UPMC Department of Neurological Surgery at AANS 2023

The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) 2023 Conference will be held April 21-24 in Los Angeles, California. UPMC Department of Neurological Surgery faculty, including faculty from the Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery and UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh will give numerous lectures and research presentations at this year’s conference.

Below is a summary of activities from faculty. We hope to see you there and connect with our colleagues, alumni, and friends to discuss the latest trends in neurological surgery.

Learn more about the Department of Neurological Surgery and the Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery.

Pediatric Neurosurgery Faculty and Trainees

Taylor Abel, MD (Associate Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery)

Presentation:

Role of Laser Therapy for Pediatric Tumors

Monday, April 24, 2023

12:47pm – 1:02pm PST

Michael M. McDowell, MD (Assistant Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery)

Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery

Presentation(s):

PC1102 Practical Clinic: How to Apply to Residency

Thursday, April 20, 2023

1:30pm – 5:00pm PST

Joseph H. Garcia, MD (Resident)

Presentation:

2023 Cerebrovascular Section Best Basic Scientific Paper Abstract Award Resident/Fellow

Prevalence of Somatic Activating KRAS Mutations in Pediatric and Adult Sporadic Brain Arteriovenous Malformations

Sunday, April 23, 2023

2:40pm – 2:48pm PST

Nikhil Sharma, MS (Medical Student)

Presentation:

Long-term Outcomes of Deep Pediatric Arteriovenous Malformations

Saturday, April 22, 2023

2:44pm – 2:52pm PST

Adult Neurosurgery Faculty and Trainees

Thursday, April 20

Practical Clinic: How to Apply to Residency
1:30 – 5:00 p.m.
Course Directors: David Dornbos, Michael McDowell
Faculty: Christopher Graffeo, Nitin Agarwal, Laura McGuire, Benjamin Kennedy, Carolyn Quinsey, Debraj Mukherjee, Issac Young, Frank Attenello, Angela Richardson, Brain Holland, Ricardo Komotar, Adam Arthur, Justin Fraser, Shahid Nimjee, Michael Ivan

Friday, April 21

Symposium: Sports Neurosurgery: Evaluation, Management, and Return to Play for Brain and Spine Injuries in the Athlete
8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Moderators: Allan Levi, David Okonkwo, Allen Sills, Regis W. Haid, Jr

Reflections on a Career in Sports Medicine
Sports Neurosurgery Symposium
Special AANS Award Recognition
3:09 p.m. – 3:50 p.m.
Honored Speaker: Joseph Maroon

Practical Clinic: Guide to Successful Research for Medical Students, Residents, and Young Neurosurgeons: The Dos and Don'ts
8:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Course Director: Aladine Elsamadicy
Faculty: James Rutka, Nitin Agarwal, Issac Young, Peter Fecci, Jennifer Strahle, John Shin, Jacob Greenberg, Daniel Sciubba, Laura McGuire, Samantha Geouge, Ricardo Komotar

Practical Clinic: Technological Adjuncts for Malignant Brain Tumor Surgery
8:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Course Directors: Daniel Orringer, Manish Aghi
Faculty: Francesco DiMedo, Walter Stummer, Andrew Sloan, Michael Vogelbaum, Costas Hadjipanayis

Practical Clinic: Case-Based Management of Traumatic Brain Injuries
8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Course Directors: Ryan Kitagawa, Jack Jallo
Faculty: David Okonkwo, Zachary Hickman, Jonathan Jagid, Randy Bell, Anthony DiGiorgio, Laura Ngwenya, James Wright, Vincent Wang

Practical Clinic: Neurotrauma and Neurocritical Care for the Practicing Neurosurgeon
1:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Course Director: P.B. Raksin
Faculty: Rita Kitagawa, Daniel Michael, Perry Ball, Andres Rubiano, David Okonkwo

Practical Clinic: Brain Mapping Techniques
1:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Course Director: Guy McKhann, Gerald Grant
Faculty: Lorenzo Bello, Hugues Duffau, Jorge González-Martínez , Richard Byrne, Mitchel Berger, Nader Sanai.

Strengthening Motor Output With Direct Motor Thalamus Stimulation. Evidence For A Novel Deep Brain Neuromodulation Modality For Stroke.
Young Neurosurgeon Research Forum
12:58 – 1:05 p.m.
Presenting Author: Jonathan Ho
Senior Author: Jorge González-Martínez

Saturday, April 22

Long-term outcomes of deep pediatric arteriovenous malformations
Scientific Session IV: Pediatrics
2:44 – 2:52 p.m.
Presenting Author: Nikhil Sharma

Next generation sequencing-derived genomic subclasses predict the impact of extent of resection in IDH wild-type glioblastoma.
Stryker CNS Tumor Award
Scientific Session I: Tumor
3:40 – 3:44 p.m.
Presenting Author: Arka Mallela
Senior Author: Pascal Zinn

Treatment of Anklylosing Spondylitis Fracture Dislocations. Technique and Pitfalls. Include thoughts on potential use of Navigation/Robotics
Scientific Session II: Spine
4:30 – 4:40 pm
Presenting Author: David Okonkwo

Long-Term (>2year) Complication Rates for Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery: An Analysis Focused on Patients without Early- or Mid-Term Complications
Late Breaking Abstract Session
5:00 – 5:30 pm
Presenting Author: Thomas J. Buell

Sunday, April 23

Prevalence of Somatic Activating KRAS Mutations in Pediatric and Adult Sporadic Brain Arteriovenous Malformations
Cerebrovascular Section Best Basic Scientific Paper Abstract Award
Cerebrovascular Section Session
2:40 – 2:48 p.m.
Presenting Author: Joseph Garcia

Targeting CXCR1 Rather Than CXCR2 Receptor in CXCL7-CXCR1/2 Pathway Prevents Cerebral Aneurysm Formation
Cerebrovascular Section Session
2:29 – 2:57 p.m.
Presenting Author: Kamil Nowicki

Treatment Response and Malignant Transformation Risk After Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Neurofibromatosis Type 2-Associated Vestibular Schwannomas: An International Multicenter Study.
Lunsford & Leksell Radiosurgery Award
Tumor Section Session
3:36 – 3:40 p.m.
Presenting Author: Hussam Abou-Al-Shaar

Monday, April 24

MIS Approaches to Meningioma
Tumor and Neuro Oncology Community
9:50 – 10:06 a.m.
Speaker: Georgios Zenonos

Gene Fusion Events Characterize Compressed Cerebral Organoids With Similarities To Traumatic Brain Injury.
Abstract Session
10:00 – 10:08 a.m.
Presenting Author: Ahmed Habib
Senior Author: Pascal Zinn

Discussion of Ongoing and Upcoming Trials in Neurotrauma/Neurocritical Care
Critical Care Following CNS Community
10:30 – 10:59 a.m.
Speakers: Ann Parr, Uzma Samadani, David Okonkwo

Role of Laser Therapy for Pediatric Tumors
Adult and Pediatric Brain Tumor Genomics Community Session
12:47 – 1:02 p.m.
Speaker: Taylor Abel

GBM Fluorescence-Guided Surgery and Photodynamic Therapy
Tumor and Neuro Oncology Community Session
12:53 – 1:07 p.m.
Speaker: Costas Hadjipanayis

Update on the CAST Neurotrauma Fellowship
Critical Care Following CNS Community
1:40  – 1:59 p.m.
Speaker: David Okonkwo

A Novel Glioma Model Via Depleting Tumor Suppressing Genes in Human Brain Organoids.
Abstract Session
1:59  – 2:07 p.m.
Presenting Author: Ahmed Habib
Senior Author: Pascal Zinn