Committee/Liason
The committees and liaisons of the Pediatric Neurological Surgery Section provide valuable leadership and expertise in support of the Section’s mission. Their work helps advance education, collaboration, advocacy, and excellence in pediatric neurosurgical care.
Standing Committees
Nominating Committee (6-year term after Section Chair)
- Matt Smyth, Bermans Iskandar, Mark Krieger
- Lifetime Achievement Award (Frank Ingraham award for Distinguished service): Immediate Past Chair – Matt Smyth
Rules & Regulations Committee (2-year term; 2025-2027)
- Michael Dewan, Chair
Membership Committee (2-year term; 2025-2027)
- Suresh Magge, Chair
Education Committee (2-year term; 2025-2027)
- Hal Meltzer and Eric Thompson, Chair
- Paul Klimo, Michelle Buontempo (APP), Rich Anderson, 5 EC officers, Smurti Patel,
Esther Dupepe, Stephanie Einhaus, Nir Shiomny, and Kurtis Auguste
Education Committee Subcommittees (ad hoc)
Pediatric Section Annual Meeting Subcommittee
- Andrew Jea- Chair 2023 – Oklahoma City
- Bob Keating 2022 – Washington DC
- Hasan Syed 2022 – Washington DC
- Haley Vance Co-Chair APP
- Elisha Peregino Co-Chair APP
- Matt Smyth Section Chair
- Bermans Iskandar Section Past Chair
- Richard Anderson Section Chair- elect
- Ruth Bristol Section Secretary
- David Limbrick Section Treasurer
Member Submissions
Contribute to the collective intelligence of the pediatric neurosurgery community.
Annual Meetings
Our regular assemblies serve as the cornerstone for professional development and networking within the pediatric subspecialty.
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AANS and CNS Meetings Subcommittee (2-year term; 2025-2027)
- Jeffrey Campbell – Co-Chair
- Hal Meltzer – Co-Chair
- Jay Hauptman
- Jess Winer
Examination Questions Subcommittee (2-year term; 2025-2027)
- Jessica Lane, Chair
- Patick McDonald
- Ioannis Mavridis
- Nikita Alexiades
- Daphne Li
- Elizabeth Tyler-Kabara
- James Botros
- Jared Pisapia
Podcasts Subcommittee(2-year term; 2025-2027)
- Heather Spader and Carolyn Quinsey, Co-chairs
- Vijay Ravindra
Traveling Fellowship Subcommittee (2-year term; 2025-2027)
- Jason Blatt and Kristin Weaver – Co-Chair
- Derek Samples
- Patricia Clerkin
Lectures and Webinars Subcommittee (2-year term; 2025-2027)
- Sean McEvoy and Tracy Flanders, Co-Chairs
- Kristen Stabingas and Jeff Leonard
Hands-on Workshops Subcommittee (2-year term; 2025-2027)
(Joint Subcommittee with International Education Subcommittee)
- Joanna Gernsback – Co-Chair
- Peter Morgenstern – Co-Chair
Communications Committee
Website Subcommittee
Neena Marupudi
Co-Chair
Randaline Barnett
Co-Chair
George Koutsouras, DO
Co-Chair
Michael Cools, MD
Faculty Co-Chair
Lauren Ditarano
Survey Subcommittee
Listserv Subcommittee
Nikita Alexiades, MD
Co-Chair
Patrick McDonald, MD
Co-Chair
Nir Shimony, MD
Co-Chair
Michael Cools, MD
Co-Chair
Social Media Subcommittee
Kelly Chamberlin, MD
Co-Chair
Nathan Shlobin
Co-Chair
Devon Mitchell, MD
Sasidhar (Sasi) Karuparti
Medical Student
International Relations
International Relations Committee (2-year term; 2025-2027)
- Tola Roberts and Eisha Christian, Co-Chairs
International Relations Committee Subcommittees
- International Education Subcommittee
- International Clinical Collaborations Subcommittee
The Timothy George Committee on Diversity and Inclusion in Pediatric Neurosurgery (2-year term; 2025-2027)
