In The News

Dr. Fangyi Zhang presents a UWTV series on advanced techniques of spine tumor treatment

April 2012 In a UWTV three part series, Neurological Surgery Assistant Professor Dr. Fangyi Zhang presents an array of spinal tumors and current techniques for treating them. The videos can be found on UWTV.

Dr. Manuel Ferreira on the decision to perform pituitary surgery and what it involves

March 2012 In UW Medicine's online publication Consult, Neurological Surgery Assistant Professor Dr. Manuel Ferreira discusses the factors that go into determining if pituitary tumors need to be removed by surgery, and just what this surgery entails. Jason Rockhill, an associate professor in Neurological Surgery, briefly talks about using gamma knife treatments on pituitary tumors. Read the article in Consult.

Dr. Richard Ellenbogen and Dr. Stan Herring discuss raising awareness about concussions in youth sports

March 2012 Dr. Richard Ellenbogen was featured in a UW Medicine article about the Seattle Sports Concussion Program's efforts to inform the public about concussions in youth athletics. Read the full article at UW Medicine's quarterly publication, Consult.

Dance coach refuses to let medical condition keep her from her team

February 2012 KOMO News reporter Molly Shen relates an inspirational story about Lake Washington Dance Team Coach Lindsey Beck who was diagnosed with a life threatening cavernous hemangioma but refused to give up on coaching her team to a state championship. Lindsay says of Harborview Medical Center and her Neurological Surgery team: "They believed in me and they never gave up and that's how we got there together". The story was also featured in UWMedicine's salute to Harborview. You can watch the story on Vimeo.

Dr. Richard Ellenbogen interviewed in Washingtonian Magazine article on facts about concussions

November 2011 Richard Ellenbogen, MD is featured in a Washingtonian Magazine article where he discusses the latest advances in concussion research and ten facts you need to know to help prevent injury. Read the full article in the Washingtonian.

Drs. Richard Ellenbogen and Stan Herring help launch an online course on sports concussions

October 2011 UW School of Medicine faculty members Richard Ellenbogen and Stan Herring have helped launch a new online course on sports concussions for healthcare professionals. The course, “Heads Up to Clinicians: Addressing Concussion in Sports among Kids and Teens,” is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Football League. More information can be found at UW Medicine Online News.

Dr. Pierre Mourad receives a State of Washington Life Sciences Discovery Fund Commercialization award

September 2011 Pierre Mourad, PhD, Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery, has just received a State of Washington Life Sciences Discovery Fund Commercialization award for his project entitled Definitive Human Testing of Pain Localization and Quantification Based on Transcutaneous Acoustic Palpitation (TAP). His project is to conduct clinical testing of an ultrasound device that allows providers to identify the sources and extent of deep pain. Full details of the award and a project description can be found on the LSDF Press Release website for September, 2011.

University of Washington Department of Neurological Surgery in top 10 recipients of NIH research funding. Richard Morrison, PhD in top 10% of NIH awards nationally

September 2011 The Blue Ridge Medical Institute ranking of NIH Award Data for 2010 lists the UW Department of Neurological Surgery as 6th highest recipient of NIH research funding, and very close to 5th position of the 45 departments included in the survey.
In related news, Dr. Richard Morrison, Professor of Neurological Surgery was ranked in the top 10% of individual NIH award recipients.
The University of Washington School of Medicine is in the top 10 to receive NIH awards among 134 medical schools. Overall, the University received $1.4 billion in sponsored research funds in FY 2010; second in federal research funding for public universities nationwide.

Dr. Daniel Silbergeld Featured in King 5 News Story on 5-ALA Drug Used to Make Brain Tumors Glow

July 2011 - KING-TV featured Neurological Surgery Professor Daniel Silbergeld on their Tuesday July 26 Healthlink newscast involving the drug (5-ALA) used to help locate brain tumors intra-operatively using fluorescent light. UW Medical Center is the first center in the WWAMI states to be approved by the U.S. FDA to use this drug. Here is background on the study.

UW Gets Grant to Establish Center for Sensorimotor Neural Engineering

July 2011 - The National Science Foundation awarded a five-year, $18.5 million grant to establish the new Engineering Research Center for Sensorimotor Neural Engineering, based at UW. Professor of Neurological Surgery Jeffrey Ojemann is a key member of this team and a listed investigator on the grant. His project area concerns Brain Computer Interfaces for control of prosthetic limbs. Follow the link to read the article on the overall award at Seattlepi.com.

