Awards & Recognitions – June 2024
America’s Best Spine Surgeons
Newsweek has named Barrow neurosurgeons Jay Turner, MD, PhD, (left) and Juan Uribe, MD, (right) in its 2024 list of “America’s Best Spine Surgeons.” The media company compiled the list of 150 spine surgeons in partnership with the data firm Statista, Inc., using a combination of Medicare data and state-specific survey results from experts in the field. Read the story.
UCNS Accreditation
The Neurocritical Care Fellowship Program at Barrow has attained accreditation from the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties (UCNS), effective June 1. This voluntary accreditation recognizes that the Program contains the core subspecialty training curriculum developed by experts from leading institutions across the country and meets required quality standards established by the UCNS. Fellows who complete a UCNS-accredited program meet the training eligibility requirements to apply for certification in the subspecialty.
Charity Softball Champions
The Barrow Department of Neurosurgery defended their title as champions of the Neurosurgery Charity Softball Tournament. Forty-eight teams from around the United States and Canada participated in the 19th annual tournament, hosted in New York City’s Central Park by the Columbia University Department of Neurosurgery. The tournament generated more than $150,000 for the Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation (NREF) this year and has raised nearly $2 million since its inception. Barrow defeated George Washington University’s Department of Neurosurgery in the finals, bringing home the J. Lawrence Pool Memorial Trophy for the 10th time in the past 13 years.
Health Care Hero
PHOENIX magazine named Barrow neurosurgical oncology nurse navigator Jacki Garcia, RN, CNRN, as one of its 2024 Health Care Heroes. The magazine selected the inaugural class of health care heroes from a pool of nominees submitted by readers during a one-month submission period.
Student Research Awards
Thomas On, a student research intern in the Loyal and Edith Davis Neurosurgical Research Laboratory at Barrow, has received the following three awards:
- Neurosurgery Research Education Foundation (NREF) Medical Student Summer Research Fellowship from the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS)
- 2024-25 Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship
- Creighton Summer Research Award
The second-year medical student at Creighton University School of Medicine’s Phoenix Campus has been working in our neurosurgery research lab under the mentorship of Mark Preul, MD. His research focuses on improving neurosurgical fluorescence techniques for intraoperative guidance during brain tumor resection. He is pictured with Dr. Preul (right) and Creighton Regional Dean Randy Richardson, MD (left).
Neurosurgery Teacher of the Year
The Barrow Department of Neurosurgery trainees selected neurosurgeon Jay Turner, MD, PhD, as 2024 Teacher of the Year, recognizing his commitment to the education of residents and fellows. Dr. Turner was presented with the award at the department’s graduation ceremony. He is pictured with this year’s graduating neurosurgery residents (left to right): Drs. Timothy Gooldy, Arnau Benet, Harrison Farber, and James Zhou.
Neurology Teacher of the Year
The Barrow Department of Neurology trainees selected neurologist Michael Robers, MD, MS, as 2024 Adult Neurology Teacher of the Year, recognizing his commitment to the education of residents and fellows.
Nurse of the Year
The Department of Neurosurgery trainees honored Gabriel Velasco, RN, as the 2024 Nurse of the Year at their graduation ceremony. Gabriel is pictured with this year’s graduating neurosurgery residents (left to right): Drs. Timothy Gooldy, Arnau Benet, Harrison Farber, and James Zhou.