Department of Neurosurgery
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News & Announcements
Lifespan among first-of-its-kind program to perform robotic spine, brain surgery
Cutting-edge technology is now available in Rhode Island, allowing doctors to perform minimally invasive spine surgery.
‘New generation of surgical technology’ comes to RI Hospital
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Rhode Island Hospital is using new robotic technology designed with improved accuracy and safety to help guide neurosurgeons through brain and spine surgeries.
Top Doctor Recruited to Offer Advanced Treatments for Glioblastoma
Dr. Eric Wong came to Lifespan from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston where he served as co-director of the Brain Tumor Center and the neuro-oncology unit. He now leads the neuro-oncology program at the Lifespan Cancer Institute.
Brown Neurosurgery Launches Brain and Spine Robotic Surgery Programs!
Brown Neurosurgery is pleased to announce the successful completion of both the first spine and the first brain robotic surgeries on patients at Lifespan’s Rhode Island Hospital.
The Tapinos Lab Develops Cutting–Edge Methods For Treating Brain Cancer
RHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL - The Department of Neurosurgery's Dr. Nikos Tapinos was featured in Rhode Island Hospital's "Advancing Medicine Touching Lives" 2021 magazine chronicling his lab's groundbreaking glioblastoma research.
Finding a One-in-a-Million Doc
RHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL - The Department of Neurosurgery's Dr. Ziya Gokaslan was featured in Rhode Island Hospital's "Advancing Medicine Touching Lives" 2021 magazine chronicling a lifesaving surgery he performed on a patient in 2021.
Rhode Island Top Doctors 2022
RI MONTHLY - The Department of Neurosurgery's Dr.'s Adetokunbo Oyelese, Curtis Doberstein, Deus Cielo, Petra Klinge, and Ziya Gokaslan were chosen among Rhode Island's Top Doctors for 2022!
Day of Giving with Ziya Gokaslan
Ziya Gokaslan, MD Chief Neurosurgery, talks about a particularly challenging case and the outstanding team at Rhode Island Hospital, the only level 1 trauma center in the state.
Hijastro de Lucero revela cómo fue el accidente que casi le cuesta la vida
Michel Kuri Jr. sufrió un accidente en paracaídas estrellándose con fuerza contra la tierra, lo cual le ocasionó múltiples lesiones.
Day of Giving: Skydiving
It was a near fatal skydiving accident for a young man from Mexico. His odds of survival were slim to begin with, his chance of walking even slimmer. But a recommendation for this man to come to Rhode Island Hospital gave him a new lease on life.
It’s Like Magic: Cutting-edge technology available in RI to treat essential tremors
(WPRI) — An estimated 10 million Americans are living with a condition most commonly misdiagnosed as Parkinson’s Disease called essential tremor (ET), and doctors in Rhode Island are able to help treat it with neurosurgical technology.
Advances In The Treatment Of Movement Disorders Webinar
Brown Neurosurgery - On November 17, 2021 The Department of Neurosurgery hosted a webinar providing detailed information about treatment options for movement disorders and answering patient questions. The recorded webinar is embedded here for on-demand viewing.
RI Hospital Performs Incision-Less Brain Surgery
ABC 6 - Dr. Wael Asaad describes the groundbreaking procedure as a "cutting edge option without the cutting."
2021 Resident Hero Award
Our own Dr. Rohaid Ali received the 2021 Resident Hero Award for his excellent work on quality improvement projects for our department.
3 Lifespan hospitals recognized for stroke, diabetes care
Providence Business News- Three Lifespan Corp. hospitals have earned national recognition for stroke and type 2 diabetes care.
New Procedure Can Treat Disabling Tremors, Such as Those Caused by Parkinson’s Disease
Boston Globe - Dr. Wael Asaad, a neurosurgeon at Rhode Island Hospital, is using MRI-guided focused ultrasound technology for this incisionless procedure.
Dr. Wael Asaad Treats His First Essential Tremor Patient With Focused Ultrasound
Insightec - Dr. Wael Asaad and the Department of Neurosurgery at Rhode Island Hospital and Brown University Treated Their First Essential Tremor Patient With Focused Ultrasound.
Vanderbilt Rehabilitation Center Video Tour
Lifespan - A comprehensive tour of the Vanderbilt Rehabilitation Center at Newport Hospital.
Georgia’s Uncommon Story: The best doctor in the world
Chordoma Foundation Team - "I was first diagnosed with sacral chordoma in 2008 accidentally during an MRI. The tumor was a big ball, and I remember the radiologist saying that he couldn’t tell what it was..."
