcotics in Spine Surgery – David Ruttum, MD

Finally, our own resident, Eric Montgomery, MD, PGY2 spoke about Navigation in Spine Surgery – David Ruttum, MD

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF NEUROSCIECNE

ENTIRE DEPARTMENT OF NEURO-SURGERY CONTRIBUTES TO NEW INTERNATIONAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF NEUROSCIENCES IT TAKES A VILLAGE!!

Congratulations to Dr. Kevin Lillehei, neurosurgery and neuroradiology section editor, and all the many faculty and residents in our department who contributed to the Encyclopedia of the Neurological Sciences – 3rd Edition, Elsevier Press. The book launches June 1, 2025 and is available electronically and in hardback. The seven volume set reviews all major areas of neuroscience and provides a complete overview of the neurological sciences in an easily accessible electronic format. All 21 sections and approximately 600 chapters contain extensive supplemental links to useful references. Of special note are the new and paradigm shifting developments in genetics, immunology, molecular neurobiology, neuro-diagnostic tools and therapies for neurological disorders. The sections and chapters are written by internationally recognized experts from around the world and will be a valuable resource for all researchers, students and established scientists in the fields of neurology, psychiatry, and neurosurgery. Complete, the comprehensive set is over 4,000 pages and will soon be on sale for about $3,000.

Kevin O. Lillehei, Department Chair Neurosurgery & Neuroradiology Section Editor

CHAPTERS WRITTEN BY CU DEPARTMENT OF NEUROSURGERY AUTHORS: Stereotactic, Endoscopic & Microneurosurgery

D. Ryan Ormond, Associate Professor, MD

Hydrocephalus

Vestibular Schwannoma

Intraoperative Imagine/MRI

Endoscopic Anterior Skull Base Surgery

Michael Handler, Chair, Pediatric Neurosurgery, MD

Ranier Alvarez, PGY IV, MD

D. Ryan Ormond, Associate Professor, MD

Chair Kevin Lillehei, MD

Abscess, Brain and Spine

Timothy H. Ung, Assistant Professor, MD

Sera Sempsen, PGYI, MD

Craniosynostosis

C Corbett Wilkinson, Professor, MD

Julia Pazniokas, PGY V, MD

Surgical treatment of low-grade gliomas

Megan Ryan, PGY I, MD

Chair Kevin Lillehei, MD

NEUROSCIENCE ENCYCLOPEDIA AUTHORS

Radiosurgery – Gamma Knife and Cyberknife, Stereotactic Surgery

Surgical treatment of high-grade gliomas

Robert Breeze, Professor, Vice Chair, MD

D. Ryan Ormond, Associate Professor, MD

Timothy H. Ung, Assistant Professor, MD

Conus Medullaris Syndrome, Cauda Equina Syndrome, and Neurogenic Claudication

Arteriovenous Malformations (AVM)

Robert Breeze, Professor, Vice Chair, MD

Sera Sempsen, PGYI, MD

Joshua Seinfeld, Professor, MD

Christopher Roark, Associate Professor, MD

Robert Breeze,Professor, Vice Chair, MD

John A. Thompson, Associate Professor, MD

Steven Ojemann, Professor, MD

Daniel R. Kramer, Assistant Professor, MD

Spinal Tumors

Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery: An Overview of Techniques and Advantages

Edin Nevzati, Assistant Professor, MD

Lindsey Freeman, PGY VI, MD

Diagnostic and Therapeutic Cerebral Angiography

Surgical treatment of lumbar degenerative disc and spine disease

Jessa Hoffman, PGY VII, MD

Blake Wittenberg, PGY VII, MD

Jessa Hoffman, PGY VII, MD

Surgical treatment of spasticity

Deep Brain Stimulation

Megan Ryan, PGY I, MD

Keshari Shrestha, PGY III, MD

Intracranial Aneurysms and Surgery

Endovascular Neurosurgery

Peter J. Lennarson, Associate Professor, MD

Blake Wittenberg, PGY VII, MD

Peter J. Lennarson, Associate Professor, MD

Megan Ryan, PGY I, MD

Cerebral Arteriovenous Fistulas

David Edward Case, Associate Professor, MD

Christopher Roark, Associate Professor, MD

Neurophysiology, Intraoperative

John A. Thompson, Associate Professor, MD

Daniel Craig, Assistant Professor, MD

Joshua Seinfeld, Professor, MD

Surgical treatment of craniopharyngioma

Chair Kevin Lillehei, MD

Cerebral Vasospasm

David Edward Case, Associate Professor, MD

Luis Cava, Associate Professor, MD

Robert Neumann, Professor, MD

Jason Weedman, Assistant Professor, MD

Christopher Roark, Associate Professor, MD

Joshua Seinfeld, Professor, MD

PEDIATRIC NEUROSURGERY NEWS 50TH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR PEDIATRIC NEUROSURGERY MEETING IN TORONTO, THIS PAST FALL

CONGRATULATIONS TO TODD HANKINSON, MD, FOR RECEIVING A $1,000,000 PHILANTHROPIC DONATION FOR THE HANKSINSON LAB!