- Smurti Patel and Kurtis Auguste, Co-Chairs
- Clarence Greene
- Wes Phillips
- Krystal Tomei
- Natalie Limoges
- Tristan Mackey
- Amber Gaulden
- Elizabeth Tyler-Kabara
- Jessica Lane
- Stepahnie Greene
- Syed Hassan Abbas Akbari
- Anthony Wang
- Neena Marupudi
- Nisha Gadgil
- Myron Rolle
- Tola Roberts
- Brandon Rocque
International Liaisons Subcommittee (report directly to the committee chairs)
- ISPN: Michael Dewan
- WFNS
- AAP SOICH/ GICS: Eylem Ocal
- South America: Martha Vilca Salas and Erica Bedu Annan
- Central America and Caribbean
- Brazil: Bruno Braga
- Australia and New Zealand: Brian Hank
- Middle East: Samer Elbabaa and Yazd Essam Maghreb
- Africa: Hakkou Elmehedi, Ira Bown, Rebecca Reynolds and Erica Bedu Annan
- India: Aaron Mohanty, Mohamed Shoaib, Nishanth Sadashiva
- Pakistan: Mian Awais, Hasan Syed
- China: Jackson Pharaoh
- Japan: Kaveh Asadi and Brandon Miller
Research Committee (2-year term; 2025-2027)
- Laila Mohammad and Brandon Miller, Co-Chairs
Research Committee Subcommittees
Grants Subcommittee
- Co-Chairs (2025-2027): Afshin Salehi, MD & Winson Ho, MD
Clinical Research Subcommittee
- Co-Chairs (2025-2027): Hassan Akbari, MD & Jonathan Pindrick, MD
Basic Science Research Subcommittee
- Co-Chairs (2025-2027): Wes Phillips, MD & Jarod Roland, MD
NeuroPoint Alliance Chair
- Mohamad Bydon – Chair
- Praveen V. Mummaneni – Vice-Chair
Quality Improvement Committee (2-year term; 2025-2027)
- Greg Olivarria, Laura Prolo, and Viren Desai, Co-Chairs
Young Pediatric Neurosurgeons Committee (2-year term; 2025-2027)
- Matthew Adamo
- Leopold Arko
- Mian Awais
- Samantha Bochal
- Nolan Brown
- Kelly Chamberlain
- Katherine Chandler
- Adam Conley
- Darian Esfahani
- Reem Elwy
- Nisha Gadgil
- Katherine Holste
- David Hersh
- Amreen Karim
- Sasidhar Karuparti
- Natalie Limoges
- Shahin Maryam
- Joseph Mcabee
- Shaan Mody
- Rachel Moor
- Jackson Phadah
- H. Westley Phillips
- Hanish Polavarapu
- Jennifer Quon
- Emilija Sagaityte
- Shabal Sapkota
- Mohammed Shoaib
- Kendall Snyder
- Leondar Verhey
- Ros Whelan
Committee on Public Engagement, Education, and Advocacy
(SONS Chair and past Chair; 4 year term, switches after Section Mtg)
- Tola Roberts and Eisha Christian, Co-Chairs
- Greg Albert – Chair (2021-2025)
- Sandi Lam – Vice – Chair (2023-2027)
- Andrew Jea – Advisor (2021-2025)
- Michael Feldman
- Jennifer Quon, Joanna Gernsback, Krystal Tomei, Syed Hassan Akbari
Industry Relations Committee (2-year term; 2025-2027)
- Michael McDowell -Co – Chair
- Brian Hanak – Co – Chair
Coding and Reimbursement Committee (2-year term; 2025-2027)
- Dr. Desai and Dr. Vessell, Co-Chairs
Transition to Adulthood Committee (2-year term; 2025-2027)
- Laurie Ackerman
- Jen Amon
- Mandy Breedt
- Jeffrey Blount
- Sheila Buchanan
- Robert Buckley
- Renee Carpenter-Wells
- Samantha Carter (Himsworth)
- Kelsi Chesney
- Michael Cools
- Darian Esfahani
- Kaitlyn Espositio
- Graciela Gallo
- Aanda Garzon
- Diana Gray
- Christine Gumma
- Sarah Hartnett-Wright
- Betsy Hopson
- Bermans Iskandar, Advisor
- Dhruve Jevvan
- Andrew Kobets
- Joyce Koueik
- Mark Kraemer
- Trisha Leonard
- Lisa McLennan
- Laila Mohammad
- Smurti Patel
- Joseph Piatt
- Martin Piazza
- Dorothy Poppe
- Mary Poppe
- Natasha Raman
- Brandon Rocque
- Brandon Rocque, Chair
- Eric Sribnik
- Judy Thibadeu
- Haley Vance
- Bradley Weprin
APP Committee (2-year term; 2023-2025)
- Michelle Buontempo, Chair
