Dear NERVES Friends, 

As we begin 2026, I am filled with a sense of optimism and gratitude for the strength, resilience, and collegiality of our NERVES community.

A 1-Year Follow-Up Study Published in the Peer-Reviewed Journal Stroke Validates Effectiveness of Paired Vagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy for Improved Upper Limb Function

MicroTransponder®, Inc., a commercial-stage medical technology company and developer of the breakthrough Vivistim® Paired VNS™ System for chronic stroke recovery, announced the publication of new findings in the peer reviewed medical journal Stroke validating the beneficial long-term outcomes of Paired VNS™ Therapy. The findings demonstrate that stroke survivors treated with paired vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for upper extremity deficits post-stroke had improvements in impairment, activity, participation and quality of life for at least one year after completing therapy.

Dear NERVES Members,

As we move through the heart of 2025, I want to take a moment to reflect on the exciting momentum building within our organization and share a few key highlights.

Help us welcome our new members to NERVES! The Regional Directors representing the Southwest, Southeast, Northeast, and North/Midwest regions would like to personally welcome you to our great professional organization. We are excited you have decided to join us and look forward to getting to know you!

Southwest

• Chris Shoup, Methodist Moody Brain and Spine, Dallas, TX
• Tammy Williams, MHA, Banner Health, Glendale, AZ

Southeast

• Brandy Carrichi, MBA, UAB Department of Neurosurgery, Birmingham, AL
• Jenna Conklin, RN, Birmingham Neurosurgery & Spine, Birmingham, AL
• Michelle Justice, CPC, Neurosurgical and Spine Institute of Savannah, Savannah, GA
• Jeffrey Snoots, Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute WVU, Martinsburg, WV

Northeast

• Ernest Barthelemy, MD, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY
• Dustin Bump, MHA, Hartford HealthCare, West Hartford, CT
• Jennifer Doran, MBA, Hartford HealthCare Neurosurgery, Wethersfield, CT
• Alex Eusebio, MBA, Northwell Health, Woodcliff Lake, NJ
• Jeanmarie Falco, MBA, New Jersey Brain and Spine, Paramus, NJ
• Peter Guzzo, MS, MBA, New York-Presbyterian Pediatric Neurosurgery Program, New York, NY
• Anthony LaVecchia, Mount Sinai Hospital (Neurosurgery), New York, NY
• Kiersten Rezende, IGEA Brain and Spine, Union, NJ
• Lindsey Smith, RN, MSN, Community Medical Center, Toms River, NJ
• Rob Smith, NSPC Brain and Spine Surgery, Rockville Centre, NY

North/Midwest

• Martha Brazelton, MS, Goodman Campbell Brain & Spine, Terre Haute, IN
• Stephanie Ewing, Goodman Campbell Brain and Spine, Carmel, IN
• Kiffon Keigher, RN, MSN, Neuroscience SL Advisory Director, Chicago, IL
• Maggie Schachta, MPA, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
• Tarrien Sumerall, MBA, University of Missouri Health Care - Neurosurgery, Columbia, MO

By Brent Patterson, CPA, Semmes Murphy, Survey Committee Chair

The Survey Committee is happy to announce that both the 2025 NERVES Socio-Economic Survey and 2025 SNIS Socio-Economic Survey (hosted by NERVES) opened and questionnaires were released for submission on Tuesday, July 15th. We will again be offering $1,000 to two lucky participants who submit to the NERVES survey by the August 31st deadline.

The Committee explored a web-hosted submission and reporting platform for the NERVES Survey that we hoped to launch in 2025. However, the Committee discovered in the beginning of the implementation phase that the functionality that was available when we started our due diligence that would’ve allowed us to capture and report on important data points like sub-specialty neurosurgery data was being sunset and would not be available to us for 2025 and beyond. Without sufficient time to pivot to an alternate solution, the Committee decided to maintain our current format for one more year to allow ample time to explore solutions that would be an upgrade in terms of functionality but also allow NERVES to continue to develop a survey that meets the needs of NERVES and the neurosurgery community.

We look forward to rolling out a web-hosted platform for the 2026 NERVES Socio-Economic Survey.

