Neurosurgery
Neurosurgery is a highly rigorous specialty focused on the surgical care of patients with diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system and dedicated to the comprehensive treatment of critically ill patients with neurological diseases. The Department of Neurosurgery at New York Medical College (NYMC) centers on delivering outstanding and uncompromised care for each patient, advancing neurosurgery through cutting-edge research, and educating the next generation of compassionate and technically competent neurosurgeons. Patient care, research, and education are delivered in all neurosurgical subspecialties, including spine surgery, neuro-oncology (brain, spine, and spinal cord tumors), skull base surgery, cerebrovascular services (stroke, aneurysms) including endovascular surgery, functional neurosurgery (pain, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy), peripheral nerve surgery, pediatric neurosurgery, neurotrauma, and neurosurgical critical care.
Most faculty are based at Westchester Medical Center (WMC) a Level 1 Adult and Pediatric Trauma Center, a Comprehensive Certified Stroke Center, a NAEC-accredited Level 4 Adult and Pediatric Epilepsy Center, as well as a major academic affiliate of NYMC. The operating rooms, interventional suites, and intensive care units feature the latest and most innovative technologies and the clinicians and faculty are thought leaders, recognized nationally and internationally.
Research
The research within the Department is dedicated to advancing the frontiers of neuroscience through studying surgical outcomes, participating in impactful national clinical trials, developing cutting-edge innovation, and offering opportunities to the next generation of clinician-scientists. The Clinical Neuroscience Research Office provides strategic and operational support to all translational and clinical research efforts and is comprised of physician-scientists, a research director, and three clinical research fellows, plus additional research coordinator support provided through the WMC Research and Grants Administration. This infrastructure provides resources to facilitate the successful execution of all clinical research studies and trials including grant preparation and submission, manuscript preparation and submission, regulatory activities, protocol preparation and implementation, data collection and analysis.
Over the past five years, the Department has embarked on numerous clinical trials, investigating novel, cutting-edge treatments and diagnostics with many more planned in the future. In the past year, faculty have published more than 100 manuscripts in high impact, peer-reviewed journals.
NYMC’s recent strategic partnership with Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute, a not-for-profit contract research organization in New Mexico, will further assist in advancing the science and conducting important basic and clinical research in neurosurgery in the future.
The Department of Neurosurgery also sponsors two unique opportunities for medical students interested in further exploring research and careers in the field.
Summer Neuroscience Research Program
The Summer Neuroscience Research Program is an annual opportunity, from May to July for NYMC students between the first and second years of medical school, and offers an immersive experience for students to participate in clinical research, receive supplementary neuroscience didactics, an introduction to research methodology, and observe neurosurgical procedures in the OR. Applications open the first quarter of the year. Contact Lynda George at lynda.george@wmchealth.org for more information.
Clinical Neuroscience Research Fellowship
The Clinical Neuroscience Research Fellowship is a one-year experience that can be undertaken either after the third or fourth year of medical school and is for students who are interested in pursuing a career in neurosurgery/clinical neurosciences. The mission of this immersive program is to conduct innovative and practice-changing science while supporting a diverse group of clinician-scientists dedicated to improving patient care. Through the program, NYMC medical students gain hands-on, research-related skills including learning about the development, implementation, and execution of clinical trials, including the regulatory framework that serves as the foundation for all clinical research activities and Good Clinical Practice (GCP), developing a robust research portfolio working with many of the Department’s clinician-scientists, and gaining valuable experience assisting in the operating room.
The program has been offered since 2021 and has a strong track record in developing students for a career in neurosurgery. Applications open the beginning of the calendar year for a June 1 start date (subject to change based on academic calendar). Contact Dr. Cristina Falo at cristina.falo@wmchealth.org or Dr. Fawaz Al-Mufti at fawaz.al-mufti@wmchealth.org for more information.
Medical Student Education
Faculty in the Department of Neurosurgery teach during the preclinical years as part of the foundational courses, such as Brain and Behavior, and the neuroanatomy labs. A neurosurgery elective is offered for third-year students during which students participate as a member of the neurosurgery team on the wards and in the operating room. Medical students interested in a career in neurosurgery also have the opportunity to learn more during a sub-internship, which exposes them to the unique experience of an neurosurgery intern, including rounding on patients daily, presenting on team rounds, and performing procedures as appropriate. They may also join the local AANS (American Association of Neurological Surgeons) Medical Student Chapter at NYMC, which coordinates teaching and networking events between students and neurosurgery faculty and residents.
Meet the Team
Department of Neurosurgery
Westchester Medical Center
100 Woods Road, Taylor Pavilion E-Wing
Valhalla, NY 10595
(914) 493-5216
Chirag D. Gandhi, M.D., M.S., FACS, FAANS
Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery
Professor of Neurosurgery, Neurology and Radiology
Stephanie Litt
Department Coordinator
Administrative Assistant to Dr. Gandhi
(914) 493-5216
stephanie.litt@wmchealth.org