Dr. Samuel Browd Featured in UW C4C Article about His Work on New Shunt Technology

June 2011 - Samuel Browd, Neurological surgeon at Seattle Children's Hospital and Harborview Medical Center is featured in a recent article on the UW Center for Commercialization webpage discussing his development of new shunt technology. The article is entitled "Neurosurgeon and Bioengineer Aim for Paradigm Shift in Treatment of Hydrocephalus". Follow the link to read the C4C article.

Dr. Richard Ellenbogen Featured In Providence Journal Article on Joining Forces With the NFL to Treat Concussions

May 2011 - Richard Ellenbogen, MD was featured in an article in the Providence Journal on his involvement with the NFL in the treatment of concussions for professional football players. Follow the link to read the Providence Journal article.

UW Surgeon Develop Cutting-Edge "Scarless" Brain Surgery Techniques

April 2011 - In his desire to reduce the pain, scarring and recovery time associated with traditional open-brain surgery or transnasal surgery, UW Associate Professor Kris Moe, MD has developed a game-changing new surgical procedure. The procedure, called TONES, is performed in only two places in the United States: UW Medicine and University of California at San Diego. Follow the link to learn more about TONES.

Dr. Richard Ellenbogen Featured In Seattle Times Article on NFL's Responses to Concussions

April 2011 - Richard Ellenbogen, MD was featured in a Seattle Times article in which he discusses how a decision to let Philadelphia linebacker Stewart Bradley back into the season opener led to significant improvement in the detection and treatment of concussions during the rest of the 2010 season. Dr. Ellengoben serves as one of two co-chairmen for the NFL committee on concussions. Follow the link to read the Seattle Times article.

Dr. Robert Rostomily Awarded Fall 2010 John H. Tietze Stem Cell Scientist Award

March 2011 - Robert Rostomily, MD was awarded the Fall 2010 John H. Tietze Stem Cell Scientist Award for his work investigating the novel role of glioma stem cell "pseudohoxia" as a factor contributing to the increased malignancy and treatment resistance of glial brain cancers with aging. The study hypothesizes that acquisition of a PHS in glioma stem cells contributes to age-dependent glioma malignancy. The Tietze Award is given to the most outstanding research proposals that are presented to the Institute for Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine.

Dr. Ellenbogen Featured in Wall Street Journal Article on Standardized Concussion Tests in the NFL

March 2011 - Richard Ellenbogen, MD was featured in an article in The Wall Street Journal on The NFL's standardized concussion tests. Follow the link to read the article.

UWMC First Center in Northwest Approved By FDA To Use 5-ALA to Locate Brain Tumors

February 2011 - The University of Washington Medical Center is the first center in the WWAMI states to be approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to use an experimental drug called 5-aminolevunilic acid (5-ALA) to help locate brain tumors intra-operatively using fluorescent light. Although this drug has been used to destroy cancer cells with photodynamic therapy for the last 30 years, the UW Medical Center is one of only a few hospitals in the United States that are currently exploring the safety and efficacy of this oral compound to improve surgery for malignant gliomas. Following large, randomized, prospective studies in Europe, several European countries have already approved, and are currently using, 5-ALA for improved glioma surgery. Follow the links to learn more about the 5-ALA Study or read the article in UW MW Medicine Consult.

Dr. Randall Chesnut Appointed to Washington State Emergency Medical Services/ Trauma Care Steering Committee

February 2011 - Dr. Randall Chesnut was appointed by Governor Christine Gregoire to the Washington State Emergency Medical Services/ Trauma Care Steering Committee. The committee consists of representatives from surgeons and physicians, hospitals, prehospital providers, firefighters, local health departments, consumers and other affected groups. The committee provides guidance and direction to the state office in its development of the trauma system.

Dr. Jeff Ojemann Works with Dr. Eberhard Fetz to Develop Implantable Computers to Restore Brain Function

February 2011 - Dr. Jeff Ojemann is working with Dr. Eberhard Fetz to develop tiny, implantable computers that would restore brain function lost to disease or injury. The research is funded funded by a $1 million, three-year grant from the W.M. Keck Foundation. This project is the next step in advancing the technology of miniature devices and neural engineering – the study of communication and control between biological and machine systems. Follow the link to read the UW Today article.

