Michael L. J. Apuzzo (born May 22, 1940) is an American academic neurological surgeon, the Edwin M. Todd/Trent H. Wells, Jr. Professor Emeritus of Neurological Surgery and Radiation Oncology, Biology, and Physics at the Keck School of Medicine, of the University of Southern California. He is also editor emeritus of the peer-reviewed journals World Neurosurgery and Neurosurgery.[1] He is distinguished adjunct professor of neurosurgery at the Yale School of Medicine, distinguished professor of advanced neurosurgery and neuroscience and senior advisor, at the Neurological Institute, Wexner Medical School, The Ohio State University, and adjunct professor of neurosurgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, Department of Neurological Surgery & Weill Cornell Brain and Spine Center.[2]
Apuzzo is the son of a maritime family with roots in Amalfi, Italy (Dominic John Apuzzo, a precision machinist and craftsman) and Vienna, Austria (Ann Janet Lorenz, a registered nurse). Born in New Haven, Connecticut where he attended the Hopkins Grammar School, continued his academic studies at Yale College and obtained his medical degree at the Boston University. After completing his general surgery training at McGill's Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal, he returned to the Yale School of Medicine to complete his neurosurgical residency at Yale New Haven Hospital, West Haven Veteran's Administration Hospital, and Hartford Hospital, along with fellowships in neurophysiology and neuro-pathology. During that time, Apuzzo obtained training in nuclear, submarine and deep sea diving medical specialties at the Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut.[3]
Military service
Following training in Groton, Connecticut, he served as a medical and deep sea diving officer on the USS Robert E. Lee (SSBN-601), one of the original five nuclear-powered fleet ballistic missile submarines as a part of submarine Squadron 14 based in Holy Loch, Scotland. This squadron was assigned to implement the deterrent mission of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), serving as a submarine platform for sixteen Polaris A-3 multiple nuclear warhead intercontinental ballistic missiles. This duty consisted of multiple 90- to 120-day submerged patrols to polar regions, the Mediterranean Sea, and Black Sea.[4]
Professional life
He joined the faculty at the University of Southern California School of Medicine in 1973, where he established a central nervous system immunology and cellular biology laboratory.[5] There, he primarily focused on brain diseases such as tumors, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease and neuropsychiatric disorders.[6] At the Los Angeles County General Hospital, he developed early refinements of microsurgical techniques for the management of intracranial neoplasms.[7] Specifically, he described and advocated complex midline transcerebral microsurgical corridors to the brain's centrally located third ventricle, which ultimately resulted in popularizing these approaches internationally.[8][9] He helped establish the microscope as a regular and essential component of the general neurosurgical armamentarium.[9][10] He was appointed Professor in 1980.[11]
Currently, Apuzzo is the Edwin M. Todd/Trent H. Wells, Jr. Professor Emeritus of Neurological Surgery and Radiation Oncology, Biology, and Physics at the Keck School of Medicine, of the University of Southern California, distinguished adjunct professor of neurosurgery at the Yale School of Medicine, distinguished professor of advanced neurosurgery and neuroscience and senior advisor, at the Neurological Institute, Wexner Medical School, The Ohio State University, and adjunct professor of neurosurgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, Department of Neurological Surgery & Weill Cornell Brain and Spine Center. He was director of Neurosurgery at the Kenneth Norris, Jr. Cancer Hospital and Research Institute, senior clinical director of surgical neuro-oncology, and director of the Gamma Unit Facility at the USC University Hospital and neurosurgical director of the Norris CyberKnife Facility at the Norris Hospital.[12][13]
Clinical and research activities
Apuzzo was a leader in the development and employment of imaging directed stereotactic neurosurgery in 1979.[14][15] In the laboratory and clinic, he developed and refined prototype stereotactic systems and technical adjuvants. These created a mode of intracranial navigation at a new level of precision and safety. He introduced the computer as an intraoperative neurosurgical tool[12] and reintroduced intracranial endoscopy as a technical adjunct.[16] Though not primarily a radiosurgeon, he introduced and developed rotational dynamic radiosurgery techniques and performed the first procedure in America[17] using these methods for brain tumors, arteriovenous malformations, and functional disorders. Later, he worked to refine and popularize the use of fixed beam systems.[18][19][20]
