Speaker Topics: Neurosurgery

Speaker Topics: Neurosurgery

Edward Ahn, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery

Dr. Edward Ahn completed his undergraduate studies at Harvard University and received his medical degree with honors from the New York University School of Medicine. He then completed an internship in general surgery and residency in neurosurgery at the University of Maryland Medical Center. Dr. Ahn also completed a fellowship in pediatric neurosurgery as the Shillito Staff Associate at the Childrens Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School.

Now an Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins, Dr. Ahn focuses on the surgical treatment of neurological disorders in children. He has particular interests in minimally invasive endoscopic surgery for the treatment of hydrocephalus, brain tumors, and craniosynostosis. He has also gained expertise in surgical revascularization for patients with moyamoya syndrome.

Dr. Ahn’s laboratory research focuses the pathophysiology of germinal matrix hemorrhage and treatment of the associated hydrocephalus in premature infants.

Gary Gallia, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery and Oncology
Director of Endoscopic and Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery

Gary L. Gallia graduated summa cum laude from the Gibbons Scholar MD/PhD program at Jefferson Medical College and Thomas Jefferson University. He completed his general surgery internship at The Johns Hopkins Hospital where he was awarded surgical intern of the year. He then completed his neurological surgery residency and a postdoctoral fellowship in neuro-oncology at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. Following residency, he completed a minimally invasive and endoscopic neurosurgery fellowship with Dr. Charles Teo at the Prince of Wales Private Hospital and Sydney Children’s Hospital in Sydney, Australia.

Now an assistant professor of Neurosurgery and Oncology and the director of Endoscopic and Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins, Dr. Gallia focuses on neurosurgical oncology. He utilizes the latest techniques in preoperative imaging, computer guided surgical navigation, intraoperative monitoring and minimally invasive and neuroendoscopic approaches in the management of patients with benign and malignant brain tumors, metastatic tumors to the brain, skull base neoplasms and pituitary tumors.

Dr. Gallia’s primary research interests are in the development of novel therapeutics against malignant brain tumors and glioblastoma stem cells.

Romergryko G. Geocadin, M.D.
Assistant Professor, Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Anesthesiology-Critical Care Medicine

Dr. Romergryko Geocadin received his medical degree from the University of the East RMMC College of Medicine in the Philippines. He completed a post-graduate internship at the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital. He then completed both an internship in internal medicine and a residency in neurology at the New York University School of Medicine. He came to The Johns Hopkins as a fellow in neurological critical care.

Now an Assistant Professor of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Anesthesiology-Critical Care Medicine at Johns Hopkins, Dr. Geocadin is a member of the neurological critical care team where he takes care of critical care needs of patients with acute neurologic disorders, peri-operative neurosurgery patients, patients undergoing interventional neuroradiological procedures and other patients who have neurologic complications requiring critical care support.

Dr. Geocadin’s research interests include basic, translational and clinical investigations in acute neurological injuries after global cerebral ischemia such as cardiac arrest; therapeutic hypothermia for acute neurologic injuries; novel application of neuro-electrophysiology for early detection of acute neurological injuries; disorders of intracranial pressure, coma, cerebrovascular disorders and other acute disorders of the nervous system. His research has been funded by the NIH, American Academy of Neurology, and American Heart Association. Dr. Geocadin has been the guest editor for issues of Neurologic Clinics of North American, Critical Care Clinics of North America and Seminars in Neurology.

Dr. Geocadin currently sees patients in the neurosciences critical care units (NCCU) of the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center and Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Judy Huang, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery

Dr. Judy Huang received her medical degree from the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York. She completed residency training in Neurological Surgery at the same institution, and also pursued specialized training as a neurovascular research fellow.

Now an Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins, Dr. Huang specializes in the treatment of cerebrovascular disorders such as cerebral aneurysms, carotid artery stenosis, and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). She also focuses on the specialized treatment of spinal disorders and primary and metastatic brain tumors.

Dr. Huang's research concentrates on the inflammatory mechanisms of stroke. She is further investigating gender differences in stroke and other cerebrovascular diseases. She has published extensively on experimental studies of stroke and on carotid endarterectomy. She is also a co-author of a widely used handbook of operative neurosurgery.

Dr. Huang currently sees patients at The Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center on Mondays and Tuesdays.

