Columbia Neurosurgery's 18th Annual Neurocharity Softball Tournament

On Saturday, June 10th, 2023, Columbia once again hosted the 18th Annual Neurosurgery Charity Softball Tournament with the Neurosurgery Research & Education Foundation (NREF) in Central Park. The event raised over $150,000 for NREF brain tumor research fellowships to support new projects. Forty-eight teams from around the country traveled to Central Park to compete, connect, see old friends and colleagues, and most importantly raise funding and awareness for this vital cause.

Our Columbia Lions team was thrilled to make the playoffs with their excellent playing! The sixteen playoff teams then competed in the “Elite Eight” and the “Final Four,” with the final match-up between Barrow Neurological Institute and the University of Kansas Medical Center. Barrow defeated Kansas - winning the tournament for the fourth straight year.

Following the games, Columbia hosted four hundred and fifty guests (including friends and family of those teams that traveled in) for an unforgettable night at M Social, a festive rooftop venue in NYC, allowing guests to see midtowns Times Square any beyond on a beautiful summer night. Guests enjoyed a wonderful program supported by our non-profit sponsor, the American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA), and our industry sponsors at Stryker, Synaptive and Brain Lab. 

Special thanks to Dr. Jeffrey Bruce for serving as Co-Director with Dr. Ricardo J. Komotar Founder, Annual Neurosurgery Charity Softball Tournament, Assistant Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Miami.

Finally, a huge congratulations to Aileen Casanova for her exceptional leadership and project management, including the oversight of her team of incredible volunteers who worked tirelessly to make this a flawless event and memorable experience for all who attended.