Neurosurgery Resident and Fellow Team (7/2024-6/2025)
PGY-7
George Koutsouras, DO
DO, MS: NY Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, NY, 2018.
Formal Education: M.P.H., SUNY Downstate School of Public Health, 2012 and B.S., New York Institute of Technology, 2010
DO, MS: NY Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, NY, 2018.
Formal Education: M.P.H., SUNY Downstate School of Public Health, 2012 and B.S., New York Institute of Technology, 2010
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Honors, Awards & Academic Achievements:
- New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Academic Scholar Program, 2015-2016
- Sigma Sigma Phi, American Osteopathic Honor society.
- Gold Humanism Honor Society.
Research Interests:
- Pediatric Neurosurgery; Hydrocephalus; Brain and Spinal Cord Tumor; Guidelines; Socioeconomics and Medical Education.
Hobbies:
- Spending time with Family, Traveling, Cooking, Exercising, Playing golf, watching and playing sports.
Justin Oh, MD
MD: Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ.
Formal Education: Boston University, MA. & Boston College, BS.
MD: Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ.
Formal Education: Boston University, MA. & Boston College, BS.
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Honors, Awards & Academic Achievements:
- 2017 AOA Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship Award Recipient
Research Interests:
- Stereotactic and Funtional Neurosurgery; Epilepsy; Movement Disorders
Hobbies:
- Snowboarding, Hiking, Golf
PGY-6
Brandon Wilkinson, MD
Chief, Neurosurgery Residency
MD: Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 2019
Formal Education: Michigan State University, BS, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Physiology, 2014
Chief, Neurosurgery Residency
MD: Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 2019
Formal Education: Michigan State University, BS, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Physiology, 2014
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Honors, Awards & Academic Achievements:
- AOA Member, 2018
- Mary and George Ritter Endowed Scholarship, 2018
- Sharon Ruben Scarpone Memorial Scholarship, 2017
- Samuel D. Indenbaum Endowed Scholarship, 2016
- Year I-IV Honors 2015-2019, Wayne State University SOM
- Graduation with high honors, Michigan State University, 2014
- Dean’s List 2010-2014
- University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum 1st place award, 2013
- Chick Evans Caddie Scholarship, 2010
Research Interests:
- Neuro-oncology.
Hobbies:
- Hiking, kayaking, golfing, hockey, college football and basketball
PGY-5
Matthew Protas, MD
MD: State University of New York, Upstate Medical University, College of Medicine
MD: State University of New York, Upstate Medical University, College of Medicine
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Honors, Awards & Academic Achievements:
- AOA member, 2020
- Deans Letter of Commendation, 2019
- Most Student Publications, 2016–2018
Research Interests:
- Neurosurgery, Neuroanatomy, Peripheral Nerve Regeneration, Spine Research, Neurovascular Research
Hobbies:
- Guitar, Fishing, Hunting, Sports, Snowboarding
Publications:
- PubMed Central: Matthew Protas, MD
PGY-4
George Bourdages, MD
MD: Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
Formal Education: B.S., University of Pittsburgh
MD: Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
Formal Education: B.S., University of Pittsburgh
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Honors, Awards & Academic Achievements:
- Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society
- Dean’s List, University of Pittsburgh
- American Physiological Society Summer Research Fellow
Research Interests:
- Neuro-oncology, Vascular Neurosurgery, Spine.
Hobbies:
- Chess, Hiking, Snowboarding.
