Stuart Rowe Lectureship

The Stuart Rowe Society Lectureship and Resident Research Day showcases research activities in the field of neurological surgery and provides a forum for discussion.

During this day, a series of talks are presented by department residents, each spotlighting a topical research issue relevant in the field. These talks are followed by discussion moderated by a special honored guest prominent in the field of neurosurgery. The visiting professor will select a "Best Presentation" award and provide a talk at a dinner and reception later in the evening.

This spotlight on research was a principle first emphasized by Stuart Niles Rowe, MD, the first formally-trained neurosurgeon to practice in Pittsburgh. Rowe is widely considered the founding figure of neurosurgery training in the city establishing the base of what would later become the University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurological Surgery.

Rowe believed that neurosurgery training should not only teach exceptional technique, but also the critical clinical decision-making skills necessary to succeed. He preached the underlying need for thorough literature review and independent research as a means for broadening clinical knowledge.

A list of honored guests and resident award winners includes:

2012:

Honored Guest:
James Rutka, MD, R.S. McLaughlin Professor and Chair of the Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto.

Best Presentation Award Winner:
Ramesh Grandhi, MD, "The Influence of Suturectomy on Age-Related Peridural Hyperemia in Craniosynostotic Rabbits."

Presentation Runner-Up Award:
Kimberly A. Foster, MD, "Factors Associated with Hemispheric Hypodensity after Subdural Hematoma following Abusive Head Trauma in Children."

2011:

Honored Guest:
Henry Brem, MD, Harvey Cushing Professor of Neurosurgery, Ophthalmology, Oncology and Biomedical Engineering at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Resident Award Co-Winners:
Matthew Tormenti, MD, "The Development of Magnetoencephalography as a Diagnostic Tool for Concussion."

Kimberly A. Foster, MD, "Weight Profile in Children Following Endoscopic Endonasal Approach to Craniopharyngioma."

2010:

Honored Guest:
Ralph J. Dacey, Jr. MD, Henry G. and Edith R. Schwartz Professor and Chairman of the Department of Neurological Surgery, Washington University.

Resident Award Winner:
Richard Singelton, MD, PhD, "Decompressive Hemicraniectomy, Strokectomy, or Both."

2009:

Honored Guest:
Edward H. Oldfield, MD, Crutchfield Professor of Neurosurgery, Professor of Internal Medicine, University of Virginia Health System

Resident Award Winner:
Kristen E. Jones, MD, "Functional Imaging Localization as Replacement for Intracranial EEG for Preoperative Planning Modality in Epilepsy Patients: Analysis of Surgical Outcomes."

2008:

Honored Guest:
Patrick J. Kelly, MD, former Chairman of Neurosurgery, New York University’s Langone Medical Center

Resident Award Winner:
Ricky Madhok, MD, "The Biomechanical Characteristics of the Occipital Cervical Junction - Evaluation after Clivectomy, Condylectomy and Odontoidectomy"

2007:

Honored Guest:
John A. Jane, Sr, MD, PhD, Professor of Neurological Surgery, University of Virginia Health System

Resident Award Winner:
Nestor D. Tomycz, MD, "MRI Fails to Identify Unstable Cervical Spine Injury Misses By CT in Obtunded or Comatose Trauma Patients: The Four-Year Experience of a Level I Trauma Center"

2006:

Honored Guest:
M. Sean Grady, MD, Charles Harrison Frazier Professor and Chairman of Neurological Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania Health System

Resident Award Winner:
Dave Atteberry, MD, "A Comparison of Outcomes Between CyberKnife Radiosurgery and Conventional XRT for Spinal Metastases"

2005:

Honored Guest:
Gary Steinberg, MD, PhD, Professor and Chairman of Neurological Surgery at Stanford University

Resident Award Winner:
Costas Hadjipanayis, MD, PhD, "DNA Repair"