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Neurosurgery Resident and Fellow Team (7/2024-6/2025)

PGY-7

George Koutsouras
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

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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
Justin Oh, MD

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
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

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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

PGY1_Matthew_Protas_Photo_Upstate_Neurosurgery_Upstate_Medical_University_residency.jpg
Matthew Protas, MD

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
George Bourdages, MD

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
Muhammad Jalal, MD

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:

  • Neurotrauma, Spine, Endovascular Neurosurgery, Neuro-Oncology 

Hobbies:

  • Basketball, Ukulele, Hiking, Cooking

Publications:

  • PubMed Central: Muhammad Jalal, MD

PGY-3

George Bourdages
Joseph Kedra, MD

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:

  • Softball, running, hiking, cooking, and baking

Andre Wakim
Andre Wakim, MD

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

  • 2017 - Sedgwick County Scholar

  • 2015 - Vincent I Benander Learning Scholarship

Research Interests:

  • functional neurosurgery, cerebrovascular surgery, spine

Hobbies:

  • cooking, fishing, camping, boating, scuba diving, spending time with family, traveling.


PGY-2

Abby2023
Abigail Funari, MD

MD: Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Formal Education: Boston College Chestnut Hill, MA

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Honors, Awards & Academic Achievements:

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Research Interests:

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Hobbies:

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jeff2023
Jeff Zhang, MD

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

Mehkri
Yusuf Mehkri, MD

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
Hanish2024
Hanish Polavarapu , MD

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

 

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