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Dr. Martínez Santos grew up in the Dominican Republic and became the first Dominican international medical graduate to match into neurosurgery in the United States. He completed his residency at the Medical University of South Carolina and his fellowship in complex cranial and cerebrovascular surgery at the University of Wisconsin under Dr. Mustafa Başkaya, and is now assistant professor of neurosurgery at MUSC in Charleston. He performs aneurysm clipping, cerebral bypass, AVM surgery, and skull base tumor surgery, and runs a microsurgical anatomy lab for students and residents.In this episode of Neurosurgery Tales, we talk about:• The IMG pathway to US neurosurgery: J-1 and O-1 visas, the Canadian route he almost took, and the prejudice international doctors still face• Why he calls himself an anatomist before a surgeon, and why neurosurgery leans too hard on technology• Open vs. endovascular aneurysm treatment, flow diverters, AVM cure rates, and what “minimally invasive” really means• Whether the open cerebrovascular surgeon is a specialist, a relic, or a last resort• Training under Dr. Başkaya, his “tormentor”• Microsurgical simulation, and why surgeons should operate with caution, not fear• Teaching and leadership in residency: Extreme Ownership and decentralized command• Why RVUs and hospital incentives push trainees away from complex surgery• Why “shortcut” and “neurosurgery” don’t belong in the same sentence“I prefer the term maximally safe and minimally disruptive surgery.” SOCIAL: 🔗 TikTok: @neurosurgery.tale 🔗 Instagram: / neurosurgery_tales 🔗 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/neurosurgerytales Books mentioned • Extreme Ownership and The Dichotomy of Leadership, by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin • Better, by Atul Gawande • Mastery, by Robert Greene

dnan H. Siddiqui is a dual-trained cerebrovascular and endovascular neurosurgeon, clinician-scientist, and technology leader working at the intersection of surgery, stroke care, and innovation. He is Professor and Vice Chair of Neurosurgery at the University at Buffalo, leads one of the busiest comprehensive stroke services in the United States, and directs large NIH-funded research programs focused on aneurysms, stroke, imaging, and hemodynamics. He has led major international clinical trials, and plays a central role in shaping training standards, device development, and evidence-based practice in neuroendovascular surgery through national and regulatory bodies. He is also CEO of the Jacobs Institute, where he works to translate surgical ideas into real-world technologies that reach patients.This conversation goes beyond technique. It examines judgment, training, failure, and the systems that produce true surgical excellence.In this episode, we discuss:00:45 – Why Dr. Adnan Siddiqui Chose Neurosurgery02:00 – Personal Loss and the “Dark Ages” of Neurosurgery03:15 – What Cerebrovascular Neurosurgery Overestimates Today04:40 – How to Stay Curious Without Losing Focus05:55 – When Robotic Microsurgery Became Inevitable06:50 – First Experiences With Surgical Robotics (Da Vinci & Beyond)08:45 – What Robots Do Better Than Human Hands in Microsurgery09:50 – Patient Selection for Robotic Intracranial Surgery10:45 – Why Adult Moyamoya Was the Right First Robotic Case12:05 – Indirect vs Direct Bypass in Adult Moyamoya Disease13:00 – Training Surgical Judgment When Technology Removes Friction14:20 – Why Some Neurosurgery Programs Create Leaders, Not Technicians15:35 – How the Jacobs Institute Built Real Interdisciplinary Innovation17:50 – Designing Surgical Environments That Improve Collaboration18:30 – Does Innovation Create a Two-Tier System in Medicine?20:15 – Why Perfection Still Matters in Neurosurgery21:00 – Early Career Mistakes and Learning Through Failure

Fourth-year neurosurgery resident Dr. Subhashree Hari (P.D. Hinduja Hospital, Mumbai) joins Neurosurgery Tales to talk about what residency really looks like inside one of India’s busiest centers: high-volume clinics, learning under national leaders, the first mistake you never forget, and why communication can matter as much as the knife. Subtle cultural contrasts emerge naturally as we discuss training realities, resources, and mindset. In this episode The long path into Indian neurosurgery residency Mentorship under top surgeons: inspiration vs. expectation 80–100 patient clinics: speed, stamina, and what actually sticks The hardest non-surgical skill: clear, right-sized communication The “first mistake” and how to prioritize under pressure Case presentations and turning data into a story that lands What her program does well, and how residents fill the gaps Build up or break down first? A realistic view of resilience Failure, “mediocrity,” and keeping the patient first The 10-year vision: subspecialty, family, access, and teaching GuestDr. Subhashree Hari • 4th-Year Neurosurgery ResidentP.D. Hinduja National Hospital & MRC, Mumbai, India Chapters00:00 Intro01:00 When residency first felt real04:20 Training under India’s leading neurosurgeons06:00 High-volume clinics: sharper or just tired?08:00 The hardest non-surgical skill: communication14:15 The first mistake you never forget20:25 How to turn medical data into a compelling narrative24:45 What Indian programs do well (and where residents self-correct)29:30 Build up vs. break down33:45 Failure, mediocrity, and keeping outcomes first39:30 A 10-year vision: subspecialty, family, access, teaching45:15 Closing About the showNeurosurgery Tales shares modern, honest conversations with neurosurgeons and residents worldwide. Contact / CollabsPress, academic, and sponsorship: [email protected]

