Clements joins department wellness committee
Jennifer Clements joins Department of Neurosurgery Assistant Professor Matthew Nelson, Ph.D., and Shannon Hall, CRNP, in the mission to meet the emotional, physical, and spiritual needs of all department faculty and staff.
Read moreDepartment of Neurosurgery welcomes Spruiell
The department is pleased to welcome new program manager II, effective Jan. 3.
Alumni Spotlight: Jason Cormier, M.D.
Dr. Jason Cormier, photo courtesy of Lafayette Surgical Speciality Hospital The Department of Neurosurgery is launching a new series featuring resident and fellow alumni. Given the high caliber of trainee programs, UAB Neurosurgery alumni boast rewarding and decorated careers in the field of neurosurgery.
Department establishes Neurosurgical Spinal Service Board
The UAB Department of Neurosurgery has launched a Neurosurgical Spinal service Board focusing on the treatment of patients with complex spinal disorders.
Department of Neurosurgery Professor Mark N. Hadley heads the neurosurgical spinal service board along with department faculty members Drs. Mamerhi Okor, Patrick Pritchard, Melissa Chambers, Daniel Harmon, and Jakub Godzik.
Read moreBoohaker graduates with her Doctorate of Nursing Practice
The Department of Neurosurgery congratulates Nurse Practitioner Andrea Boohaker, DNP, ACNP-BC, who graduated with her Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) from UAB in December 2021.
Read moreHolland to be a Scholar in the Academy Emerging Investigators Program
Department of Neurosurgery Assistant Professor Marshall Holland, M.D., MS, was selected to be a Scholar in the Academy Emerging Investigators Program (EIP), organized by the American Academy of Neurological Surgery.
Read moreLeavenworth featured in Department of Defense cancer research highlight
Jianmei Leavenworth, M.D., Ph.D., was recently featured in the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) 2021 Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Highlights.
Read moreWalters to retire, assume adjunct professorship role
UAB Department of Neurosurgery faculty member Beverly Walters, M.D., MSc, FRCSC, FACS, will retire and assume an adjunct professorship role in the department, effective Dec. 1, 2021.
Read moreBailer named to Momentum Leadership Academy
Department of Neurosurgery Executive Administrator Donna Bailer, J.D., LL.M., was selected to participate in the inaugural Momentum in Medicine at UAB executive leadership program.
Read moreDepartment of Neurosurgery welcomes DeGraffenried
The department is delighted to welcome new personnel generalist, Cassandra DeGraffenried, effective Dec. 6.
Walters leads 2021 Galbraith Scientific Lecture
The UAB Department of Neurosurgery held its 38th Annual J. Garber Galbraith, M.D., Scientific Session and Lecture on Nov. 12 in the Bradley Lecture Center. The Galbraith Lecture is given by a neurosurgeon who has made significant contributions to the field of neurosurgery, while the Galbraith Scientific Session highlights the research and achievements of past and present UAB neurosurgery residents.
Department of Neurosurgery welcomes Shannon
This month, our department welcomed Adjunct Professor Chevis N. Shannon, Ph.D.
Boohaker named “health care hero”, attends inaugural UAB football Protective Stadium game
Department of Neurosurgery Nurse Practitioner Andrea Boohaker, MSN, has been named a 2021 Health Care Hero.
3 providers named 2021 “Top-Performing” Providers
UAB Medicine Office of Patient Experience and Engagement (OPXE) has recognized 3 Department of Neurosurgery providers in the 2021 list of “Top-Performing” providers.
Read moreVan Meir awarded NIH grant
UAB Department of Neurosurgery Professor Erwin G. Van Meir, Ph.D., received a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support his research on glioblastomas, a malignant brain tumor for which no cure is available.
Read moreRocque receives 2021 McNulty Award
Associate Professor, Brandon Rocque, M.D., is the recipient of the Chesapeake Civitan McNulty Scientist Award for 2021.
Read moreResident Spotlight: Dr. Georges Bouobda Tsemo
Dr. Georges Bouobda Tsemo joined the Department of Neurosurgery this summer as a PGY-1 neurosurgical resident.