ABOUT THE HANKINSON LAB The Hankinson Lab focuses on Adamantinomatous Craniopharyngioma (ACP), a brain tumor that afflicts both children and adults. In children, it most commonly occurs between the ages of 5 and 14 years. It causes substantial injury to the brain, and also to structures that are critical for normal vision and hormone function.

As a result of this type of damage and our currently available treatments, ACP has been associated with the lowest Quality of Life scores of any pediatric brain tumor, and with significantly shortened lifespan relative to otherwise healthy people.

The lab has two primary research arms, and is co-lead by Dr. Siddhartha Mitra, Assistant Professor of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant. The first arm uses basic science methods to better understand the biology of ACP. The second arm of the Lab harnesses computational methods (e.g. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning) to pioneer research platforms to improve our understanding of ACP. Using such tools, we have published and presented research that has improved our understanding of the genetic complexity of ACP, improved diagnostic accuracy using MRI and CT images, and identified predictable Quality of Life trajectories for ACP patients based on characteristics that are present at diagnosis.

NEW PEDIATRIC NEUROSURGEON JOINS OUR TEAM!!

We would like to welcome Dr. Ariana Barkley to the Department of Neurosurgery.

She will be working at Children’s Hospital Colorado as our newest Pediatric Neurosurgeon. Dr. Barkley earned her undergraduate degree at the Johns Hopkins University and medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.

She completed her neurosurgery residency at one of the busiest programs in the nation, the University of Washington in Seattle, WA, and her Pediatric Neurosurgery Fellowship at the Children’s Hospital of Alabama in Birmingham. Originally born in Trinidad and raised in Tobago, her journey from the Caribbean to Canada and across the U.S. has nurtured a passion for serving diverse communities. This has translated into several awards and capacity development projects across “Southeast Asia, with goals to expand to the Caribbean.” and apply her unique skills to serve her patients in New Mexico. Her clinical practice focuses on the full gamut of pediatric neurosurgery, including pediatric (congenital malformations and spine tumors), pediatric and adult brain tumors, pediatric skull base tumors, epilepsy, trauma, Chiari malformations, hydrocephalus, cranio-synostosis, spasticity, and vascular malformations in the pediatric population. Her research focus is on global neurosurgery, neurosurgical education, and clinical outcomes. Welcome, Dr. Barkley!

AANS/CNS 2024 JOINT PEDIATRIC SECTION ANNUAL MEETING IN NYC DEC 12-15

Dr. Corbett Wilkinson (Pediatric Neurosurgeon) with medical students, Sera Sempson and Megan Ryan.

Sera Sempson, MD gave a presentation.

Her presentation was entitled: “Vascularized pericranial flap as a method to prevent persistent skull defects after craniectomy for sagittal synostosis: long term follow up.” She is now a neurosurgical intern with our department!

Meg Ryan, DO gave a presentatio).

Her presentation was entitled “Secondary premature fusion of additional sutures after surgery for sagittal craniosynostosis.” She is now a neurosurgical intern with our department!

Dr. Corbett Wilkinson and student/researcher, Sophia Blasco, enjoy dinner in New York City with faculty from Children’s Hospital Colorado.

Sophia gave a presentation on The Histological Examination of Sensory Nerve Rootlets in Selective Dorsal Rhizotomies and also had a poster entitled “Deviation of the Superior Sagittal Sinus from the Sagittal Suture in Unilateral Lambdoid Craniosynostosis.”

RECENT PEDIATRIC PUBLICATIONS

Julia Pazniokas, MD, PGY V

Lindsay Freeman, MD, PGY VI

Lundy P, Barkley A, Rahman AKMF, Arynchyna-Smith A, Thrower J, Stewart A, Dziugan K, Lam S, Hall K, Hauptman J, Shrestha K, Staulcup S, Hankinson TC, Best B, Kim I, Yea J, Weber-Levine C, Jackson EM, Park C, Sexton D, Thompson EM, Slingerland AL, Papadakis J, Pricola Fehnel K, Wisor-Martinez S, Bauer DF, Akbari SHA, Rocque BG. Pediatric CSF diversion procedures for treatment of hydrocephalus during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2024 Oct 11;35(1):57-63. doi: 10.3171/2024.7.PEDS24249. PMID: 39393095.