He studied functional restoration in the central nervous system and performed North America's first human stereotactic cerebral grafting research procedure for the amelioration of Parkinsonism. He conceived the term‚ 'cellular and molecular neuro-surgery'[21] and promoted the amalgam of molecular biology and neurosurgery in the comprehension and management of neurological diseases. He developed the concept of minimally invasive neurosurgery[16] and played a primary role in the investigation and application of vagal nerve stimulation for the management of intractable epilepsy.[22][23] This method of treatment was subsequently applied to multiple neurofunctional and psychiatric disorders.[24][25]
He has raised awareness of the role of nanotechnology as a neurosurgical adjuvant.[27][28] He has worked in the area of advanced and specialized operating room design,[29] as well as the concept of virtual environments for surgical simulation.[30][31][32]
Publications and editorships
Apuzzo has made over 800 contributions to the scientific literature on surgical techniques, methods, and concepts as they apply to disorders of the human cerebrum. Major independent volumes have included: Surgery of the Third Ventricle (1987, 1998) Brain Surgery: Complication Avoidance and Management (1992), and Surgery of the Human Cerebrum (2009).[33] Predominant themes have included surgical minimalism, technology transfer and the implementation of advanced technologies to the therapy of brain diseases.
In 1991, he was appointed editor-in-chief of the peer-reviewed journal Neurosurgery. He established the web-based "Neurosurgery-Online" and later "Operative Neurosurgery" during his term as editor-in-chief. When he completed his term in 2009, he was asked to found the society sponsored peer-reviewed journal "World Neurosurgery" and "worldneurosurgery.org" by the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) until January 2015, when he stepped down.
In 2015, he was the new editor of World Neurosurgery.[34] In 2021, he co-published "Applications of augmented reality in the neurosurgical operating room: A systematic review of the literature" in the Journal of Clinical Neuroscience.[35] In 2023, he is on the editorial board of the Chinese Neurosurgical Journal.[36]
Internationalism and education
He has served as an advocate for international exchange of ideas. In 1989, as scientific program chair, he introduced an increased presence of international faculty and participation in the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana. This practice was subsequently developed and perpetuated by the major North American neurosurgical groups in succeeding decades. As editor of Neurosurgery, he established an extensive international advisory board and increased international participation in the review and publication processes.
He subsequently traveled actively internationally initiating idea exchange and the sharing of information globally both personally and through the exploitation of digital technologies early in their availability. He subsequently was awarded membership in more than 25 international organizations. Based on these contributions, he was awarded the Founders' Laurel Award by the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) at their annual meeting in 2014.
"The CNS Founders' Laurel Award is awarded to a unique individual who has made exceptional life long contributions in education and mentorship. Dr. Apuzzo is an iconic figure in neurosurgery whose illustrious career over the past forty years exemplifies the principles this award represents. His educational contributions have been many. Since the late 70’s, Dr. Apuzzo has consistently provided new ideas and concepts that have played a key role in the evolution of neurosurgical education and practiced worldwide. He has been involved in numerous key educational initiatives of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS), American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), The Society of Neurological Surgeons (SNS), American Academy of Neurological Surgery,[37] The Society of University Neurosurgeons (SUN),[38] and others groups worldwide. In the late 80’s and 90’s, he played an important role in redesigning the structure and templates of our meeting’s as we know it today initially the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS)and subsequently the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) and this is the foundation of upon which our meeting structures are in place today. Dr. Apuzzo has made an indelible impact also on the training and thinking on over 100 neurosurgical residents at the University of Southern California and countless other trainees and students around the globe."
