Learn more about this new series and see our first one here: Meet Dr. Michael Sisti on Video 

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“Endowed Professorships (Chairs) provide a steady source of funding for the faculty member who holds the endowed position, creating opportunities for the incumbent to spend additional time in research, providing clinical care, improving methods of treating patients, and overseeing the training of tomorrow’s leading neurological surgeons. Professorships also provide an excellent opportunity to recognize both faculty and donors. They are awarded to the most distinguished faculty in recognition for their contributions to the field, while celebrating the generosity of the donor in perpetuity. Presently no endowed chairs in the department provide funding for the named professor directly, rather the funds are used solely to advance crucial areas of research and patient care.”

Here at the Department of Neurosurgery we have six Endowed Chairs and occupying those chairs are six extraordinary neurosurgeons who work diligently to honor their endowment benefactors.

Our Endowed Chair holders are: Dr. Robert Solomon, Dr. E. Sander Connolly,Jr., Dr. Jeffrey Bruce, Dr. Michael Sisti, Dr. Donald Quest, and Dr. Paul McCormick.

An Endowed Chair is no small gift and a moment should be taken to appreciate those whose generosity has helped further the science and practice of neurosurgery.

Below is a listing of each Chair, who holds it, and a brief look at that Chair’s namesake:

Dr. Robert Solomon

Dr. Byron Stookey

Chairman and Director of Service, Dr. Robert Solomon holds the Byron Stookey Chair. Dr. Byron Stookey was Director of the Department of Neurosurgery from 1937 to 1939.  He has been called, “One of the most distinguished neurosurgeons of his time.”  He was not only an exacting neurosurgeon but also an authority and prolific writer on the subject of Revolutionary War era medicine.

Dr. Donald Quest

Dr. J. Lawrence Pool

Dr. Donald Quest from the Spine Center holds the J. Lawrence Pool Chair. Dr. J. Lawrence Pool is a legend in Neurosurgery. He was Head of the Department from 1949 to 1972.  A leading neurosurgeon of the 20th Century, Dr. Pool was brilliant, charming, innovative, and a gifted surgeon.  While at Harvard he was National Squash Champion. He was also an aviator, a colorful writer, and a talented artist.  He was truly a “man for all seasons”.

Dr. E. Sander Connolly

Dr. Bennett M. Stein

Dr. E. Sander Connolly, Jr. from the Cerebrovascular Center holds the Bennett M Stein Chair. Dr. Stein was the Chairman of the Department before Dr. Solomon. Among his many accomplishments, he is responsible for the unique subspecialization of the department as well as having trained and hand picked many of the neurosurgeons working here today. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of brain anatomy. Dr. Stein was an innovative and bold surgeon, and an outstanding motivator and role model for residents and medical students.

Dr. Michael Sisti

Dr. James G. McMurtry, III with opera star Cecilia Bartoli

Dr. Michael Sistifrom the Brain Tumor Center and Gamma Knife Center holds the James G. McMurtry Chair.  McMurtry successfully operated on the brother of opera star Cecilia Bartoli. He had a brain tumor and she was so pleased with the treatment he received that she funded what became the Bartoli Brain Tumor Lab.  Dr. McMurtry devoted his entire professional career to The Neurological Institute.  His legacy was that of a calm, patient, and revered teacher.

Dr. Jeffrey Bruce

Dr. Edgar Housepian

Dr. Jeffrey Bruce from of the Brain Tumor Center holds the Edgar M. Housepian Chair.  Dr. Edgar M. Housepian is currently Neurosurgeon Emeritus and has been a member of the Department of Neurological Surgery since 1955 when he began his residency at the Neurological Institute of New York.  He had an early interest in aneurysm surgery and deep brain ablation and stimulation techniques. He was appointed Special Advisor for International Affiliations to the Dean of the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Columbia University, serving in that capacity from 1996 until 2010.  He has received multiple encomiums for his humanitarian efforts internationally.

Dr. Paul McCormick

Herbert Gallen

Dr. Paul McCormick, Director of the Spine Center holds the Herbert & Linda Gallen Chair. Herbert Gallen was the founder and creative director for the multimillion dollar fashion house, Ellen Tracy, which was later sold to Liz Claiborn. He was a grateful patient of Dr. James McMurtrey.

Related: A History of the Neurological Institute of New York and Its Department of Neurological Surgery

Jeffrey Bruce, MD

US News and World Report has named Dr. Jeffrey Bruce from the Brain Tumor Center one of the Top Doctors in the country for neurosurgery.

Further, they have recognized him as one of the top 1% of the nation in his specialty (You can tell that by the little blue star next to his name on their website.)

Back in June we reported that we had the Most Neurosurgery ‘Super Docs’ Of Any NY Hospital AGAIN!.  At that time the list included six of our doctors: Dr. Robert Solomon; Dr. Jeffrey Bruce; Dr. Neil Feldstein; Dr. Michael Sisti; Dr. Paul McCormick; and Dr. Donald Quest.