Voeller J, Katzenstein HM, Naranjo A, Tenney SC, Chen L, London WB, Handler MH, Schmidt ML, Shimada H, Hogarty MD, Gastier-Foster J, Park JR, Cohn SL, Maris JM, Bagatell R, Twist CJ. Outcomes of patients with intermediate-risk neuroblastoma presenting with motor deficits relating to intraspinal tumor extension: A report from the Children’s Oncology Group study ANBL0531. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2025 Jan;72(1):e31407. doi: 10.1002/pbc.31407. Epub 2024 Nov 6. PMID: 39502014; PMCID: PMC11792557.

Corbett Wilkinson, MD, Pediatric Neurosurgeon

Michael Handler, MD, Pediatric Neurosurgeon

RECENT PEDIATRIC PUBLICATIONS

Prince EW, Hankinson TC, Görg C. A Visual Analytics Framework for Assessing Interactive AI for Clinical Decision Support. Pac Symp Biocomput. 2025;30:40-53.

PMID: 39670360.

Mohammed Alshareef, MD, Pedaitric Neurosurgeon

Brooks T, Gao D, Dorris K, Boone K, Mirsky DM, Staulcup S, Prince E, Moskalenko M, Ignowski E, Wandrey N, Fakhoury K, Hankinson TC, Milgrom SA. Does preirradiation gross tumor volume predict the risk of progression after radiation therapy in pediatric patients with adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma? J Neurosurg Pediatr.

2024 Sep 27;34(6):642-648. doi: 10.3171/2024.7.PEDS2429. PMID: 39332032. *cover Malhotra AK, Kulkarni AV, Verhey LH, Reeder RW, Riva-Cambrin J, Jensen H, Pollack IF, McDowell M, Rocque BG, Tamber MS, McDonald PJ, Krieger MD, Pindrik JA, Isaacs AM, Hauptman JS, Browd SR, Whitehead WE, Jackson EM, Wellons JC 3rd, Hankinson TC, Chu J, Limbrick DD Jr, Strahle JM, Kestle JRW; Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network. Does machine learning improve prediction accuracy of the Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy Success Score? A contemporary Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network cohort study. Childs Nerv Syst. 2024 Dec 10;41(1):42. doi: 10.1007/s00381-024-06667-3. PMID: 39658658.

Todd Hankinson, MD, Pediatric Neurosurgeon

Alshareef M, Bsat S, Hankinson TC. Operative Adjuncts in Pediatric Brain Tumor Surgery with a Focus on Suprasellar Tumors. Adv Tech Stand Neurosurg. 2024;53:1325. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-67077-0_2. PMID: 39287800.

Pazniokas J, Harris W, Alshareef M, Alexander AL, Hankinson TC, Handler MH, Wilkinson CC, Samples DC. Bedside transfontanelle drain placement reduces the need for operative intervention in infants with subdural fluid collections. Childs Nerv Syst.

2024 Dec 16;41(1):55. doi: 10.1007/s00381-024-06712-1. PMID: 39680149.

Derek Samples, MD, Pediatric Neurosurgeon

Prince EW, Mirsky DM, Hankinson TC, Görg C. Current state and promise of usercentered design to harness explainable AI in clinical decision-support systems for patients with CNS tumors. Front Radiol. 2025 Jan 13;4:1433457. doi: 10.3389/ fradi.2024.1433457. PMID: 39872709; PMCID: PMC11769936.

Irshad HA, Shariq SF, Khan MAA, Shaikh T, Kakar WG, Shakir M, Hankinson TC, Enam SA. Delay in the Diagnosis of Pediatric Brain Tumors in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Reviewand Meta-Analysis.

Neurosurgery. 2025 Feb 1;96(2):289-297. doi: 10.1227/neu.0000000000003097. Epub 2024 Jul 10. PMID: 38984834. de Sousa GR, Calzadilla AJ, Grimaldo E, Donson AM, Sobral LM, Jones KM, Liu T, Amani V, Venkataraman S, Dahl NA, Levy JMM, Phang T, Vibhakar R, Hankinson T, Handler M, Valera ET, Foreman NK, Griesinger AM. Loss of LDOC1 by chromatin compaction in mesenchymal tumor cells is required for PFA1 ependymoma growth.

Neuro Oncol. 2025 Feb 4:noaf029. doi: 10.1093/neuonc/noaf029.

Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39901723.