Beginning in 1978, based on the legacy of University of Michigan's Richard C. Schnieder, he initiated activities to establish the role of neurosurgery in the arena of organized sport. Initially, at the University of Southern California, he established an active role in the areas of head protection, injury prevention, assessment and treatment with athletic trainer Byron Hansen and later Russ Romano and a succession of coaches and athletic directors at that institution. Subsequently, he worked to establish injury management protocols with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and NFL.
As editor of Neurosurgery, he established a section on sport which focused on traumatic brain injury in all sports.[43][44][45][46] Later, as special adviser to the National Football League Committee on traumatic brain injury, he worked to establish injury prevention recognition and management protocols that are now adopted under the Commissioners Paul Tagliabue and Roger Goodell.[47][48] In later years, his relationship with the NFL as a special consultant to the New York Giants while acting as editor-in-chief of the journal came under question in investigations led by PBS and the New York Times.[49][50] In particular, the NFL's Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Committee had published all 13 of its publications in Neurosurgery as he maintained professional and financial ties to the organization, and over the objections of reviewers.[49]
In 2000, he was the editor of Neurosurgery, when the "medical journal published controversial NFL articles," according to Sports Business Daily.[51] The controversial papers involved head injuries and symptoms among NFL players, which some academics argued were more severe than was reflected in the publications, including under Apuzzo as editor of Neurosurgery, where the articles were published.[52] In 2018, he and four other doctors associated with the NFL were sued by insurers for access to documentation regarding player wellbeing and head injuries.[51]
Recognition
Apuzzo has served as honored guest laureate for the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.[53] He was awarded the William Beecher Scoville Prize for neurosurgery by the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS).[54][55] He was awarded the Van Heck Prize by the Belgian National Foundation for Scientific Research for work in the treatment of untreatable diseases.[56] He has been honored by the World Health Organization (WHO), World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies, Queen Sophia of Spain with the Sixto Obrador Medal, and Sweden's National Center for Research and Higher Education in Medicine, the Karolinska Institutet, with the Herbert Olivecrona Award.[57] He received a Doctorate honoris pro causa from the 85-member Italian National University Consortium administered by the Suor Orsola Benincasa University of Naples. He received the University Medal from Boston University for unusual contributions to the field of medicine and the advancement of surgery of the central nervous system and the Gold Medal from the University of Messina in Italy for his contributions to neurosurgery, medicine, internationalization and humanities.[1] He is the recipient of Norway's Vilhelm Magnus Medal and Italy's Francesco Durante International Prize.[58][59] The Congress of Neurological Surgeons had established the "Michael L. J. Apuzzo Lecture on Creativity and Innovation" as a keynote lecture at its annual meeting. The "Apuzzo Prize for Creativity and Innovation" has been established at both the Boston University and Keck Schools of Medicine.[60] He is the 2014 recipient of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons' "Founders Laurel Award".[61] He was honored by the Ohio State University with a Doctor of Science degree in May 2015.
"The Ohio State University salutes Michael L.J. Apuzzo. It is difficult to overstate the importance of the contributions Dr. Michael L.J. Apuzzo has made to the field of neurosurgery. A remarkably innovative clinician, scientist and scholar, he has become an international icon for his groundbreaking scientific discoveries and for this use of cutting-edge technologies to redefine neurosurgical practice. His tireless dedication and pioneering spirit have earned him recognition as one of the world's most renowned neurosurgeons. In recognition of these outstanding achievements, The Ohio State University confers upon him the degree of Doctor of Science Honoris causa, May 10, 2015."
—Honoree Commencement Dinner, The Ohio State University, May 2015, Columbus, Ohio by Michael V. Drake, M.D., president of the Ohio State University[62]
In May 2009, the University of Southern California's Department of Neurological Surgery and the Keck School of Medicine established the Michael L.J. Apuzzo Professorship for Advanced Neurological Surgery.[6] The professorship is endowed by Ernest A. Bates.[6]
On May 6, 2022, the Department of Neurosurgery at Yale hosted the inaugural Michael L. J. Apuzzo lecture for the first time, to honor Apuzzo.[63] He received an honorary degree in 2023 from WVU.[64]
Neurosurgery or neurological surgery, known in common parlance as brain surgery, is the medical specialty concerned with the surgical treatment of disorders which affect any portion of the nervous system including the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nervous system.
