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

2025 graduates

Laura Reed, M.D.
Fellowship, (AY 2025-2026) University of Illinois Chicago
Cerebrovascular Fellowship, and Endovascular Fellowship (AY 2026-2027)
 

2024 graduates

Jose Soto, M.D.
Baylor Scott and White Department of Neurosurgery
Waco, TX
 

2023 graduates

Buqing Liang, M.D.
Endovascular Surgery Fellowship - UC Davis Medical Center (AY 2023-2024)

Loma Linda University Department of Neurosurgery
Loma Linda, CA
Kristopher Lyon, M.D.
Hendrick Health Department of Neurosurgery
Abilene, TX
 

2022 graduates

Samantha Dayawansa, M.D.
Stereotactic and Functional Fellowship - University of Virginia (AY 2022-2023)

Neurosurgery Associates of Nacogdoches
Nacogdoches, TX
 

2021 graduates

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

University of New Mexico Department of Neurosurgery
Albuquerque, MN