Current Residents
Chiefs
Zachary Englander, MD
Zack Englander grew up on Long Island. He completed his undergraduate degree at Yeshiva University in Biology. He then received his medical degree as well as a master’s in biomedical sciences from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. During his residency, he completed a post-doctorate NIH-funded research fellowship studying the role of focused ultrasound mediated drug delivery in malignant glioma. Zack also completed a six-month international clinical fellowship in complex spine at Queen Square Hospital in London. Following residency, he plans to pursue a fellowship in spinal neurosurgery at the University of Miami. Outside of the hospital, he enjoys cycling, baking bread, and spending time with his wife and three kids.
Travis CreveCoeur, MD
PGY-6
Nina Yoh, MD
PGY-5
Deborah Boyett, MD
Deborah is a PGY5 neurosurgery resident at Columbia with an interest in open and endo-vascular neurosurgery. Originally from San Antonio, Texas, she studied Human Biology with Honors at Stanford University, with a focus on Infectious Disease. During medical school at Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, she discovered neurosurgery and realized that she couldn't possibly do anything else. Her clinical research focuses on pioneering and evaluating new endovascular techniques for intra-arterial drug delivery aimed at treating vascular and neuro-oncologic conditions. Outside of the hospital, Deborah is an avid reader of women’s literature (check out Elena Ferrante or Sigrid Undset), and open water swimming, embracing the freedom and challenge it offers. When she can get away, she also loves to travel – she is working toward filling every page in her passport!
Nathan Winans, MD
Dr. Nathan Winans is a neurosurgery resident who grew up in Ithaca, NY. After earning his degree in biological sciences and microbiology at Cornell University, he attended Stony Brook University School of Medicine, where he was first exposed to neurosurgery. As a student, he conducted research focusing on improving outcomes after severe traumatic brain injury. He has also conducted basic tumor research focused on the immune microenvironment of glioblastoma, drug delivery to the spinal cord, and patient outcomes research. Dr. Winans plans to pursue a career in spinal neurosurgery.
PGY-4
Linda Wang, MD
Pavan Upadhyayula, MD
PGY-3
Arjun Adapa, MD
Alex Agopyan-Miu, MD
Farhan Khan, MD
PGY-2
Michael Argenziano, MD
Amrita Singh, MD
Dr. Amrita Singh received her undergraduate degree in Mathematics and Statistics from Columbia University and received her MD from the Yale University School of Medicine. Her research has focused on genetic drivers of congenital hydrocephalus, most recently identifying a novel human syndrome in a paper published in Brain in April 2024. She has a particular interest in pediatric neurosurgery, although is enjoying exploration of all fields of neurosurgery in her junior residency. An avid violinist, she has been playing for 23 years and studied at the Meadowmount School of Music.
Adrian Jimenez, MD
PGY-1 Interns
Colin Sperring, MD
Colin was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Michigan where he studied Microbiology and Latin. After college, he returned to San Francisco to work under Dr. Bill Weiss at UCSF, studying NF1 splicing in high-risk neuroblastoma. He then attended the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University, where he explored immunotherapeutic and metabolic targets in high-grade glioma under Dr. Jeffrey Bruce and Dr. Peter Canoll. As he looks to the future, Colin is interested in neuro-oncology and novel drug delivery.
Nathan Shlobin, MD
Nathan was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago. He received his BA in Biological Sciences and Psychology and MD from Northwestern University as part of the Honors Program in Medical Education and took a year off during medical school to complete an MBA at Northwestern University. Nathan's clinical interests include functional, epilepsy, and tumor, and he is involved in work within global neurosurgery, health policy, and bioethics. He enjoys playing hockey and soccer, traveling, listening to a wide variety of music, cooking, and spending time with family and friends.
Raviteja Bethamcharla, MD
Ravi grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area suburb of Fremont. He completed his undergraduate and medical degrees at Drexel University in Philadelphia as a part of the accelerated BS/MD program. During medical school he spent a year working with Dr. Raymond Sekula to research cranial neuralgias and skull base disorders. During residency, Ravi hopes to explore more basic science research and collaborate with Columbia's exceptional laboratories. Ravi's current clinical interests are skull base and neurosurgical oncology. However, he looks forward to being exposed to other subspecialties including spine, vascular, and peripheral nerve.