About Dr. Fernandez-MirandaProfessor of Neurosurgery at Stanford University; Surgical Director, Brain Tumor, Skull Base, and Pituitary Centers; internationally recognized for endoscopic skull base surgery, pituitary and cavernous sinus surgery, and white-matter–respecting approaches.In this episode, Professor Juan C. Fernandez-Miranda, MD (Stanford Neurosurgery) unpacks the decision to leave Spain for Albert Rhoton’s lab, what “complete resection” means when function is at risk, why restraint can be braver than reach, and the reconstruction choices that truly reduce CSF leaks. We also dig into training realities: endoscopic endonasal technique, cavernous sinus work, simulation that includes stress and chaos, and how to prepare teams for the complications that matter.Topics:• Spain → Rhoton: the leap that changed his career• The line he refuses to cross, even when he could “get it done”• Functional risk and defining “complete resection”• CSF-leak reduction: grafts, flaps, lumbar drains, and when to go free flap• Overused approaches in 2025 and where they still belong• Simulation that’s actually useful: bleeding, pressure, and team choreography• Habits outside medicine that sharpen intraoperative judgment• What to audit when technical perfection doesn’t help the patient• Training the next generation without shortcuts.Chapters00:00 Intro00:30 Spain → Rhoton: strategy vs leap of faith05:10 The surgical line he won’t cross07:20 What “complete resection” means when function is on the line10:50 Reconstruction to reduce CSF leaks (high-flow vs low-flow; flap strategy)15:05 Overused approaches and narrow indications (endonasal, transorbital)17:50 Simulation and realistic visualization (VR + cadaveric, carotid-injury drills)23:10 Concentration, meditation, and pre-op mental rehearsal26:15 When technical success ≠ patient benefit: indication, timing, expectations28:05 Teaching: wide base before tall tower; what he hopes fellows surpass him in29:35 What changed him most across a career — and what stayed the same PODCAST INFO: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NeurosurgeryTalesPodcastSOCIAL: - TikTok: @neurosurgery.tale- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neurosurgery_tales/- Patreon: https://patreon.com/AurelianaToma

Dr. Daniele Bongetta is Head of Neurosurgery at Fatebenefratelli in Milan, a researcher and educator. Trained at the University of Pavia, he has performed thousands of neurosurgical procedures with expertise spanning brain tumors, spinal and vascular surgery, and traumatic injuries. He co-founded the Neurosurgical Basics course to give residents essential skills often overlooked in traditional training, and he has published extensively on topics ranging from fluorescence-guided tumor surgery to impostor syndrome in young surgeons. Dr. Bongetta is also the Co-Director of the first-ever NeuroOlympics, an international event debuting in Rome that blends surgical training, competition, and the spirit of sport to reimagine how neurosurgeons learn and connect. In this episode:• Leadership as burden vs. opportunity• Why he co-founded Neurosurgical Basics to fill gaps in resident training• Impostor syndrome in neurosurgery and the mentors who change everything• Fluorescence-guided tumor surgery and low-cost innovation in the OR• Athlete or artist? The mindset surgeons carry into operating room• Designing the “perfect” operating room of the future• Mistake on the Lake: why we must talk openly about surgical complications• The defining challenge for the next generation of neurosurgeons• The first NeuroOlympics in Rome — mixing skill, sport, and community• Choosing neurosurgery again

Who owns your brain?Brain tech is here.Headbands track your focus. Stick-on “e-tattoos” read stress in real time. Neuralink implants are already in people.But the law is only now catching up.Chile has written neurorights into its Constitution. Colorado and California have declared brain-wave data “sensitive.” The EU bans emotion recognition in workplaces and schools.Still—outside the clinic, your brain data is often treated like shopping history, not sacred self. And that raises a bigger, more urgent question: If your thoughts can be recorded, who owns the master? You… or the system?In this episode of Deeply Unqualified, I explore:• The rise of consumer neurotech—headbands, tattoos, and headphones that read the mind• Why brain scans aren’t as anonymous as you think• How laws in Chile, the U.S., and Europe are drawing the first battle lines• What “neurorights” really mean for the future of privacy and identityAnd maybe the new rule we need is simple: My brain. My rules.PODCAST INFO: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NeurosurgeryTalesPodcastSOCIAL: - TikTok: @neurosurgery.tale- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neurosurgery_tales/- Patreon: https://patreon.com/AurelianaToma

