Neurosurgery

PGY-1

Dr. Mohamed Alhantoobi

Medical School: United Arab Emirates University

Why did I choose Neurosurgery? I enjoy all aspects of neurosurgery. 

Why McMaster Neurosurgery? McMaster offers a great environment for specializing in neurosurgery.

Professional Interests: Epilepsy, spine, and peripheral nerves

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Dr. Mohamad Kesserwan

Undergraduate: University of Toronto, Honours Specialization in Human Biology

Medical School: McMaster University, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine

Why did I choose Neurosurgery? It started with the striking parallel between our technological systems and neural networks, and the implications of that on decoding the brain to improve patient outcome and quality of life. Participating in the management of acute neurosurgical cases and operating around neuroanatomy in medical school strengthened my choice to become a neurosurgeon.

Why McMaster Neurosurgery? The staff and residents at McMaster introduced me to the world of neurosurgery, and they have been like a family from the beginning. The program is appealing with its early operative exposure, large catchment area, supportive working and learning environment, and the opportunity to pursue higher education in any related field of interest. Finally, McMaster’s expertise and productivity in clinical epidemiology add a lot of value to its residency programs. Also, Hamilton!

Professional Interests: I believe its still early for me to have a specific interest. However, at this point I believe I would sub-specialize in open vascular/ endovascular neurosurgery. I am planning to obtain a higher degree in brain-computer interfaces in the hope of applying this technology to help promote recovery of function in patients who experienced cerebrovascular accidents.

Other Interests: Horseback riding, freediving, spearfishing, deep sea fishing, marine wildlife encounters and target shooting.

Dr. Hassan Khayat

Undergraduate: Medical bachelor and Bachelor of Surgery MBBS

Medical School: King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences – National Guard, Saudi Arabia

Why did I choose Neurosurgery? First and foremost, neurosurgery is a life-saving service for many patients who show up in the ER for acute incidents. I really feel the value of being at those people need. It also can improve the quality of life of many chronic conditions involving spine and peripheral nerves. In addition, the technology is always utilized here and rapidly evolving. I would add that this service is also in high demand and many health systems are in shortage of it.

Why McMaster Neurosurgery? For its well-known history, excellence and experience in providing medical education/training.

Professional Interests: Everything at the moment. I know many areas of neurosurgical practice are yet to come during training. 

Other Interests: Aviation

PGY-2

Dr. Taylor Duda 

Undergraduate: BscHons Anatomy & Cell Biology, University of Saskatchewan

Medical School: University of Saskatchewan

Why did I choose ​Neurosurgery? Started with good mentors and wet lab brain dissection courses, and the more exposure I had, the more I knew what I wanted to do. I think being in an operating room for the first time is a very dichotomous experience and in my case, it quickly became the only career I wanted to choose.

Why McMaster ​Neurosurgery? McMaster offers the full package. Complete support, fantastic co-residents and staff relationships, high quality academics, high volume, and high acuity, interdisciplinary support, surgical experience from day one, and an ever-improving program.

Professional Interests: Still everything! Every time I spend time in a discipline, I find it more and more interesting. So far…vascular, pediatrics, skull base, functional tumour, spine…everything. Medical education is another passion of mine. International neurosurgery is a growing interest.

Other Interests: Family, good beer, many nerdy activities I don’t tell my co-residents about, racquetball,
good whiskey, squash, reading (fiction & non-fiction), movies.

Dr. Melissa Lannon

Undergraduate: 
Bachelor of Science (Honours) Behavioural Neuroscience – Memorial University 2012
Bachelor of Nursing – Memorial University 2014

Medical School: Memorial University of Newfoundland 2018

Why did I choose Neurosurgery? I am interested in the diagnosis of disease criteria. I did research in neuroscience throughout undergrad neurosciences worked as a neurology nurse, so I considered neurology briefly, but ultimately, I found my comfort zone in the OR. I also enjoy caring for high acuity patients and being there for patients & families during the most impactful moments of their lives.

Why McMaster Neurosurgery? I love the people, the support system here, nice co-residents, staff & the care team at HGH all have quickly made Hamilton home after moving from Newfoundland for the first time.

