School of Medicine
Showing 1-95 of 95 Results
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Maheen Mausoof Adamson
Clinical Professor (Affiliated), Neurosurgery
Staff, Neurosurgery OperationsBioDr. Maheen Mausoof Adamson is a Clinical Professor of Neurosurgery (Affiliated) at Stanford School of Medicine, Director of Research for Women's Operational Military Exposure Network Center of Excellence (WOMENCOE), and Senior Scientist for Rehabilitation Services at VA Palo Alto Healthcare System. Adamson completed her undergraduate degrees in neurobiology and women's studies at the University of California, Irvine. She completed her Ph.D. in neuroscience from the University of Southern California and a postdoctoral fellowship in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford School of Medicine. She also has a Masters in Healthcare Leadership from the School of Public Health from Brown University and is a faculty fellow for Stanford Byers Biodesign Program.
Dr. Adamson’s expertise and interests span employing translational neuroscience methodologies for diagnostic and neuromodulation treatments (such as repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)) for frequent health problems in patients with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), psychiatric problems, and Alzheimer's disease. She has employed advanced structural and functional imaging modalities and biomarker assessments for treatment response and diagnosis in Veteran, active military, and civilian populations with these health problems. She has been a leader in identifying sex differences in brain injury, particularly in the Veteran population. She currently serves as PI and Site-PI on numerous neuromodulation clinical trials and collaborates internationally to develop advanced diagnostic methods in neuroimaging, especially in underserved communities. As Director of the Adamson Lab, she is actively involved in translating research, such as neuromodulation and virtual and augmented reality, into clinical settings.
In her new role as Research Director of WOMENCOE, she is developing the research and education center to investigate and disseminate findings on the impact of military environmental exposure on reproductive health, cancer, psychiatric illness, cognitive decline, and other women's health issues. This network is funded by the VA Health Outcomes Military Exposure Center under Department of Veterans Affairs
Dr. Adamson is also the lead PI of ENIGMA-PAK study that aims to Leverage Consanguinity in Pakistan to Uncover the Genomic Architecture of Alzheimer's Disease. She has received recognition in national and international settings and serves on several editorial and industry advisory boards. She is also CEO and founder of her digital health startup Soof Solutions Inc which uses eye tracking for communication in individuals lacking the power of speech. She is also intricately involved in mentoring postdoctoral fellows, residents, undergraduates and high school students in STEM careers. -
Amirhossein Akhavan-Sigari
Visiting Instructor, Neurosurgery
BioAmirhossein Akhavan-Sigari is a Visiting Instructor at the Stanford University School of Medicine. He graduated from Isfahan University of Medical Sciences (IUMS) as a Medical Doctor in 2021. His research experience focuses on Neurosurgery and Neurology. He has collaborated in several research projects at IUMS.
Dr. Akhavan-Sigari started his research activity at Stanford in the Department of Neurosurgery in January 2024 to focus on Stereotactic Radiosurgery and Cyberknife for the treatment of arteriovenous malformations, brain tumors, and functional disorders. -
Moustafa Elattar
Visiting Instructor,
BioDr. Moustafa Elattar is a Visiting Instructor at Stanford University’s Neuro-Oncology Laboratory. Originally from Egypt, he earned his M.B.B.Ch. with honors from Benha Faculty of Medicine, Benha University. Dr. Elattar has a strong background in clinical research, biostatistical analysis, and evidence-based medicine. His work at Stanford focuses on high-impact projects in Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS), exploring clinical outcomes, indications, and treatment-related effects in neurosurgical diseases such as meningiomas, vestibular schwannomas, paragangliomas, and arteriovenous malformations.
Beyond his current research, Dr. Elattar is passionate about integrating clinical insight with data-driven methodologies to advance neuro-oncology and improve patient outcomes. -
Kamran Hussain
Casual - Non-Exempt, Neurosurgery
BioResearching speech neuroprosthetics at the Neuroprosthetics Translational Lab. Research interests include brain-computer interfacing, neuroprosthetics, computational systems neuroscience, and bio-inspired artificial intelligence.
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Neda Kaboodvand
Basic Life Research Scientist, Neurosurgery
Current Role at StanfordResearch Scientist
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Stephen Lawrence McKenna, MD
Clinical Professor (Affiliated), Neurosurgery
Staff, Neurosurgery OperationsBioDr. Stephen McKenna is a founding member of the Stanford Partnership for Spinal Cord Injury and Repair. He is currently the Chief of the Rehabilitation Trauma Center; as well as, the site director of the Advanced SCI Medicine Fellowship at SCVMC.
