The Department of Neurological Surgery in the OHSU School of Medicine is proud to recognize the accomplishments of John Raaf, M.D., (1905 – 2000), widely regarded as the father of neurosurgery in Oregon. Raaf advanced the profession during his years as chairman of neurosurgery at Good Samaritan Hospital by creating an outstanding resource for the neurosciences community in the Pacific Northwest.

Dr. E. Sander Connolly serves as the Byron Stookey Professor and Chair of the Department of Neurological Surgery at the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University and the Surgeon-in-Chief of the New York Neurological Institute and the New York Presbyterian Hospital - Columbia Irving Medical Center. 

Dr. Connolly earned his MD at Louisiana State University, completed his residency in neurosurgery at Columbia University/ New York Presbyterian, and is board-certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery.

Dr. Connolly’s clinical practice focuses on the microsurgical treatment of patients with cerebral aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), carotid stenosis, moyamoya, cerebral hemorrhage, and ischemia. As one the nation’s experts on stroke, aneurysms, and AVMs, he helped develop a scoring system to aid physicians in the management of unruptured intracranial aneurysms.

In addition, Dr. Connolly serves as the Director of the Cerebrovascular Research laboratory at Columbia. His research focuses primarily on the study of strokes and the effects of inflammation in the brain following a stroke. Based on this research, Dr. Connolly has conducted clinical trials of agents that can reduce inflammation and potentially improve stroke outcomes. He has published extensively and is NIH funded.

Having previously served as president of the Neurosurgical Society of America and president of the Society of University Neurosurgeons, Dr. Connolly currently serves as the President of the Society of Neurological Surgeons, secretary for the American Academy of Neurological Surgery, and board member of the National Resident Matching Program.