Nick Foreman, MD, Pediatric Neurosurgeon

Alexiades NG, Anderson DI, D’Ambrosio A, Iyer R, Bauer DF, Bonfield CM, Chatterjee S, Ellenbogen RG, Grabb P, Grant G, Hankinson TC, Jea A, Limbrick DD, Maher C, Martin JE, Thompson DNP, Brockmeyer DL, Anderson RCE. Building consensus regarding the definition of abnormal craniocervical motion in pediatric patients with Chiari malformation: a modified Delphi study. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2025 Mar 7:1-11 doi: 10.3171/2024.11.

PEDS24478. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40053925

NEUROSURGICAL ONCOLOGY NEWS CONGRATULATIONS TO THESE RESEARCHERS & PROVIDERS IN OUR PITUITARY TUMOR PROGRAM OF EXCELLENCE SURVIVAL DIFFERENCES IN OLDER VS. YOUNGER PATIENTS WITH ISOCITRATE DEHYDROGENASE-MUTANT ASTROCYTOMA. Comparing equal grade tumors in cohorts of patients aged 19-54 years, and those over 55 years of age, the younger patients had better prosnosis despite receiving comparable treatment regimens. See more: Isocitrate dehydrogenase-mutant astrocytoma in persons aged 55 years and older: Survival differences versus the young. Siddiq Z, Gilani A, Ung TH, KleinschmidtDeMasters BK. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 2025 Mar 28:nlaf024. doi: 10.1093/jnen/ nlaf024. Online ahead of print. PMID: 40156602

Timothy Ung, MD Assistant Professor, Neurosurgery

CASE REVIEW: ACANTHAMOEBA MENINGOENCEPHALITIS IN A TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT. Acanthamoeba meningoencephalitis is a rare and often fatal infection of the brain caused by the free-living amoeba, Acanthamoeba. It’s particularly dangerous for people with weakened immune systems, and even in healthy individuals, it can be fatal. The infection is often misdiagnosed, leading to delayed treatment and a high mortality rate. See more: The Brief Case: Acanthamoeba meningoencephalitis in a transplant recipient.

Kung VM, Vargas Barahona L, Benamu Sultan E, Ramanan P, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK, McCollister BD, Madinger NE. J Clin Microbiol. 2025 Feb 19;63(2):e0035024. doi: 10.1128/jcm.00350-24. Epub 2025 Feb 19. PMID: 39969180 BK Kleinschmidt-DeMasters, MD Professor, Pathology, Neurology and Neurosurgery. Head of Neuropathology

PITUITARY TUMORS AND CYSTIC SELLAR SALIVARY GLAND LESIONS A 53-year-old female and 33-year-old male developed large sellar lesions. The woman presented with fatigue and sudden-onset visual changes and the man with apoplectic-like severe headache. Biopsy specimens for both patients demonstrated clusters of histologically benign salivary gland-like acini accompanied by varying amounts of mucin and lymphocytic inflammation. None showed pituitary tumor. Postoperatively, one case developed persistent diabetes insipidus. Molecular testing revealed a lack of pathogenic mutations, copy number alterations, or gene fusions in both cases. Lack of pathogenic genetic alterations suggest these lesions may not be true neoplasms.

Read more: Clinical and molecular assessment of cystic sellar salivary gland-like lesions. Lin J, Ung TH, Davies KD, Turin CG, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK. Clin Neuropathol. 2025 Feb 10.

Joanne Lin, MD, 1st year fellow, endocrinology

TUMORS, TRANSCRIPTION FACTORS AND LINEAGE INFIDELITY … OH MY! This is a complex article about transcription factors, certain kinds of tumors that co-express, and what we might learn about all thisChristie Turin More takes us through it all.

Learn more here: TBX19/SF1 co-expressing pituitary neuroendocrine tumor/pituitary adenomas add to the lineage infidelity. Turin CG, Ung TH, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 2025 Apr 8:nlaf028. PMID: 40197785 Christie Turin More, MD, Assistant Professor, Medicine – Endocrine/Metabolism/Diabetes

NEUROSURGICAL ONCOLOGY

RECENT NEURO ONCOLOGY PUBLICATIONS

Morrow K, Sloan A, Olson JJ, Ormond DR. Congress of Neurological Surgeons systematic review and evidence based guidelines on the management of recurrent diffuse low-grade glioma: update. J Neurooncol. 2025 Jan;171(1):105-130. doi: 10.1007/s11060-024-04838-5. Epub 2024 Oct 14. PMID: 39400661.

