Explore UAB

Timaya Jones - work-study lab assistant, Gillespie's lab

Timaya Jones joins the department as a work-study lab assistant in Dr. Gillespie's Lab. Her hometown is Birmingham, AL and she is currently in her freshman year at UAB. Her major is criminal justice and she plans to pursue a career in forensic science. In her free time, she enjoys playing dress-up and experimenting with different styles!

Cameron Roby - office service specialist II

Cameron Roby joins the department as office service specialist II. Originally from Warner Robins, Georgia, Roby recently graduated from UAB with a bachelor’s in Health Care Management. Prior to accepting this role, Roby served as a healthcare management intern for the department. In her free time, she enjoys working out, playing volleyball, video games, and baking.

Nekyia Byner - program coordinator I

Nekyia Byner is a graduate of Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University with a degree in biology. Her daughter currently attends Tennessee State University studying physical therapy. In her free time, she enjoys reading books, hiking, and traveling. 

Kiyotaka Saito - postdoc, Van Meir Lab

Kiyotaka Saitoh is originally from Miyazaki, Japan. Miyazaki is located on Kyusyu island, the southwest main island in Japan. Saitoh has been a neurosurgeon for 15 years, with extensive clinical experience in brain tumors, vascular disorders, and pediatric neurosurgery. He has a wife and three daughters, they all plan to come to Birmingham this summer! He looks forward to meeting everyone in the department. Say hello if you see him! 

UAB Department of Neurosurgery faculty and trainees will head to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons 2022 Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, PA, from April 29 - May 2, 2022. 

UAB Department of Neurosurgery Professor Erwin G. Van Meir, Ph.D. and Postdoctoral student, Takahiro Yamamoto, recently published a manuscript titled "Mice lacking full-length Adgrb1 (Bai1) exhibit social deficits, increased seizure susceptibility, and altered brain development" in Experimental Neurology. This collaborative study with Emory University demonstrated an important role for adhesion GPCR BAI1 (ADGRB1) in the brain.

UAB Department of Neurosurgery partnered with McWane Science Center for Brain Awareness Week, March 14-20. Brain Awareness Week is a national recognition week to celebrate the brain and its complexities.

After a successful Match Day 2022, the Neurosurgery Residency program will welcome three new trainees this summer from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Baylor College of Medicine, and Peking Union Medical University.

UAB Department of Neurosurgery professor Thomas Staner, M.D., recently authored a book titled "A Neurosurgeon's Journey with Patient Vignettes."

The UAB Department of Neurosurgery welcomes Dr. Burt Nabors as the department’s new vice-chair of research.

According to UAB News, UAB Hospital received nine 2022 Women’s Choice Awards, including being named one of the 100 Best Hospitals for Patient Experiences. It received numerous America’s Best Hospitals designations for women’s health practice areas.

UAB Department of Neurosurgery PGY1 Resident Andrew Hale, M.D., Ph.D., was awarded the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) Schulman Award for his abstract “Multi-omic analysis elucidates the genetic basis of hydrocephalus.”

To recognize the UAB Department of Neurosurgery faculty, staff, and trainees for their hard work in 2021, the Chair’s Office has distributed jackets as a thanks for their contributions.

The UAB Department of Neurosurgery welcomes Devin Houghtlin, Donna Duke-Pope, and Amy Finch. 

UAB Department of Neurosurgery PGY-4 resident, Dr. Dagoberto Estevez-Ordonez, joins Nicole Bentley, M.D., Jainmei Leavenworth, M.D., Ph.D., and Jennifer Lancaster on the department Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committee.

The UAB Department of Neurosurgery welcomes Stephen Yance and Tammy Prewitt.

The UAB Department of Neurosurgery welcomes physician assistant, Michael Zicarelli. 

Jennifer Clements joins Department of Neurosurgery Assistant Professor Matthew Nelson, Ph.D., and Shannon Hall, CRNP, in the mission to meet the emotional, physical, and spiritual needs of all department faculty and staff.  

The department is pleased to welcome new program manager II, effective Jan. 3. 

Dr. Jason Cormier, photo courtesy of Lafayette Surgical Speciality Hospital The Department of Neurosurgery is launching a new series featuring resident and fellow alumni. Given the high caliber of trainee programs, UAB Neurosurgery alumni boast rewarding and decorated careers in the field of neurosurgery.

The UAB Department of Neurosurgery has launched a Neurosurgical Spinal service Board focusing on the treatment of patients with complex spinal disorders.

Department of Neurosurgery Professor Mark N. Hadley heads the neurosurgical spinal service board along with department faculty members Drs. Mamerhi Okor, Patrick Pritchard, Melissa Chambers, Daniel Harmon, and Jakub Godzik.

The Department of Neurosurgery congratulates Nurse Practitioner Andrea Boohaker, DNP, ACNP-BC, who graduated with her Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) from UAB in December 2021.

Department of Neurosurgery Assistant Professor Marshall Holland, M.D., MS, was selected to be a Scholar in the Academy Emerging Investigators Program (EIP), organized by the American Academy of Neurological Surgery.