Faculty and residents from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Neurosurgery were actively involved in presentations and events at this year’s Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) Annual Meeting, held September 28, 2024, to October 02, 2024.

The annual meeting, which brings together neurosurgeons, residents, researchers and medical students from across the globe, offered a platform for the Department of Neurosurgery team to share their expertise and contribute to advancing in the field.

Nicole Bentley, M.D. (pictured bottom left)

• On Saturday, September 28, during the “2024 Essentials for a Rewarding Neurosurgical Career” symposium, Associate Professor Nicole Bentley, M.D., delivered a presentation titled, “Contributing to the Field: Early Steps in Establishing a Subspecialty Interest and/or Research Focus,” outlining strategies for successfully managing the often-competing demands of clinical practice and research.
• On Saturday, September 28, during the “Epilepsy Surgery Symposium: Integrating Practical Approaches for All Ages” symposium, Bentley discussed the evolving landscape of brain stimulation technologies in her presentation, “Neuromodulation (RNS, DBS, VNS).” Her talk focused primarily on deep brain stimulation (DBS) and responsive neurostimulation (RNS).
• On Sunday, September 29, Bentley served as a moderator for the first scientific session, “General Scientific Session 1: Past.”
• On Wednesday, October 2, Bentley served as a moderator for the session, “Neurosurgical Medical Student Session: Prepared by Medical Students, for Medical Students.”

Jakub Godzik, M.D. (pictured top right)

• On Saturday, September 28, Associate Professor Jakub Godzik, M.D., served as an invited faculty speaker at the dinner seminar “Disruptive Technology in Spine Surgery,” which focused on the latest trends in the management of patients with spinal disorders.
• On Sunday, September 29, during the “Lateral Approaches to the Spine” symposium, Godzik presented both “Decision Making and Predictive Markert for Indirect Decompression: What Factors Truly Matter?” and “Lateral Approach for Thoracic Disc Herniations: Which Discs Warrant the Need for Lateral?”

Mark Hadley, M.D. (pictured top middle)

• On Saturday, September 28, during the “2024 Essentials for a Rewarding Neurosurgical Career” symposium, Charles A. and Patsy W. Collat Endowed Professor of Neurosurgery Mark Hadley, M.D., delivered a presentation titled, “Balancing Your Passions: Mindfulness, Physical Health & Family Life,” providing comprehensive insights on achieving work-life balance in the demanding field of neurosurgery.
• On Saturday, September 28, during the “2024 Essentials for a Rewarding Neurosurgical Career” symposium, Hadley discussed the necessity of ethics, patient-centric care and professional integrity in neurosurgery in his presentation, “Conduct, Professionalism, Relationships and the Medical-Legal Arena.”
• On Sunday, September 29, during the “Swimming With the Sharks” symposium, Hadley shared advice with residents and medical students, providing sought-after insights into thriving in a career in neurosurgery.
• On Monday, September 30, Hadley served as an invited faculty speaker at the luncheon seminar “Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: Anterior versus Posterior,” which focused on current concepts regarding various surgical approaches for cervical spine disorders.
• On Monday, September 30, Hadley presented “Use of Adjuncts” during the session “Central Cord Injury,” which focused on the most up-to-date data on central cord syndrome.

James Markert, M.D., MPH (pictured top left)

• On Sunday, September 29, during the “Swimming With the Sharks” symposium, James Garber Galbraith Endowed Chair of Neurosurgery James Markert, M.D., MPH, shared advice with residents and medical students, providing sought-after insights into thriving in a career in neurosurgery.
• On Monday, September 30, Markert presented “Phase 1 clinical trial of M032, an IL-12 expressing oncolytic HSV-1, for adult patients with recurrent malignant glioma” during the first tumor section, “Evolution of Surgical Management of Brain Cancers in the Age of Targeted Molecular Therapies,” which focused on key targeted medical therapies that play an adjunctive role in the surgical management of cancerous brain tumors.

Jasmine Thum, M.D. (pictured bottom middle)

• On Monday, September 30, Assistant Professor Jasmine Thum, M.D., served as a moderator for the session, “Focused Ultrasound: Challenging Cases.”

Matthew Parr, M.D. (pictured bottom right) 

• On Monday, September 30, Neurosurgery Resident Matthew Parr, M.D., presented “Virtual Reality Simulation of Lumbar Pedicle Screw Placement: A Multi-Institutional Pilot of a Self-Directed Training Adjunct” as an oral podium presentation.

UAB Neurosurgery Faculty and Alumni Reception

On Monday, September 30, the Department of Neurosurgery hosted a reception, providing a valuable opportunity for faculty, residents, alumni, medical students and their guests to reconnect. View photos from the reception.