News

Former Patient James Durham standing and smiling with a group of Neurocritical Care Team members.

James Durham

December 14, 2017

Six years ago, James Durham was in a motorcycle accident. He was immediately rushed to the ER, where he was treated by the Neurocritical Care team. During his time in the hospital, he had a craniotomy, which was performed by Viktor Bartanusz, MD. James shared part of his experience with us: “I was in a […]



Dr. Shane Hawksworth standing and smiling in military dress while he is flanked by Dr. James Henry and Dr. John Floyd.

The Promotion of Dr. Hawksworth

December 2, 2017

Today we celebrated Shane Hawksworth’s promotion from the rank of captain to major in the U.S. Army. James Henry, MD, a retired colonel and our neuropathologist, directed the ceremony. Ian McDougall, MD, a captain in the U.S. Army, served as Dr. Hawksworth’s “adjuvant.” Shane’s fiancé, Amanda Stone, and her father, Army 1st Sgt. Michael Stone, […]



Dr. Izabela Tarasiewicz standing and smiling with other members of the pediatric pain clinic.

Pediatric Pain Management Clinic

November 15, 2017

UT Health is excited to announce that we have a new pediatric pain clinic taking place in the UHS Neurosurgery Clinic on the fourth Tuesday of every month. Clinic co-directors Drs. Mina and Eckmann from the Department of Anesthesiology are collaborating with our very own Dr. Tarasiewicz to provide our community with a multidisciplinary approach […]



Outside view of the Medical Arts and Research Center.

Cordelia’s Story

November 9, 2017

Cordelia has had Parkinson’s disease for 13 years. Recently, she started to notice that her symptoms were getting worse; she became afraid of falling whenever she stood up or tried to move around. “The tremors were getting hard to handle,” Cordelia explained. “I thought I was going to have to retire, which would mean I […]



Olga Garza smiling during a clinic visit.

Olga Garza’s Story

October 23, 2017

In 1987, Olga Garza was experiencing severe headaches. After dealing with the pain for three years, she went to the hospital and found out she had a tumor. Although doctors were able to excise most of it, the root could not be removed. In the early 2000s, she began to have serious headaches once again. […]



Dr. Sun and others stand over an anatomical specimen while listening to his instruction.

Spinal Anatomy Lab

October 12, 2017

As part of the department’s weekly education session, Derrick Sun, M.D., took the residents through a spinal anatomy lab to demonstrate advanced surgical techniques for the correction of spinal deformities. Practice sessions like these are unique opportunities for the residents to hone their surgical skills before applying them in the operating room. Special thanks to […]



The Neurocritical Care Team standing around a hospital bed smiling while they practice invasive line placement.

Invasive Central Line Placement Class

September 25, 2017

Our neurocritical care team recently attended their first invasive central line placement class, hosted by Arrow, International, Inc.



Pablo and Amanda Gonzalez smiling with their daughter, Alessia, in clinic.

Craniofacial Clinic

September 18, 2017

Last Tuesday, Pablo and Amanda Gonzalez brought their daughter, Alessia, to the very first craniofacial clinic. Alessia has Apert syndrome and came to the clinic for a follow-up after having two craniosynostosis surgeries. The clinic is unique because it gives families a chance to meet with many specialists in one visit. The doctors and their […]



Dr. David Wallace smiling in our research lab.

Research Lab 2017

September 11, 2017

David Wallace, MD, PGY-V is spending his research year in the departmental neurosciences lab run by Naomi Sayre, PhD. They are working on a novel antibody to help inhibit inflammation and cellular damage to the central nervous system after trauma. This treatment may one day help patients recover from spinal cord injury. ‘Understanding the injury […]



People in scrubs standing around the cadaver lab with Dr. Sun. One woman adjusts a giant lamp.

Cadaver Lab

August 8, 2017

Derrick Sun, MD, recently presented a lecture to our residents in which he discussed clinical cases illustrating different types of upper cervical spine trauma as well as anatomy and radiology relevant to the upper cervical spine. After Dr. Sun’s lecture, the residents went to the cadaver lab to practice the placement of C2 pedicle screws, […]