Dr. Bill Shain Part of Research Consortium Awarded $5.8 Million DARPA Grant to Research Implanted Neuroprosthetics

January 2011 - The University of Washington School of Medicine is part of a consortium of scientists that was awarded a $5.8 million three-year grant from the Defense Advanced Research Programs Agency (DARPA) for a study entitled "Multi-spectral 3-D Histology & Predictive Statistical Technologies for Identifying the Critical Combination of Factors Impacting Long-term Performance of Implanted Neuroprosthetics". The consortium (which includes Dr. B. Roysam from the University of Houston as Principal Investigator and Dr. William Shain of the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Washington) will provide definitive data to direct the design and development of devices that will provide life-time performance of implanted microdevices.

Honor Roll Award for UW Medicine Stroke Center at Harborview

December 2010 - Harborview Medical Center is one of a select group of hospitals in the United States – and the only one in Washington – to be recognized for excellence in emergency stroke care on the Target: Stroke Honor Roll by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Dr. Laligam Sekhar of the Department of Neurological Surgery is part of the Center, along with joint appointees in our department, including Kyra Becker, MD; Basavaraj Goedke, MD; Danial Hallam, MD; and David Tirschwell, MD. Follow the link to view the Harborview News Story.

Dr. D'Ambrosio Awarded Endowed Professorship in Epilepsy

December 2010 - The School of Medicine announced new holders of several faculty positions, including eleven endowed faculty positions and one term professorship. Dr. Raimondo D’Ambrosio, UW Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery was announced as the first holder of the Roy and Maxine Johnson Endowed Professorship in Epilepsy. Follow the link to view the announcement in UW Medicine Online News.

Dr. Ellenbogen Featured in King 5 News Story on Increases in Youth Basketball Concussion Injuries

November 2010 - Richard Ellenbogen, MD was featured in a recent story on King 5 News about the increasing prevelance of basketball related youth injuries and concussions. Follow the links to see the story on the King 5 website.

Samuel Browd, MD Appointed By Governor Gregoir to The Washington Traumatic Brain Injury Strategic Partnership Advisory Council

November 2010 - Dr. Samuel Browd was appointed by Governor Chris Gregoir to the Washington Traumatic Brain Injury Strategic Partnership Advisory Council. The Council was created from House Bill 2055 approved by the Washington State Legislature in 2007, and includes 22 members who are Governor appointed to advise on Traumatic Brain Injury issues in Washington State. All TBI Council Meetings are open to the public. Dr. Browd recently testified in Olympia to the House Oversight Subcommittee on Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in support of the TBI Council.

Professor Henry Marsh Awarded Order of the British Empire.

November 2010 - Professor Henry Marsh has been awarded the Order of the British Empire. He is a Clinical Professor of Neurological Surgery who mentors University of Washington Neurological Surgery Residents during their clinical rotations in England. He is a well know for his global health work in the Ukraine and has been featured in the BBC film "The English Surgeon". From 1987 he has been Consultant Neurosurgeon at Atkinson Morley’s Hospital, St. George’s Hospital, London as well as an Honorary Senior Lecturer at St. George’s Hospital Medical School, an Honorary Consultant Neurosurgeon at Royal Marsden Hospital in London, Honorary Consultant Neurosurgeon at University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, Wales, and is a Clinical Professor of Neurological Surgery at the University of Washington.

Richard Ellenbogen, MD & Stan Herring, MD Attend Concussion Education and Advocacy Conference Hosted By The Seattle Seahawks

October 2010 - A host of health-care pros from Seattle's Harborview Medical Center (where Zachery Lystedt's life was saved following a football-related traumatic brain injury) attended a recent Seattle Seahawks Concussion Education and Advocacy Conference honoring Zach Lystedt and the law named for him. The Harborview crew was led by Richard Ellenbogen, MD, chief of neurological surgery at Harborview, professor and chair of neurological surgery at the University of Washington, and co-chair of the NFL's Head, Neck and Spine Medical Committee. The event was also attended by Stan Herring, MD of the University of Washington, Governor Gregoire, a four-star Army general, a director of the Centers for Disease Control and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, along with a retinue from the league's front office. Follow the links to read the UW event recap or the Seattle PI's article on the conference. Video of the event can also be viewed at the NFL's official website.