Ryan Ormond, MD, Neurosurgeon

Ahmed Helal, MD, PGY IV

BK Demasters, MD, Neuropathologist

Tim Ung, MD, Neurosurgeon

Lin J, Ung TH, Davies KD, Turin CG, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK. Clinical and molecular assessment of cystic sellar salivary gland-like lesions. Clin Neuropathol. 2025 Feb 10. doi: 10.5414/NP301668. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39928113.

FUNCTIONAL, RESTORATIVE & STEREOTACTIC NEUROSURGERY MEDICAL BREAKTHOUGH! Congratulations to our Functional Neurosurgery Team! Recently a UCHealth patient was the first in the US to receive groundbreaking new technology called “adaptive deep brain stimulation” for Parkinson’s Disease.

Faculty members, Dr. Drew Kern and Dr. John Thompson, together with scientists across the globe, have now been able to help electrodes used in Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) adapt in real-time to a patients brain signals.

They are hoping this will reduce the number of fluctuations (on/off time) that current DBS patients are dealing with. The treatment is expected to change millions of lives.

Drs. John Thompson and Drew Kern work with Parkinson’s patients on their newest technology.

Link to channel 7 news story: https://www.denver7.com/news/local-news/medical-breakthroughuchealth-patient-first-in-the-us-to-receive-groundbreaking-parkinsonstreatment

RECENT FUNCTIONAL, RESTORATIVE & STEREOTACTIC NEUROSURGERY PUBICATIONS

Christopher Domen, PhD Associate Professor, Neurosurgery Clinical Neuropsychologist

Drew Kern, MD Associate Professor, Neurology & Neurosurgery

Steven Ojemann MD Associate Professor and Director, Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery

Daniel Kramer MD Assistant Professor and Director, Brain-Computer Interface Program

Das R, Gliske SV, Maroni D, Situ-Kcomt M, West LC, Summers MO, Tang S, Vaswani PA, Halpern CH, Thompson JA, Kushida CA, Abosch A. Sleep spindle variation in patients with Parkinson’s disease on first nights of sub-optimal deep brain stimulation. Clin Neurophysiol. 2025 Feb;170:91-97. doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2024.11.020. Epub 2024 Dec 6.

PMID: 39705860.

Kelbert J, Guest A, Bisarad P, Larsh TR, Bhatia P, Chinander S, Cornejo P, van der Werf L, Ponce FA, Thompson JA, Kruer MC. Local Field Potential-Based Programming for Deep Brain Stimulation in Pediatric DYT1 Dystonia. Mov Disord Clin Pract. 2025 Feb;12(2):249-252. doi: 10.1002/mdc3.14283. Epub 2024 Dec 3. PMID: 39628113; PMCID: PMC11802634.

John Thompson, PhD Associate Professor, Neurosurgery

Thompson JA, Radcliffe E, Holt-Becker A, Case M, Zarns C, Rakie R, Ojemann SG, Kramer D, Kern D. Stimulation of Monopolar Sensing-Defined Optimal Contracts for Parkinson’s Disease DBS Programming Correlates with Improved Kinematics and Reduced Local Field Potential Amplitude in the Beta Frequency. Neurodulation. 2025 Jan; 28(1)S66. Doi: 10.1016/j.neurom.2024.09.123.

Baumgartner AJ, Hirt L, Amara AW, Kern DS, Thompson JA. Diurnal fluctuations of subthalamic nucleus local field potentials follow naturalistic sleep-wake behavior in Parkinson’s disease. Sleep. 2025 Jan 11:zsaf005. doi: 10.1093/sleep/zsaf005. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39798074.

Alex Baumgartner, MD

Kern DS, Kramer DR. Neurohistological findings in deep brain stimulation: Current knowledge and gaps. Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2025 Jan 22:107297. doi: 10.1016/j. parkreldis.2025.107297. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39870555.

Weisbrod LJ, Schmidt AJ, Tanabe J, Sakai J, Ojemann S, Pawlowski JR, Shiffermiller JF, Abosch A. Deep Brain Stimulation for Methamphetamine Use Disorder: Perioperative Neuropsychiatric and Other Medical Considerations. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci.

2025 Feb 18:appineuropsych20240142. doi: 10.1176/appi.neuropsych.20240142. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39962978.

Jody Tanabe

SKULL BASE NEUROSURGERY NEWS

A. Samy Youssef, MD, PhD, Professor and Vice Chair, Education; Director of Complex Cranial and Skull Base Neurosurgery, continues to travel and speak, bringing notoriety and attention to the University of Colorado and this excellent Program:

RECENT SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS: University of Maryland Skull Base Course, Faculty/ Speaker, Nov 2024 EANS, Istanbul, Speaker, Nov 2024 IFNE, Dubai, Speaker, Dec 2024 Dr. Fukushima Symposium, Speaker, Dec 2024

RECENT SKULL BASE NEUROSURGERY PUBLICATIONS

Timothy Ung. MD

Ashkan Razmara, MD

NEUROSURGICAL SPINE, ENDOVASCULAR NEUROSURGERY AND NEURO CRITICAL CARE NEWS.