Publications:
- PubMed Central: George Bourdages, MD
Muhammad Jalal, MD
MD: SUNY Upstate Medical University, 2021
Formal Education: Cornell University BA, Biological Sciences and Philosophy, 2017
MD: SUNY Upstate Medical University, 2021
Formal Education: Cornell University BA, Biological Sciences and Philosophy, 2017
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Honors, Awards & Academic Achievements:
-
Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society
-
Upstate Summer Research Fellowship Grant
-
Deans commendation for clinical clerkship performance
Research Interests:
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Neurotrauma, Spine, Endovascular Neurosurgery, Neuro-Oncology
Hobbies:
- Basketball, Ukulele, Hiking, Cooking
Publications:
- PubMed Central: Muhammad Jalal, MD
PGY-3
Joseph Kedra, MD
MD/PhD: Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pa 2022
Formal Education: Temple University, BS, Biology, 2013
MD/PhD: Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pa 2022
Formal Education: Temple University, BS, Biology, 2013
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Honors, Awards & Academic Achievements:
- Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society
- Dean’s List, Temple University 2009-2013
- Graduated Magna Cum Laude, Temple University 2013
Medical and Professional Interests:
- Cerebrovascular and skull base neurosurgery
Hobbies:
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Softball, running, hiking, cooking, and baking
Andre Wakim, MD
MD: Creighton University School of Medicine
Formal Education: Wichita State University, KS
MD: Creighton University School of Medicine
Formal Education: Wichita State University, KS
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Honors, Awards & Academic Achievements:
-
2020 - Recipient of Creighton University Travel Award to Present Scholarly Work
-
2013 - 2017 - Dean's list at Wichita State University
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2017 - Sedgwick County Scholar
-
2015 - Vincent I Benander Learning Scholarship
Research Interests:
- functional neurosurgery, cerebrovascular surgery, spine
Hobbies:
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cooking, fishing, camping, boating, scuba diving, spending time with family, traveling.
PGY-2
Abigail Funari, MD
MD: Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Formal Education: Boston College Chestnut Hill, MA
MD: Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Formal Education: Boston College Chestnut Hill, MA
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Honors, Awards & Academic Achievements:
Research Interests:
Hobbies:
Jeff Zhang, MD
MD: Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo
Formal Education: Columbia University
MD: Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo
Formal Education: Columbia University
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Honors, Awards & Academic Achievements:
- Columbia University:
- John Jay Scholar
- Latin Honors
- Research Honors
- Jacobs School of Medicine:
- Dean's List
- Thesis Honors
- Bacelli Award for Most Outstanding Research
- Glasauer Fellowship
- LaForge Endowment Scholarship
Research Interests:
- Neuro-oncology
Hobbies:
- Philosophy, Piano, Foreign Policy, Russian Literature, Abstact Art, Hiking, Breadmaking
PGY-1
Yusuf Mehkri, MD
MD: University of Florida College of Medicine
Formal Education: University of Florida
MD: University of Florida College of Medicine
Formal Education: University of Florida
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Honors, Awards & Academic Achievements:
- Graduation with Research Honors, 2024
- Stryker CNS Tumor Award: Best Tumor Abstract at AANS 2022 Annual Conference, 2022
- USA Powerlifting Collegiate State Champion, 2021 and 2022
- University of Florida Research Travel Scholarship, 2021-23
- American Brain Tumor Association Jack and Fay Netchin Research Fellowship, 2021
- UF Lawrence M. Goodman Scholarship: Excellence in Acedemics and Research, 2020-24
- UF Biomedical Engineering 3D Printing Competition Winner: Developed Robotic Hand Orthosis Prototype, 2019
- Phi Beta Kappa, 2019
- Carnegie Mellon University Dozzi Scholarship: Most Impactful Local Service Project, 2018
- East Brunswick High School President's Award for Educational Excellence: Top 1% Academic Rank
Research Interests:
- Spine, Tumor, Trauma
Hobbies:
- Fitness and Cooking
Hanish Polavarapu , MD
MD: SUNY Upstate Medical University
Formal Education: Boston University, BA & Georgetown University, MS
MD: SUNY Upstate Medical University
Formal Education: Boston University, BA & Georgetown University, MS
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Honors, Awards & Academic Achievements:
- Alpha Omega Alpha, 2023
- Dean's Letter of Commendation, 2024
- Graduation Honors, Cum Laude, 2024
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute Summer Research Grant
- Boston University Undergraduate Research Grant
Research Interests:
- Spine Deformity, Spine Oncology, Neuro-Oncology, Cerebrovascular, Endovascular, Skull Base
Hobbies:
- Basketball, Chess, Photography, Traveling, Golfing, Cooking