Steven J. Lobritto, MD

Dr. Sekula is one of the world’s foremost leaders in minimally invasive brain surgery. His world-renowned practice is dedicated to less invasive but maximally effective treatment of a variety of brain disorders, particularly difficult to reach tumors involving the skull base (acoustic neuroma, meningioma, and other brain tumors) as well as rare and debilitating conditions like trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm, and glossopharyngeal neuralgia. Dr. Sekula routinely performs keyhole surgeries, which allow patients to experience a gentler and faster recovery without the need for the intensive care unit. During his career, he has performed more than 6,000 surgeries, including more than 2,500 microvascular decompressions. After receiving his undergraduate degree from The University of Virginia and his medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine, Dr. Sekula completed his internship and residency training in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he also completed advanced and fellowship training in minimally invasive brain and skull base surgery. Prior to Columbia, Dr. Sekula was Professor and Residency Program Director at the University of Pittsburgh, Department of Neurological Surgery. Dr. Sekula's prolific academic career includes writing over 100 scientific manuscripts, including editing of the textbook, "Microvascular Decompression Surgery." He is Principal Investigator of a study concerning trigeminal neuralgia investigating fundamental mechanisms of facial pain from the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Sekula is a surgeon and educator, who is regularly invited to lecture in numerous countries to teach his advanced techniques. Learn more about Dr. Sekula via his website: raymondsekulamd.com

Eric J. Kuo, MD is a board certified endocrine surgeon and Assistant Professor of Surgery who is skilled in the surgical treatment of thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal disease. Dr. Kuo has had the unique opportunity to train with a variety of national and international leaders in the field of endocrine surgery. After obtaining his medical degree from the Yale University School of Medicine, Dr. Kuo completed his general surgery residency at the University of California, Los Angeles before completing his fellowship training in Endocrine Surgery at Columbia University, where he was recruited to stay on as faculty. Dr. Kuo’s clinical interests are in the surgical treatment of thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal disease, including minimally invasive thyroid and parathyroid surgery, retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy and robotic adrenalectomy. His philosophy towards patient care includes compassion, shared decision making, and technically excellent surgery.

Dr. Virendra I. Patel is the chief of vascular surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. A vascular surgeon-scientist, Dr. Patel is highly skilled in the full range of vascular disorders that can lead to stroke, renal issues, intestinal problems, and peripheral arterial disease. Dr. Patel has a particular interest in clinical outcomes research and has served as principal investigator of several studies to evaluate open and minimally invasive repairs of complex aortic aneurysms. He participated in the TEVAR and EVAR Committees of the Vascular Quality Initiative of the Society of Vascular Surgery, and hel has also been a member of the Executive Council of the New England Society of Vascular Surgery and the Research Advisory Committee for the Society’s Vascular Study Group. A graduate of Tufts University School of Medicine, Dr. Patel completed his surgical residency and a research fellowship in vascular surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and was a clinical fellow in vascular and endovascular surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital. He earned a Master of Public Health at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s Program of Clinical Effectiveness.