A conversation with Dr. Andrew Brunswick, neurosurgeon at Kaiser Permanente, Columbia and NYU trained, as we explore the intersections of finance, surgery, and mindset.In this episode:• From Wall Street to neurosurgery – how his early detour shaped ambition and risk-taking• Why simulation training is essential for rare, high-stakes moments in the OR• The balance between data, protocol, and intuition in neurosurgery• Coping with complications and the hidden emotional toll of surgery• Parenting, identity, and building resilience outside the OR• Rethinking burnout and what needs to change in neurosurgical training• The future culture of neurosurgery and why balance matters for the next generationDr. Brunswick also shares how meditation, equanimity, and mindset training can transform the way surgeons practice, both technically and emotionally.PODCAST INFO: YouTube A conversation with Dr. Andrew Brunswick, neurosurgeon at Kaiser Permanente, Columbia and NYU trained, as we explore the intersections of finance, surgery, and mindset.In this episode:• From Wall Street to neurosurgery – how his early detour shaped ambition and risk-taking• Why simulation training is essential for rare, high-stakes moments in the OR• The balance between data, protocol, and intuition in neurosurgery• Coping with complications and the hidden emotional toll of surgery• Parenting, identity, and building resilience outside the OR• Rethinking burnout and what needs to change in neurosurgical training• The future culture of neurosurgery and why balance matters for the next generationDr. Brunswick also shares how meditation, equanimity, and mindset training can transform the way surgeons practice, both technically and emotionally.PODCAST INFO: YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@NeurosurgeryTalesPodcast SOCIAL: - TikTok: @neurosurgery.tale- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neurosurgery_tales/- Patreon: https://patreon.com/AurelianaToma

A conversation with Prof. Peter Vajkoczy, Chairman of Neurosurgery at Charité Berlin, as we explore leadership, empathy, surgical philosophy, and life at the edge of medicine.In this episode:• Why arrogance is a risk in neurosurgery — and how humility must be protected• Writing Kopfarbeit: why he chose to share surgical failures as well as triumphs• Why empathy — and even suffering — are essential for growth in neurosurgery• Building one of the world’s top neurosurgery programs at Charité• His vision of mentorship and what young neurosurgeons most need to hear• Redefining success in life-extending but not life-curing surgeries• How daily work between life and death has shaped his view of mortality• Why perfection is impossible — and why constant improvement matters more. Connect with Prof. Peter Vajkoczy:Instagram: @pvajkoczyX (Twitter): @vajkoczyPODCAST INFO: SOCIAL: - TikTok: @neurosurgery.tale- Instagram:@neurosurgery_tales- Patreon: https://patreon.com/AurelianaToma

What happens when doing “everything” becomes too much? In this episode of Deeply Unqualified, I confront the myth of surgical heroism—and the devastation it can leave behind.In this episode:• The cultural obsession with heroic surgery• Data from DECRA, RESCUEicp & JAMA Surgery• Ethical dilemmas: Can survival be a failure?• A personal reckoning with ego, courage, and the limits of medicineThis isn’t about blaming surgeons. It’s about asking better questions.What does it mean to be a good doctor when doing less might be the most humane act?

n this episode of Neurosurgery Tales, I sit down with Dr. Z—a board-certified neurosurgeon and one of the most influential medical voices on social media. Dr. Z brings an unfiltered, deeply human perspective to the world of spine surgery, medical training, and what it really means to strive for excellence.We talk about:• The emotional toll and discipline required in neurosurgery• Whether fear of being average is a healthy motivator• How he balances introversion with public visibility• Spine surgery controversies: arthroplasty vs. fusion• Managing patient expectations in the age of zero-pain culture• What it means to lead with both logic and empathy

