iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

University of Utah Neurosurgery @uofuneurosurgery.bsky.social · 11h

Congratulations to PGY-2 resident Adi Mittal, MD, who is one of three CNS Innovator of the Year finalists! Listen to Dr. Mittal discuss his work on the Cerebral Aneurysm Test 7 at bit.ly/4zsuA9N and vote starting next week!

Dr. Adi Mittal, CNS Innovator of the Year finalist.

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University of Utah Neurosurgery @uofuneurosurgery.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

New study on linking behavioral and psychiatric phenotypes to specific neurological circuits from Georgios Skandalakis, David Botros, Leo Kim, Shervin Rahimpour, and Ben Shofty Read the full study at bit.ly/4ztf9Om

Mapping therapeutic neural circuits from bed nucleus of stria terminalis biomarkers by Skandalakis et al.

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University of Utah Neurosurgery @uofuneurosurgery.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

Patients are our top priority at the Clinical Neurosciences Center. Conditions related to the brain and spine can often be scary or frustrating. Thank you to our patients who have rated us 4.8 stars out of 5 on Google!

4.8 out of 5 stars. Clinical Neurosciences Center. University of Utah Health.

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University of Utah Neurosurgery @uofuneurosurgery.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

Over the weekend, Black Physicians of Utah held Medicine Immersion Day, allowing students to explore a variety of medical specialties. In neurosurgery, Samuel Cheshier, MD, PhD, led an operating room tour and a hands-on tumor removal simulation!

Dr. Cheshier showing students some of the instruments used in the OR.

Dr. Cheshier discussing how anesthesia is administered in the OR.

A student performing simulated tumor removal by sucking up cottage cheese that surrounds grapes.

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University of Utah Neurosurgery @uofuneurosurgery.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Join us January 29th for the 51st annual Richard Lende Winter Neurosurgery Conference! Register now at medicine.utah.edu/neurosurgery/lend… to reserve your spot. ⛷️ 🏂 ❄️

51st Annual Richard Lende Winter Neurosurgery Conference, January 29th - February 1st, 2027 at Snowbird Ski Resort, UT

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University of Utah Neurosurgery @uofuneurosurgery.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Join Dr. Samuel Cheshier and Black Physicians of Utah at the 5th annual Medicine Immersion Day! Saturday, October, 10th 8 am - 1 pm Alta View Hospital Hope to see you there! bit.ly/4ypmy1e

Samuel Cheshier teaching other physicians at BPOU Medicine Immersion Day.

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University of Utah Neurosurgery @uofuneurosurgery.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Great updated research from Vijay Ravindra, MD, MPH, John Kestle, MD, and the Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network! Rates of shunt infection are now much lower and although shunt failure rates are similar, risk factors have changed. Read the full study at bit.ly/3TzX9Tk

Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunt Failure in Children is Associated with Medical Complexity and Shunt Position, Not Shunt Technology: A Multicenter Prospective Study from the Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network by Ravindra et al.

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University of Utah Neurosurgery @uofuneurosurgery.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

1U4U funding 🎉 👏 Dr. Kara Johnson & Dr. Ben Shofty "Multimodal Biomarkers of Depression in Treatment-Resistant Obsessive Compulsive Disorder" Dr. Elliot Smith "Using Recurrent Neural Networks to Predict Dynamical Computations Underlying Failures of Model-Based Inference in Human Neuronal Ensembles"

1U4U Seed Grant Funding: Dr. Kara Johnson, Dr. Elliot Smith, and Dr. Ben Shofty

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University of Utah Neurosurgery @uofuneurosurgery.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Dr. Ben Shofty presented "Deciphering Neural Dynamics of Creative Thought and Network-Based Neurosurgery" earlier this week. Thank you to University at Buffalo Neurosurgery for the warm welcome!

Dr. Shofty with the University at Buffalo Neurosurgery group

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University of Utah Neurosurgery @uofuneurosurgery.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

We’re excited to hear from Erica Bisson, MD, MPH, at Brainwaves this week! As Keynote Speaker, Dr. Bisson will present “Key Clinical Insights and Lessons Learned: Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy” and “A Symphony of Perspectives: Spine Surgery, Academic Healthcare, and a Neurosurgical Career.”

Join us at Brainwaves with Keynote Speaker Erica Bisson, MD, MPH

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University of Utah Neurosurgery @uofuneurosurgery.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Excited to hear from Ben Shofty, MD, PhD, at University at Buffalo Neurosurgery’s Grand Rounds tomorrow!

