Current Residents
Chiefs
Matei Banu, MD
Education
- Carol Davila University, Bucharest, Romania, MD, 2011
Honors/Awards
- Summa Cum Laude and Valedictorian, Carol Davila University 2011
- GlaxoSmithKlein Award for Excellence, Carol Davila University 2011
- National Merit Scholarship, Carol Davila University 2011
- Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, Brain Tumor and Stem Cell Laboratory, Weill Cornell Medical Center 2012-2014
- Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, Bartoli Brain Tumor Laboratory, Columbia University Medical Center 2014-2016
Research Interests
- Cellular and molecular heterogeneity in glioma
- Glioma microenvironment
- Immunotherapy in glioma
- Systems biology approach to cancer
- Precision medicine based clinical trials
- Drug delivery techniques: convection-enhanced delivery and intra-arterial therapy
- Open and endoscopic approaches for skull base lesions
- Surgical approaches for pineal tumors
- History of neurosurgery
Professional Memberships
- Fellow American Association Neurological Surgeons (AANS), Resident Member
- Fellow Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS), Resident Member
- Fellow Society for Immunotherapy in Cancer
Jonathan Sisti, MD
Education
- Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, MD, 2017
- Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science, B.Sc., 2012
Honors/Awards
- NIH Summer Research Presentation Award; August 2014; Columbia University Medical Center
Professional Memberships
- American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Resident Member
- American Medical Association
- Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Resident Member
PGY-6
Eleonora Spinazzi, MD
Education
- Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, MD, 2017
- Columbia University in the City of New York, BA, Biological Sciences, 2010
Honors/Awards
- Peter W. Carmel, M.D. Award in Neurological Surgery, 2017
- Alpha Omega Alpha, 2016
- Columbian Foundation Scholarship, 2013
- President’s Volunteer Service Award, Bronze, 2012
Research Interests
- Neuroregeneration
- Neuronal Stem Cells
- Olfaction
Professional Memberships
- Alpha Omega Alpha
- The European Association of Neurosurgical Societies
- Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Resident Member
Evan Joiner, MD
Education
- Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, MD, May 2018
- Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program: Columbia University, May 2014
- Yale University, BA, American Studies and Theater Studies, May 2007
Honors/Awards
- Norman Holmes Pearson Prize, Yale University, 2007
- Cum Laude, Yale University, 2007
- NIH Summer Medical Research Fellowship (T35), 2015
- Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Medical Society, 2016
- Knapp Award for the Highest Academic Achievement at the End of the Major Clinical Year, 2018
- American Association of Neurological Surgeons Tumor Section Top Tumor E-Poster, 2018
Research Interests
- Neuro-oncology
- Tumor-Associated Epilepsy
- Patient Reported Outcomes
- Epidemiology
- Biostatistics
- Health Policy
Professional Memberships
- Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Medical Society
- American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), Resident Member
- American Medical Association (AMA)
- Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS), Resident Member
PGY-5
Zachary Englander, MD
Education
- Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, MD, May 2018
- Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, MS Biomedical Sciences, 2018
- Yeshiva University, BA Biology, 2013
Honors/Awards
- Dean’s Research Fellowship, Columbia P&S, 2016-2017
- NIH T35 Summer Research Fellowship, 2014
- Magna Cum Laude, Yeshiva University 2013
Research Interests
- Neuro-oncology
- Functional MRI
- Radiogenomics
Professional Memberships
- American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), Resident Member
- Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS), Resident Member
PGY-4
Travis CreveCoeur, MD
Education
- Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, MD, 2019
- Florida State University, BS, Biochemistry, 2017
Honors/Awards
- Washington University Distinguished Scholar, 2014-2019
Research Interests
- Spine
- Adult/Pediatric Deformity
- Oncology
- Radiogenomics
- Proteomics
- Chiari Malformation
Nina Yoh, MD
Education
- Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, MD, 2019
- Columbia University, Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program, 2014
- Pace University, MST, Secondary Mathematics, 2007
- Bard College, BA, Photography, 2005
Honors/Awards
- Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Medical Society, 2019
- Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS), 2019
- Glasgow-Rubin Achievement Award for Women Graduating in the Top 10 Percent of Their Class, 2019
