U.S. News, in conjunction with the National Opinion Research Center (NORC), objectively assesses hospital care for 17 specialties at more than 1,800 hospitals nationwide. The publication then ranks the top 50 hospitals in the nation in those 17 specialties. Rankings are based on reputation and various medical data.
The Division of Neurosurgery in the Department of Surgery has earned its national reputation through a variety of notable accomplishments, world-renowned doctors and cutting-edge research:
Allan J. Hamilton, MD, the recipient of both the U.S. Cosman Award for Innovation and the International Lars Leksell Award for his pioneering contributions to the field of neurosurgery, treated the first spinal radiosurgery patient in world. He also developed techniques for shielding the spinal cord from excessive radiation, better ways to implant radioactive seeds in deep-seated tumors, and a new device for using laser guidance systems to aim beams of radiation at spinal cord tumors without damaging the spinal cord. He helped to develop new material to reduce infections in the central nervous system and injected the first patient with virus cells containing the beta interferon gene to treat a malignant brain tumor.
Miguel A. Melgar, MD, PhD, directs a skull-base surgery laboratory he developed to train physicians in skull-base neurosurgical skills. Skull-base surgery, which is the removal of tumors deep in the brain, is a relatively new field; only a few neurosurgeons in the world are specially trained and qualified to perform this intricate surgery.
Gabriel Gonzales-Portillo, MD, is the co-developer of a new high-tech device called the perivascular flow probe that increases the safety, accuracy and efficiency of neurosurgical operations, such as aneurysm surgery. Dr. Gonzales-Portillo also is a skull-base surgeon.
Martin Weinand, MD, has collaborated with neuroscientists around the country and received national recognition on groundbreaking research on epilepsy.
"As associate chief and program director of the Division of Neurosurgery, I am proud of our entire faculty and staff who have contributed to the fact that this year US News & World Report selected University Medical Center as one of the top 50 hospitals in the United States for neurosurgery," says Dr. Weinand. "We will continue to provide the highest quality clinical service, research and education to Arizona and on national and international levels."
Dr. Hamilton, chief of the Division of Neurosurgery and head of the Department of Surgery, says "I am ecstatic to see UMC and the University of Arizona faculty becoming recognized for its excellence in academic and clinical arenas."
STORY IDEA:
"Inside the world of the brain surgeon": Interview faculty and fellows-in-training on what it takes to be a brain surgeon. Interview patients who have undergone this type of surgery.
Arrangements for interviews can be made by calling Jo Marie Gellerman, 626-7219.
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