The Pain Was Unbearable; Would Spinal Surgery Fix It?
Providence Journal - Matt Patinkin of the Providence Journal writes about his spine surgery performed by our own Dr. Prakash Sampath.
Lifespan neurosurgeons perform incisionless brain procedure with new technology
Providence Business News - Neurosurgeons at the Norman Prince Neurosciences Institute at Rhode Island Hospital performed an incisionless thalamotomy July 30 on a patient suffering from severe tremors.
Advancing Care in Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma: A Patient Dialogue on Adjuvant Therapy and Quality of Life
Answers in CME presents a 0.5 CME credit activity with our own Steven Toms, MD, MPH on advancing treatment in newly diagnosed Glioblastoma in the form of a patient dialogue.
Jim Conway, MS, RN Nominated for Lifespan’s CARE Person of the Year Award
LIFESPAN - Jim Conway, RN, MS, NE-BC, the Department of Neurosurgery's Spine Surgery Program Manager, was Nominated for Lifespan's 2020 CARE Person of the Year Award. Read His Story Here.
Global Neurosurgery Virtual Panel
BROWN UNIVERSITY - Watch the Department of Neurosurgery's Global Neurosurgery Virtual Panel featuring Michael Haglund MD, PhD, Rahul Jandial MD, PhD, Heather Spader MD, Kerry Vaughan MD, and Benjamin Warf, MD.
Rhode Island Top Doctors 2021
RI MONTHLY - The Department of Neurosurgery's very own Dr.'s Adetokunbo Oyelese, Curtis Doberstein, Deus Cielo, Petra Klinge, and Ziya Gokaslan were chosen among Rhode Island's Top Doctors for 2021!
HEALTH MATTERS: Many treatment options exist for spinal stenosis
Maria Guglielmo, MD featured in The Newport Daily News Health-Fitness Section where she discusses treatment options for Spinal Stenosis.
Nikos Tapinos, MD, PhD Receives 2020-2021 Dean’s Award.
The Department of Neurosurgery's Nikos Tapinos, MD, PhD is this year’s winner of the Bruce M. Selya Research Excellence Award, presented for outstanding biomedical research at Lifespan partner hospitals.
Day of Giving: Alaska woman finds specialized treatment at Rhode Island Hospital
WJAR 10 - It all started for Jaysaiah Reddick Pierre Louis, of Woonsocket, just days into the statewide pandemic shutdown...
Scientific Sense Podcast Featuring Doctor Wael Asaad, MD, PhD
Scientific Sense - a converstation with Dr. Wael Asaad, MD, PhD regarding his most recent research on Alzheimer's, Parkinson's Disease, and Intractable Psychiatric Disorders.
Rhode Island has one of the highest percentages of ABNS certified women in neurosurgery in the country
Article reveals the State of Rhode Island has one of the highest percentages of ABNS certified women in neurosurgery in the country. The articles also evaluates two neurosurgical journals to see if double-blind peer review impacts gender authorship trends.
Department of Neurosurgery Diversity Lecture Series
Diversity in Neurosurgery Visiting Professor Lecture Series highlighting underrepresented neurosurgical faculty around the country.
Black History Month Programming at Brown University 2021
Join the School of Public Health in celebrating Black History Month 2021!
Surgery Offers Hope to Las Vegas Teen With Elhers-Danlos
A huge break-through came in September 2019. Kendall's mom found Dr. Petra Klinge, a Rhode Island neurosurgeon specializing in Ehlers-Danlos...
Nikos Tapinos, MD, PhD Wins Bruce M. Selya Research Excellence Award
The Department of Neurosurgery's Nikos Tapinos, MD, PhD is this year’s winner of the Bruce M. Selya Research Excellence Award, presented for outstanding biomedical research at Lifespan partner hospitals.
Brown Neurosurgery Research Graduate Student Awarded Honjo Scholarship
5-year-old thriving following 24 hour-long brain surgery
WJAR 10 - It all started for Jaysaiah Reddick Pierre Louis, of Woonsocket, just days into the statewide pandemic shutdown...
Can Brain Surgery Help Slow the Progression of Alzheimer’s Disease?
WJAR 10 - A new clinical trial is now enrolling for a type of brain surgery, known as deep brain stimulation.
Rhode Island Top Doctors 2020
RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY - Dr.'s Adetokunbo Oyelese, Curtis Doberstein, Deus Cielo, Petra Klinge, and Ziya Gokalsan were chosen among Rhode Island's Top Doctors for 2020!
