Photo by Madison Kirkman Frederick Marciano

NEUROSURGEON

Name of medical school:
Albany Medical College, MD; University of Rochester, School of Medicine, Ph.D.

Years in practice:
15 years

Who is your personal health care hero?
Dr. Harvey Cushing, father of American neurosurgery.

“I decided to become a doctor when...”
I was 5 years old and was hospitalized for hernia surgery. I was impressed by the doctors and nurses that cared for me.

What made you choose neurosurgery in particular?
My ongoing curiosity with the brain and how it functions.

“If I weren’t a doctor, I’d be...”
Working in construction as a stone mason, following my father and grandfather’s footsteps.

“When I’m not working, I like to...”
Travel, enjoy sports and spend time with my wife and family.

Name a personal habit, vice or activity of YOURS that you would advise yourself NOT to do if you were your own doctor.
Over-working and not getting enough sleep.

What’s the best thing you ever did for your own health?
Committing to a regular exercise program.

If you could change one thing about the U.S. health care system, what would it be?
Improve patients’ access to care.

What innovation, invention or new technique would you most like to see in the medical field in the next 10 years?
Genetic engineering and stem-cell research.

What’s the most common misconception about neurology and/or neurosurgery?
That neurological diseases can’t be treated or cured.

Zombie movies. Do you watch them? Or do they hit too close to home?
No, I am not a fan.

Name the celebrity doc you most respect and why?
CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta for his knowledge, courage, and humanitarianism. I also like that he is a neurosurgeon.