Neurosurgery Faculty

Charles A. Greer, PhD, reviews results with a Post-Doctoral Associate and a Medical Student.

The Yale Department of Neurosurgery is composed of a multidisciplinary team of faculty members, including nine neurosurgeons, three neurologists, three neuropsychologists and 17 research scientists. Through the latest in laboratory and clinical investigation, these pioneering researchers are contributing to our understanding of neurological disorders and to the development of new treatments.

A commitment to translating new research into clinical therapies drives their work. This effort has been recognized by the National Institutes of Health, which, in 2007 alone, awarded 20 grants totaling more than $7.6 million to researchers in the neurosurgery department. Some research topics include:

• Proteomic profiles in human temporal lobe epilepsy
• Mechanisms of aging in the olfactory system
• Molecular genetic pathogenesis of intracranial aneurysms
• Neuron glial interactions
• Oncolytic virus targets in brain tumors

Their work in basic, clinical and translational research has led to many bench-to-bedside contributions, including:

• The development of high-field methods for magnetic resonance imaging
• A technique to prevent intraventricular hemorrhage in preterm infants
• A revolutionary test for evaluating epilepsy patients
• An improved surgical technique for medically intractable epilepsy

Faculty members also offer a full spectrum of clinical services. They use state-of-the-art technologies to support a philosophy of patient care that respects patient preferences in neurosurgical decision making and the human component central to every patient/physician interaction.

In an effort to offer the best possible patient experience, our faculty has developed several specialized programs providing the latest in diagnostic and treatment techniques. These include:

• The first center for non-invasive gamma knife radiosurgery in the region
• The Yale Brain Tumor Center, the only one of its kind in southern New England
• The only dedicated pediatric neurosurgical unit in the state
• The Yale Spine Institute
• An epilepsy surgery program
• A pituitary tumor program

Faculty members have the respect of colleagues in the field. Many hold leadership positions on national boards and associations and are frequently invited to speak at international meetings and symposia. Their work has been recognized with numerous awards and prizes. Other measures of their stature include:

• Three faculty members were among Connecticut Magazine’s top doctors in 2007.
• Two made New York Magazine’s 2008 list of top doctors.
• The neuroscience PhD program was ranked number one by the Chronicle of Higher Education.
• The department scored a 90 percent in a leading patient satisfaction survey.

Faculty members share their knowledge and help advance the field of neurosurgery by publishing widely and routinely in influential peer-reviewed journals.