Professional Interests: Functional Neurosurgery, trauma, and critical care

Other Interests:  ​Yoga, hiking, swimming, and travel

PGY-3 

Dr. Majid Aljoghaiman

Medical School: King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia

Why did I choose ​Neurosurgery?  I admire surgical intervention and acute care of brain and spine pathology and possibility of doing life-saving procedures

Why McMaster Neuro​surgery? High-ranked among Canadian and International universities. Profound surgical and research experience

Professional Interests: Spine surgery – Minimally Invasive Interventions

Other Interests: Travel, biking, swimming

Dr. Michelle Kameda-Smith

Hometown: Brampton, Ontario

Undergraduate:​ University of Waterloo-Kinesiology BSc, Hon. Co-op
University of Western Ontario ​MSc
McMaster University PhD

Medical School: University of Glasgow MBChB

Why did I choose Neurosurgery? Intellectually stimulating and technically challenging. Matching my skillset and interest in neuroscience.

Why McMaster Neurosurgery?  Hamilton is an industrial city minutes away from the Bruce Trail and countless waterfalls. It was important that I brought my family to an environment facilitating access to nature walks. Professionally McMaster offered an opportunity to train to become a surgeon scientist with internationally surgical reknowned clinician investigator mentors.

Professional Interests: Pediatric Neurosurgeon – Scientist with specialization in neurooncology

Other Interests: Spending time with my family, travelling, cooking and entertaining friends, and
triathlons.

Dr. Michel Sourour

Hometown: Toronto, Ontario

Undergraduate: University of Toronto

Medical School: University of Toronto

Why did I choose Neurosurgery? I love the acuity of neurosurgical cases and the diversity & complexity of the cases.

Why McMaster Neurosurgery?  Evidence-based practice & medicine/friendly learning environment and early hands on operative experience

Professional Interests: Pediatrics and Vascular Neurosurgery

Other Interests: Scuba diving

Dr. Radwan Takroni

Hometown: Saudi Arabia

Medical School: King Saudi University

Why did I choose Neurosurgery?  I have a deep interest in neuroscience and adding this to my interest in microsurgery, neurosurgery was my best fit.

Why McMaster ​Neurosurgery? Because McMaster  Neurosurgery Program is known to have an excellent reputation in both clinical service and academic teaching.

Professional Interests:  Cerebrovascular and endovascular neurosurgery

Other Interests: Hiking and travelling 

PGY-5 

Dr. Nirmeen Zagzoog

Hometown: Makkah, Saudi Arabia

Undergraduate: Bachelor of Arts and Humanities (Honours), King Abdulaziz University

Master of Health Sciences, Western University (formally known as University of Western Ontario)

Medical School: Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University

Why did I choose Neurosurgery? Fast-paced, diverse, complex and challenging. Wide scope of operative approaches including open and endoscopic procedures. Ability to provide care in acute setting where one can make definitive impacts on patient’s lives. Neurosurgery is at the forefront of technological advances which matches my intellectual curiosity and interest. It is an incredibly rewarding field combining medicine and surgery with integration of cutting-edge technology to improve patient’s quality of life.

Why McMaster Neurosurgery? High volumes of clinical and operative exposure, early hands-on surgical experience, loved working with all the staff and residents during my time in medical school, very collegial tight-knit group of residents, freedom to pursue academic interests outside of McMaster University.

Professional Interests: Skull base surgery, Neuro-oncology, Minimal access surgery, cerebrovascular surgery. Currently pursuing PhD in surgical innovation and knowledge translation with focus on device development and robotic surgical drilling for skull base procedures at Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of Toronto.

Other Interests: Travelling, reading, fashion, spending time with family and friends.

PGY-6

Dr. ​Mazen Alotaibi

Hometown: Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Medical School: King Saud University, College of Medicine. MBBS with honours, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Why did I choose Neurosurgery? Fascination with Neurosciences in general with great interest in surgical career during early years of medical school. My first clinical rotation as a medical student was in Neurosurgery. The specialty combined my passion in neurosciences and surgery, with the complexity and diversity of pathological conditions and the great impact of surgical management on patient outcome.

Professional Interests: Endovascular/cerebrovascular surgery, skull base surgery, clinical research

Other Interests: ​Family, outdoor activities, science, horseback riding