northwestern Medicine department of neurological surgery 2015-2021 Report

Message from the chair

The last six years have been a period of incredible change and growth for the Department of Neurological Surgery at Northwestern Medicine. I would like to take this opportunity to highlight many of the accomplishments we have achieved.
 
First and foremost, we have consolidated our clinical enterprise into a single department across all of Northwestern Medicine, the healthcare system that serves patients at over 200 sites across the Chicago metropolitan area and suburbs, including 11 hospitals. This tremendous endeavor has allowed us to establish a formidable physician workforce at one of the leading academic medical centers in the United States. Moreover, we now represent one of the largest departments of neurological surgery in the country, with over 50 faculty members in total and 21 additional faculty members with secondary appointments. The department is home to over 170 faculty members, residents, nurses, administrators and professional staff members. Our Neurology and Neurosurgery program at Northwestern Memorial Hospital has consistently been ranked in the top 10 in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report, 2021 – 2022.
As Northwestern Medicine has emerged as one of the largest and premier healthcare systems in the nation, we have an amazing opportunity to champion neurosciences across the Northwestern Medicine system. In 2021, we expanded neurosciences care throughout Chicagoland, which offers us an unprecedented opportunity to do the following:
  • Provide patients with the best and most expedient access to outstanding care
  • Offer patients the opportunity for participation in clinical trials
  • Provide innovative treatments for neurological disorders
  • Expand inter-regional partnerships
  • Optimize clinical and research operations
 
While we continue to grow and provide outstanding, integrated care in the coming years, we will also innovate in our laboratories and develop leading-edge therapies for both chronic and incurable diseases. Collectively, our faculty members have published more than 1,100 peer-reviewed papers from 2015 to 2020. We have a unique responsibility to leverage support from the National Institutes of Health to make a difference in the lives of our patients and set an agenda that gives patients access to unique and innovative therapies not available elsewhere. Our robust network of clinical trials provides unprecedented access for patients and opportunities to develop and secure new therapies.
 
We are committed to investing in and developing our clinical trial portfolio in other areas beyond neuro-oncology within our field. The recruitment of several talented faculty members in these areas will help solidify our national and international position as a preeminent institution for neurosurgical research.
 
Since education of future leaders is at the heart of our program, we must continue attracting and recruiting the best minds in the world. Our program’s clinical volume and acuity, state-of-the-art laboratories, and patient-centered culture offers unique opportunities for talented people to leave a lasting mark on society. We aspire to create international leaders in neurosurgery who can take advantage of the unique offerings of our program and develop the capacity and competencies to change the world.
 
Finally, since our department is home to leading international faculty, it is imperative that we continue to further develop our existing collaborations to reach patients in every part of the world. We are an international program that fosters the exchange of students and physicians from around the world. We can offer world-class care to patients from around the world and leverage collaborations to advance the latest scientific discoveries which will drive new and novel therapies.
 
The department is deeply thankful to our administrative leadership, which works tirelessly each day to fulfill our vision and mission of becoming the best neurosurgery department in the country. Most importantly, we are indebted to all of the nurses, advanced practice providers, medical assistants, technicians, scientists, and other staff members who help to maintain and implement the vision and mission of our department.
 
Thank you for taking the time to review this report.
 
Maciej S. Lesniak, MD, MHCM
Michael Marchese Professor, and Chair
Department of Neurological Surgery
Neurosurgeon-in-Chief
Northwestern Medicine

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