- Haley Vance, Alicia Cook, Lauren Delgado, Lisa Mclennan, Advisors
- Blakely Weatherford,
- Jennifer Amon
Membership/Engagement Subcommittee
- Mandy Breedt
- Stephanie Chen
- Carrie Young
Education Subcommittee
- Lisa McLennan
- Jennifer Amon
- Michelle Buontempo
- Lucia Ruggieri
- Stephen Smith
APP Annual Conference Planning Subcommittee (2023-2024)
- Haley Vance
- Laura Propester
- Jamie Valenzuela
- Mandy Breedt
Lifetime Achievement Award: Immediate Past Chair
- Bermans Iskandar
History Committee (2-year term; 2023-2025)
- Chair: Andrew Kobets
- Senior Advisors: Michael Edwards, Ted Dagi, Jack Walker, John Duncan
Clarence Green, Demetrios Nikas, Toba Niazi, Kimberly Hamilton, Michael McDowell, Laila
Mohammad, David Gruber, Paul Kane, Afshin Salehi, Micahel Partington, George Koutsouras,
Residents: Katherine Holste, Diane Aum, Elise Yoon, Pedram Maleknia
Senior Advisory Committee (2-year term; 2023-2025)
- Mark Proctor – Chair
- Tina Duhaime – Advisor
- Al Cohen – Advisor
Awards/Lectures Committee (2-year term; 2023-2025)
- Smurti P and Esther D To remain chairs but transition to:
Sarah Hartnett and Trey McCluggage
Innovation and Technology(2-year term; 2023-2025)
- Sam Browd – Co-Chair
- Daniel Donoho – Co-Chair
- Scellig Stone
Non-Profit Advisory Council
- Sam Browd – Co-Chair
- Daniel Donoho – Co-Chair
- Scellig Stone
Pediatric Section Guidelines Committee (3-year term, change at CNS meeting)
- David Bauer – Chair (2017-2019, Chair 2020-2022)
- Dan Donoho – Vice-Chair (2023-2025)
- Thomas Larrew (F)
- Armaan Malhotra (R)
Representatives and Liaisons
Liaison to the AANS Executive Committee – Current Chair
Richard Anderson
Liaison to the ABPNS – Current Chair of ABPNS
Mark Krieger
Liaison with ASPN – Current President of ASPN
Dody Robinson
Liaison to CNS Foundation
Jeff Campbell
Liaisons to the Drugs and Devices Committee, AANS
Elizabeth Tyler Kabara
Liaison to the American College of Osteopathic Surgery
TBD
Liaison to AANS/CNS Section on Neurotrauma and Critical Care
Erib Sribnick, Marike Zwieneberg, Tola ROberts, Kavesh Asadi, Dhruvi Patel
Liaisons to AANS/CNS Section on History of Neurological Surgery
Andrew Kobets
Liaison to AANS/CNS Section on Pain
Jeffrey Raskin
Liaison to AANS/CNS Section on Stereotactic and Functional Surgery
Rob Bollo
International Relations
International Relations Committee (2-year term; 2025-2027)
- Tola Roberts and Eisha Christian, Co-Chairs
International Relations Committee Subcommittees
- International Education Subcommittee
- International Clinical Collaborations Subcommittee
The Timothy George Committee on Diversity and Inclusion in Pediatric Neurosurgery (2-year term; 2025-2027)
- Smurti Patel and Kurtis Auguste, Co-Chairs
- Clarence Greene
- Wes Phillips
- Krystal Tomei
- Natalie Limoges
- Tristan Mackey
- Amber Gaulden
- Elizabeth Tyler-Kabara
- Jessica Lane
- Stepahnie Greene
- Syed Hassan Abbas
- Akbari
- Anthony Wang
- Neena Marupudi
- Nisha Gadgil
- Myron Rolle
- Tola Roberts
- Brandon Rocque
International Liaisons Subcommittee (report directly to the committee chairs)
- ISPN: Michael Dewan
- WFNS
- AAP SOICH/ GICS: Eylem Ocal
- South America: Martha Vilca Salas and Erica Bedu Annan
- Central America and Caribbean
- Brazil: Bruno Braga
- Australia and New Zealand: Brian Hank
- Middle East: Samer Elbabaa and Yazd Essam Maghreb
- Africa: Hakkou Elmehedi, Ira Bown, Rebecca Reynolds and Erica Bedu Annan
