MESSAGE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF NEUROSURGERY CHAIR As chair of the Department of Neurosurgery, it is a privilege to be part of one of the busiest and largest neurosurgery programs in the nation. Our 17 neurosurgeons and two interventional neuroradiologists complete more than 5,000 cases a year. The combined total of cases is incredible when we look at our outcomes, which far exceed what is expected. The Houston Methodist Neurological Institute continues to rank in U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Hospitals” list and, in 2015, was No. 16 in neurology and neurosurgery. Our faculty members also include neurorehabilitation, pain management, psychiatry, neuro-oncology and interventional neuroradiology, who help provide outstanding services to our patients. In 2015, our department continued to grow at all levels. We recruited Phillip Horner, PhD, a world-class stem cell biologist, to serve as vice chair of research and head of the neuroregenerative medicine program. We added Ivo Tremont, MD, as lead in neuro-oncology, Michelle Dang, MD, to pain services, and Inna D`Empaire, MD, to psychiatry. Last year saw the approval of the Center for Restorative and Regenerative Neurosurgery to build on our current centers. Our Cerebrovascular Center provides our patients with an integrated, multidisciplinary group of surgeons, physicians and health professionals specifically trained in the realm of cerebrovascular disease. The team collectively has more experience in cerebrovascular disease than the vast majority of programs in the world. The experience and skills allow us to provide care for a large variety of cerebrovascular disorders, such as brain aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, spinal vascular malformations, Moyamoya disease, cavernous malformations, brain tumors and stroke. We increasingly use a subcortical approach to explore new techniques in the resection of lesions in previously inoperable areas of the brain. With the increase of minimally invasive therapies comes a paradigm shift in the way spinal disorders are treated. As part of the Spine Center, our spine surgeons are proficient in the use of advanced, image-guided, minimally invasive spine procedures, which increases successful outcomes and minimizes recovery times. At the Kenneth R. Peak Center for Brain and Pituitary Tumor Treatment, headed by David Baskin, MD, we continue to tackle the cellular pathogenesis of brain cancer with chemotherapy-directed “smart bombs.” Specially bioengineered nanosyringes target the mitochondria in cancers and deliver up to three times the amount of a traditional chemotherapy dosage selectively into individual brain cancer cells. This center is on the road to becoming one of the premier brain tumor programs in the world. We also continue to operate one of the busiest functional neurosurgery programs in the world, led by Richard Simpson, MD, in the provision of surgical options for Parkinson’s disease, movement dysfunction and chronic pain. We have a strong commitment to training the next generation of neurosurgeons. Our outstanding neurosurgery residency program provides training in the highest standards of care, which is integrated throughout our top-level research and leading-edge technology. The large volume of cases make our residents outstanding surgeons. Our basic science research laboratories are expanding and now have a formal brain tumor, cerebrovascular and neuroregenerative medicine laboratories in addition to the exoskeleton work, flow dynamics and neuropsychology clinical laboratories. From research to patient care to training our neurosurgeons of the future, the Houston Methodist Department of Neurosurgery remains stalwart in its commitment to leading medicine.
Gavin W. Britz, MD, MPH, MBA, FAANS Chair, Department of Neurosurgery Houston Methodist Neurological Institute