Neurosurgery Faculty

photo of Fernando Vale, MD

Fernando Vale, MD

  • Professor and Marshall Allen Distinguished Chair
  • Chair, Department of Neurosurgery
  • General Neurosurgery, Epilepsy Neurosurgery, Stereotactic Radiosurgery, Brain Tumor
photo of Klepper Alfredo Garcia, MD

Klepper Alfredo Garcia, MD

  • Associate Professor,
  • Neurocritical Care
  • Joint Appointment-Neurology
photo of M. Salman Ali, MD

M. Salman Ali, MD

  • Assistant professor of Neurosurgery
  • Director of Skull Base,
  • Pituitary Surgery, and Surgical Neuro-oncology
photo of John Henson, MD

John Henson, MD

  • Professor of Neurology, Medicine & Neurosurgery
  • Director, MCH Brain Tumor Program
  • Director, Hereditary Cancer Clinic
  • Neuro-oncology
photo of Samuel D. Macomson, MD

Samuel D. Macomson, MD

  • Associate Professor,
  • Residency Program Director
  • General Neurosurgery, Hydrocephalus, Peripheral Nerve Surgery
photo of Khoi Nguyen, MD

Khoi Nguyen, MD

  • Assistant Professor,
  • Pediatric Neurosurgery
  • General Adult Neurosurgery
photo of Michel Pare, MD

Michel Pare, MD

  • Associate Professor,
  • Complex Spine Surgery
photo of Alexander Post, MD

Alexander Post, MD

  • Assistant Professor,
  • Spine Surgery,
  • Pediatric Neurosurgery
photo of Scott Y. Rahimi, MD

Scott Y. Rahimi, MD

  • Professor
  • Director Cerebrovascular & Endovascular Services
  • Co-Director, Comprehensive Stroke Center
  • Program Director, Neuroendovascular Fellowship
  • Associate Program Director, Neurosurgery Residency
photo of Manan Shah, MD

Manan Shah, MD

  • Assistant Professor,
  • Neurocritical Care
  • Joint Appointment-Neurology
photo of John R. Vender, MD

John R. Vender, MD

  • Professor
  • Director, Gamma Knife Center
  • Surgical Management of Pain
  • Surgical Oncology, General Neurosurgery
photo of Nilufer Yalcin, MD

Nilufer Yalcin, MD

  • Assistant Professor
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Neurocritical Care

Research

photo of David Blake, PhD

David Blake, PhD

  • Professor
  • Director, Human Brain Lab
  • Neuroscience & Regenerative Medicine
photo of Darrell W. Brann, PhD

Darrell W. Brann, PhD

  • Professor Rehired Retiree
  • Neurosurgery
Dr. Darrell W. Brann is Professor Rehired Retiree in the Department of Neurosurgery at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University in Augusta, Georgia. According to a recent analysis published in PLoS Biology, Dr. Brann is ranked in the top 0.3% of all cited scientists in the world (PLoS Biology 2020, 18:e3000918). Dr. Brann is also ranked in the top 0.1% of scientists in the field of “Estrogen”, according to Expertscape. Dr. Brann’s research has contributed significantly to enhancing understanding of the actions and mechanisms of estrogen and brain-derived-estrogen in the brain, and has helped elucidate the mechanisms underlying stroke and traumatic brain injury. His research has led to publication of 199 peer-reviewed articles in leading scientific journals with over 14,391 citations and an H-index of 70. Dr. Brann previously served as Regents’ Professor and Virendra B. Mahesh Distinguished Chair in Neuroscience. He also served as Interim Chair of the Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine (DNRM) from 2017 to 2019, Vice Chair of DNRM from 2015 to 2017, Director of the Graduate Program in Neuroscience from 2006 to 2020, Chief of the Developmental Neurobiology Program from 2009 to 2013, Associate Director of the Institute of Molecular Medicine and Genetics from 2005 to 2014, and Associate Director of the Institute of Neuroscience at Augusta University from 2005 to 2014. He has also served as Director and Co-Director of two NIH Training Grants. Dr. Brann received his Ph.D. in Endocrinology “With Distinction” in 1990 from the Medical College of Georgia. His postdoctoral work was in the area of neuroendocrinology at the Medical College of Georgia. His mentor was renowned endocrinologist, Dr. Virendra B. Mahesh, former Regents’ Professor and Chair of the Department of Endocrinology at MCG. Dr. Brann has been continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health throughout his career, as well as supported by funding from the Veteran’s Administration and the American Heart Association. He has served on many Editorial Boards and NIH Study Sections, and as Editor and Associate Editor of several leading journals. Dr. Brann also established and served as Chair and Vice Chair of the prestigious Gordon Conference on Excitatory Amino Acids and Brain Function (now named “Excitatory Synapses and Brain Function”). Finally, Dr. Brann has strongly supported graduate students throughout his career. He has mentored or co-mentored 11 PhD students, with 7 of them receiving the Ph.D. "with distinction". He has also served on 60 Ph.D. student advisory committees. Dr. Brann has also endowed two scholarships at the Medical College of Georgia that have supported over 40 graduate students since 2005 - 1) the Darrell W. Brann Scholarship in Neuroscience ($1,000 award that goes to the most outstanding graduate neuroscience student each year), and 2) the Brann Alumni Award, ($250 award that goes to up to 3 Biomedical Ph.D. Program graduate students each year).
photo of Molly Braun, PhD

Molly Braun, PhD

  • Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery
photo of Krishnan Dhandapani, PhD

Krishnan Dhandapani, PhD

  • Vice Chair, Research
  • Neurosurgery
photo of Julia V. Fomitcheva, PhD

Julia V. Fomitcheva, PhD

  • Assistant Research Scientist
  • Neuroscience & Regenerative Medicine
photo of Kumar Vaibhav, PhD

Kumar Vaibhav, PhD

  • Assistant Professor
  • Medical Laboratory, Imaging & Radiologic Sciences

Emeritus Faculty

photo of Gernot S. Doetsch, PhD

Gernot S. Doetsch, PhD

  • Professor Emeritus
  • Professor: Surgery (Section - Neurosurgery)
  • Associate Professor: Physiology & Endocrinology
  • PhD., 1967, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
photo of Cole Giller, MD, PhD, MBA

Cole Giller, MD, PhD, MBA

  • Professor Emeritus

Physician Assistants/Nurses

photo of Anah Bhatia, CPNP-AC

Anah Bhatia, CPNP-AC

  • Nurse Practitioner
photo of Annie Dennis-King, PA-C

Annie Dennis-King, PA-C

  • Physician Assistant

Chasitie McIntosh

  • Nurse Practitioner

Administration

photo of Kerry Cartledge

Kerry Cartledge

  • Administrative Director
  • Augusta University Neuroscience Center

Hope Hanna

  • Business Manager 2
  • Augusta University Neuroscience Center

706-721-9090

Amy Judson

  • Grant Program Manager
  • Augusta University Neuroscience Center

706-721-0295

Tracie Powers

  • Administrative Assistant
  • Augusta University Neuroscience Center

706-721-2145

Kasie Stewart Plagenhoef

  • Administrative Assistant to the Chair

706-721-0335

photo of Laurel Jones

Laurel Jones

  • Residency Program Coordinator

Clinical Appointment

  • Konstantinos N. Fountas, MD
  • Kim W. Johnston, MD
  • Joe S. Robinson Jr., MD
  • Hugh F. Smisson III, MD
  • Ildemaro J. Volcan, MD
  • Fremont P. Wirth, MD