- India: Aaron Mohanty, Mohamed Shoaib, Nishanth Sadashiva
- Pakistan: Mian Awais, Hasan Syed
- China: Jackson Pharaoh
- Japan: Kaveh Asadi and Brandon Miller
Research
Research Committee (2-year term; 2025-2027)
- Laila Mohammad and Brandon Miller, Co-Chairs
Research Committee Subcommittees
Grants Subcommittee
Afshin Salehi, MD & Winson Ho, MD
Co-Chairs (2025-2027)
Basic Science Research Subcommittee
Wes Phillips, MD & Jarod Roland, MD
Co-Chairs (2025-2027)
Clinical Research Subcommittee
Hassan Akbari, MD & Jonathan Pindrick, MD
Co-Chairs (2025-2027)
NeuroPoint Alliance Chair
David Hersh
Quality Improvement
Quality Improvement Committee (2-year term; 2025-2027)
Greg Olivarria, Laura Prolo, and Viren Desai, Co-Chairs
Young Pediatric Neurosurgeons Committee (2-year term; 2025-2027)
- Matthew Adamo
- Leopold Arko
- Mian Awais
- Samantha Bochal
- Nolan Brown
- Kelly Chamberlain
- Katherine Chandler
- Adam Conley
- Darian Esfahani
- Reem Elwy
- Nisha Gadgil
- Katherine Holste
- David Hersh
- Amreen Karim
- Sasidhar Karuparti
- Natalie Limoges
- Shahin Maryam
- Joseph Mcabee
- Shaan Mody
- Rachel Moor
- Jackson Phadah
- H. Westley Phillips
- Hanish Polavarapu
- Jennifer Quon
- Emilija Sagaityte
- Shabal Sapkota
- Mohammed Shoaib
- Kendall Snyder
- Leondar Verhey
- Ros Whelan
Committee on Public Engagement, Education, and Advocacy
SONS Chair and past Chair; 4 year term, switches after Section Mtg
- Greg Albert – Chair (2021-2025)
- Sandi Lam – Vice – Chair (2023-2027)
- Andrew Jea – Advisor (2021-2025)
- Michael Feldman
- Jennifer Quon, Joanna Gernsback, Krystal Tomei, Syed Hassan Akbari
Industry Relations Committee (2-year term; 2025-2027)
- Michael McDowell -Co – Chair
- Brian Hanak – Co – Chair
Coding and Reimbursement Committee (2-year term; 2025-2027)
- Dr. Desai and Dr. Vessell, Co-Chairs
Transition to Adulthood Committee (2-year term; 2025-2027)
- Laurie Ackerman
- Jen Amon
- Mandy Breedt
- Jeffrey Blount
- Sheila Buchanan
- Robert Buckley
- Renee Carpenter-Wells
- Samantha Carter (Himsworth)
- Kelsi Chesney
- Michael Cools
- Darian Esfahani
- Kaitlyn Espositio
- Graciela Gallo
- Aanda Garzon
- Diana Gray
- Christine Gumma
- Sarah Hartnett-Wright
- Betsy Hopson
- Bermans Iskandar, Advisor
- Dhruve Jevvan
- Andrew Kobets
- Joyce Koueik
- Mark Kraemer
- Trisha Leonard
- Lisa McLennan
- Laila Mohammad
- Smurti Patel
- Joseph Piatt
- Martin Piazza
- Dorothy Poppe
- Mary Poppe
- Natasha Raman
- Brandon Rocque
- Brandon Rocque, Chair
- Eric Sribnik
- Judy Thibadeu
- Haley Vance
- Bradley Weprin
APP Committee (2-year term; 2023-2025)
- Michelle Buontempo, Chair
- Haley Vance
- Alicia Coo
- Lauren Delgado
- Lisa Mclennan, Advisors
- Blakely Weatherford,
- Jennifer Amon
Membership/Engagement Subcommittee
- Mandy Breedt
- Stephanie Chen
- Carrie Young
Education Subcommittee
- Lisa McLennan
- Jennifer Amon
- Michelle Buontempo
- Lucia Ruggieri
- Stephen Smith
APP Annual Conference Planning Subcommittee (2023-2024)
- Lisa McLennan
- Jennifer Amon
- Michelle Buontempo
- Lucia Ruggieri
- Stephen Smith
Research Committee Subcommittees
Grants Subcommittee
Afshin Salehi, MD & Winson Ho, MD
Co-Chairs (2025-2027)
Basic Science Research Subcommittee
Wes Phillips, MD & Jarod Roland, MD
Co-Chairs (2025-2027)
Clinical Research Subcommittee
Hassan Akbari, MD & Jonathan Pindrick, MD
Co-Chairs (2025-2027)
NeuroPoint Alliance Chair
David Hersh