Join Ben Shofty, MD, PhD, at University at Buffalo Neurosurgery Grand Rounds

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University of Utah Neurosurgery @uofuneurosurgery.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

During a recent trip to Nigeria, Dr. Abiodun Azeez met with the Chief Medical Director of University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Dr. Idia Ize-Iyamu, and the faculty and residents of the Benin City Neurosurgery Research Group, including his mentor, Dr. David Udoh.

Dr. Azeez with the Benin City Neurosurgery Research Group in front of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital.

Dr. Azeez with Chief Medical Director of UBTH, Dr. Idia Ize-Iyamu.

Dr. Azeez with Chief Medical Director of UBTH, Dr. Idia Ize-Iyamu (center) and Dr. David Udoh (left), as well as several other prominent members of Benin's medical community.

Dr. Azeez with the Benin City Neurosurgery Research Group.

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University of Utah Neurosurgery @uofuneurosurgery.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Dr. Robert Rennert and several of our residents joined our colleagues in ENT and Neuro-ophthalmology last week at a fantastic course on advanced endoscopic skull base surgery.

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University of Utah Neurosurgery @uofuneurosurgery.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Congratulations to PGY-2 resident Georgios Skandalakis, MD, PhD, who was recently appointed to the AANS/CNS Tumor Section Resident Subcommittee!

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University of Utah Neurosurgery @uofuneurosurgery.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

A multiphase multisite study led by site principal investigator Dr. Mark Mahan is investigating diffusion MRI to monitor nerve regeneration after traumatic peripheral nerve injury. Preliminary results correlated MRI-measured changes w/ strength and sensation recovery in patients

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University of Utah Neurosurgery @uofuneurosurgery.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

August is Neurosurgery Awareness Month Our teams work tirelessly to provide cutting-edge care so our patients can rest assured they are in the best hands! How has neurosurgery impacted your life? #NeurosurgeryAwarenessMonth

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Reposted by University of Utah Neurosurgery

Elliot H Smith, PhD @neurosmith.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

New preprint from the lab about time time resolved ensemble computations and geometrical motifs that facilitate rapidly learned inference. skeeprint 🧵: 1/

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University of Utah Neurosurgery @uofuneurosurgery.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Congratulations to PGY-4 resident Natasha Hongsermeier-Graves, MD, who will be completing a one-year experience as a global neurosurgery research lab fellow with Dr. Kee Park and the Program for Global Surgery and Social Change (PGSSC), an initiative affiliated with Harvard Medical School!

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University of Utah Neurosurgery @uofuneurosurgery.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

This week our residents were joined by 2nd-year med students with SEAD for hands-on suturing and microsuturing, neuro-navigation, spine instrumentation, lumbar puncture, drilling and ultrasonic aspiration, thrombectomy simulation, and virtual-reality surgical planning

A med student practicing on an orange slice

A med student practicing with VR under supervision

Several med students and resident Dr. Justin Zhang.

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Reposted by University of Utah Neurosurgery

Elliot H Smith, PhD @neurosmith.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

New review paper from the lab around the potential for single neuron responses to brain stimulation for diagnosing and treating drug-resistant epilepsy. Led by @rhiannon-cowan.bsky.social, who just joined bluesky! www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

sciencedirect.com

Single-neuron responses to neurostimulation: Insights for epilepsy

Invasive neurostimulation has been used in humans to treat and diagnose epilepsy for decades. Despite such ubiquitous probing and recording from the h…

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Reposted by University of Utah Neurosurgery

Elliot H Smith, PhD @neurosmith.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

PhD student #2 from the Neurosmiths lab successfully defended! Congrats to T Alexander Price, who is headed to neurotech.

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University of Utah Neurosurgery @uofuneurosurgery.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Innovative new study from Mark Libowitz, Dr. Ben Shofty, and team! They found a biomarker correlated with depression symptomatology, severity, and subtype that redefines our understanding of depression and how to treat it! Read the full study at bit.ly/4fqromp

Electrode coverage by region and by network.

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University of Utah Neurosurgery @uofuneurosurgery.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

We will never stop talking about how important improving stroke care is to us, which is why we’re proud to be recognized by the American Heart Association for our achievement in Get With the Guidelines – Stroke! #Stroke #GetWithTheGuidelines

Hands performing an endovascular procedure with the Stroke Get With The Guidelines award laid over top.