Now let’s make that Eight Super Doctors!

We also had The Most Neurosurgery ‘Super Docs’ In NYC in 2010.

Our Department Head, Dr. Robert A. Solomon will be bringing his expertise to the table as moderator of a Luncheon Seminar on Multidisciplinary Management Strategies for Unruptured Aneurysms.

Other members of our Department will be acting as Conference Faculty, Moderators, and Course Directors as well. They are listed below:

Dr. Jeffrey N. Bruce from the Brain Tumor Center
Dr.E. Sander Connolly Jr from the Cerebrovascular Center
Dr. Neil A. Feldstein from the Pediatric Neurosurgery Center
Dr. Richard C.E. Anderson from the Pediatric Neurosurgery Center
Dr. Paul C. McCormick from the Spine Center
Dr. Peter D. Angevine from the Spine Center
Dr. Alfred T. Ogden from the Spine Center
Dr, Michael G. Kaiser from the Spine Center
Dr. Guy M. McKhann from the Epilepsy Center  & Movement Disorders Center
Dr.Christopher J. Winfree from the Pain Center & Peripheral Nerve Center

Learn more about the 2011 Meeting of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. 

Read about last year’s conference Docs Present At 2010 Congress Of Neurological Surgeons Meeting.

Check out what they had to say!

This type of tumor is fast growing and now accounts for the majority of brain-tumor-related deaths in children. DIPG is particularly difficult to treat because of its location deep among the most vital structures of the brain. Further, the dosage of chemotherapy necessary to kill these cancer cells is too toxic for the body.

The best doctors have been able to offer these patients is a lower dose of chemotherapy along with radiation. Both of which, for the most part, just ease their symptoms.  Newer, more effective therapeutic modalities are desperately needed for children with DIPG.

For the first time, at the Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, Drs. Anderson and Bruce used convection enhanced delivery (CED) to deliver the chemotherapy agent topotecan directly into the tumors of two pediatric patients.

CED uses stereotactic brain imaging to correctly place ultra thin catheters deep into the brain with minimal disturbance to the surrounding tissue. In this way, doctors are able to deliver a higher dose of the drug exactly where its needed and avoid the system wide toxicity of conventionally delivered chemotherapy.

The children are the first two pediatric patients with DIPG enrolled in a phase I clinical trial.  Anderson and Bruce are optimistic that their work will establish CED as a safe and effective new treatment for children with these deadly tumors.

Dr. Bruce co-authored the preface of this issue with long-time colleague Dr. Andrew Parsa.

Within the issue, Bruce co-authored articles on Stereotactic Biopsy Considerations for Pineal Tumors and Surgical Approaches to the Pineal Region.

He also wrote an article on Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Pineal Region Tumors with Dr.Steven R. Isaacson from the Gamma Knife Center.

Other contributing authors from our department include Dr. Neil Feldstein and Dr. Richard Anderson from the Pediatric Neurosurgery Center who co-authored Pediatric Considerations for Pineal Tumor Management.

Jeffrey Bruce, MD

Also of note, Dr. Paul McCormick from the Spine Center is a consulting editor for this journal.

Dr. E. Sander Connolly from the Cerebrovascular Center is the Society’s Secretary/Treasurer and acted as Scientific Presentation Moderator during the event.

Dr. Michael Sisti from the Gamma Knife Center gave a talk entitled, Saving Face in which he summarized a 10 year project involving nearly four hundred treated cases of acoustic neuromas. His research has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Neurosurgery.

Also in Attendance were: Department Chair Dr. Robert Solomon*; Dr. Richard C.E. Anderson from the Pediatric Neurosurgery Center; Dr. Jeffrey Bruce * from the Brain Tumor Center ; Dr. Sean LaVine * from the Cerebrovascular Center & Endovascular Center; and  Dr. Donald O. Quest and Dr. Michael G. Kaiser,*from the Spine Center.

* SUN members

Dr. Jeffrey Bruce

Dr. Jeffrey Bruce from the Brain Tumor Center is headed to Illinois at the end of the month to take part in the American Brain Tumor Association‘s annual meeting.

This year’s meeting will feature Victoria Reggie Kennedy who’s husband, Senator Ted Kennedy, passed away from a brain tumor in 2009. She will be speaking at the meeting’s annual dinner. 

The annual meeting will be part of a two day Patient-Family Connections Meeting & Retreat.

The two-day event, July 29 and 30, brings together patients, family members and caregivers to hear the latest on brain tumor research, treatment and quality of life issues. www.abta.org

Presenting both days, Dr. Bruce will cover New Treatment Trends as well as Treating Anaplastic Astrocytomas and Glioblastomas.