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New Honors, Awards and Promotions Announced

Michael G. Kaplitt, MD given first Victor and Tara Menezes Clinical Scholar Award in Neuroscience

Effective June 1, 2005, Michael G. Kaplitt, MD received the first Victor and Tara Menezes Clinical Scholar Award in Neuroscience, in recognition of his pioneering research on the use of gene therapy in the brain.

Dr. Kaplitt graduated Magna Cum Laude from Princeton University in 1987 with a degree in Molecular Biology and Russian Studies. He enrolled in the Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program and received his PhD in Molecular Neurobiology in 1993 from The Rockefeller University and his MD in 1995 from Cornell Medical College.

After completing his Neurosurgery residency and chief residency at Cornell, he completed a fellowship in Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery with Dr. Andres Lozano at the University of Toronto prior to joining our staff as Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery in July 2001.

Dr. Kaplitt pioneered the use of gene therapy in the brain. He has published over 40 papers and has edited a book on this subject. He recently submitted the first protocol for gene therapy for Parkinson's Disease for FDA approval.

He currently serves as Section Editor in Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery for Select Reviews in Neurosurgery and Editor of the World Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery Web Site. He is also Adjunct Assistant Professor at The Rockefeller University and Clinical Assistant Surgeon at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

John A. Boockvar, MD receives Alvina and Willis Murphy Clinical Scholar Award and American Brain Tumor Association Research Fellowship

Effective June 1, 2005, John A. Boockvar, MD was awarded the Alvina and Willis Murphy Clinical Scholar Award, as well as the American Brain Tumor Association Research Fellowship. The American Brain Tumor Association exists to eliminate brain tumors through research and to meet the needs of brain tumor patients and their families.

Dr. Boockvar received a BA and graduated Cum Laude from the University of Pennsylvania. He received his MD degree from SUNY Brooklyn-Downstate Medical Center, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude with Distinction in Research and was medical school class valedictorian. Dr. Boockvar did his surgical internship and neurosurgical residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Boockvar's surgical focus is in brain tumors, skull base and pituitary surgery, minimally invasive spinal surgery and complex spinal instrumentation. He performs minimally invasive spinal fusions and was the first neurosurgeon in New York City to insert a lumbar artifical disc.

Dr. Boockvar currently directs the Cornell Neurosurgery Laboratory for Translational Stem Cell Research. His laboratory interests have focused on studying adult human neural stem cell biology to investigate brain tumor formation and stem cell migration and survival. Dr. Boockvar is an Editorial Board Member of the journal Current Stem Cell Research and Therapy.

Faculty Appointments and Promotions Announced

New faculty appointments and promotions were announced by Philip E. Stieg, PhD, MD, Professor and Chairman of Neurological Surgery, NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell's Neurosurgery Department, effective July 1, 2005:

• Howard A. Riina, MD has been promoted to Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery and in addition, received a new appointment as Director of the Neurological Surgery Residency Program. Dr. Riina specializes in interventional neuroradiology and neurological surgery, and has lectured and published extensively regarding intracranial aneurysms and vascular malformations of the brain and spine.
• Theodore Schwartz, MD has been promoted to Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery. Dr. Schwartz specializes in the surgical treatment of brain tumors, epilepsy and spinal disorders, using the latest techniques in computer-guided surgical navigation, microsurgery and stereotactic radiosurgery.