Pipeline device seals the deal in brain aneurysm save

UCH neurosurgical team goes off label with device to stem blood flow to threatening arterial bulge Link to story: https://www.uchealth.org/today/pipeline-deviceseals-the-deal-in-brain-aneurysm-save/

CONGRATULATIONS ABOUND! RECENT PUBLICATIONS IN NEUROSURGICAL SPINE, ENDOVASCULAR NEUROSURGERY AND NEURO CRITICAL CARE

Edin Nevzati MD Assistant Professor, Neurosurgery

Ortiz Torres MJ, Ravipati K, Smith CJ, Norby K, Pleitez J, Galicich W, Bergman T, Roark C, Siddiq F. Outcomes for standalone anterolateral corpectomy for thoracolumbar burst fractures. Neurosurg Rev. 2024 Oct 24;47(1):816. doi:10.1007/s10143-024-03049-w. PMID: 39443336.

Peter Lennarson MD Associate Professor, Spine Disorders, Neurosurgery

Case D, Roark C, Folzenlogen Z, Seinfeld J. Cerebral Arteriovenous Fistulas.

Encyclopedia of the Neurological Sciences, third edition. Reference Collection in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-32395702-1.00208-6, Elsevier, 2024.

Case D, Neumann R, Cava L, Weedman J, Folzenlogen Z, Roark C, Seinfeld J. Cerebral Vasospasm, Treat of. Encyclopedia of the Neurological Sciences, third edition. Reference Collection in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-95702-1. 00217-7, Elsevier, 2024.

Christopher Roark MD Associate Professor, Endovascular Surgery, Neurosurgery

Caldwell A, Case D, Mayhew R, Carotid cavernous fistula complicated by contralateral abducens palsy and opti neuropathy, Journal of American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Stabismus, https://doi.org/10.1016/j. jaapos.2025.104123. Feb 7 2025.

Vranic JE, Dmytriw AA, Berglar IK, Alotaibi NM, Cancelliere NM, Stapleton CJ, Rabinov JD, Harker P, Gupta R, Bernstock JD, Koch MJ, Raymond SB, Mascitelli JR, Patterson TT, Seinfeld J, White A, Case D, Roark C, Gandhi CD, Al-Mufti F, Cooper J, Matouk C, Sujijantarat N, Devia DA, Ocampo-Navia MI, Villamizar-Torres DE, Puentes JC, Salem MM, Baig A, El Namaani K, Kühn AL, Pukenas B, Jankowitz BT, Burkhardt JK, Siddiqui A, Jabbour P, Singh J, Puri AS, Regenhardt RW, Mendes Pereira V, Patel AB. The Impact of Preprocedural Platelet Function Testing on Periprocedural Complication Rates Associated With Pipeline Flow Diversion: An International Multicenter Study. Neurosurgery. 2024 Apr 18.

David Case, MD, Associate Professor, Neurosurgery

Hoffman JE, Morel B, Wittenberg B, Kumpe D, Seinfeld J, Folzenlogen Z, Case D, Neumann R, Cava L, Breeze R, Roar C. Periprocedural management of ruptured blister aneurysms treated with pipeline flow diversion. Surg Neuro Int 2024;15:73.

Zach Folzenlogan, Assistant Professor, Neurosurgery

MacLaren, Robert; Farrar, Julie; Stefanos, Sylvia S.; Cava, Luis; Kiser, Tyree; Mueller, Scott; Neumann, Robert; Reynolds, Paul; Sherman, Deb. 993: SERUM AND CSF CONCENTRATIONS OF MIDAZOLAM AND 1-HYDROXY-MIDAZOLAM IN NEUROSURGICAL PATIENTS WITH EVD. Critical Care Medicine 52(1):p S468, January 2024. | DOI: 10.1097/01.ccm.0001002136.61707.77 Kowalski, RG; Ledreux A; Violette J; Neumann R; Grotta JC; Ornelas D; Thompson JA; Monte A; Dylla L; Coughlan C; Yu, X; Graner M; Jones W. Circulating Interleukin-6 Levels Early During Active Stroke Estimate Time of Stroke Onset: Potential New Clinical Biomarker Tool From a Mobile Stroke Unit. Stroke 1Feb2024. doi/10.1161/str.55.suppl_1.106 Farrar JE, Stefanos SS, Cava L, Kiser TH, Mueller SW, Neumann R, Reynolds PM, Sherman DS, MacLaren R. Correlation Between Serum and CSF Concentrations of Midazolam and 1-Hydroxy-Midazolam in Critically Ill Neurosurgical Patients. Ann Pharmacother. 2024 Aug 20:10600280241271130. doi: 10.1177/10600280241271130. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39164827.

