Award winning residents

Presented by the WNS for the abstract that receives the highest rank for basic science when rated independently by evaluators. The resident is invited to present at the annual meeting.
Coupled control of pain and cerebral blood flow in the medulla

The AANS/CNS sponsored Medtronic Socioeconomic fellowship consists of a one year period where the selected residentis involved in all aspects of the CSNS including attendance at the two semi-annual meetings. This exciting opportunity will provide Dr. Litvack with broad exposure to pertinent neurosurgical socioeconomic issues and an introduction to the world of organized neurosurgery.

2008 OHSU School of Medicine Alumni Association Resident Paper Award —Jonathan Carlson, M.D., Ph.D.
Neural basis of pathological pain after nerve injury

2008 Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation (NREF) Award
Jason Weinstein, M.D., has been selected as one of the recipients of the 2008 NREF Award. Dr. Weinstein is presently a senior resident (5th year) and will utilize these funds in his sixth year of residency, which is dedicated to research. His mentor is professor Edward Neuwelt, M.D.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains a major source of morbidity and mortality with 1.5 million sustaining TBI each year; of these, 80-90,000 experience long-term disability (source Centers for Disease Control 2001). There are currently no effective pharmacological agents used in clinical practice that reduce brain injury secondary to TBI. This award will allow Dr. Weinstein to pursue advanced research to optimize administration of N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a thiol containing molecule for neuroprotection in an experimental rat TBI model, provide novel insight into the mechanism and prevention of posttraumatic hydrocephalus, and, if successful, will lead directly to clinical trials of NAC in human TBI.

Section on Cerebrovascular Surgery of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons/Congress of Neurological Surgeons 2008 Cerebrovascular Disease Research Award—Justin Cetas, M.D., Ph.D.
Dr. Cetas will receive $15,000 in support of his laboratory research on understanding the influence of the rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) on autonomic and/or primary afferent regulation of cerebral blood flow, which may lead to new therapeutic interventions for the treatment of acute and perhaps delayed vasospasm in patients with acute subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).

Three award winning neurological surgery residents to presented at The 76th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS).www.aans.org

2008 William Sweet Award from the AANS—Jonathan Carlson, M.D., Ph.D.
The William H. Sweet Young Investigator Award is awarded annually by the AANS/CNS Section on Pain for the best paper presented at the AANS Annual Meeting Pain Section by either a resident or a young neurosurgeon within five years of completion of his or her training.
Unmasking a novel brainstem compensatory mechanism in neuropathic pain
Jonathan D. Carlson, MD, PhD, Jennifer Maire, Mary Heinricher, PhD

2008 Robert Florin Award from the AANS—Zachary Litvack, M.D.
Awarded by the Council of State Neurosurgical Societies for the best abstract submitted by a Neurosurgeon. Selected on content and methodology relative to Socio-Economic issues.
Impact of malpractice environments on the US neurosurgical workforce 2005-2007
Zachary Litvack, M.D., Kim Burchiel, M.D., Mathew Hunt, M.D.

2007 NREF/Porex Surgical Research Award Presentation—Justin Cetas, M.D., Ph.D.
Established by the Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation (NREF) of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons in 1983, the Research Fellowship provides training for neurosurgeons who are preparing for academic careers as clinician investigators.
Central mechanisms of pain in dural inflammation.