Fridays with Friedlander is a live webcast hosted by department chairman Robert M. Friedlander, MD. The webcast features department faculty, residents, alumni and prominent figures in medicine presenting updates on topical neurological surgery issues—followed by an interactive Q&A session.
The next webcast will be announced soon. You can view any of our previous episodes—listed below—on our YouTube channel.
For additional information on the Fridays with Friedlander webcast, please contact Justin R. Meyer at the University of Pittsburgh/UPMC Medical Health Sciences Foundation at 412-578-9273.
Past Episodes
Marco Capogrosso - Motor Control Recovery Research
September 2, 2022 -- Director of the University of Pittsburgh Spinal Cord Stimulation Lab provides an update into his research into spinal cord stimulation for the recovery of motor control after paralysis.
Shawn Eagle - Youth Concussion and Suicide
August 19, 2022 -- Concussion researcher presents findings from his study on the complex relationship between race, ethnicity, depression and concussion in teenagers and pre-teens.
Leland Albright - Pediatric Neurosurgery Career
August 5, 2022 -- Former chief of pediatric neurosurgery at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh takes a look back at his career including his time providing missionary neurosurgical services to the children of Kijabe, Kenya.
Baoli Hu - Brain Tumor Therapy
July 15, 2022 -- University of Pittsburgh Brain Tumor Evolution & Therapy Lab director talks about the advances in brain tumor therapy research and prospects for patient treatment.
Alhamza Al-Bayati: Carotid Web
May 20, 2022 -- UPMC Stroke Institute neuroendovascular expert provides background information on the diagnosis, management and research involved with carotid web.
Lois Burkhart: A Remarkable Journey
May 13, 2022 -- Retiring Cranial Base Center clinical supervisor discusses her remarkable 43-year nursing career with center co-director Paul Gardner.
Paul Gardner - Skull Base Research
April 15, 2022 -- UPMC Center for Cranial Base Surgery co-directors Paul Gardner and Carl Snyderman provide a look at some innovative research and education advances.
Kalil Abdullah - Glioma Therapy
February 25, 2022 -- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center brain tumor expert discusses novel aspects of brain tumor research, therapy and treatment.
Robert Kellogg - Hydrocephalus Therapy
February 18, 2022 -- UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh pediatric neurosurgeon takes an in-depth look at the modern management of hydrocephalus.
D. Kojo Hamilton - Cervical Spine Deformity
November 19, 2021 -- Director of UPMC neurosurgical spine services discusses the cause and various treatment options for cervical spine deformity
Georgios Zenonos - Cranial Base Surgery
November 5, 2021 -- UPMC Cranial Base Center associate director talks about the innovation, makeup and collaboration involved in the evolution of a premier comprehensive skull base center.
Peter Sheptak - Pitt Neurosurgery History
October 8, 2021 -- Pitt neurosurgery legend takes a look back at department history, career achievements, training perspectives and life accomplishments in ‘fireside chat’ with L. Dade Lunsford.
Donald Yealy — COVID-19
October 1, 2021 -- UPMC chief medical officer and senior VP Donald Yealy discusses COVID-19 strategic safety planning strategies, vaccines and what's next on the pandemic horizon.
Zel Zhang - Pitt Neurosurgery Residency
September 24, 2021 -- PGY-6 resident takes detailed look at the opportunities and benefits of the UPMC/University of Pittsburgh neurosurgery residency program.
Marco Capogrosso - Paralysis Research
September 10, 2021 -- University of Pittsburgh Spinal Cord Stimulation Lab director takes a look at recent advancements in neurotechnologies for the restoration of arm and hand movement after paralysis.
Natalie Sherry - Neuropsychological Testing
July 30, 2021 -- UPMC clinical neuropsychologist provides insight on how neuropsychological testing can help in the clinical diagnostic evaluation and subsequent recovery of neurosurgical patients.
Daniel Resnick - ABNS
July 23, 2021 -- Board secretary for American Board of Neurological Surgery, and 1998 Pitt neurosurgery residency grad, provides background, insight and advice on neurosurgery board exams
Sameer Agnihotri - Brain Tumor Research
June 18, 2021 -- Director of the University of Pittsburgh Brain Tumor Biology and Therapy Lab gives an update on new research efforts and provides a look at what the future may hold in brain tumor treatment.