For Students, By Students: The National Student Neurosurgery and Neurology Research Conference
AANS NEUROSURGEON - With the support and mentorship of Ziya L. Gokaslan, MD, FAANS, chair of neurosurgery, students sought to create a conference designed specifically for medical students, by medical students.
Girl with Spina Bifida Who Wasn’t Expected to Walk Loves Running and Kicking Goals
GOOD MORNING AMERICA-Five-year-old London Fazekas was never expected to walk. But now, she’s running, swimming and even scoring soccer goals in her backyard....
Expert Conversations: Responsive Neurostimulation for Epilepsy
NEUROLOGY CONSULTANT - Expert Conversations: Responsive Neurostimulation for Epilepsy. A podcast between Department of Neurosurgery's Wael Assad, MD, PhD and Department of Neurology's Andrew Blum, MD, PhD.
Dr. Albert E. Telfeian Ranked in Top 5 Most Productive Authors in Full-Endoscopic Spine Surgery Field
In an article titled "Worldwide research productivity in the field of full‑endoscopic spine surgery: a bibliometric study" by Guang-Xun Lin et al., Dr. Albert E. Telfeian was ranked in the Top 5 most productive authors in the full-endoscopic spinal surgery field worldwide, and Number 1 in the United States.
R.I. Hospital researchers granted $3.9M to study aggressive brain cancer
PNB - Researches at Rhode Island Hospital have been awarded $3.9 million by the Warren Alpert Foundation to study and fight glioblastoma, an aggressive and difficult-to-treat form of brain cancer...
October Neurosurgery Research News Updates
Neurosurgery research updates for the month of October!
New Generation of Intelligent Bio-Interfaces Could Overcome Aspects of Spinal Cord Injury
DARPA - Envisioned technologies would integrate injury stabilization, regenerative therapy, and functional restoration to support new standard of care for spinal cord injury...
Health Check: Researchers work on innovative device to help with spinal cord injuries
NBC 10-Rhode Island researchers are taking the lead in developing an innovative device that may, down the road, help patients with spinal cord injuries...
6 Questions with John Deluca: Stroke awareness
ABC6-Obviously, no one ever wants to have a stroke, but if you or someone you care about is going to have one Rhode Island is a good place for it to happen...
Health Check: Newport Hospital offers procedure to help with back pain
NBC 10 - Newport Hospital is now offering a minimally invasive procedure for patients with compression fractures of the spine...
Researchers to develop ‘intelligent spinal interface’ with $6.3 million in DARPA funding
Brown Neurosurgery- Brown University researchers, surgeons from Rhode Island Hospital and private partners will develop and test a device aimed at bridging the gap in neural circuitry created by spinal cord injury, in the hope of restoring muscle control and sensation...
Taking the Bias Out of Pain Diagnosis
SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN-Objective measures of pain could help alleviate inequitable medical treatment...
An Unlikely URI Grad: 7 years ago, she beat huge odds just to survive
PROVIDENCE JOURNAL-Julia DeGiovanni was minutes from death when she was rushed into Rhode Island Hospital...
Our Turn: Athena Poppas, Ziya Gokaslan and David Wazer: Merger threatens life-saving care in R.I.
PROVIDENCE JOURNAL- In Providence, The Miriam and Rhode Island hospitals have worked for decades to provide the highest quality medical care for all of our community...
Fetal Surgery for Spinal Defect at Providence Hospital a First in New England | Video
PROVIDENCE JOURNAL-Dr. Francois I. Luks, pediatric surgeon-in-chief at Hasbro Children’s Hospital, and a team of other physicians and professionals have led the way in the region with in-utero surgery...
Health Check: Improving Stroke Care at Rhode Island Hospital
WJAR — New EMS stroke protocols will soon be in place at Rhode Island Hospital...
A New Prognosis for Pain Care
WALL STREET JOURNAL- Innovative ways to measure, understand and treat pain are allowing doctors to ease patients’ suffering—without relying on dangerous drugs...
Regulation of human glioma cell migration, tumor growth, and stemness gene expression using a Lck targeted inhibitor.
University Researchers Develop New Method for Pain Analysis
BDH-EEG pain measurement strategy could be applied to humans, improve medications, treatment
EEG Test Measures Pain Better Than ‘Smiley Face’ Scale
FUTURITY-A new electroencephalography-based test could offer a better way for patients to rate their pain and could also ease the over-prescription of opioids, a new study shows.
Discovery of Biomarkers to Develop Transformational Non-Opioid Therapeutics for Pain (Video)
NIH-Tune-in to Associate Professor of Neurosurgery and Director of The Pain & Neural Circuits Laboratory, Carl Saab, at 06:33:35-06:46:38.
