Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery
Director, Surgical Neuroanatomy Lab
Phone: (412) 647-6778
e-mail: fernandezmirandajc@upmc.edu

Specilialized Areas of Interest:

Endoscopic pituitary surgery; minimally invasive endoscopic skull base and brain surgery; open cerebrovascular and skull base surgery; brain tumors. Research focuses on surgical neuroanatomy (microsurgical neuroanatomy, endoscopic skull base anatomy, and white matter anatomy), advanced brain imaging techniques, and brain connectivity.

Biography:

Juan Carlos Fernandez-Miranda, MD, is assistant professor of neurological surgery and director of the Surgical Neuroanatomy Lab at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He joined the faculty at the University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurological Surgery on July 1, 2008 to complete a two-year clinical fellowship in open and minimally invasive skull base, pituitary, and brain surgery with Amin Kassam, MD, Paul Gardner, MD, and Daniel Prevedello, MD.

Prior to joining the faculty at University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Fernandez-Miranda completed a clinical fellowship in cerebrovascular surgery at the University of Virginia—under the direction of Neal F. Kassell, MD—and a two-year research fellowship in microsurgical neuroanatomy at the University of Florida—under the mentoring of Albert L. Rhoton, Jr., MD.

Dr. Fernandez-Miranda, a native from Madrid, Spain, received his medical degree from the Complutense University of Madrid and completed his neurological surgery residency at “La Paz” University Hospital of Madrid. Upon completion of his residency, he was awarded the Sanitas Prize 2006 to the best medical postgraduate trainee in Spain.

Dr. Fernandez-Miranda’s clinical focus is endoscopic endonasal skull base and pituitary surgery, open skull base surgery, and brain tumor surgery. His research interests lie in the study of surgical neuroanatomy and brain connectivity.

The Surgical Neuroanatomy Lab that he directs has a dual educational and research role aiming to improve surgical techniques and outcomes by mastering knowledge of relevant surgical neuroanatomy. Many national and international students, residents, and fellows have conducted training and research at the Surgical Neuroanatomy Lab. The lab has three main research areas: microsurgical neuroanatomy, endoscopic skull base anatomy, and white matter anatomy.

Dr. Fernandez-Miranda has major publications and awards on each of these areas: his research studies on microsurgical neuroanatomy have been recognized by the P. Mata Award of the Neurosurgical Society of Madrid in 2006 and the Synthes Cranio-Maxillofacial Anatomical Fellowship Award in 2007; Dr. Fernandez-Miranda’s work “Three-Dimensional Structure of the White Matter of the Human Brain” was distinguished with the 2008 Aesculap EANS Research Prize, a highly prestigious award that the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies gives every year recognizing the best neurosurgical research done by a European neurosurgeon; and the European Skull Base Society (ESBS) awarded him the ESBS Fellowship 2009 to support his contributions to the field of endoscopic skull base surgery.

As a member of the Human Connectome Project at the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Fernandez-Miranda is focused on advance brain imaging technology to develop a comprehensive structural/functional description of the network elements and connections forming the human brain. Additionally, he is pursuing the application of innovative fiber mapping techniques (“high-definition fiber tractography”) for presurgical planning and intraoperative navigation to facilitate brain function preservation in brain surgery patients.

Dr. Fernandez-Miranda's publications can be reviewed through the National Library of Medicine's publication database.

Board Certifications

Spanish Society of Neurosurgery, Spanish Ministry of Science and Education
European Association of Neurosurgical Societies, European Board of Neurosurgery

Hospital Privileges

Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC
UPMC Presbyterian

Professional Organization Membership

American Association of Neurological Surgeon
Cajal Club
Congress of Neurological Surgeons
European Association of Neurosurgical Societies
German Skull Base Society
International Head and Neck Scientific Group
Joint Section on Tumors – AANS & CNS
North American Skull Base Society
Spanish Society of Neurosurgery

Editorial Service

• Ad Hoc Reviewer:

Brain Structure and Function
Cerebral Cortex
Journal of Neurosurgery
Head and Neck
Laryngoscope
Neurosurgery
Neurocirugia
The Anatomical Record
BMC Medical Imaging
Journal of Anatomy