UNC Department of Neurosurgery

02/25/2026

UNC Neurosurgery faculty Michael Galgano, MD, and Cheerag Upadhyaya, MD, will take on multiple presentation and leadership roles at the 2026 Spine Summit this week in Phoenix, Arizona.

Dr. Galgano will present, “Intramedullary Spinal Cord Tumor Resection,” and “When to Consider Instrumentation for Cervical Dumbbell Nerve Sheath Tumors,” and serve as co-director for “Special Course 7: State of the Art Tumor Management,” an in-depth session focused on core principles of spine oncology, complex case management, and emerging surgical and non-surgical technologies designed to improve clinical decision-making and patient outcomes.

Dr. Upadhyaya will present, “Personal and Business Finance: Things I Wish I Had Known Early On,” and serve as a moderator for “Scientific Session 5: Caring for the Spine Patients Through Time.”

February 26–March 1, 2026
AANS/CNS Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves
Phoenix, Arizona

02/23/2026

Dominique Higgins, MD, PhD—Director of Adult Neurosurgical Oncology—will present, “Surgical Oncology Trials in Neurosurgery,” this Thursday during the Brain Tumor Management / General Cranial session at the 2026 Winter Clinics for Cranial and Spinal Surgery in Snowmass Village, Colorado.

This national meeting brings together neurosurgeons, orthopedic spine surgeons, and advanced practice providers from across the country to explore emerging technologies, clinical decision-making, and the future of patient-centered neurosurgical care in a highly collaborative setting.

February 22–26, 2026
Viewline Snowmass | Snowmass Village, Colorado

02/19/2026

We are pleased to share important news regarding our department’s research trajectory. The latest data from the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research (BRIMR), which tracks annual NIH funding across all U.S. medical school departments, shows that UNC Neurosurgery has reached a significant milestone in national rankings.

Read more about our progress in research:
https://www.med.unc.edu/neurosurgery/uncns-brimr-rank/

02/11/2026

We are excited to announce our upcoming event, the Deep Brain Stimulation & Focused Ultrasound Symposium of the Carolinas taking place on March 21st, 2026, at the Carolina Club in Chapel Hill, NC.

This symposium aims to bring together neurosurgeons, neurologists, fellows, residents, scientists, and engineers from across North and South Carolina to foster clinical and research collaboration in neuromodulation.

Abstract submissions are due February 20, 2026.

Register and view abstract submission details: https://www.med.unc.edu/neurosurgery/event/dbsfu2026/

02/05/2026

Kimberly Hamilton, MD presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Pediatric Neurosurgeons on the logistics of taking parental leave in neurosurgery.

Her presentation discussed a survey-based study examining how surgeons, both trainees and attendings, prepare for family-related leave, as well as how male surgeons use their existing six weeks of paternity leave. The work focuses on practical, experience-based considerations to help expecting surgeons plan for parental leave and a structured, supported return to work within current departmental and institutional frameworks.

02/03/2026

UNC Neurosurgery Chief Resident Aaron Gelinne, MD, recently presented “Do Patients With High ASA Grades Benefit From Surgery for Grade 2 Spondylolisthesis” at the Neurosurgical Society of Virginia Annual Meeting.

Drawing on a multidisciplinary, multicenter effort with the SpineCORe Study Group and the Quality Outcomes Database (QOD), this work examined outcomes in medically complex patients to better inform risk stratification, patient selection, and shared decision-making. The findings highlight that even higher-risk patients can achieve meaningful clinical improvement when surgical care is thoughtfully guided by real-world data.

This collaborative research—led within UNC Neurosurgery by Cheerag Upadhyaya, MD, MBA, MSc, with UNC resident co-author Allie Harbert, MD, and collaborators from the SpineCORe Study Group and the Quality Outcomes Database (QOD) network—reflects the department’s growing focus on outcomes science, teamwork, and translating evidence directly into patient-centered care.

01/27/2026

UNC researchers have reported promising results for a new combination therapy approach to glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive and treatment-resistant forms of brain cancer.