- Albert B. Knapp Award for Highest Academic Achievement at the End of the Major Clinical Year, 2018
- NIH Summer Medical Research Fellowship (T35), 2016
- Alan & Ruth Borenstein Medical Scholarship, 2016
- Columbia University GS Student Leadership Service Award, 2015
- Columbia University GS Postbac Premed Scholarship, 2014
- Americorps Education Award, 2006
Research Interests
- Cerebrovascular
- Immunotherapy
- Neurocritical care
- Neuro-oncology
- Epidemiology
Professional Memberships
- American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS)
- Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS)
- Neurocritical Care Society (NCS)
- American Medical Association (AMA)
- Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY)
PGY-3
Deborah Boyett, MD, MS
Education
- Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, MD, 2020
- Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, MS Biomedical Sciences, 2020
- Bryn Mawr College, Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program, 2015
- Stanford University, BA, Human Biology, 2014
Honors/Awards
- Donald O. Quest Award for Best Basic Science Abstract by a Medical Student, Young Neurosurgeons Research Forum, American Association of Neurological Surgeons, 2019
- Dean’s Research Fellowship, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, 2018-2019
- Honors in Human Biology, Stanford University, 2014
Research Interests
- Neuro-oncology
- Radiogenomics/Radiopathomics
- Skull Base Neuro-anatomy
Professional Memberships
- American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Resident Member
- Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Resident Member
Nathan Winans, MD
Education
- Stony Brook University School of Medicine, MD, 2020
- Cornell University, BS, Biological Sciences, 2015
Honors/Awards
- Scholarly Concentration Award - Stony Brook University, 2016-2020
Research Interests
- Functional neurosurgery
- Disorders of consciousness
Professional Memberships
- American Association of Neurological Surgeons - Resident Member
PGY-2
Pavan Upadhyayula, MD
Education
- University of California, San Diego, MD 2021
- University of California, Berkeley, BA, Molecular and Cell Biology: Neurobiology, 2015
Research Interests
- Neuro-oncology
- Functional brain connectivity
Professional Memberships
- American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) Resident Member
- Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) Resident Member
Linda Wang, MD
Education
- Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, MD, 2021
- Cornell University, BA, Biological Sciences, 2016
Honors/Awards
- Phi Beta Kappa, 2016
- College of Arts and Sciences Degree Marshal, 2016
- Pauline and Irving Tanner Dean’s Scholar, 2012
Research Interests
- Neuro-oncology
- Fluorescence-guided surgery
- Functional neurosurgery
Professional Memberships
- Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society
PGY-1 Interns
Arjun Adapa, MD
Education
- University of Michigan Medical School, MD, 2022
- University of Michigan, MS, Clinical Research, 2022
- University of Maryland, BS, Biomedical Engineering, 2016
Honors/Awards
- Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA), 2022
- Deans Award for Research Excellence, 2022
- Academic Recognition Award, 2022
- Edgar A. Khan Award, 2022
- Gold Humanism Honor Society, 2020
- U.S. Fulbright Award to the Netherlands, 2016
- University of Maryland Banneker/Key Full Merit Scholarship, 2012
Research Interests
- Brain tumors and machine learning
- Immuno-oncology
- Drug delivery
Professional Memberships
- Alpha Omega Alpha
- Congress of Neurological Surgeons
- American Association of Neurological Surgeons
Alexander Agopyan-Miu, MD
Education
- Columbia Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, MD, 2022
- University of California, Berkeley, BA, Molecular and Cell Biology: Neurobiology, 2015
Honors/Awards
- Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS), 2022
- Dr. Herald Lee Meirhof Memorial Prize, 2022
- Karl H. Perzin Excellence in Pathology Award, 2019
- NIH Summer Medical Research Fellowship T35, 2018
- Phi Beta Kappa, 2015
- MCB Outstanding Scholar, 2015
Research Interests
- Epilepsy
- DBS for psychiatric indications
Professional Memberships
- Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS), Resident Member
Farhan Khan, MD
Education
- Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, MD, 2022
- Duke University, BS, Biophysics, 2017
Honors/Awards
- The Miriam-Berkman-Spotnitz Award for Excellence in Research of Neoplastic Diseases, 2022
- Dean's Research Fellowship, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, 2020-2021
- NIH Summer Medical Research Fellowship T35, 2018
- Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons Dean's Scholarship, 2017-2022
Research Interests
- Neuro-oncology
- Epilepsy
Professional Memberships
- Congress of Neurological Surgeons
- American Association of Neurological Surgeons
