OHSU

Current Residents

7th Year Residents

Zachary Litvack, M.D.

Chief Resident

Zachary Litvack, M.D., joined neurological surgery in July 2003 as an intern in general surgery. In June 2004, he completed his medical degree at Brown University. In 1998, he completed a science bachelor’s degree in biochemistry at Brown University. His undergraduate work was in bio-organic and non-enzymatic ligation reactions of DNA. Zach, is presently working with Valerie Anderson, Ph.D. and Charlie Springer, M.D. on two new magnetic resonance imaging techniques; diffusion contrast enhancement (DCE) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). These techniques have yet to be perfected, and are not in clinical use. Litvack joins an existing laboratory group that utilizes both DCE and DTI to examine the brain plaques of Alzheimer’s disease. A goal of this research is to perfect laboratory use of the two techniques with an extension to use in surgical planning. When not at work (which happens occasionally) he is either with his significant other, or playing guitar for his 80's cover band, "Members Only".
  • Council of State Neurosurgical Societies (CSNS) socioeconomic fellow (northwest) 2008-09
  • Robert Florin Award from the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) 2008: Impact of Malpractice Environments on the US Neurosurgical Workforce 2005-2007Zachary Litvack, M.D., Mathew Hunt, M.D., Kim Burchiel, M.D.
  • NL Tartar Trust Research Fellowship 2006: Pilot Studies of Dynamic Contrast Magnetic Resonance / Three Site Exchange: An imaging technique with potential for early detection of tumors of the central nervous system

Jason Weinstein, M.D.

Chief Resident

Jason Weinstein, M.D., joined neurological surgery in July 2003 as an intern in general surgery. In May 2003 he completed his medical degree at University of Colorado-HSC. In 1998, he completed a bachelor’s degree in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology at University of Colorado-Boulder. His particular interests include; traumatic brain injury and the role of novel technologies for the assessment and management of cerebral blood flow, novel pharmaceutical and gene therapy delivery systems, cerebral aneurysm pathophysiology, and synaptic transmission and regulation. He enjoys triathlon, skiing, fishing, travel, live music, and food.
  • Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation (NREF) Award 2008: Optimization of N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) Administration for Neuroprotection in an Experimental Rat CNS Injury Mode
  • OHSU Department of Emergency Medicine — Outstanding Consultant of the Year 2007
  • AANS Resident Award: Poster Presentation 2006: Contrast Ultrasound Assessment of Cerebral Perfusion in Patients Undergoing Decompressive Craniectomy for Traumatic Brain Injury

6th Year Residents

Abdu, EmunEmun Abdu, M.D.

Research

Emun Abdu, M.D., joined neurological surgery in July 2004 as an intern in general surgery. In June 2004, she completed her medical degree at the University of Michigan. In 1999, she completed a bachelor’s degree in laboratory medicine at University of Washington, Seattle, Wash.

 

Sam HughesSamuel Hughes, M.D., Ph.D.

Research

Samuel Hughes, M.D., Ph.D., joined neurological surgery in July 2006, as a year three resident after completing his first two years of neurosurgical residency at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). Dr. Hughes obtained a bachelor’s degree at UCSD and a Ph.D. in classical studies at the University of Pennsylvania, where he also played ultimate frisbee for four years with the UPenn Void. He received his medical degree from UCSD in June, 2004. His neurosurgical interests include trauma of the brain and spine


5th Year Residents

Mehmet BerkMehmet Berk, M.D.

Senior Resident

Mehmet C. Berk, M.D., joined neurological surgery in July 2006 as a year two resident. He obtained a medical degree from Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey and a degree in neurosurgery from Ankara University School of Medicine, Turkey. Dr. Berk has completed fellowships in stereotactic and functional neurosurgery (at University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, and Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada), and fellowships in pediatric neurosurgery (at University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada, and Washington University, St. Louis, MO). He worked as a research associate at Louisiana State University, in Shreveport, LA. Dr. Berk has contributed to the neurosurgical clinical research literature with more then 60 publications in Turkish and North American scientific journals, and gained over 160 citations in Science Citation Index

 

Ahmed RaslanAhmed Raslan, M.D.