Luis Cava MD Associate Professor, Neuro-Critical Care

Robert Neumann, Associate Professor Director, Neurointensive Care

NEUROSURGERY RESEARCH NEWS 7TH ANNUAL GLENN KINDT RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM Congratulations to Sarah Williams, research coordinator and event planner extraordinare in the Department of Neurosurgery, and all the Research Faculty and Students who participated in the 7th annual Glenn Kindt Research Symposium. Abstracts were presented by Mohamed Salem, MD; Yan Zhou, MS3; Julia Pazniokas, MD; Rx Tien, PhD; Anah Gilmore; Hannah Saternos, PhD and Erin Radcliffe, PhD Candidate.

THERE WERE MANY PARTICIPANTS FOR THE POSTER SESSION AND RECEPTION, INCLUDING: • Kowalski Robert Kowalski, MD, PhD “Neuroinflammatory Factor Response in Acute Ischemic Stroke Correlates with Lesion Volume and Stroke Severity: Circulating Blood from a Mobile Stroke Unit and during Hospitalization” • Hayley Granberg, BA and Ryan Ormond, MD “Long-term Outcomes After Endoscopic Resection of Colloid Cysts” • Michael Ohene-Adjei, MD “Pituitary Stalk Interruption Syndrome (PSIS), a case of mistaken identity” • “Benefits of Intracystic Bleomycin for Symptomatic Recurrent Rathke Cleft Cyst: a 13-Year Review” • Elise Carter, PhD “Autonomic responses to transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation”

Winners were announced at Grand Rounds the following week: Best Basic Science Abstract:

Best Clinical Abstract:

Julia Pazniokas, MD Complement activation in cerebrospinal fluid after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage predicts vasospasm and shunt dependence

Anah Gilmore Exploring the effects of repetitive subconcussive head impacts in college athletes in neuron-derived extracellular vesicles

NEUROSURGERY RESEARCH NEWS

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS IN NEUROSURGERY RESEARCH: Cristin Welle, PhD Led a discussion on “Finding your right career path” at a panel event hosted by Women in Neural Engineering at the Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting in Chicago, Ill.

Lotta Granholm Bentley, DDS, PhD Was invited as a plenary speaker to the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, March of 2025; then to the Simons Foundation Autism Research Inititaitve in New York City in early April; and then she spoke and chaired at the Annual American Society for Neural Therapy and Repair in Clearwater, Florida in late April.

Michael Graner, PhD Served as Conference Chair, Organizer and speaker at the SelectBIO Conference; Flow Cytometry & Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) 2024.

Nov 2024, Laguna Hills, CA, USA. He was also on the organizing committee, a session chair, and a presenter and judge at the 4th American Society for Intercellular Communication (ASIC 2024), Oct 2024, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. He gave the keynote address “Next-Gen Flow Cytometry and EV Instrumentation” at the SelectBIO Conference, Oregon City/Portland, OR, USA, Dec 2024 and he gave the talk “Intro to Techno: Innovations in Flow Cytometry and EVs” at the SelectBIO Conference; Flow Cytometry & Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) 2024. Nov 2024, Laguna Hills, CA, USA

Congratulations to Xiaoli Yu, PhD For her Patent Application: Diagnosing Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Jan 2025; collaborators: M. Graner, W. Zhou, T. Vollmer, E. Alvarez

RECENT NEUROSURGERY RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS

AURELIE LEDREUX PhD Associate Professor & Researcher, Neurosurgery Department

Luis Cava MD Associate Professor, Neuro-Critical Care

Saternos H, Hamlett ED, Guzman S, Head E, Granholm AC, Ledreux A. Unique Pathology in the Locus Coeruleus of Individuals with Down Syndrome. J Alzheimers Dis. 2024;101(2):541561. doi: 10.3233/JAD-240043. PMID: 39213062.

Wohlfert AJ, Phares J, Granholm AC. The mTOR Pathway: A Common Link Between Alzheimer’s Disease and Down Syndrome. J Clin Med. 2024 Oct 17;13(20):6183. doi: 10.3390/ jcm13206183. PMID: 39458132; PMCID: PMC11508835.

