The student becomes a master

Three-time WashU alumnus S. Hassan A. Akbari credits the connections he maintained with mentors for shaping his career in medicine. By Terri Nappier  As a pediatric neurosurgeon, S. Hassan A. Akbari, MD, improves the lives of children with cerebral palsy and other muscle spasticity disorders. His areas of expertise include selective dorsal rhizotomy, a procedure […]

Dr. Magalie Cadieux Selected as 2026 SMISS Traveling Fellow

Dr. Magalie Cadieux was selected as a 2026 Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (SMISS) Traveling Fellow, an immersive two-week fellowship bringing together surgeons with a shared focus on minimally invasive spine surgery. As part of the fellowship, Dr. Cadieux traveled to three medical institutions, where she observed procedures, interacted with expert faculty, discussed cases […]

WashU Medicine Pediatric Neurology & Neurosurgery Ranked #9 in the Nation

WashU Medicine Pediatric Neurology & Neurosurgery at St. Louis Children’s Hospital has been ranked #9 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report! We are also honored to remain ranked #1 in Missouri for Pediatric Neurology & Neurosurgery. Thank you to our dedicated teams for their continued commitment to providing exceptional care for children […]

David Bundy, PhD, Receives NIH R01 Award to Study Stroke Recovery

Research will examine how the location and extent of brain injury influence neuroplasticity and motor recovery following stroke Congratulations to David Bundy, PhD, on receiving an NIH R01 award for his project, “Examining the Impact of Lesion Location and Extent on Post-Stroke Neuroplasticity.” Stroke is a leading cause of disability in the United States, but […]

Dr. Brenton Pennicooke Begins New Chapter as Division Chief at Rutgers

Today marks Dr. Brenton Pennicooke’s final day with the Taylor Family Department of Neurosurgery at WashU Medicine as he begins an exciting new chapter as Division Chief of Spinal Neurosurgery at Rutgers University-RWJ Medical School and RWJBarnabas Health. Dr. Pennicooke joined our faculty in 2020 following a fellowship in complex spinal reconstruction and minimally invasive […]

WashU Neurosurgery and Anesthesiology Launches Multicenter Clinical Trial Evaluating Semaglutide for Chronic Low Back Pain

Researchers in the Taylor Family Department of Neurosurgery and Department of Anesthesiology at WashU Medicine are leading a new multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial to evaluate whether semaglutide can improve chronic low back pain in people with obesity. Led by Jacob Greenberg, MD, of the Taylor Family Department of Neurosurgery, and Burel Goodin, PhD, of […]

Celebrating the Class of 2026 Chief Residents

The Taylor Family Department of Neurosurgery recognized its graduating chief residents for their dedication, leadership, and years of neurosurgical training. We recently came together for our annual Chiefs Party, a longstanding tradition that recognizes our graduating chief residents and celebrates the completion of their neurosurgical training. The evening provided an opportunity to reflect on their […]

Aid for brain-bleed recovery receives FDA Breakthrough Device Designation

Earbud-like device from WashU startup Aurenar is designed to improve stroke outcomes after ruptured brain aneurysm A non-invasive neuromodulation technology has received Breakthrough Device Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for reducing a dangerous narrowing of blood vessels in the brain that can follow a brain bleed from a ruptured aneurysm. Early […]

Zipfel elected president of the Society of Neurological Surgeons

Head of Taylor Family Department of Neurosurgery is a national leader in the treatment and research of cerebrovascular disorders Gregory J. Zipfel, MD, the Ralph G. Dacey Distinguished Professor of Neurosurgery and head of the Taylor Family Department of Neurosurgery at WashU Medicine, has been elected president of the Society of Neurological Surgeons. He will […]