By Nicola Hawkinson, DNP, RN, RNFA, CPC,
CEO of SpineSearch

Introduction
Summer recruitment presents unique challenges—vacation schedules, slower response times, and increased competition for top talent. Despite the seasonal slowdown, it's crucial to stay proactive to maintain hiring momentum and prepare for the busy fall season.

Get to know Flora Gallegos of Sierra Neurosurgery Group. Flora joined NERVES in 2017 and is a member in Southwest region.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Including my time as the Chief Executive Officer of Sierra Neurosurgery Group, I've spent over 20 years in executive healthcare positions. My career has been dedicated to fostering patient focused operations, strategic growth, and operational excellence within the medical field, with a particular focus on neurosurgery, pain management, and sports medicine.

At RapidAI, we empower neurosurgery programs with AI-driven clinical decision support to enhance patient assessment, streamline workflows, and strengthen financial performance. Our real-time, actionable insights help teams make faster, more informed decisions, optimizing both care and operations.

My name is Steve LeMoine, and I am the Vice President for Infirmary Health's Cardiovascular and Neuroscience service lines. I joined the health system in October 2020 and joined NERVES shortly after my arrival at Infirmary Health. I have the opportunity to partner with Dr. Ankit Gulati, my dyad physician leader, and an outstanding team among Infirmary for the growth, strategy and quality improvement of the service line. Our model focuses on neurovascular (stroke), neuro/ortho spine, neuro tumor and a variety of other patient care areas (today), with a vision of expanding our areas of focus every year!

Prior to joining Infirmary Health, I had the opportunity to work in many exciting roles that engaged the community, patients and hospital team members. These roles were both operational and strategic, at a local hospital level, physician practice and healthy system level.

Our Neuroscience Center of Excellence is comprised of many clinical teams from the hospital and private setting. We work in a collaborative manner to bring the highest quality of care to our region and support our Vision to be the FIRST CHOICE for healthcare in the Region. Our service line engages specialists from Neurology, Neurosurgery, Interventional Radiology, Critical Care, Physical Medicine and Rehab, Ortho/Spine and Neuro/Spine surgery, just to mention a few.

Dear NERVES Members,

Now that we are a few months into 2025, I am filled with enthusiasm for what lies ahead for our organization. This year promises to be full of initiatives and collaborations that will propel us forward and deepen our professional connections.

Help us welcome our new members to NERVES! The Regional Directors representing the Southwest, Southeast, Northeast, and North/Midwest regions would like to personally welcome you to our great professional organization. We are excited you have decided to join us and look forward to getting to know you!

Southwest

• Patrick Browning, MD, Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
• Kathryn Gray, Spine Institute of Louisiana, LLC, Shreveport, LA
• Bobbi Sue Miller, University of Texas at Austin, Dell Medical School, Department of Neurosurgery, Austin, TX
• Claudia Rasnake, Center for Neurosciences, Tucson, AZ
• Emily Tu, Methodist Moody Brain and Spine Institute, Dallas, TX

Southeast

• Blue Anderson, Florence Neurosurgery and Spine at McLeod Health, Florence, SC
• Samantha Schmitt, USA Neurosurgery, Semmes, AL

Northeast

• Shannon Ciprut, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY
• Ashley Friend, Dept of Neurosurgery - Mt. Sinai Hospital, Brooklyn, NY
• Adriana Harris, New Jersey Pediatric Neuroscience Institute, Morristown, NJ
• Allyson Moffo, UConn Health: Neurosurgery, Farmington, CT
• Brian Spector, Penn State Health - Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA

North/Midwest

• Melinda Akins, Pediatric Neurosurgery Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH
• Stacie Church, MD, West ONE, Omaha, NE
• Ben Cobin, WashU Medicine Department of Neurosurgery, St. Louis, MO
• Chris Greenman, Vail Summit Orthopaedic & Neurosurgery, Grand Junction, CO
• Ross Schultz, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
• Carla Shaw, Goodman Campbell Brain and Spine, Franklin, WI

By Kristi Wright, MBA, CPCU, AIC—Senior Vice President, Claims, Curi Insurance

Recently, Dr. Gita Pensa, creator of the popular podcast, “Doctors and Litigation: The ‘L’ Word,” delivered an impactful keynote to our Curi Insurance team. This gathering was a key opportunity for our team to connect, learn, and reaffirm our commitment to supporting physicians and clinicians in medicine, business, and life. Dr. Pensa's talk at our event on the stress of litigation resonated deeply with us, highlighting a crucial point: a lack of understanding about the litigation process can intensify this stress for the impacted physician or clinician.