George Jallo, M.D.
Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery, Pediatrics and Oncology

Dr. George Jallo received his medical degree from the University of Virginia. He then completed his residency in neurosurgery at NYU Medical Center and his fellowship in pediatric neurosurgery at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York.

Now an Associate Professor of Neurosurgery, Pediatrics and Oncology at Johns Hopkins, Dr. Jallo focuses on the surgical treatment of neurological diseases and disorders in children, with emphasis on minimally invasive endoscopic procedures. Dr. Jallo is particularly expert in treating intradural spinal tumors, brainstem and eloquent brain tumors in both children and adults. He also has expertise based on his extensive clinical experience in intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring. Dr. Jallo’s other clinical interests are epilepsy, craniofacial and defects of the neural tube.  Dr. Jallo is board-certified in neurological surgery and pediatric neurosurgery.

Michael Lim, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery and Oncology

Dr. Lim is an assistant professor of Neurosurgery and Oncology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.  After earning his medical degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, he completed his general surgery internship and neurosurgery residency at Stanford Hospital. Dr. Lim also completed a postdoctoral fellowship in novel therapies to treat brain tumors.

Dr. Lim’s surgical interest is in the treatment of primary and metastatic brain tumors as well as pituitary and skull base tumors. He utilizes the most advanced techniques in neurosurgery including image guided surgery, microsurgery, minimally invasive techniques, and endoscopic surgery. Dr. Lim also has expertise in radiosurgery for brain tumors, arterio-venous malformations, trigeminal neuralgia, and spine lesions.

Alessandro Olivi, M.D.
Professor of Neurosurgery and Oncology

Dr. Alessandro Olivi received his medical degree from the famous University of Padova, Italy.  He completed his residency at the University of Cincinnati –Good Samaritan Hospital in 1988.  He then completed a fellowship in neurosurgical oncology at the Johns Hopkins Hospital.  He has been in the Faculty at the Johns Hopkins University Department of Neurosurgery since 1991.  He is currently Professor of Neurosurgery and Oncology and the Director of the Division of Neurosurgical Oncology.  He is also the Chairman for the Department of Neurosurgery at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.

Dr. Olivi specializes in the surgical treatment of tumors and vascular lesions of the brain and spinal cord.  His recent interests are directed to the development of new treatments for brain tumors, such as, local delivery systems for the treatment of brain tumors.  He has a vast experience in treating the most complex lesions of the brain, skull base and spinal cord. 

Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery and Oncology

Dr. Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa received his medical degree from Harvard, where he graduated with honors.  He then completed his residency in neurosurgery at the University of California, San Francisco, where he also completed a postdoctoral fellowship in developmental and stem cell biology. 

Now an assistant professor of Neurosurgery and Oncology at Johns Hopkins, Dr. Quiñones serves as the Director of the brain tumor program at the Johns Hopkins Bayview campus.  He focuses on the surgical treatment of primary and metastatic brain tumors, with an emphasis on motor and speech mapping during surgery.  He is expert in treating intradural spinal tumors as well as brainstem and eloquent brain tumors in adults with the use of neurophysiological monitoring during surgery.  He further specializes in the treatment of patients with pituitary tumors using a transphenoidal endonasal approach with surgical navigation and/or endoscopic techniques.  He has a strong interest in treating patients with skull base tumors and the use of radiosurgery as an adjunct to the treatment of these lesions.

Dr. Quinones conducts numerous research efforts on elucidating the role of stem cells in the origin of brain tumors and the potential role stem cells can play in fighting brain cancer and regaining neurological function.

His most recent accolade was being honored with the American Association of Neurological Surgeons Ronald Bittner Award.  He has also received multiple teaching awards.

Timothy Witham, M.D.
Instructor in Neurosurgery

After completing his B.S. with honors from the Pennsylvania State University, Dr. Witham received his medical degree from The Johns Hopkins University. He completed an internship in general surgery and a residency in neurological surgery at the University of Pittsburgh. He recently completed a military commitment as Chief of the Neurosurgery Element at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi Mississippi.

Now an instructor in Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins, Dr. Witham focuses on the surgical treatment of low back pain and spinal tumors.

Dr. Witham currently sees patients in the Johns Hopkins Outpatient Center in Baltimore on Mondays and the Johns Hopkins Spine Center at Bayview on Tuesdays.