UMMC Department of Neurosurgery

06/30/2025

🎉 After more than 30 years of teaching, mentoring, and research at UMMC, Dr. Eddie Perkins is officially retiring from the Department of Neurosurgery.

Dr. Perkins has been a foundational part of our education and research missions — leading neuroscience courses, guiding resident research, and supporting generations of trainees. In his three decades at UMMC, he has taught thousands of students — shaping the knowledge and careers of many of the physicians caring for Mississippi today.

To honor his contributions, we’re proud to announce the naming of our Neuroanatomy Research Lab in his name ❤

Thank you, Dr. Perkins, for your extraordinary service, mentorship, and impact. You’ve left a legacy here that will last far beyond retirement.

Enjoy a look back at 20 years of department photos! Tag yourself or an old friend 📸

06/24/2025

🎓👨‍⚕️ Help us congratulate Dr. Daniel Duran! 🎉

After seven years of neurosurgery residency, Dr. Duran is officially a graduate! We’re proud of his dedication, growth, and all he’s accomplished. We can’t wait to see the impact he’ll make in the field of neurosurgery. ❤️

05/30/2025

🧠 As Stroke Awareness Month comes to a close, we want to share what it truly means to be a Comprehensive Stroke Center at UMMC.
It means 24/7 access to stroke experts, advanced imaging, neurosurgery, and specialized care—all working together, right here.

Because when seconds matter, so does having everything—and everyone—you need, exactly where you need them.

📸:
Emergency Room: Bailey Riddley, RN
Emergency Room CT: Dylan Grantham, RN
Interventional Radiology: Elizabeth Greer, R.T. (R)
Neurosurgery: Allison Strickland, MD
NSICU: Anna Claire Blaine, RN
Floor: Nakisha Cox, RN
Medical Director of the Stroke Center: Chad Washington, MD

05/23/2025

🧠 May is Brain Tumor Awareness Month 🧠

We’re going gray this month—alongside our UMMC colleagues—to honor the patients, families, and care teams who are all part of the fight against brain tumors.

Did you know the brain has more than 100 billion neurons? It’s the body’s most complex organ—and when a tumor strikes, it can change everything in an instant.

This May, let’s GO GRAY to raise awareness, support early detection, and drive research forward. Wear gray, share your story, and help us spread the word—because every voice matters.

05/02/2025

🧠✨ Last week, Dr. Hidalgo had the honor of speaking with Mrs. Menist’s first-grade class at St. Andrew's Episcopal School for Career Day! He shared what it’s like to be a neurosurgeon — and didn’t come empty-handed. The kids (including his own daughter and Dr. Marks’ son!) got an up-close look at a skull model while learning just how amazing the brain and spine really are. Who knows — maybe he inspired a few future neurosurgeons! 😉

04/25/2025

Happy Neurodiagnostic Awareness Week to all the amazing ND pros out there! 🧠👩‍⚕️👨‍⚕️ Thanks for all you do—whether it’s EEGs, MRIs, CTs, or keeping an eye on things during surgery, we couldn’t do it without you. Your skills help keep our patients safe every step of the way. We appreciate you!

📷: Two of our amazing ND professionals, Patricia Oliver and Skyla Wilson

04/07/2025

UMMC is the first in Mississippi to offer deep brain stimulation (DBS) as a treatment for epileptic seizures!

For James Canfield of Moss Point, who has lived with seizures every day of his life, this innovative procedure brings new hope.

Performed by neurosurgeon Dr. Omar Chohan, DBS uses surgically implanted electrodes to deliver targeted electrical impulses, helping reduce symptoms of neurological disorders.

Learn more about James’s journey and this exciting milestone for Mississippi here:
https://umc.edu/news/News_Articles/2025/04/Deep-Brain-Stimulation.html

04/04/2025

We're having a great time exhibiting at the Brain Injury Association of Mississippi's Neurotrauma Symposium today! We're enjoying connecting with healthcare professionals and survivors in the community. Thank you to the Brain Injury Association of Mississippi for hosting this impactful event 🧠

03/21/2025

Happy Match Day! We're thrilled to announce we matched with Spencer Lau from the University of Nebraska College of Medicine and Ryan Morgan from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine! We can't wait for their arrival this July.

Join us in welcoming them to the UMMC Neurosurgery family!

03/11/2025

💙

We are heartbroken by the loss of the crew of AirCare 3 during yesterday's crash in Madison County. The fallen have been identified as Dustin Pope, 35 of Philadelphia, and Jakob Kindt, 37, from Tupelo. The Med-Trans Corporation pilot was Cal Wesolowski, 62, of Starkville.
UMMC will continue to provide support for the families of the fallen, our AirCare and Mississippi Center for Emergency Services teams and the countless others who worked with them in any way we can.

02/28/2025

As Resident Appreciation Week comes to a close, today is the perfect time to say THANK YOU to our incredible neurosurgery residents! 🎉💙 is all about recognizing their long hours, hard work and dedication to patient care.

To our residents: Your commitment to learning, growing, and caring for patients does not go unnoticed. We are grateful for everything you do! 💪👏

If you see a resident today, take a moment to let them know they’re appreciated!

The Arnold P. Gold Foundation

01/24/2025

Today we had the honor of hosting Dr. Andrew Conner from OU Health, who shared his insights on functional neurosurgery with our residents. As a board-certified neurosurgeon specializing in advanced neurological interventions, Dr. Conner brought invaluable expertise from his fellowship at UCSF Health.

A huge thank you to Dr. Conner for taking the time to visit our department and inspire the next generation of neurosurgeons!