The Neurosurgeon's Journey Podcast

About
The Neurosurgeon’s Journey is a collaborative podcast between Brain and Spine Group, Inc.'s Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Center (MSNTC) and the AANS Young Neurosurgeons Committee (YNC). Michael Kortz and Jeremiah Johnson discuss all topics related to a career in Neurosurgery with a wide array of guests to help students, residents, and attending surgeons navigate the winding path.

Engage With Us
Find all our episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Podbean, Amazon Music/Audible, YouTube, and more!

Previous Episodes

Episode 0
An Introduction to The Journey

Episode 1
​Neurosurgery Applications in a Pandemic

Guests:
Gabriel Zada, MD
Jasmine Thum, MD

*Special thanks to Dave Segar, MD!

Episode 2
The Resident's Perspective on Sub-Internships and Interviews
​
Guests:
Chris Graffeo, MD
Joseph Linzey, MD

Episode 3
Lessons Learned From Two Neurosurgery Applicants

​Guests:
​Sakibul Huq
Michael Rothbaum

Episode 4
​Social Media in Neurosurgery

​Guests:
Laura Stone-McGuire, MD
Joseph Linzey, MD

Episode 5
Applying Without a Home Program

Guests:
​Monica Mureb, DO

Episode 6
Becoming a Vascular Neurosurgeon

Guests: 
Adam Arthur, MD
David Dornbos, MD
​Tyler Lazaro, MD

Episode 7
The Path for IMGs to US Neurosurgery

Guests: 
Gregoire Chatain, MD
Panos Kerezoudis, MD

Episode 8
​Becoming a Spine Surgeon

​Guests: 
​John Shin, MD

Episode 9
What The Data Does (And Doesn't) Tell Us

​

Episode 10
Considerations for the Pre-Med
​
​Guests: 
Matt Rosenthal
​Blake Bogin

Episode 11
The MD/PhD Pathway and Research in Neurosurgery

Guests: 
Brandon Lucke-Wold, MD, PhD
Divine Nwafor, MS3

Episode 12
The Military's Lessons for Neurosurgery

​Guests:
​Jonathan Martin, MD
Ryan Radwanski, MD
​

Episode 13
Neurotrauma and Neurocritical Care

Guest: 
Anthony DiGiorgio, DO, MHA

​

Episode 14
A Conversation with Dr. Nader Dahdaleh

Guest: 
Nader Dahdaleh, MD

Episode 15
Post-Match Lessons Learned

Guests:
Sakibul Huq, MD
Michael Rothbaum, MD
​Molly Farrell, DO

Episode 16
A Conversation with Dr. John Adler

Guest:
John Adler, MD

Episode 17
The Paths To and Through Neurosurgery

Episode 18
What Should I Do as an M1 or M2?

​Guest: 
​Kyle Zappi
​

Your Hosts

Jeremiah Johnson, MD

Michael Kortz, MBA

Dr. Johnson is the immediate past-Chair of the Young Neurosurgeons Committee (YNC). He is an Associate Professor of Neurosurgery and Cerebrovascular Specialist at University of California Los Angeles. He attended medical school at Medical College of Georgia before completing his neurosurgical residency training and an enfolded endovascular fellowship at the University of Miami and a cerebrovascular and microvascular fellowship at Stanford University. In his free time he enjoys spending time with his wife and children and spending time outdoors.  

Michael is the current Senior Student Director of Education Resources for the Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Center. He is a fourth-year medical student at Kansas City University. He previously completed a year of clinical research in Dr. Kevin Lillehei's lab at the University of Colorado in the Department of Neurosurgery and earned an MBA from Rockhurst University Helzberg School of Management. His scholarly interests include space medicine and bioastronautics, neurotechnology, education, and global health. Michael is originally from Colorado and loves to hike and camp, read, and spend time with friends when not pursuing his dream of becoming a neurosurgeon. 

The TNJ Team

Matt Rosenthal

​Lane Fitzsimmons

Carlos Zepada

Resources

Webpages and Other Resources Procured or Recommended by Our Guests
American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS)
Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS)
American Board of Neurological Surgery 
Neurosurgery Match from the YNC
​​MSNTC Global Events Calendar
Meet and Greet Section of Neurosurgery Med Ed
CNS June 2020 Medical Student Symposium
​Medical Student Live Chat for 2020 Application Season
Uncle Harvey
​ECFMG Certification for International Medical Graduates

Publications and Blogposts Procured or Recommended by Our Guests
Professional Development
1. Linzey JR, Graffeo CS, Wang JZ, Haider AS, Alotaibi NM. Neurosurgery and the rise of academic social media: what neurosurgeons should know. J Neurosurg. 2018 Oct;129(4):1-5. doi: 10.3171/2018.2.JNS172817. Epub 2018 Jul 6. PMID: 29979122.
2. Sammie Darlene Lyons; Joseph R. Linzey, MD, MS; Walter Jean, MD. Social Media, Neurosurgery, and COVID-19. AANS Neurosurgeon: Volume 29, Number 2, 2020

Education Resources for Clinical Neurosurgery
1. Perry A, Scheitler KM, Graffeo CS. The Best Neurosurgical Nonrequired Reading: Clinical Neurosurgery 101. World Neurosurg. 2019 Nov;131:76-78. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2019.07.116. Epub 2019 Jul 18. PMID: 31326643.
2. The Neurosurgical Atlas, by Aaron Cohen-Gadol, M.D. https://www.neurosurgicalatlas.com/
3. Greenberg MS. Handbook of Neurosurgery. 9th ed. Thieme.

Factors Affecting Residency Candicacy
1. Main Residency Match Data and Reports. Charting Outcomes In The Match, National Resident Matching Program. Accessed November 7, 2020. https://www.nrmp.org/main-residency-match-data/
2. Chandra A, Aghi MK. Strategies to Address Projected Challenges Facing Foreign Applicants in the U.S. Neurosurgery Match. World Neurosurg. 2020;138:553-555. doi:10.1016/j.wneu.2020.03.180
3. Chandra A, Brandel MG, Wadhwa H, et al. The Path to U.S. Neurosurgical Residency for Foreign Medical Graduates: Trends from a Decade 2007-2017. World Neurosurg. 2020;137:e584-e596. doi:10.1016/j.wneu.2020.02.069

Contact TNJ

All questions, comments, and submissions may be sent to tnjpodcast@neurosurgerytraining.org and a member of our team will follow up with you as soon as possible. Don't forget to engage with the YNC via their Instagram and Twitter.

​Thanks for joining The Neurosurgeon's Journey!