Lifepan’s 2018 Annual Meeting Video
LIFESPAN-Watch the video to see all the good we do! Featuring patient stories and video clips from the Department of Neurosurgery as well as the greater Lifespan Health System.
EEG Test Provides More Effective Way to Measure Pain
BYU RADIO- Guest: Carl Saab, Associate Professor of Neurosurgery, Brown University, Director of the Pain & Neural Circuits Center research lab, Rhode Island Hospital...
NIH Continues Brown Support with $12M Grant to Explore the Fundamentals of Brain Function
BROWN UNIVERSITY-With a new five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health, the Center for Central Nervous System Function will launch five research projects and develop new analysis tools to advance brain science at Brown...
New Test Objectively Measures Pain
NATIONAL PAIN REPORT-“Sadly, this scale of smiley faces, called the visual analogue scale, is the gold-standard pain-assessment tool,” said Carl Saab, an associate professor of neuroscience and neurosurgery at Brown University and Rhode Island Hospital...
For Treating Severe Strokes, All Hospitals Aren’t Equal
WALL STREET JOURNAL-People who suffer severe strokes here can avoid the worst if stricken within a 30-minute ambulance ride to Rhode Island Hospital, the region’s only comprehensive stroke-treatment facility...
Gokaslan P’18 Reflects on Path to Chief of Neurosurgery
BROWN DAILY HERALD-Today, Gokaslan is the chair of neurosurgery at the Alpert Medical School and chief of neurosurgery at the Rhode Island Hospital and Miriam Hospital. He leads a team of extremely specialized physicians, surgeons and researchers who work every day to push boundaries in patient care and scientific discovery...
Keeping Lucky on the Move
LIFESPAN-13-year-old girl finds answers to debilitating pain and weakness, and returns to her active lifestyle..
Attleboro Family Participates in First Fetal Spina Bifida Operation in New England
THE SUN CHRONICLE- Emily Hess had been pregnant three times before, and each pregnancy was healthy and happy, culminating in problem-free, unmedicated, natural births. So when the Attleboro woman learned 19 weeks into her fourth pregnancy that her newest son had developed a spina bifida lesion, it was jarring to say the least...
Brown Researchers Develop New Test to Objectively Measure Pain, Test Medications
BROWN UNIVERSITY-If you’ve ever visited the emergency department with appendicitis, or you’re one of the 100 million U.S. adults who suffer from chronic pain, you’re familiar with a row of numbered faces, with expressions from smiling to grimacing, used to indicate pain levels...
Your Health: Warwick Baby Undergoes Life Changing Surgery
ABC 6-When Grayson Tibbetts was born his mother noticed his head wasn't shaped like other babies. At just three months old, the Warwick infant would undergo a life changing surgery to fix the skull malformation...
Managing Life with Neurological Symptoms and EDS (Video)
A Patient Oriented Webinar: Dr. Petra Klinge presents "Managing Life with Neurological Symptoms and EDS" for EDS awareness "Educational Series", 2018.
Turkish Connection Brings Man to R.I. for Life-Saving Surgery
PROVIDENCE JOURNAL-He thanks the Rhode Island Hospital doctor, Ziya L. Gokaslan, who during a marathon operation on that day removed the mammoth, life-threatening tumor growing inside him...
Managing Life with Neurological Symptoms (Video)
A Patient Oriented Webinar: Dr. Petra Klinge discusses “Managing Life with Neurological Symptoms” at the 2018 EDS Global Learning Conference in Baltimore.
Stroke Awareness Month — Enacting Better Protocols Can Save Lives
THE HILL-Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke. The moments after the stroke are a critical decision-making time for the family, friends, or first responders who encounter the patient. Many people’s first instinct would be to take their loved one to the closest hospital so they could be treated immediately...
Health Check: Tethered Cord
NBC 10-Tethered cord is a debilitating disorder that is poorly understood and hard to diagnose."I was missing a lot of school,” said 13-year-old Lucky Eschauzier of Braintree, Massachusetts. After a long journey, Lucky finally had surgery at Hasbro Children's Hospital...
Health Check: Treating Chronic Pain Without Opioids
NBC 10-At the Comprehensive Spine Center at Rhode Island Hospital, treating chronic pain without opioids has become a concerted team effort...
Health Check: New EMS Stroke Protocols
NBC 10-New Emergency Medical Service stroke protocols in Rhode Island are saving lives...
Keeping Faith In Stride
LIFESPAN-As she prepared for a meeting, Helm suddenly felt dizzy and disoriented, and soon felt a brief paralysis. Something was very wrong. She got through her meeting, but noticed immediately that her face was drooping...