Richard Ellenbogen, MD Co-Investigator on $2.7 million Pediatric Guideline Adherence and Outcomes (PEGASUS) Project

October 2010 - Richard Ellenbogen, MD is co-investigator on a recently awarded $2.7 million grant from The National Institute of Neurological Disorders to examine how to increase the adoption of the national pediatric guidelines to improve outcomes for children with traumatic brain injury. Monica S. Vavilala, MD, UW Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Pediatrics is the principal investigator for this five-year Pediatric Guideline Adherence and Outcomes (PEGASUS) project. Follow the link to learn more about this study.

Scarless Brain Surgery is New Option for Patients

October 2010 - Surgeons at UW Medicine in Seattle and at the University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine have determined that transorbital neuroendoscopic surgery (TONES) is a safe, effective option for treating a variety of advanced brain diseases and traumatic injuries. This groundbreaking, minimally invasive surgery is performed through the eye socket, thus eliminating the removal of the top of the skull to reach the brain. The findings were published in the September issue of Neurosurgery. Follow the link to learn more about this study.

George Ojemann, MD featured Speaker at ACT Annual InterACTions Forum

October 2010 - ACT's new annual InterACTions forum on October 24, 2010 featured a lecture by George Ojemann, MD entitled: Human Brain Mechanisms for 'Consciousness'. Dr. Ojemann discussed what is commonly called 'consciousness' and how the brain responds to external stimulus and different states of awareness, and overlays it with deeply encoded memory that can influence a conscious experience. The InterACTions forums are designed to probe themes of the mind, being, and culture, featuring leading experts as guest speakers. Follow the link for more information.

UW Neurosurgery Faculty Members Among Seattle magazine's Top Doctors

August 2010 - UW neurological surgeons Richard Ellenbogen, MD; Jeffrey Ojemann, MD; Laligam Sekhar, MD; and Daniel Silbergeld, MD were all recognized in Seattle magazine's 2010 Top Doctors issue. Seattle magazine compiled their 10th annual peer-recommended roster of doctors by mailing surveys earlier this year to more than 10,000 physicians in King, Pierce, Snohomish and Kitsap counties. The survey asked physicians to name the provider they would recommend to loved ones, regardless of hospital, clinic or health plan affiliation.

Dr. David Coppel Featured in New York Times Article

August 2010 - Dr. David Coppel was featured in a New York Times article titled: When Repeat Injuries Can't Dim an Athlete's Passion. Follow the link to read the New York Times article.

Dr. Richard Ellenbogen Featured on Dan Rather Reports

August 2010 - Dr. Richard G. Ellenbogen was featured on Dan Rather Reports on Tuesday August 10, 2010. The feature was a follow-up to Dr. Ellenbogen's position with the NFL Head, Neck and Spine Committee, and focuses on concussions, football, and dementia. The topic is now a major area of concern and the National Football League has begun taking aggressive action.

King 5 Series Goes "Behind The Mask" at Seattle Children's Hospital

August 2010 - King 5 News has a series called "Behind the Mask". The series takes viewers behind the scenes at Children's Hospital and focuses on Dr. Richard Ellenbogen's surgeries. Follow the link to view the video.

Dr. Richard Ellenbogen Chosen as Co-Chairman for NFL Committee on Concussions

April 2010 - The NFL has chosen Dr. Richard Ellenbogen, UW professor and chairman, Neurological Surgery, Harborview Medical Center, as one of two new co-chairmen for its committee on concussions. Dr. Ellenbogen joins Dr. Hunt Batjer of Northwestern University to lead the NFL Head, Neck and Spine Medical Committee. Read recent news coverage in the New York Times and on ESPN. Follow the link to learn more about UW Medicine's Seattle Sports Concussion Clinic at Harborview.

New Neurological Surgery Patient Care Section on UW Medicine Website

April 2010 - The UW Medicine Patient Care Website's Neurological Surgery section contains up-to-date information for patients about conditions and treatments for a wide range of diseases of the spine, brain and the neurological system.