A national and international referral practice provides many intra-axial and skull base tumors for state-of-the-art surgical procedures. Many of these employ sophisticated, non-invasive mapping techniques, computer-assisted image guidance, and intraoperative electrophysiological monitoring. Skull base tumors are frequently approached in conjunction with members of other departments, notably otolaryngology.
A collegial multidisciplinary team of neuro-oncologists, radiation oncologists and rehabilitation specialists is involved in the management of glial and metastatic neoplasms. In 1997, the first Gamma Knife Unit in New York City was established at NYU. Stereotactic radiosurgery as a treatment option is considered for all patients, when appropriate. Residents are encouraged to spend time learning stereotactic radiosurgery in order to add it to their arsenal of brain tumor techniques.
Dr. Patrick Kelly, the Joseph P. Ransohoff Professor of Neurosurgery and Chairman of the Department, is a leading authority on the treatment of brain tumors and a pioneer in the development of computer assisted stereotactic methods for the minimally invasive resection of these lesions. He did his neurosurgical training at Northwestern University and the University of Texas where he remained on the faculty. He was awarded a Van Weganan Fellowship and studied stereotactic techniques with Drs. Jean Talairach and Gerard Guiot in Paris and John Gillingham in Edinburgh. Prior to coming to NYU, he was on the staff at the Mayo Clinic. Among other honors, he has received the Olivacrona Award from the Karolinska Institute, the Scoville Achievement Award from the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies and The Obrador Medal from the Spanish Neurological Association. He has delivered a number of honorary lectures, including the Schneider Lecturer from the American Association of Neurological Surgeons in 1996 and again in 2002, the Penfield Lecture at the Canadian Neurological Society in 1994, The Obrador Lecturer at the Spanish Neurological Association 1997, L'Invit' d'Honneur de la Soci't' de Neurochirurgie de Langue Fran'aise in 2000. Dr. Kelly is the author or co-author of over 240 scientific and clinical papers and book chapters, author of a monograph: 'Tumor Stereotaxis', and co-editor of Computers in Stereotactic Neurosurgery. He is chairman of the Review Board for Neuro-augmentative Surgery for the National Institutes of Health, and is founder and president of the Brain Tumor Foundation. He serves on multiple editorial and advisory boards.
John G. Golfinos, MD is an associate professor of neurosurgery. Dr. Golfinos, a native New Yorker, trained in neurosurgery at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, AZ. He joined the faculty at NYU in 1995 and has a practice devoted solely to the multi-modality treatment of brain tumors, including primary brain tumors, metastatic tumors, acoustic neuromas and skull base tumors. He holds a joint appointment in the department of otolaryngology, reflecting his close collaboration with the neuro-otologists on acoustic neuromas and skull base tumors. Dr. Golfinos was the co-editor, with Dr. Cooper, of the textbook 'Head Injury'.
Erik C. Parker, MD is an assistant professor of neurosurgery with a subspecialty interest in brain tumor surgery, radiosurgery, and functional neurosurgery for movement disorders. Dr. Parker graduated from the University of Arkansas School of Medicine, training with Dr. Gazi Yasargil, the father of micro-neurosurgery. Dr. Parker completed his neurosurgery training at NYU in 2004, and perfected his neurosurgical technique for tumor removal under the close tutelage of Dr. Patrick Kelly. Dr. Parker speaks nationally in the field of brain tumor surgery and has published numerous articles in this field.
