Success Stories
Neurosurgeons practice a specialty that is challenging and rewarding, allowing for the pursuit of technical excellence, academic rigor and patient service.
Throughout history, neurosurgery has produced many inspiring physicians – men and women dedicated to education and scholarship who’ve served as mentors and colleagues to today’s leaders in neurosurgery. More importantly, their work has changed the landscape of our specialty, moving the practice of neurosurgery forward.
Neurosurgeons have also made their mark in the culture through philanthropy and engagement in literature and the arts.
The Neurosurgery Research & Education Foundation (NREF) is proud to have played a role in supporting neurosurgeons and advancing the specialty.
Since its inception, the NREF has invested over $30 million in the future of neurosurgery. As the premier funder of neurosurgical studies, the NREF extends opportunities for neurosurgeons to collaborate and make progress in the diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders and improved patient care.
An award from the NREF can have an extraordinary impact on a medical career, serving as a springboard for future professional opportunities. For example:
- NREF grant recipients have received over $353 million in NIH funding. Each dollar granted by the NREF resulted in 36 NIH dollars.
- 82% of NREF awardees between 2000 and 2015 obtained later funding totaling over $770M – an impact ratio of $1:$134.
- Over 30% of NREF grant recipients have gone on to receive NIH funding and nearly 20% have become chairs of academic departments.
What neurosurgeons do today will not only influence the field now, but will also resonate long into the future. The NREF celebrates the member neurosurgeons and award recipients making a difference in our specialty, our communities and in our culture.
Dr. Mark MacLean
Dr. Lisa Feldman
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My experience as a Van Wagenen fellow provided for me the unique opportunity to expand scientific knowledge through international cooperative teamwork. I attribute much of my current success as an independent neurosurgeon-scientist to the skills I accrued as a research fellow, and to the sustained ongoing research collaborations with my fellowship mentors and co-scientists. 
Dr. Analiz Rodriguez
Dr. Oluwaseun O. Akinduro
Mr. Oliver Tang
Dr. Anthony Piscopo
Dr. Timir Banerjee
Dr. Albert Alan
Dr. Ezequiel Goldschmidt
Dr. Mohammed Alshareef
Dr. Bryan Choi
Dr. Kim Rickert
Dr. Maria Peris-Celda
Dr. Andrew Carlson
Dr. Teresa Purzner
Dr. Visish Srinivasan
Dr. Peter Kan
Dr. Akop Seksenyan
The NREF training was invaluable, and I could never have become a successful researcher without the time spent supported by the NREF.