Paul Bucy was an American neurosurgeon and neuropathologist who was a native of Hubbard, Iowa. He is known both for his part in describing the Klüver–Bucy syndrome, his academic life as a teacher in the neurosciences, and for his founding in 1972 and editing Surgical Neurology – An International Journal of Neurosurgery and Neuroscience from 1972 to 1987.
Brian T. Andrews is a neurosurgeon specializing in pediatric neurosurgery, minimally invasive spinal surgery, brain tumors, neuro-oncology, neurotrauma, spinal stenosis and general neurosurgery. He is chairman of the Department of Neurosciences at California Pacific Medical Center and a founder of the California Pacific Neuroscience Institute.
Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa is a Mexican-American neurosurgeon, author, and researcher. Currently, he is the William J. and Charles H. Mayo Professor and Chair of Neurologic Surgery and runs a basic science research lab at the Mayo Clinic Jacksonville in Florida.
Gail Linskey Rosseau is Clinical Professor of Neurosurgery at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, D.C. Prior to this position, she was Associate Chairman of Inova Fairfax Hospital Department of Neurosciences. She previously served as director of skull base surgery of NorthShore University HealthSystem. She is board-certified and has been an examiner for the American Board of Neurological Surgery. She has been elected to the leadership of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies, and the Société de Neurochirurgie de Langue Française.
Griffith Rutherford Harsh IV is an American neurosurgeon, Professor of Neurological Surgery at the University of California, Davis, and former Julian R. Youmans Endowed Chair of the department. Dr. Harsh also led the UC Davis School of Medicine and UC Davis Health faculty as Chair of the Council of Department Chairs. Currently, he maintains his academic appointment at UC Davis and holds visiting professorships at the University of Nairobi and Kenyatta University, while living in Nairobi with his wife, Meg Whitman, the US Ambassador to Kenya.
Roger Härtl is an American neurological surgeon at Weill-Cornell Medical College and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. He is the Director of Spinal Surgery at the Weill Cornell Brain & Spine Center. Härtl has been named by Becker's Spine Review as one of the Top 50 Spine Surgeons in the United States as well as one of the Top 10 Spine and Neurosurgeon Leaders at Non-Profit Hospitals. He was named one of New York's Top Doctors by New York Magazine after he saved the life of New York firefighter Eugene Stolowski.
Axel Herbert Olivecrona was a Swedish professor and brain surgeon, credited with founding the field of Swedish neurosurgery, and pioneering developments in modern neurosurgery.
Albert Loren Rhoton Jr., was an American neurosurgeon and a professor specializing in microsurgical neuroanatomy. He was on the editorial boards of six surgical journals, and worked as professor and chairman of the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Florida. He was also president of organizations such as the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, among other surgical organizations.
Frank Henderson Mayfield, was an American neurosurgeon and founder of the Mayfield Clinic and Spine Institute in Cincinnati, Ohio. A pioneer in brain and spine surgery, he invented the spring aneurysm clip and the Mayfield skull clamp. Mayfield is best known for his clinical interests in peripheral nerve and spine injuries, development of neurosurgical instruments, and medical politics.
Aaron A. Cohen-Gadol is a professor of neurological surgery in the department of neurosurgery at Indiana University School of Medicine and a neurosurgeon at Indiana University Health specializing in the surgical treatment of complex brain tumors, vascular malformations, cavernous malformations, etc. He performs removal of brain tumors via minimally invasive endoscopic techniques, which use the nasal pathways instead of opening the skull.