The NERVES Nominating Committee would like to submit the following ballot of nominees for your consideration and support. Final voting by the membership will take place during our Annual Business meeting set for Thursday, April 24, 2025, at the Seaport Hotel in Boston.

2025-2026 Board Nominees

2024 Partner article courtesy of Avant-garde Health

Hospital profit margins have been under significant pressure in recent years. In 2023, the median operating margin for U.S. hospitals was 0.3%, with approximately half of hospitals reporting negative margins. This financial strain underscores the necessity for hospitals to implement effective cost-reduction strategies, particularly in high-expenditure areas like spine procedures.

Dear NERVES Members,

As we close out another successful year, I want to reflect on our progress and share some exciting updates for the months ahead.

Our partnership with the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) continues to grow stronger, solidifying the collaborative bond that helps us better serve our members and the field of neurosurgery. This partnership is an incredible asset, and we are enthusiastic about the opportunities it will bring in the coming year. 

Help us welcome our new members to NERVES! The Regional Directors representing the Southwest, Southeast, Northeast, and North/Midwest regions would like to personally welcome you to our great professional organization. We are excited you have decided to join us and look forward to getting to know you!

Southwest

• Tiffany Sanchez, UNMH School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Albuquerque, NM
• Cindy Yang, University of California, Irvine, Orange, CA

Southeast

• Kerry Cartledge, Augusta University, Augusta, GA
• Lauren Ellis Burnette, UofL Health Brain & Spine Institute, Louisville, KY
• Jacob Lewis, Neurosurgery and Spine Specialists, LLC, Sarasota, FL
• Michael McDermott, Miami Neuroscience Institute, Baptist Health South Florida, Miami, FL
• Somer Palmer, Center for Neurosurgical and Spine Care, Dunedin, FL
• Rosa Perez, BMG Adult and Pediatric Neurosurgery, Tampa, FL
• Carla Schmitt, LifeBridge Brain and Spine Institute, Parkton, MD
• Earl Wagner, University of Miami Neurological Surgery, Miami, FL
• Rebecca Wallack, University of Miami Health Department of Neurosurgery, Coconut Grove, FL

Northeast

• Catherine Caldwell, Geisinger, Danville, PA
• Kelly Clevesy, Neurosurgeons of Cape Cod, Hyannis, MA
• Eduardo De La Mata, Trinity Health of New England Medical Group - Neuroscience, Hartford, CT
• Mary Morales, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY
• Diana Proper, University of Rochester Medical Center - Neurosurgery, Rochester, NY
• Brian Sullivan, Advanced Neurosurgery Associates, Rutherford, NJ
• Drake Watters, UPMC Neurological Surgery, Pittsburgh, PA

North/Midwest

• Shelley Aranas, Northwestern Medicine Neurosurgery, Naperville, IL
• Brian Bain, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
• Candice Devedzic, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
• Laura Jackson, Medical College of Wisconsin - Neurosurgery, Milwaukee, WI
• Timothy McPhillips, Neurosurgery, Downers Grove, IL
• Christine Patterson, Michigan Head and Spine, Ypsilanti, MI
• Shauna Slater, Coastal Neurology and Neurosurgery, Anchorage, AK
• Vivien Spyra, Kootenai Clinic Neurosurgery & Spine, Neurology, ENT, Dermatology, Plastic Surgery, and Physiatry, Coeur d Alene, ID
• Kati Walters Knoll, Key Clinics, LLC, Ontario, OH

By Nicola Hawkinson, DNP, RN, RNFA, CPC
Article provided courtesy of SpineSearch

In the world of neurosurgery, the role of the practice administrator is critical. The administrator is the glue that binds the practice together, managing staff and resources and often serving as a bridge between clinical and operational excellence. Yet, with great responsibility comes the risk of burnout—a condition that can impact not only individual well-being but also the efficiency of the entire practice. It’s not surprising that burnout is a risk.

