Current Residents
The Oregon Health & Science University Neurosurgery Residency Training Program utilizes the inpatient and outpatient facilities and operative suites of the University Hospital (UHS), Doernbecher Children's Hospital (DCH), and the Veterans Administration Medical Center (VAMC).
Outpatient clinics are held at the University complex and at the Center for Health & Healing (CHH) located on the banks of the Willamette River. The Portland Aerial Tram provides express transportation between the University Hospital and CHH (3 minutes). The average daily bed occupancy of the services is 50 to 60. Approximately 3600 surgical procedures are performed annually.
View the 2025-26 Resident and Fellow Roster
Click on a year to expand the section and read more about the residents.
Christian Giovanniis Lopez Ramos, M.D., M.C.R., M.P.H.
Undergraduate: University of California, Berkeley
Graduate: University of California, San Diego and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Medical School: University of California, San Diego
Research Interests: Understanding the impact of patient, clinical, and health system factors on the provision of care and outcomes in neurosurgery
Other Interests: Playing the piano and guitar, soccer and writing screenplays
Maryam Nour Shahin, M.D.
Undergraduate: University of California, Davis
Medical School: Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine
Research Interests: Tumor immunology
Other Interests: Soccer, cycling, practicing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, playing the flute and traveling to foreign countries
Erin Yamamoto, M.D., M.S.
Undergraduate: Colorado College
Graduate: Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University
Medical School: Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University
Research Interests: Immunology, Alzheimer's disease
Other Interests: Tennis, running, and playing soccer
Charles de Leeuw, M.D., M.S., Ph.D.
Undergraduate: University of Alberta
Graduate: Case Western Reserve University and University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC
Medical School: Case Western Reserve University
Research Interests: Functional genomics for identifying novel cancer therapies and combination chemotherapy
Other Interests: Sci-fi and horror movies, traveling, working out at the gym, playing tennis, and skiing
Paxton Gehling, M.D., M.P.H.
Undergraduate: Willamette University
Graduate: Oregon Health & Science University
Medical School: Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine
Research Interests: Neurosurgical epidemiology, cost-effectiveness analysis, and quality improvement
Other Interests: Playing jazz piano, cooking, fly fishing, and trail running
Matt McIntyre, M.D.
Undergraduate: Boston University
Medical School: New York Medical College
Research Interests: Outcomes following traumatic brain and spine injury and cerebrovascular disease
Other Interests: Sailing, cycling and scuba diving
Yasmeen Elsawaf, M.D.
Undergraduate: University of California, San Diego
Medical School: University of Central Florida College of Medicine
Research Interests: Pediatric and fetal neurosurgery, hydrocephalus, global health, socioeconomic impact on neurosurgical outcomes, and diversity and inclusion in neurosurgery
Other Interests: Rock climbing, hiking, guitar, landscape photography
Christina Gerges, M.D.
Undergraduate: University of California, Los Angeles
Medical School: Case Western Reserve University
Research Interests: Cranial and spinal trauma, neurocritical care, spine oncology
Other Interests: Rock climbing, hiking, guitar, landscape photography
Michael Rothbaum, M.D.
Undergraduate: Cornell University
Graduate: University of Pennsylvania
Medical School: New York Medical College
Research Interests: Learner assessment and entrustment in competency-based neurosurgical education
Other Interests: PSU Farmers Market, PDX Food and Beverage Scene, Road Cycling, Alpine Skiing, Modern Art, Foreign Film
Barry Cheaney II, M.D.
Undergraduate: University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Medical School: Oregon Health & Science University
Research Interests: Neuro-oncology, clinical outcomes
Other Interests: Basketball, tennis, collecting vinyl records, and hiking
Peter Cruz-Gordillo, M.D., Ph.D.
Undergraduate: Duke University
Graduate: University of Massachusetts TH Chan School of Medicine
Medical School: University of Massachusetts TH Chan School of Medicine
Research Interests: Systems biology and pharmacology, cancer -omics & computational medicine, drug discovery & high-throughput screening, liquid biopsy techniques
Other Interests: Swimming, golfing, kayaking, rafting, scuba diving, traveling, cooking, reading
Jordan Smith, M.D., Ph.D.
Undergraduate: Indiana University
Medical School: University of Massachusetts TH Chan School of Medicine
Research Interests: Discovery and generation of custom therapeutics for pediatric brain tumors, and understanding how brain tumors co-opt normal developmental pathways to promote tumor survival
Other Interests: Ballet, Sketching, Interior Design, Indie Movies, Hiking, and absolutely anything on the lake with my two dogs, and family
Jefferson Abaricia, M.D., Ph.D.
Undergraduate: Virginia Commonwealth University, Biomedical Engineering
Graduate: Virginia Commonwealth University, Biomedical Engineering
Medical School: Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
Research Interests: Tissue engineering, biomaterials for bone regeneration, brain tumor epidemiology
Other Interests: Scuba diving, mountain biking, autocross, traveling, and exploring Portland’s incredible food scene
Jacob Greisman, M.D.
Undergraduate: Colgate University
Medical School: New York Medical College
Intern Year: Tulane University Neurosurgery/General Surgery
Interests: Live music, sports, spending time with family, playing guitar, board games like Catan and historical fiction novels by authors like Ken Follett.
Joe Nugent, M.D., MPH
Undergraduate: Johns Hopkins University
Graduate: Johns Hopkins University
Medical School: Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine
Interests: Exploring new restaurants, hiking, kayaking/paddle boarding, camping, listening to sci-fi audiobooks.
Taylor Charron, M.D.
Undergraduate: The University of Texas at Austin
Medical School: The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School
Interests: Cycling, reading, playing pickle ball, and watching Premier League.
Jamila Godil, M.D.
Undergraduate: Oregon State University
Medical School: Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine
Interests: Snowboarding in the Pacific Northwest, attending live music events, and discovering new restaurants in Portland.
Muhibullah Tora, M.D., Ph.D.
Undergraduate: University of Virginia
Graduate: Georgia Institute of Technology
Medical School: Emory University School of Medicine
Interests: Weightlifting, video games, board games, and cooking. He spends much of his free time with his wife and children.
Lou Blanpain, M.D., Ph.D.
Undergraduate: Johns Hopkins University
Graduate: Emory University School of Medicine
Medical School: Emory University School of Medicine
Interests: Running, cooking, and films on the human experience from directors such as Kubrick, Tornatore, and Kar-Wai.
Julian Gendreau, M.D.
Undergraduate: University of Georgia
Graduate: Johns Hopkins University
Medical School: Mercer University School of Medicine
Interests: Traveling, softball, running, and board games.
Noah Yaffe, M.D.
Undergraduate: Yale University
Medical School: Case Western Reserve University
Interests: Volleyball, pickleball, electric guitar, and is a classically trained pianist.