Senior Resident

Ahmad M.T. Raslan, M.D., entered the neurological surgery residency program in 2006 as a year two resident. Raslan received his undergraduate bachelor degree of medicine and surgery (B.M., B.Ch.) from Ain Shams University, Abbassia, Cairo, Egypt, in 1994. In 1998, Raslan received a master’s degree in medicine from Ain Shams University, specializing in surgery. From 1995 to 1999, Raslan was a resident of neurosurgery at Ain Shams University, and in 2000 he moved to Ankara, Turkey, as a clinical fellow in functional and stereotactic surgery, working with Professor Kanpolat in the Department of Neurosurgery, Ankara University. In 2002, Raslan received a medical degree from Ain Shams University, specializing in neurosurgery. Dr. Raslan, joined neurological surgery as an instructor in functional and stereotactic neurosurgery in 2004-2005. In 2005-2006, he completed a stereotactic and functional neurosurgery fellowship at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.


4th Year Residents

Mark PiedraMark Piedra, M.D.

Veteran's Administration and Doernbecher Children's Hospital

Mark Piedra, MD, joined neurological surgery in July 2006, as a year one resident. A native New Yorker he spent much of his childhood in Caracas, Venezuela, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. After graduating high school, he worked as a computer consultant for IBM for several years and in 1996 graduated from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, with a bachelor’s degree in physics. He then worked for some engineering firms before volunteering for the Peace Corps, where he spent two years teaching high school math and science in rural Zimbabwe. In 1999, Dr. Piedra returned to Alaska and spent a few more years working for engineering companies and as an instructor at the University of Alaska. He received his medical degree from the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in May 2006. He enjoys the outdoors, hiking, canoeing, downhill skiing, and flying airplanes. 


Eric Thompson, M.D.

Veteran's Administration and Doernbecher Children's Hospital

Eric Thompson, MD, joined neurological surgery in July 2006, as a year one resident. In 2002, he completed a bachelor’s degree in psychology at Duke University, Durham, N.C. In May 2006, he completed a medical degree at University of Nebraska College of Medicine, Omaha. Throughout medical school, Dr. Thompson served as an academic leader and was the recipient of many academic achievement awards. His interests include international travel, music, classic literature, downhill skiing, golf, and he is fluent in Spanish.


3rd Year Residents

Roundy, NeilNeil Roundy, M.D.

Elective Year

Neil Roundy, M.D., joined neurological surgery in July 2007, as a year one resident. He graduated from the University of Arizona, Tuscon, AZ in June 2007. Dr. Roundy has served as coordinator of the Cross Streets Medical Free Clinic in Tuscon, and in other volunteer capacities for the underserved. His interests include rock climbing, mountain biking, snowboarding and photography.

 

Sun, HaiHai Sun, M.D., Ph.D.

Elective Year

Hai Sun, M.D., Ph.D., joined neurological surgery in July 2007, as a year one resident. He graduated from Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH in June 2007. Dr. Sun is trained in both medicine and biomedical engineering. His interests include woodwork, distance running and international travel. 

 


2nd Year Residents

Farrell, BrianBrian T. Farrell, M.D., Ph.D.

Junior Resident

Brian T. Farrell, M.D., Ph.D., graduated from University of Nebraska Medicine Center, College of Medicine, Omaha, Neb. in June 2008. Dr. Farrell’s doctoral dissertation examined Mechanistic Insights in CAG-CTG Contractions in Cultured Human and Simian Cells. His interests include surfing, running, golf, and classical and jazz trumpet.

 

Whitney, NathanielNathaniel Whitney, M.D.

Junior Resident

Nathaniel Whitney, M.D., graduated from Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, Calif. in June 2008. Dr. Whitney has been involved with charity programs for children and his interests include the outdoors, hiking, canoeing, writing music and working with music groups.



1st Year Residents

JESSE_LIUJesse Liu, M.D.

Intern in Neurological Surgery

Jesse Liu, M.D. was educated at Pacific Union College, Amgwin, Calif. and  earned his medical degree from Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, Calif. in June, 2009. At Loma Linda, he has served in the elected role of class pastor and in the Student Senate. His scientific work has concentrated on embryological development of the limb bud. He is also a cellist and rock climber.

 

jeff-raskinJeffrey Raskin, M.D.

Intern in Neurological Surgery

Jeffrey Raskin, M.D. was educated at Pomona College, Claremont, Calif. and spent part of his undergraduate years doing research in Developmental Biology at University College London, London, England. He holds a master’s degree in cell and molecular neurobiology from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, Calif. Dr. Raskin graduated in June, 2009 with a medical degree from the University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno, Nev. where he has served as president of his class and was awarded "Outstanding Student in Surgery for the Class of 2009". In addition to his neuroscientific pursuits, Dr. Raskin is interested in literary descriptions of medical care and edited the UNSM literary annual. He enjoys camping and hiking.