The following strategies help neurosurgery administrators stay focused, energized, and practical while fostering a culture promoting sustainability and success.

2024 Partner article courtesy of RosmanSearch

If you need to hire a new physician in 2025, consider this your friendly wake-up call: it’s crunch time. The physician hiring scene has never been more competitive, and physicians conduct job searches earlier than ever! Many top candidates are already deep into decision-making—and many have signed on the dotted line.

Physicians will make their decisions based on many factors. Competitive compensation and benefits matter, but many physicians seek a work environment that values balance and growth. They want to know about call schedules, dedicated time for administration or research tasks, and the possibility of flexible hours. They also want to see a clear path for professional development—CME opportunities, leadership training, and research support. And don’t overlook the growing appeal of student loan repayment assistance. Showing that you understand their financial reality can go a long way and make your offer stand out.

Help us welcome our new members to NERVES! The Regional Directors representing the Southwest, Southeast, Northeast, and North/Midwest regions would like to personally welcome you to our great professional organization. We are excited you have decided to join us and look forward to getting to know you!

Southwest

• Victoria Cairns, Ascension Texas, Austin, TX
• Angela Castillo, University of Arizona/Banner University Medical Group, Tucson, AZ
• Jason Cormier, Acadiana Neurosurgery, Lafayette, LA
• Melissa Kelly, Ascension St. John, Tulsa, OK
• Lisa Sanchez, Barrow Brain and Spine, Phoenix, AZ
• Amanda Sowell, Baylor Medicine (Baylor College of Medicine), Richmond, TX
• Jeffrey Thomas, Washington Hospital and Washington Township Medical Foundation, Hillsborough, CA

Southeast

• Courtney Brandon, Medical University of South Carolina, Johns Island, SC
• Dianna Hall, University of Alabama at Birmingham | Department of Neurosurgery, Pinson, AL
• Carol Kennedy, Sentara Neurosurgery Specialists, Norfolk, VA

Northeast

• Lyndsey Borges, BWH Neurosurgery, Boston, MA
• Anthony Conrad, Northwell Health, Staten Island University Hospital Neurosurgery, Staten Island, NY
• Courtney Gilligan, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Boston, MA
• Fazal Khan, New Jersey Pediatric Neuroscience Institute, Morristown, NJ
• Brigit McDermott, BWH Neurosurgery, Boston, MA
• Mackenzie Saitta, BWH Neurosurgery, Boston, MA
• Isabelle Schulte, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Quincy, MA
• Srihari Sundararajan, University Radiology Group / Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, East Brunswick, NJ

North/Midwest

• Cody Edwards, Neurosurgery of St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
• Terra Hines, Wyoming Spine and Neurosurgery Associates, Cheyenne, WY
• Karla Krey, Midwest Spine & Brain Institute, LLC, Stillwater, MN
• Karen Lloyd, Mercy Clinic Neurosurgery, St. Louis, MO
• Amy Tinney, Midwest Spine & Brain Institute, Stillwater, MN

The NERVES Annual Meeting continues to be one of our favorite conferences to attend as the leadership and membership have been welcoming and engaging. Unlike other conferences, as an industry partner, we are included in advancing NERVES and have an opportunity to meet with the membership. We appreciate NERVES including us in the main speaker’s area, which has allowed us to interact with each of you professionally and socially.

From this partnership, we have had the pleasure of meeting several members to discuss opportunities within their organizations. We have appreciated the opportunity to interact with the membership in this way and support your practices.

About Pinnacle

Pinnacle Healthcare Consulting is your partner in healthcare advisory, consulting, and focused operational support services to manage risk, improve performance, and create innovative solutions. Comprised of six divisions, Pinnacle provides superior services in the areas of compensation valuation & provider arrangements; transaction support services & valuation; strategy, value-based care & cost reduction; coding, compliance & revenue cycle services; enterprise risk & healthcare operations management support; and real estate consulting.