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Reposted by University of Utah Neurosurgery

Elliot H Smith, PhD @neurosmith.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

new preprint from our lab where Rikki Rabinovich used @trackingactions.bsky.social's CEBRA on human intracranial data to decode the progress of time in the human brain during decision making...

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University of Utah Neurosurgery @uofuneurosurgery.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Interesting new research from Dr. Mahan and team! Preoperative step count, rather than pain or disability scores, was linked to postoperative outcomes after endoscopic lumbar spine surgery. Read at bit.ly/4asIsqm

Dr. Mahan and his research team looking at something on a computer.

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Reposted by University of Utah Neurosurgery

Elliot H Smith, PhD @neurosmith.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

First PhD student out of the Neurosmiths Lab successfully defended! Congrats to @neurozarr.bsky.social

Two PhDs in regalia in front of a University of Utah statue

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University of Utah Neurosurgery @uofuneurosurgery.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

We’re pleased to congratulate Rachna Malani, MD, and Shervin Rahimpour, MD, on being promoted to associate professor! This milestone is reflective of the incredible impact each provider has had on our residents and their patients.

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University of Utah Neurosurgery @uofuneurosurgery.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Congratulations to our graduates! It was great to hear from many of them at the Heilbrun Symposium and graduation dinner last week. We wish them the best in their future positions! #graduation #HeilbrunSymposium #ClassOf2026

Drs. Jiji Abdelgadir, Samantha Colby, Oz Haim, Whitney Muhlestein, Jeff Nadel, Anton Peled, Guilherme Santos Piedade, and Nebras Warsi have just graduated.

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University of Utah Neurosurgery @uofuneurosurgery.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

A huge congratulations to Ramesh Grandhi, MD, who was just elected to the executive committee of the AANS/CNS Cerebrovascular Section! We’re excited to see Dr. Grandhi at work in this new position!

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University of Utah Neurosurgery @uofuneurosurgery.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Mark Mahan, MD, recently performed the first microrobotic surgery with our new Symani system! We’re committed to investing in technological evolution and are so excited to be using this incredible system.

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University of Utah Neurosurgery @uofuneurosurgery.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Great to hear from so many of our faculty and residents at RMNS this weekend, including: Dr. Sarah Menacho Dr. David Botros Dr. Sarah Nguyen Dr. Allison Liang Dr. Othman Bin-Alamer Dr. Natasha Hongsermeier-Graves Dr. Ben Shofty Dr. Jeffrey Nadel Dr. Matthew Findlay And Dr. Shervin Rahipmour

Drs. Bin-Alamer, Botros, Hongsermeier-Graves, and Liang speaking at RMNS.

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University of Utah Neurosurgery @uofuneurosurgery.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

Two of our new Chief Residents, Elena Kurudza, MD, and Sarah Nguyen, MD, had a fun time welcoming our incoming residents, Diwas Gautam, MD, and Audrey De Paepe, MD, PhD, with a hike and barbeque over the weekend! It's great to see our residents thriving both inside and outside the hospital!

Elena Kurudza, Sarah Nguyen, Diwas Gautam, and Audrey De Paepe

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University of Utah Neurosurgery @uofuneurosurgery.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

In the latest from Salt Lake City Weekly, Dr. Robert Rennert discusses his research connecting brain bleeds and air pollution. Read "Take a Deep Breath" by Grace X. Maya at bit.ly/4uLp8gh (find it about two-thirds of the way down the page)

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University of Utah Neurosurgery @uofuneurosurgery.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

It was great to see neurosurgery and pediatric neurology join forces at the International Pediatric Stroke Organization conference in Paris last week. Our teams work together closely to find new and better ways to help kids with stroke. We love to see them move the field forward!

The group U of U Health conference attendees.

Dr. Hongsermeier-Graves presenting her research.

Dr. Pabst and Dr. Coletti with their research.

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University of Utah Neurosurgery @uofuneurosurgery.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

May is Critical Care Awareness Month, and we’re introducing the newest member of our team: Dr. Abiodun Azeez! Dr. Azeez has extensive experience with neurocritical care and is a passionate educator. We're excited to have him join us! Learn more about Dr. Azeez at bit.ly/49hqxm5

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University of Utah Neurosurgery @uofuneurosurgery.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

Our PGY-3 residents were joined by friends in 15 different countries around the world at the incredible Peripheral Nerve Course organized and hosted by Dr. Mark Mahan this weekend! Thank you to the Global Nerve Foundation for sponsoring!