Read moreDepartment represented at American Academy of Neurological Surgery annual meeting
Professor James Johnston, M.D., James Garber Galbraith Endowed Chair of Neurosurgery James Markert, M.D., MPH, and Professor Kristen Riley, M.D., as well as Professor Mark Hadley, M.D., and Distinguished Professor Jerry Oakes, M.D., attended the American Academy of Neurological Surgery (AAcNS) annual meeting last month.
Riley featured in UAB MedCast podcast on skull-based surgery
UAB Department of Neurosurgery Professor Kristen Riley, M.D., was a recent guest on UAB MedCast - a medical education podcast for healthcare professionals. She joins a long list of experts to speak on various topics and innovations in the field of healthcare.
Department welcomes new staff members
Andrea Boohaker, MSN, ACNP-BC, RNFA - APP team lead
Andrea Boohaker joins the department as APP team lead for the Departments of Neurosurgery and Orthopaedic surgery. Andrea earned her MS degree in nursing from Vanderbilt University in 2007 and is currently enrolled in the UAB Doctor of Nursing Practice program, she will graduate in Dec. 2021. She has worked as an orthopaedic trauma nurse practitioner for over 14 years and began her career at the University of Texas (UT) at Houston. During her time at UT Houston, she developed a passion for increasing autonomy for advanced practice providers and improving the overall quality of training. Andrea serves on the Ambulatory Access Executive Committee and the Provider Practice Optimization Steering Committee at UAB, representing the advanced practice cohort. She also serves as a clinical instructor in the graduate program at UAB School of Nursing. Andrea is a Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society member and was recently awarded the UAB Medicine Excellence Award for 2021.
Casey Lee, RN
Casey Lee joins the department as a registered nurse. Originally from Meridian, MS, Casey graduated from the University of Alabama in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in business but decided to change careers shortly thereafter. She received her associate degree in nursing from Jefferson State Community College in 2012. Since, she has worked at Children’s of Alabama, beginning as a clinical assistant and continuing as a nurse in Med-Surg and Surgical Services. She looks forward to joining the pediatric neurosurgery team, where she will function as the nurse clinician for Dr. Brandon Rocque.
Dana Belmont - Administrative office specialist
Dana joins the department as an administrative office specialist. Originally from Buffalo, NY, Dana moved to Birmingham in 2014 after traveling the world with the military and family. She began working for the UAB Department of Medicine in 2014 and joined the Department of Neurosurgery in 2016, where she was the clinic coordinator at Greystone. In October 2020, she moved to Raleigh, NC for a short time before returning to Birmingham. Dana is excited about her new journey in neurosurgery.
Kirsten Yelvington, MS - Operations Administrator
Kirsten joins the department as operations administrator. Originally born in Colorado, Kirsten grew up in several areas in Europe and across the U.S. Her healthcare career began over 20 years ago at UF Health in Gainesville, FL as a neurodiagnostic technologist. After, she moved to Pensacola, FL, and worked at HCA West Florida Hospital as coordinator of the EMU and Duke University Hospital as a technical advisor. Since she has been at Mayo Clinic for the past 10 years working in the Department of Neurology. During that time, she earned her bachelor's and master's degrees, was appointed to instructor of neurology and participated in research involving epilepsy and awake craniotomies. In addition, she managed the procedures EEG lab and Level IV Epilepsy Monitoring Unit and facilitated improvement projects that resulted in national accreditation, improved access, and increased volumes.
Thomas Dillard - MSHA Student
Thomas Dillard joins the department as an MSHA student. Born and raised in Birmingham, AL, Thomas graduated from the University of Montevallo in 2021 with a bachelor's of business administration in management degree. He is currently pursuing his master's of science in health administration at UAB. Thomas worked closely with higher education administrators in his undergraduate career as an administrative assistant within the University President's Office. He was also elected as the Student Government Association President in 2020 and served on the University of Montevallo COVID-19 Task Force as a representative of the student body. Thomas looks forward to joining the Department of Neurosurgery, where he will primarily work with Donna Bailer.