In this episode of Neurosurgery Tales, I sit down with Dr. James K. Liu — internationally renowned skull base surgeon, innovator, and educator — for a deep and personal conversation about what it truly takes to pursue technical excellence in neurosurgery. From the early moments that called him into medicine to high-stakes decisions in the OR, Dr. Liu opens up about the emotional weight of complications, the discipline of self-reflection, and how he balances bold innovation with patient safety. We also explore his transition from academia to private practice, his vision for hybrid surgical careers, and how his Art of Brain Surgery video series is transforming surgical education worldwide. In this episode:• Why neurosurgery is a calling, not just a career• Learning from complications & developing surgical judgment• The art of saying "yes" to cases others say "no" to• Balancing radical resection with functional outcomes• Why private practice can be a new academic frontier• Surgical video as a tool for self-improvement• AI, precision, and the future of neurosurgery• Advice for the next generation of neurosurgeons PODCAST INFO: YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@NeurosurgeryTalesPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SOCIAL: - LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://linkedin.com/in/aureliana-toma ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠- Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/neurosurgery_tales/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠- Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://patreon.com/AurelianaToma⁠⁠

As artificial intelligence becomes a powerful force in surgical planning and decision-making, neurosurgeons face a profound ethical dilemma: What happens when the machine gets it wrong? In this solo episode of Deeply Unqualified, Aureliana Toma explores the legal, ethical, and medical consequences of integrating AI into the operating room. We dive into:• AI-powered brain tumor diagnosis (85% accuracy – McGill, 2025)• Robotic surgery platforms like Mazor X and ExcelsiusGPS• Real cases of surgical robots causing complications• The concept of “inhuman errors” missed by AI but not by humans• The legal gray zone: Who is liable when AI fails—surgeon, developer, or no one?• Canada's regulatory response to AI in healthcare• The tension between human judgment and machine autonomy Featuring data from peer-reviewed studies, FDA reports, and leading institutions like McGill University, Duke, and Health Canada. Key Topics Covered: AI in glioma grading and brain tumor classification Deep learning for neurosurgical diagnostics Surgical robots and intraoperative precision Algorithmic bias and health equity Informed consent in the age of AI Brain shift and reference frame error in neurosurgery The evolving definition of surgical expertise What do you think? Should AI ever hold surgical responsibility? Drop your thoughts in the comments. Follow on Instagram: @neurosurgerytales #Neurosurgery #ArtificialIntelligence #AIEthics #SurgicalRobotics #BrainSurgery #DeeplyUnqualified #MedicalEthics #Neurosurgeon #AIinHealthcare #RoboticSurgery #HealthTech #InformedConsent #AlgorithmicBias #Neuroethics #SurgicalAI

A thought experiment that spirals into something much deeper. In this episode of Deeply Unqualified: • How the father of neurosurgery might’ve used TikTok, YouTube, or Instagram • Why Cushing was already a content creator—just born a century too early • The tension between surgical mastery and digital performance • What we gain—and what we lose—when medicine becomes media • A personal reckoning with legacy, attention, and the cost of silence Would Cushing have gone viral?This isn’t just about one man. It’s about how we tell stories in medicine—and who gets remembered. PODCAST INFO: YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@NeurosurgeryTalesPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SOCIAL: - LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://linkedin.com/in/aureliana-toma ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠- Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/neurosurgery_tales/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠- Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://patreon.com/AurelianaToma⁠⁠

A conversation with Dr. Russell Lonser, Chair of Neurosurgery at The Ohio State University, as we explore his remarkable career—from groundbreaking research at the NIH to leading advancements in neurosurgical oncology, drug delivery, and NFL concussion protocols. In this episode: • How does he sustain passion in neurosurgery over decades? • What leadership lessons did he learn transitioning from NIH to Ohio State? • The role of neurosurgeons in public health, sports medicine, and future gene therapy breakthroughs • How to ask simple yet profound research questions that lead to real impact • The hidden keys to crafting a successful NIH grant proposal. PODCAST INFO: YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@NeurosurgeryTalesPodcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SOCIAL: - LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://linkedin.com/in/aureliana-toma ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/neurosurgery_tales/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://patreon.com/AurelianaToma⁠⁠

In this episode, I have the privilege of hosting Professor Dr. Lukas Rasulic, a globally recognized leader in peripheral nerve surgery and neurosurgery innovation. As the Head of the Department of Peripheral Nerve Surgery, Functional Neurosurgery, and Pain Management Surgery at the University Clinical Centre of Serbia, Dr. Rasulic shares his unparalleled expertise and vision for the future of neurosurgery. In this episode we explore: • The pivotal challenges and breakthroughs that shaped his career. • The transformative impact of peripheral nerve surgery on patient outcomes. • Lifelong learning, innovation, and mentorship in medicine. PODCAST INFO: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://neurosurgerytales.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@NeurosurgeryTalesPodcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SOCIAL: - LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://linkedin.com/in/aureliana-toma ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/neurosurgery_tales/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://patreon.com/AurelianaToma⁠⁠