James Rutka is a Canadian neurosurgeon from Toronto, Canada. Rutka served as RS McLaughlin Professor and Chair of the Department of Surgery in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto from 2011 – 2022. He subspecializes in pediatric neurosurgery at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), and is a Senior Scientist in the Research Institute at SickKids. His main clinical interests include the neurosurgical treatment of children with brain tumours and epilepsy. His research interests lie in the molecular biology of human brain tumours – specifically in the determination of the mechanisms by which brain tumours grow and invade. He is the Director of the Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre at SickKids, and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Neurosurgery.
World Neurosurgery is a monthly peer-reviewed medical journal that was established in 1973 as Surgical Neurology before obtaining its current name in 2010. It is published by Elsevier and is the official journal of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies. The editor-in-chief is Edward C. Benzel.
Rahul Jandial is an American, dual-trained brain surgeon and neuroscientist. He is also a London Times bestselling & international bestselling author with his books translated into over 20 languages.
Robert Wheeler Rand, was an American neurosurgeon, inventor, and Professor of Neurosurgery in the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) from 1953 to 1989.
Antonio Bernardo is an Italian-American neurosurgeon and academic physician. He is a professor of Neurological Surgery and the Director of the Neurosurgical Innovations and Training Center for Skull Base and Microneurosurgery in the Department of Neurological Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College. He has gained significant notoriety for his expertise in skull base and cerebrovascular surgery, and has published extensively on minimally invasive neurosurgery. He is a pioneer in the use of 3D technology in neurosurgery and a strong advocate for competency-based training in surgery.
Robert Porter was a neurosurgeon in California. Porter was a founding member of the Brain Research Institute. He became Professor of Neurological Surgery at the University of California, Irvine, College of Medicine in 1969, and was Professor Emeritus there.
Dr. Basant Kumar Misra is a neurosurgeon specialising in treating brain, spine, cerebrovascular and peripheral nervous system disorders, injuries, pathologies and malformations. He is the Vice-President of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies, and the former President of the Asian Australasian Society of Neurological Surgeons, and the Neurological Society of India. He is a recipient of Dr. B. C. Roy Award, the highest medical honour in India.
Gabriel Zada is Professor of Neurological Surgery at the University of Southern California. He is known for his expertise in brain tumor and pituitary tumor surgery and as an innovator in minimally invasive cranial surgery. Zada is the director of the USC Brain Tumor Center, USC Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery Program and USC Radiosurgery Center. He is also an NIH-funded principal investigator at the Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute. He specializes in endoscopic and minimally invasive neurosurgical techniques. During his career, he has published over 200 peer-reviewed articles on various neurosurgical topics, and holds numerous U.S. patents pertaining to minimally invasive neurosurgery and surgical devices.
Claire Karekezi is a Rwandan neurosurgeon at the Rwanda Military Hospital in Kigali, Rwanda. As the first female neurosurgeon in Rwanda, and one of the eight Rwandan neurosurgeons serving a population of 14 million, Karekezi serves as an advocate for women in neurosurgery. She has become an inspiration for young people pursuing neurosurgery, particularly young women.
↑ Apuzzo ML, Pagán VM, Faccio R, Liu CY. A Bosphorus submarine passage and the reinvention of neurosurgery. World Neurosurgery 79(1):40-52, 2013.
↑ Farin A, Liu CY, Elder JB, Langmoen IA, Apuzzo ML. The biological restoration of central nervous system architecture and function: part 1-foundations and historical landmarks in contemporary stem cell biology. Neurosurgery 64(1):15-39, 2009.
↑ Apuzzo ML, Sabshin JK. Computed tomographic guidance stereotaxis in the management of intracranial mass lesions. Neurosurgery. 1983 Mar;12(3):277-85.
1 2 Apuzzo ML, Heifetz MD, Weiss MH, Kurze T. Neurosurgical endoscopy using the side-viewing telescope. J Neurosurg. 1977 Mar;46(3):398-400
↑ Hoh DJ, Liu CY, Pagnini PG, Yu C, Wang MY, Apuzzo ML. Chained lightning, part I: Exploitation of energy and radiobiological principles for therapeutic purposes. Neurosurgery. 2007 Jul;61(1):14-27; discussion 27-8.