As a Neurocritical Care physician, Dr. McKenna specializes in ventilator-dependent Spinal Cord and Traumatic Brain Injury, as well as neuromuscular diseases. He has led first-in-human clinical trials ranging from vaccines for HIV to stem cell-derived oligodendrocyte progenitor cell-based therapies for SCI. Dr. McKenna is Chairman of the Respiratory Section of the International Standards to Document Autonomic Function after SCI (ISAFSCI) and co-chair of the American Spinal Cord Injury Association (ASIA) Research Education Subcommittee.
Clinical Focus:
Spinal Cord Injury
Traumatic Brain Injury
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS)
Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis
Neuromyelitis Optica (Devic disease)
Professional Education:
Board Certification: Neurocritical Care, UCNS (2008)
Board Certification: Internal Medicine, ABIM (2005)
Internship & Residency: Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (2002,2005)
Medical Education: Stanford University School of Medicine (2002)
Book Chapter:
Shah A, Shem K, McKenna SL, Berlly M. Management of Respiratory Failure in Spinal Cord Injury. Spinal Cord Medicine (Hardcover) by Steven, M.D. Kirshblum (Editor) Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2011
Selected Publications:
Exploration of surgical blood pressure management & expected motor recovery in individuals with traumatic SCI.
Ehsanian R, et al, McKenna SL.
Spinal Cord. 2020 Mar;58(3):377-386. PMID: 31649323
A Novel Pharyngeal Clearance Maneuver for Initial Tracheostomy Tube Cuff Deflation in High Cervical Tetraplegia.
Ehsanian R, et al, McKenna S.
Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2019 Sep;98(9):835-838. PMID: 30973517
Burden of Care Implications & Association of Intracranial Hypertension with Extremely Severe Post-traumatic Amnesia After TBI: A 5-Year Retrospective Longitudinal Study.
Quach NT, et al
Front Neurol. 2019 Jan 29;10:34. PMID: 30761071
Venous Thromboembolism is Associated with Lack of Vitamin D Supplementation in Patients with SCI & Low Vitamin D Levels.
Ehsanian R, et al
PM R. 2019 Feb;11(2):125-134. PMID: 30300766
Pulmonary outcomes following specialized respiratory management for acute cervical SCI: a retrospective analysis.
Zakrasek EC, et al, McKenna SL
Spinal Cord, 2017; Feb 21. PMID: 28220822
Dose Response Effect of Exposure to Hypotension on Expected Neurological Recovery in Individuals with Traumatic SCI.
ARCHIVES OF PM&R
Reza, E., et al, McKenna, S.
2016: DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2016.09.016
Combined SCI & TBI: recovery of forelimb function after unilateral cervical SCI is retarded by contralateral traumatic brain injury (TBI), & ipsilateral TBI balances the effects of SCI on paw placement.
EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY
Inoue T, et al.
2013 Oct 248: 136-47. PMID: 23770071
Functional electrical stimulation in SCI respiratory care.
TOPICS IN SPINAL CORD REHAB.
R Jarosz, et al, S McKenna
2012:Vol. 18, No. 4, 315-321. PMID: 23459661
Impact of mean arterial blood pressure during the first seven days post SCI.
TOPICS IN SPINAL CORD REHAB.
J Cohn, et al
2010: DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1310/sci1503-96
Successful Pregnancy & Delivery in a C1 ASIA A spinal cord injured Woman: The Role of Coordinated Care Between PM&R & Obstetrics Services: A Case Report.
PM&R
Lin C, et al
2010: DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pmrj.2010.07.461
The impact of project closure on HIV incidence and mortality in a cohort of couples in Lusaka, Zambia.
AIDS CARE
Stephenson R, et al
2008 Jul;20(6):683-91. PMID: 18576170
Rapid HIV testing & counseling for voluntary testing centers in Africa.
AIDS
McKenna SL et al
1997 Sep;11 Suppl 1:S103-10. PMID: 9376093 -
Ryan Nitta
Senior Research Scientist, Neurosurgery
Current Role at StanfordThe main project of the Li lab is to elucidate the signaling pathways responsible for maintaining and initiating brain tumor growth. Previously the Li lab has identified an interesting protein, known as casein kinase 2, which plays an integral role in adult brain tumor growth. My goal is to expand on this initial finding and determine if casein kinase 2 could be a therapeutically relevant drug target in adult brain tumors and whether this protein plays a role in pediatric brain tumors. The role of the candidate would be the lead researcher on these projects, as well as managing and leading the undergraduate and medical students in the lab. In addition, I am responsible for maintaining the laboratory and assisting in grant writing.
