Neurosurgery - Faculty & Staff

Faculty Research Emeritus Physician Assistants/Nurses Admin Clinical Appointment

Neurosurgery Faculty

Fernando Vale, MD

Professor and Marshall Allen Distinguished Chair
General Neurosurgery, Epilepsy Neurosurgery, Stereotactic Radiosurgery, Brain Tumor

fvalediaz@augusta.edu

M. Salman Ali, MD

Assistant Professor
Director of Skull Base,
Pituitary Surgery, & Surgical Neuro-oncology

muhali@augusta.edu

Scott Y. Rahimi, MD

Professor
Neurosurgical Director, Comprehensive Stroke Center
Program Director, Neuroendovascular Fellowship

srahimi@augusta.edu

Samuel D. Macomson, MD

Associate Professor
Residency Program Director
General Neurosurgery, Hydrocephalus, Peripheral Nerve Surgery

smacomso@augusta.edu

Khoi Nguyen, MD

Assistant Professor
Pediatric Neurosurgery
General Adult Neurosurgery

khnguyen@augusta.edu

Hyunwoo (Sean) Do, MD

Assistant Professor
Spine Surgery

HYDO@augusta.edu

Alexander Post, MD

Assistant Professor
Spine Surgery,
Pediatric Neurosurgery

apost@augusta.edu

John R. Vender, MD

Professor
Director, Gamma Knife Center
Surgical Management of Pain
Surgical Oncology, General Neurosurgery

jvender@augusta.edu

Joint Appointment

Klepper Alfredo Garcia, MD

Associate Professor
Director, Neurocritical Care Medicine
Joint Appointment-Neurology

klgarcia@augusta.edu

John Henson, MD

Professor
Director, MCG Brain Tumor Program
Director, Hereditary Cancer Clinic
Neuro-oncology

johenson@augusta.edu

Manan Shah, MD

Assistant Professor
Neurocritical Care
Joint Appointment-Neurology

mashah1@augusta.edu

Research

David Blake, PhD

Professor
Director, Human Brain Lab
Neuroscience & Regenerative Medicine

dblake@augusta.edu

Darrell W. Brann, PhD

Professor Rehired Retiree

dbrann@augusta.edu

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 205 peer-reviewed articles in leading scientific journals with over 17,360 citations and an H-index of 77. 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 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 to the most outstanding graduate neuroscience student each year), and 2) the Brann Alumni Award, ($250 award for up to 3 Biomedical Ph.D. Program graduate students each year).