Program leadership

Jason H. Huang, MD
Chair, Department of Neurosurgery

Specialties: Neurosurgery

Awais Zafar Vance, MD
Program Director

Specialties: Neurosurgery, Diagnostic Radiology, Neuro-otology

Jose Soto, MD
Associate Program Director

Specialties: Neurosurgery

Faculty

Ethan A. Benardete, MD
Core Faculty

Specialties: Neurosurgery

James Kevin Cooper, MD
Core Faculty

Specialties: Neurosurgery

Ibrahim El Nihum, MD
Core Faculty

Specialties: Neurosurgery

Dongxia Feng, MD
Core Faculty

Specialties: Neurosurgery

David Garrett, MD
Core Faculty

Specialties: Neurosurgery

Frank Stephen Harris, MD
Core Faculty

Specialties: Neurosurgery

Walter S Lesley, MD
Core Faculty

Specialties: Neuroradiology, Diagnostic Radiology

Jen Murillo, DO
Core Faculty

Specialties: Neuro-oncology

Damir Nizamutdinov
Research Investigator
Kimball Nelson Pratt, MD
Core Faculty

Specialties: Neurosurgery

Eric Robert Trumble, MD
Core Faculty

Specialties: Neurosurgery, Pediatric Neurosurgery

Erxi Wu, PhD
Core Faculty, Director of CATDAD Core

Residents

PGY-7

Kristin Keith, DO
Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine

PGY-6

Anthony Nguyen, MD
University of Texas Medical Branch School of Medicine

PGY-5

Samuel Daly, MD
University of Minnesota Medical School

PGY-4

Sam Gearhart, MD
University of Mississippi School of Medicine

PGY-3

Sarah-Marie Gonzalez, MD
Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University of Chicago

PGY-2

Shray Bindal, MD
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Bronson Ciavarra, MD
McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas – Houston

PGY-1

Mia Jalee Birney, MD
University of Kansas School of Medicine
Saif Khan, MD
Texas Tech University – Health Sciences Center School of Medicine

Alumni

Laura Reed, M.D.
2025 graduate
Fellowship, (AY 2025-2026) University of Illinois Chicago
Cerebrovascular Fellowship, and Endovascular Fellowship (AY 2026-2027)
Jose Soto, M.D.
2024 graduate
Baylor Scott and White Department of Neurosurgery
Waco, TX
Buqing Liang, M.D.
2023 graduate
Endovascular Surgery Fellowship - UC Davis Medical Center (AY 2023-2024)

Loma Linda University Department of Neurosurgery
Loma Linda, CA
Kristopher Lyon, M.D.
2023 graduate
Hendrick Health Department of Neurosurgery
Abilene, TX
Samantha Dayawansa, M.D.
2022 graduate
Stereotactic and Functional Fellowship - University of Virginia (AY 2022-2023)

Neurosurgery Associates of Nacogdoches
Nacogdoches, TX
Timothy M. Robinson, M.D.
2021 graduate
Endovascular & Operative Neurovascular Fellowship - Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston, MA (AY 2021-2023)