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Juan J. Cardona, M.D.
Visiting Instructor, Neurosurgery
BioJuan J. Cardona, M.D. completed his medical school education at Institución Universitaria Visión de las Américas in the “coffee axis” in Pereira, Colombia. During this time, he led the neurosciences research group focusing on neuroanatomy, co-founded a student interest group devoted to promoting early exposure in surgical specialties of interest, completed national and international sub-internships in neurosurgery and neurology, and pioneered clinical electives centered on neurosurgery at the end of his internship. He was instrumental in advancing research practices at his university, where he held the positions of both Director of Scientific Development and Research in Surgical Sciences.
After graduating and being determined to pursue a neurosurgery residency in the United States, he honed his English skills at Florida Atlantic University before undertaking postgraduate medical education. Posteriorly, he delved into the investigative paradigm termed “reverse translational anatomy research” during his Clinical Anatomy Fellowship at the Department of Neurosurgery at Tulane University, where he dedicated two years to advanced training and research on neurosurgical anatomy under the mentorship of Dr. R. Shane Tubbs and Dr. Joe Iwanaga. Throughout his tenure, he actively participated within the department and completed a clinical and surgical observership at East Jefferson General Hospital in New Orleans under the guidance of Dr. Aaron S. Dumont and Dr. Johnny Delashaw. Subsequently, he joined the Clinical Neuro-Oncology Laboratory at the Department of Neurosurgery at Stanford University to study the indications and outcomes of stereotactic radiosurgery as a noninvasive treatment modality under the leadership of Dr. Steven D. Chang and Dr. David J. Park.
His diverse interests span all areas of neurosurgery, particularly in cerebrovascular, endovascular, and skull base surgery, peripheral nerve disease, CNS and PNS tumors, and cutting-edge neurosurgical techniques. Such interests have led to his authorship or co-authorship of over 50 peer-reviewed publications. Moreover, this work has resulted in 23 national and international presentations, where he has received multiple awards. In addition, he has served as an invited reviewer for numerous peer-reviewed articles across five leading journals and was a support reviewer for Chapter 47 in the 43rd edition of Gray’s Anatomy. -
Patrick Pezeshkian, MD, FAANS
Clinical Associate Professor (Affiliated), Neurosurgery
BioAfter completing his residency training in neurosurgery and a fellowship in Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery at UCLA, Dr. Pezeshkian joined the faculty at Kaiser Permanente Neurosurgery & Neuroscience department at Redwood City, California.
Dr. Pezeshkians’ areas of expertise and neurosurgical focus are Deep Brain Stimulation surgery for movement and neuropsychiatric disorders, adult epilepsy surgery,, neuromodulation procedures for chronic refractory craniofacial pain syndromes and peripheral nerve surgeries for tumors and trauma.
Dr. Pezeshkian is the Regional Director of the Functional Neurosurgery Program at the Northern California Kaiser Permanente healthcare system. -
Cynthia Harryman Samos
CIRM CLIN2 Project Manager, Neurosurgery
Current Role at StanfordProject Manager and Writer/Editor for the Department of Neurosurgery
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Elaheh Shaghaghian, MD
Visiting Instructor, Neurosurgery
BioElaheh Shaghaghian, MD, is a Clinical Research Scholar at Stanford University's Neurosurgery Department, where she investigates the efficacy of CyberKnife Radiosurgery with an interdisciplinary team. Skilled in problem-solving, Elaheh has a fervent passion for learning and applying new medical technologies.
She earned her MD from Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, focusing on advancing medical treatments through research. With experience in clinical research, data analysis, and interdisciplinary collaboration, she is dedicated to leveraging technology to enhance healthcare outcomes. -
Rizwan Hassan Shinwari
Visiting Instructor, Neurosurgery
BioRizwan Hassan Shinwari is a Visiting Instructor in the Department of Neurosurgery at Stanford University. His research focuses on the clinical outcomes and adverse effects associated with stereotactic radiosurgery, with the goal of optimizing patient care and advancing neurosurgical precision.
Dr. Shinwari earned his medical degree from Khyber Medical College and brings a strong background in clinical medicine and surgical sciences. His academic and professional interests lie at the intersection of neurosurgery, radiological innovation, and patient-centered outcomes research. He aspires to further his training and career as a neurosurgeon in the United States. -
Xunda Wang
Basic Life Research Scientist, Neurosurgery
Current Role at StanfordResearch Scientist