↑ Hoh DJ, Liu CY, Chen JC, Pagnini PG, Yu C, Wang MY, Apuzzo ML. Chained lightning, part II: neurosurgical principles, radiosurgical technology, and the manipulation of energy beam delivery. Neurosurgery. 2007 Sep;61(3):433-46; discussion 446.
↑ Hoh DJ, Liu CY, Chen JC, Pagnini PG, Yu C, Wang MY, Apuzzo ML. Chained lightning: part III--Emerging technology, novel therapeutic strategies, and new energy modalities for radiosurgery. Neurosurgery. 2007 Dec;61(6):1111-29; discussion 1129-30.
↑ Amar AP, Heck CN, DeGiorgio CM, Apuzzo ML. Experience with vagus nerve stimulation for intractable epilepsy: some questions and answers. Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo). 1999 Jul;39(7):489-95.
↑ Heller AC, Amar AP, Liu CY, Apuzzo ML. Surgery of the mind and mood: a mosaic of issues in time and evolution. Neurosurgery. 2008 Jun;62(6 Suppl 3):921-40.
↑ Robison RA, Taghva A, Liu CY, Apuzzo ML. Surgery of the mind, mood, and conscious state: an idea in evolution. World Neurosurg. 2012 May-Jun;77(5-6):662-86.
↑ Elder JB, Liu CY, Apuzzo ML. Neurosurgery in the realm of 10(-9), part 1: stardust and nanotechnology in neuroscience. Neurosurgery. 2008 Jan;62(1):1-20.
↑ Elder JB, Liu CY, Apuzzo ML. Neurosurgery in the realm of 10(-9), Part 2: applications of nanotechnology to neurosurgery--present and future. Neurosurgery. 2008 Feb;62(2):269-84; discussion 284-5.
↑ Apuzzo ML, Weinberg RA. Architecture and functional design of advanced neurosurgical operating environments. Neurosurgery. 1993 Oct;33(4):663-72; discussion 672-3.
↑ Liu CY, Spicer M, Apuzzo ML. The genesis of neurosurgery and the evolution of the neurosurgical operative environment: part II--concepts for future development, 2003 and beyond. Neurosurgery. 2003 Jan;52(1):20-33; discussion 33-5.
↑ Spicer MA, Apuzzo ML. Virtual reality surgery: neurosurgery and the contemporary landscape. Neurosurgery. 2003 Mar;52(3):489-97; discussion 496-7.
↑ Spicer MA, van Velsen M, Caffrey JP, Apuzzo ML. Virtual reality neurosurgery: a simulator blueprint. Neurosurgery. 2004 Apr;54(4):783-97; discussion 797-8.
↑ Michael L.J. Apuzzo. Surgery of the Human Cerebrum: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2009
↑ Apuzzo MLJ. The Neurosurgeon in Sport: Awareness of the risks of heatstroke and dietary supplements. Neurosurgery 51(2): 283-288, 2002
↑ Honored Guest Presentation: The Legacy of Galen of Pergamon: The Neurosurgeon In The Area Of Sport. Clinical Neurosurgery Volume 49: Chapter 17:333-370, 2002
↑ Apuzzo MLJ. Galen 2003: Critical Analysis of Brain Injury in Sport. Neurosurgery 53(4):795, 2003
↑ Levy ML, Ozur BM, Berry C, Aryan HE, Apuzzo MLJ. Analysis and Evolution of Head Injury in Football. Neurosurgery 55(3):649-662, 2004
↑ Apuzzo MLJ. The National Football League: Cerebral Concussion, Peer-Review, and the Oath of Hippocrates Keynote Address- NFL Concussion Summit Chicago, 2007. Neurosurgery 62(1):202-203, 2008
↑ Apuzzo MLJ. The World Stage of Elite Sports: The Neurological Consequence of Competitive Involvement. World Neuorsurgery 74(6):558-559, 2010
↑ "Archived copy"(PDF). unime.it. Archived from the original(PDF) on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