Christopher Standaert - Back Pain Treatment
June 11, 2021 -- Director of spine health at UPMC and a specialist in non-operative spine care provides a unique look at collaborative efforts at UPMC to treat back pain.
Phillip Parry - Neuroendovascular Surgery in War Zone
May 21, 2021 -- 2015 Pitt neurosurgery residency graduate and US Air Force veteran shares a fascinating look at his experience as a neuroendovascular surgeon during the Afghanistan War
L. Dade Lunsford - Radiosurgical Education
May 14, 2021 -- UPMC Center for Image-Guided Neurosurgery director takes a look at advances in Gamma Knife and stereotactic radiosurgery training at the University of Pittsburgh.
C. Edward Dixon - TBI Research
April 23, 2021 -- Vice chair of research and director of the department's Brain Trauma Research Center presents an in-depth look at current methods and results in traumatic brain injury research.
Jorge González-Martínez - Epilepsy Surgery
April 16, 2021 -- UPMC epilepsy and movement disorder expert covers an overview of epilepsy surgery and recent innovations and collaborations at the University of Pittsburgh.
Ian Pollack - Childhood Brain Tumors
April 9, 2021 -- Neurosurgical oncology expert and chief of pediatric neurosurgery at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh discusses surgery and molecular profiling for childhood brain tumors.
Nathan Zwagerman - Building a Successful Practice
March 19, 2021 -- 2017 Pitt neurosurgery residency grad discusses journey, skills and mindset necessary to become a successful neurosurgeon in providing personalized care to his patients.
Joseph Maroon - Emotional and Behavioral Treatment
March 5, 2021 -- Sports and health medicine expert takes a fascinating look at the progression of mental and behavioral disorder treatment from frontal lobotomies to the futuristic augmented reality.
Peter Gerszten - Vertebral Compression Fractures
February 26, 2021 -- UPMC percutaneous spine service director takes an in-depth look at management and treatment strategies for osteoporosis related spine fractures.
Robert Kellogg - Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy
February 19, 2021 -- UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh movement disorders expert takes a look at procedure that treats muscle spasticity and cerebral palsy.
Michael McDowell - Med Students and Neurosurgery
February 12, 2021 -- Chief resident Michael McDowell takes a look at new strategies for introducing medical students to the field of neurosurgery at the University of Pittsburgh.
Katrina Firlik - Adventures Beyond Neurosurgery
February 5, 2021 -- 2002 Pitt neurosurgery residency graduate, entrepreneur and author shares career experiences in neurosurgery and beyond, built around "brains, business and books.”
Costas Hadjipanayis - Technology in Neurosurgery
January 22, 2021 -- 2006 Pitt neurosurgery residency grad and current site chair for neurosurgery at Mount Sinai Union Square in New York takes a look at new advances in neurosurgery with a nod to L. Dade Lunsford.
Bradley Gross - Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas
January 8, 2021 -- Endovascular neurosurgery expert Bradley Gross takes a look at the history, symptoms and treatment options for this type of hemorrhagic stroke.
Jeffrey Balzer - Intraoperative Monitoring
December 18, 2020 -- Neurophysiology expert takes a fascinating look at intraoperative monitoring for various neurosurgical procedures and how it is making neurosurgery safer at UPMC.
D. Kojo Hamilton - Patient Satisfaction Survey
December 11, 2020 -- Scoliosis, spine deformity and spine trauma expert talks about patient satisfaction and outcomes in adult spine deformity and lumbar spine surgery.
Taylor Abel - Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery
December 4, 2020 -- UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh epilepsy specialist talks about the many recent advances in epilepsy surgery and what the future has in store for pediatric epilepsy care and research.
Mark McLaughlin - Out-Thinking Fear
November 20, 2020 -- 1999 Pitt neurosurgery residency graduate relates how his own experiences helped him cope with fear to become a better neurosurgeon and a better person through ‘cognitive dominance.’
Paul Gardner - EEA Pituitary Surgery
November 13, 2020 -- Center for Cranial Base Surgery neurosurgical director discusses expanded endonasal approach for pituitary surgery. He is joined by endocrinologist Pouneh Fazeli and patient Molly Crooks.
