UCSF Department of Neurological Surgery

03/07/2026

Several recent studies point to an increased risk of developing a meningioma when using the birth control shot. The progesterone in the birth control shot adds fuel for these brain tumors to develop. Progesterone itself doesn't cause meningeal cells to develop oncogenic mutations, but it helps mutated cells grow.

UCSF's David Raleigh, MD, PhD, and Jennifer Kerns, MD, MPH, weigh in on how the elevated brain tumor risk compares to other risks associated with birth control and pregnancy: https://braintumorcenter.ucsf.edu/news/meningiomas-are-associated-some-birth-control

03/05/2026

Apply now for our sub-internship in neurosurgery! This sub-internship gives rising fourth-year U.S. medical students the chance to see what it's like to be a neurosurgery resident at UCSF. Throughout the four-week rotation, students work closely with our current residents and faculty to learn about all aspects of the neurosurgery service.⁠

First rotations start in June, so get your applications in: https://neurosurgery.ucsf.edu/clerkships-sub-internships -140-01-advanced-inpatient-clerkship

Image description: A medical student observes a surgical procedure. Heading reads, UCSF Neurosurgery Sub-Internship. Navy blue text reads, Apply through VSLO portal. Two arrows point a blue box with white text that reads, Applications are open and reviewed on a rolling basis.

03/05/2026

We are proud to announce that UCSF Neurosurgery is once again the #1 NIH-funded neurosurgery department in the country — marking over 20 consecutive years at the top! 🎉🔬

Our research portfolio, amounting to $28 million in funding awards in 2025, enables us to advance innovations from bench to bedside.

“Leading the nation in NIH funding for over 20 consecutive years is an unprecedented achievement that speaks to the relentless commitment of our faculty to developing tomorrow’s cures,” said Edward F. Chang, MD, chair of the UCSF Department of Neurosurgery.

Read more about how our research is reshaping patient care:https://neurosurgery.ucsf.edu/news/ucsf-neurosurgery-ranked-no-1-by-the-national-institutes-of-health-marking-over-20-consecutive-years

03/03/2026

Brain tumors and their treatments can lead to changes in thinking, memory, mood, and behavior.

Join UCSF Health neuropsychologist Melissa Brie, PsyD, at the American Brain Tumor Association's March webinar to learn how to recognize these cognitive and emotional shifts. The webinar will help patients and caregivers identify practical strategies and resources to support cognitive function and emotional well-being throughout the brain tumor journey.

Register now: https://give.abta.org/event/abta-webinar-understanding-cognitive-and-emotional-shifts-from-brain-tumors/e745514

03/03/2026

We’re recruiting medical students to participate in an exciting new research opportunity! ⁠
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The EXPANSE Program places first- or second-year U.S. medical students who don’t have a neurosurgery residency at their home institution at one of eight regional neurosurgery centers.⁠
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The program offers an immersive experience designed for them to learn first-hand what it’s like to be a neurosurgeon-scientist. Students will be paired with both a research mentor and an academic neurosurgery career mentor. They will spend the summer working in a research lab, learning core neuroscience techniques, and throughout the following year, they will continue learning essential skills to thrive as academic researchers.⁠

Apply now: https://neurosurgery.ucsf.edu/expanse-program

02/27/2026

Today is Thank a Resident Day, so please join us in thanking our amazing residents for all their incredible hard work and dedication. We’re so proud of your contributions to advancing the field of neurosurgery and delivering the best possible care to our patients!

02/25/2026

UCSF’s Mitchel Berger, MD, recently co-authored a new report about the state of the cancer workforce in his capacity as a member of the President’s Cancer Panel.

The Panel is a three-member federal advisory committee that reports to the President on the progress being made towards reducing the burden of cancer for Americans. Their new policy recommendations include strategies for building a productive workforce that can improve patients’ access to cancer care and clinical trials.

The report is also serves as a tool for patient advocacy groups to engage with their legislators so that these changes can be implemented.

Read our Q&A with Dr. Berger to learn more about the Panel's new policy recommendations: https://braintumorcenter.ucsf.edu/news/ucsf-neurosurgeon-delivers-new-cancer-policy-recommendations-president

02/24/2026

We’re proud to be partnering with Montage Health to expand access to advanced neurosurgical care to patients in the Monterey Bay Area!

At our first annual Monterey Neuroscience Symposium, leading subspecialty experts highlighted the clinical research reshaping the management of brain tumors as well as new, minimally invasive treatment options for cerebrovascular, spinal, and movement disorders.

📸 Photo credits: Todd Dubnicoff

Pictured here:
1. (L to R) Tyler Cole, MD, Ethan Winkler, MD, PhD, Dragan Dimitrov, MD, Keiko Fukuda, MD and Edward Chang MD attend the 2026 Monterey County Neuroscience Symposium.
2.Dragan Dimitrov, MD, Medical Director at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula for UCSF, presenting his talk, “Avoiding the Wrong Surgery: When Fusion Helps and When it Hurts."
3.Attendees of the 2026 Monterey County Neuroscience Symposium
4. Brian Toyota, MD, UCSF’s Regional Director of Neurosciences Network, attends the 2026 Monterey County Neuroscience Symposium.

02/18/2026

People living with Parkinson’s often experience problems with walking that fluctuate as they go about their everyday activities.

In a new Science Advances study, UCSF Health neurosurgeon Doris Wang, MD, PhD and her team showed for the first time that brain activity recorded from fully implanted DBS devices while patients are at home can be used to reliably determine whether a person is walking or not.

The findings are an important step towards developing improved DBS therapy to address one of Parkinson’s most disabling symptoms.

“We identified personalized neural biomarkers associated with gait and demonstrated that these signals can be used for real-time movement state classification within the constraints of an implanted device,” Wang said. “This establishes a framework for future adaptive DBS systems that could adjust stimulation in response to a patient’s activity state.”

Learn more about the research here: https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2026/02/431491/decoding-parkinsons-patients-movements-real-world

02/17/2026

Join us next month for a four-week yoga and meditation program developed by a member of our brain tumor peer support community!

Gentle hatha yoga is a slow-paced yoga practice that mindfully honors one’s body, not pushing or striving for a particular outcome. In clinical trials, both yoga and meditation have been shown to reduce stress in patients living with brain cancer.

Virtual sessions will be held on Wednesdays at noon starting March 4.

Register here: https://calendar.ucsf.edu/event/copy-of-4-week-yoga-meditation-program-for-ucsf-brain-tumor-patients

02/13/2026

02/06/2026

Congratulations to neurosurgeons Blake Taylor, Nalin Gupta, and Tarun Arora on being named Marin Magazine's 2026 Top Doctors.

This recognition reflects their commitment to delivering high-quality neurosurgical care to patients and families across Marin and the Bay Area.