Drs. Hongsermeier-Graves, Mahan, Muhlestein, and Zhang posing smiling in front of the University of Utah football field.

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University of Utah Neurosurgery @uofuneurosurgery.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

Congratulations to Natasha Hongsermeier-Graves, MD, Justin Zhang, MD, and Vijay Ravindra, MD, on receiving the 2026 Timothy M. George Fellowship Award from the American Syringomyelia & Chiari Alliance Project! #Chiari #researchaward #medicalresearch

Drs. Hongsermeier-Graves, Zhang, and Ravindra with the name of the award and the title of the research.

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Reposted by University of Utah Neurosurgery

Elliot H Smith, PhD @neurosmith.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

New preprint alert! This one led by @neurozarr.bsky.social. Veronica wanted to know how neural traveling waves change during general anesthesia, so we dug back into some of the Utah array data that my PhD advisor collected back in the mid aughts. 🧵 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

biorxiv.org

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University of Utah Neurosurgery @uofuneurosurgery.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

Great new study from Dr. Vijay Ravindra and team: Over 20 years, they found that the number of pediatric patients admitted to the hospital for stroke care, costs associated with care, and disability-adjusted life years are all increasing Full study at bit.ly/4db4Whj

A child sitting on a hospital bed with a doctor standing next to them.

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University of Utah Neurosurgery @uofuneurosurgery.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

We’re excited to hear from Dr. Shervin Rahimpour as part of our Physician Speaker Series! He’ll be discussing Advanced Therapeutic Options of Drug Refractory Tremor on Wednesday, May 27th at noon. Register on Zoom at bit.ly/4sBZyIu and claim an hour of CME credit with code 83246

A graphic showing a photo of Dr. Rahimpour and the information presented in the post's caption.

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University of Utah Neurosurgery @uofuneurosurgery.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

We're gearing up for AANS 2026 and are excited to hear from our esteemed colleagues across the country, including some excellent presentations you can expect from our faculty, researchers, and med students. We hope to see you there! #AANS2026 #medicalconference #healthcare #research #academics

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University of Utah Neurosurgery @uofuneurosurgery.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

We’re pleased to congratulate Sarah Menacho, MD, MBA, on her promotions to professor! This milestone reflects Dr. Menacho's dedication and the impact she has had on our residents and her patients.

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University of Utah Neurosurgery @uofuneurosurgery.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

Congratulations to PGY-4 Resident Forrest Hamrick and CathSecure for receiving the patient safety award at the Bench to Bedside competition! Knot tying to connect shunt components is often inconsistent, prompting the team to create a surgical tie that guarantees the same tightness every time.

Dr. Hamrick and Dr. Carter at the competition standing in front of a poster about CathSecure.

The CathSecure team holding the check for the prize they won.

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University of Utah Neurosurgery @uofuneurosurgery.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

We’re excited to welcome the Symani Surgical System for robotic microsurgery to our team! Our surgeons will combine their years of experience with the tremor-reducing and motion-scaling precision of the instruments for a better surgical experience.

The Symani Surgical system featuring the two parts of the robot.

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University of Utah Neurosurgery @uofuneurosurgery.bsky.social · 04/04/2026

We're hosting the CASSC Grand Rounds April 15th at 7 am with Odette Harris, MD, MPH. "Impact of Sex Differences in TBI Outcomes: Path to Precision." In person: Huntsman Cancer Institute South Auditorium Online: utah-health.zoom.us/j/82131279951#s…. Use passcode 041526

Flyer featuring the same information found in the caption and a photo of Dr. Harris.

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University of Utah Neurosurgery @uofuneurosurgery.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

Stryker hosted our residents, alongside Drs. Robert Rennert, John Kestle, and Karol Budohoski, for a skull base course last weekend!

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University of Utah Neurosurgery @uofuneurosurgery.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

Happy National Doctors' Day to our incredible team of caregivers!

Doctors in surgery and in groups after procedures.

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University of Utah Neurosurgery @uofuneurosurgery.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

Giving Days are almost over, and we want to introduce one last resident to you, Allison Liang, MD! "I am working in Dr. Karol Budohoski’s lab focused on understanding the role of endothelial cell dysfunction for brain aneurysms." Give at bit.ly/4rTRVNq

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University of Utah Neurosurgery @uofuneurosurgery.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

It's MATCH DAY! We're incredibly proud of everyone who has matched into their chosen program, and thrilled to welcome our newest class of residents Audrey De Paepe, MD, and Diwas Gautam, MD

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