In a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a UNC research team—including collaboration with the Higgins Lab—found that pairing the standard chemotherapy temozolomide with the compound EdU led to dramatic survival and remission outcomes in preclinical models. The research was led by Nobel laureate Aziz Sancar, MD, PhD.

“Glioblastoma is one of the most aggressive and challenging cancers we treat because it infiltrates the brain so extensively and adapts so quickly,” said co-author Dominique Higgins. “We need therapies that are both biologically precise and capable of overcoming the tumor’s remarkable resistance mechanisms, which is what makes these results especially exciting.”

Together, the findings point to the potential of precision-driven combination therapies and highlight the power of collaborative, cross-disciplinary research in advancing brain cancer treatment.

Read the full story: https://news.unchealthcare.org/2026/01/unc-researchers-show-combination-therapy-effective-for-brain-cancer/

Photo: Kurt Nolen, SOC

01/23/2026

🎉 Congratulations to our UNC Neurosurgery faculty recognized as 2026 Castle Connolly Top Doctors!

Castle Connolly selections are based on peer nomination and a rigorous review of professional qualifications, leadership, and clinical excellence—an honor awarded to just 7% of physicians nationwide.

We’re proud to recognize Drs. Carlos David, Matthew Ewend, Scott Elton, Cheerag Upadhyaya, Michael Galgano, Vibhor Krishna, and Edward Yap for their commitment to exceptional patient care and academic medicine.

These achievements reflect UNC Neurosurgery’s collective dedication to excellence in patient care, outcomes, and trust.

Photo by: Kurt Nolen, SOC

01/21/2026

UNC Neurosurgery faculty member Dr. Vibhor Krishna, MD, SM, FACS will be sharing two talks on focused ultrasound at the North American Neuromodulation Society (NANS) this weekend.

His first presentation, “Focused Ultrasound: New Treatments for Epilepsy,” explores how focused ultrasound works in the brain and reviews current and emerging applications in epilepsy, including ablation, neuromodulation, and opening of the blood–brain barrier.

His second, “Focused Ultrasound for Opening of the Blood–Brain Barrier in Alzheimer’s Disease,” examines the rationale for using focused ultrasound to open the blood–brain barrier in Alzheimer’s disease and its potential role in targeted delivery of therapies.

01/09/2026

At UNC Neurosurgery, our Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) program is centered on one thing: patients.

We’re proud to share a new video that highlights the real experiences of individuals living with movement disorders and how deep brain stimulation has helped them reclaim daily life, independence, and hope.

This short film offers a patient-centered look at care, innovation, and multidisciplinary collaboration within UNC’s Deep Brain Stimulation program: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOFujEA5SSg&t=1s

What if tremors no longer controlled your life? In this video, patients share their powerful journey with Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)—from the decision to m...

01/07/2026

This week, Dr. Carlos David, Chief of Cerebrovascular and Skull Base Surgery and Director of the Skull Base Skills Laboratory at UNC Neurosurgery, is serving as guest faculty at the Spetzler Microneurosurgery Course at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona.

Dr. David will be teaching advanced skull base approaches and delivering grand rounds as part of this nationally recognized course, which emphasizes microneurosurgical anatomy, operative technique, and hands-on surgical education.

We’re proud to see Dr. David representing UNC Neurosurgery and helping train the next generation of neurosurgical leaders.

Photo by Kurt Nolen, SOC

12/22/2025

🎉 Congratulations to Dominique Higgins, MD, PhD on becoming a diplomate of the American Board Neurological Surgery through achieving board certification in neurological surgery.

Dr. Higgins is an Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery and Director of Adult Neurosurgical Oncology at UNC Health. He specializes in the surgical treatment of brain tumors, including glioblastoma, and is actively engaged in research focused on advancing care for patients with malignant brain tumors 🧠🔬
Board certification represents a significant professional milestone and reflects a commitment to rigorous training, clinical excellence, and the highest standards of patient care.

👏 Please join us in congratulating Dr. Higgins on this well-earned achievement.

Photo by Kurt Nolen, SOC