Ava Puccio - TBI Biomarker Research
October 23, 2020 -- Traumatic brain injury research expert Ava Puccio talks about how advances in biomarker research may help diagnose brain and spinal injuries through blood tests.
Vincent Miele - Head and Spine Sports Injuries
October 16, 2020 -- Concussion and sports medicine expert Vincent Miele shares his insight on the neurosurgical treatment of sports-related injuries and how it translates to the general population.
Marco Capogrosso - Spinal Cord Stimulation
October 9, 2020 -- University of Pittsburgh Spinal Cord Stimulation Lab director provides an update neurotechnologies for the restoration of voluntary motor control.
Nitin Agarwal - Residency Program
October 2, 2020 -- Neurosurgery chief resident gives his perspective on the UPMC/University of Pittsburgh neurosurgery residency program: the demands, the opportunities, the rewards.
Michael Lang - Cerebral Aneurysm Treatment
September 25, 2020 -- Vascular and endovascular specialist Michael J. Lang talks about cerebral aneurysm treatment from a microsurgical and endovascular perspective.
Gary Kohanbash – Brain Tumor Immunotherapy
September 11, 2020 -- Immunotherapy expert Gary Kohanbash talks about innovative approaches for brain tumors. Bill Cenk also shares his touching personal story and passionate effort for pediatric brain tumor research.
Stephanie Greene - Spina Bifida
August 21, 2020 -- Perinatal neurosurgery expert Stephanie Greene discusses innovative fetal neurosurgery technique. She’s joined by very special guests, patient Allee Mullen and her daughter Emory Greene.
Robert Friedlander - Neuroapoptosis
August 7, 2020 -- Dr. Friedlander explains how understanding cell death can lead to advancements against Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and dementia. Guest Haley Jameson shares her personal journey to help cure dementia.
David Okonkwo - Advanced Scoliosis Treatment
July 24, 2020 -- Trauma, scoliosis and spinal deformity expert David Okonkwo presents a talk on minimally invasive surgery for scoliosis and other spinal disorders.
Georgios Zenonos - Pituitary Disease Treatment
July 17, 2020 -- Georgios Zenonos, skull base surgery expert, provides a presentation on the current state-of-the-art treatment methods for pituitary disease
Robert Friedlander - High Stakes Brain Surgery
July 10, 2020 --Robert Friedlander discusses high risk brain surgery aided by high definition fiber tractorgraphy with special insight from brain tumor patient Mark Boughton, mayor of Danbury, Conn.
Sameer Agnihotri - Brain Tumor Therapy
June 19, 2020 -- Sameer Agnihotri, director of the University of Pittsburgh Brain Tumor Biology and Therapy Lab, presents a talk on slowing the growth of brain tumors.
Peter Gerszten - Spine Radiosurgery
June 5, 2020 -- Spine radiosurgery pioneer Peter Gerszten takes a look at the development, benefits, current practices and future path of spine radiosurgery.
Jorge González-Martínez - Better Epilepsy Surgery
May 29, 2020 -- Epilepsy and functional neurosurgery expert Jorge González-Martínez discusses how and why we should make epilepsy surgery less invasive.
Joseph Maroon - Healthy Lifestyle
May 22, 2020 -- Health and sports medicine expert Joseph Maroon discusses the secrets to living a balanced and resilient life during ANY pandemic.
L. Dade Lunsford - Stereotactic Radiosurgery
May 8, 2020 -- Stereotactic radiosurgery expert and Gamma Knife pioneer L. Dade Lunsford talks about lessons learned in 32-year management experience of skull base acoustic neuroma.
Paul Gardner - Minimally Invasive Brain Surgery
May 1, 2020 -- Brain tumor expert Paul Gardner talks about the many advances in endoscopically-based minimally invasive brain surgery at UPMC and the safe brain surgery guidelines practiced during COVID-19.
Bradley Gross - Ischemic Stroke
April 24, 2020 -- Endovascular neurosurgeon Bradley Gross gives a presentation on ischemic stroke therapy, research and history at the University of Pittsburgh.
Robert Friedlander - COVID-19
April 17, 2020 -- Robert Friedlander talks about the impact and response to COVID-19 at UPMC Presbyterian, and the ongoing research activities of the faculty at the University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurological Surgery.