Best Doctors of America: Michael L.J. Apuzzo, M.D., Steven L. Giannotta, M.D., J. Gordon McComb, M.D., Martin H. Weiss, M.D.
Martin H. Weiss, M.D.: Inaugural John Kusske Lecturer, University California Irvine, June 2004
Michael L.J. Apuzzo, M.D.: Hugo V. Rizzoli Distinguished Surgical Lecture, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, November 2003
Steven L. Giannotta, M.D.: 7th Annual Frank P. Smith Lectureship, University of Rochester School of Medicine, October, 2003
Our faculty continues to distinguish themselves clinically, educationally, and in the laboratory. Several of the faculty continue to exert a leadership role in a number of areas in international and national organizations.
Dr. Martin Weiss continues as Associate Editor of the Journal of Neurosurgery. This year he assumes the role of Director of the Neurosurgical Research and Education Foundation of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons.
Dr. Michael Apuzzo remains as Editor of the Journal Neurosurgery. Among his many Visiting Professorships over the year, Dr. Apuzzo garnered the GAGNA & VAN HECK PRIZE from Belgium for Scientific Research in the Reinvention of Neurosurgery.
Dr. Gordon McComb continues to serve as a Director of the American Board of Pediatric Neurological Surgery. He serves on the Senior Advisory Board and the Editorial Board of the Journal Pediatric Neurosurgery as well as on the Editorial Board of the Journal Neurosurgery. Locally Dr. McComb serves on the Board of Directors of the University Childrens Medical Group.
Dr. Steven Giannotta completed his three year term on the Board of Directors of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons in 2004. He is newly elected Vice-President of the American Academy of Neurological Surgeons. He continues to serve on the Advisory Committee of the American Board of Neurological Surgeons, having been a past Chairman.
Dr. Peter Gruen recently assumed his role as Chief of the Medical Staff at LAC+USC Medical Center.
Dr. George Teitelbaum continues to serve on the Editorial Review Panels of a number of peer reviewed journals including Radiology, American Journal of Roentgenology, Journal of Vascular Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology. This year he was granted his fourth patent on formable orthopedic fixation system with cross linking.
Dr. Srinath Samudrala established a neurosurgical fellowship on complex spine management and stabilization. His first fellow is Dr. Christopher Aho.
Dr. Thomas Chen achieved the rank of Associate Professor with Tenure in 2003. Along with his vigorous clinical and research activities, he organized the various interest groups related to Neuro-oncology on the medical campus to form a more effective research and educational unit.
Dr. Donald Larsen was recently elected President of the Medical Faculty Assembly at the USC Keck School of Medicine. He has served as Chairman of the Data Safety Monitoring Board for the Onyx Embolization Randomized Trial and as Chairman of the Clinical Events Committee of the Onyx trial for brain aneurysm embolization.
Dr. Mark Krieger became a Diplomate of the American Board of Neurological Surgery in 2003 and a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Neurological Surgery in 2003.
Dr. Michael Wang was the recipient of the Mayfield Award in Spine Research from the American Association of Neurological Surgeons.
Dr. Charles Liu received the American Association of Neurological Surgeons Young Clinician Investigator Award. Both Drs. Wang and Liu serve on the Editorial Board of Neurosurgery and both have assumed leadership roles in the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.
Dr. Mark Liker has successfully inaugurated a program for the surgical management of movement disorders at USC Keck School of Medicine. He has performed a number of deep brain stimulation surgical procedures for the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease and supplements this work with a vigorous basic science research program in association with members of the Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology.