Lotta Granholm-Bentley PhD, DDS Professor & Researcher, Neurosurgery

Wang M, Graner AN, Knowles B, McRae C, Fringuello A, Paucek P, Gavrilovic M, Redwine M, Hanson C, Coughlan C, Grimaldo-Garcia S, Metzger B, Bolus V, Kopper TJ, Smith M, Zhou W, Lenz M, Abosch A, Ojemann S, Lillehei KO, Yu X, Graner MW. Differential Effects of Extracellular Vesicles from Two Different Glioblastomas on Normal Human Brain Cells. Neurol Int. 2024 Nov 6;16(6):1355-1384. doi:10.3390/neurolint16060103. PMID: 39585062; PMCID: PMC11587087.

Snider SB, Deng H, Hammond FM, Kowalski RG, Walker WC, Zafonte RD, Okonkwo DO, Giacino JT, Puccio AM, Bodien YG. Time to Command-Following and Outcomes After Traumatic Brain Injury. JAMA Netw Open. 2024 Dec 2;7(12):e2449928. doi: 10.1001/ jamanetworkopen.2024.49928. PMID: 39656462; PMCID: PMC11632539.

Steven Ojemann MD Associate Professor and Director, Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery

Nguyen KN, Graner AN, Fringuello AR, Zizzo Z, Valenzuela L, Anyanwu K, Lillehei KO, Youssef AS, Guzman S, Coughlan C, Graner MW. Extracellular Vesicles from a Novel Chordoma Cell Line, ARF-8, Promote Tumorigenic Microenvironmental Changes When Incubated with the Parental Cells and with Human Osteoblasts. Int J Mol Sci. 2024 Nov 27;25(23):12731. doi: 10.3390/ ijms252312731. PMID: 39684443; PMCID: PMC11641215.

Kallweit L, Hamlett ED, Saternos H, Gilmore A, Granholm AC, Horowitz S. Chronic RNA G-quadruplex Accumulation in Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease. bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2025 Jan 13:2023.10.02.560545. doi: 10.1101/2023.10.02.560545. PMID: 37873355; PMCID: PMC10592952.

Robert G. Kowalski, MD, PhD, MS Assistant Professor, Neurosurgery

Kung VM, Vargas Barahona L, Benamu Sultan E, Ramanan P, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK, McCollister BD, Madinger NE. The Brief Case: Acanthamoeba meningoencephalitis in a transplant recipient. J Clin Microbiol. 2025 Feb 19;63(2):e0035024. doi: 10.1128/jcm.00350-24.

Epub 2025 Feb 19. PMID: 39969180.

Guzman S, Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK. Pathology of rheumatoid meningitis: A report of 5 cases highlighting the importance of clinical correlation. Ann Diagn Pathol. 2025 Feb;74:152412. doi: 10.1016/j.anndiagpath.2024.152412. Epub 2024 Nov 22. PMID: 39608293.

Potier MC, Pierce J, Hilgenkamp T, Stagni F, Emili M, Wiseman F, Ropper R, Carmona-Iragui M, Rebillat AS, Barone E, Perluigi M, Skotko B, Zaman S, Sullivan K, Rozen E, Granholm-Bentley AC, Bartesaghi R, Mobley W, Delabar JM, Dierssen M, Reeves R, Strydom A. Advocating for increased awareness and research on Down syndrome. Lancet Neurology Mar 2025.

Samuel Guzman, MD, PhD Neuropathologist

A FINAL FAREWELL I want to send my final farewell to this amazing Department of Neurosurgery, and our many constituents and friends.

This will be my last department newsletter, as I am officially retiring on July 1st. I have truly loved my time with Dr. Lillehei and his Neuroscience Innovation Initiative. Our sincere hope continues to be that this University will eventually have a Neurosciences Institute and a place where the many departments, programs and centers involved in the Neurosciences can come together and collaborate, integrate and communicate effectively.

I have enjoyed the past six years on the Anschutz campus, and my last twenty years in the field of Neurosciences. As some of you know, I am not leaving my passion behind! I have started my own nonprofit center to provide alternative healing services to those with Traumatic Brain Injuries and other Neurological conditions. I invite you to visit my new website or to give me a call if you’d like to refer patients. Because of the nonprofit status, it will be affordable for all and will include music therapy (my former career), certified sound healing, cranial sacral massage, art therapy,. medical acupuncture, nutrition, physical therapy, trauma informed yoga, breathwork, workshops, support groups and more!

Many thanks to all of you who have enriched my life, taught me so much, and mentored such positive leadership and education skills, You are all fantastic!

Tami Lack www.resonatehealing.org (303) 907-8977 Tami@resonatehealing.org