Arada Wongmek Weerawat, MD

Michael Schulder, MD, is the vice chair of neurosurgery at North Shore University Hospital and Long Island Jewish Medical Center. He is also the director of the Brain Tumor Center at the Institute for Neurology and Neurosurgery-which treats more than 600 patients annually-and co-director of the Center for Stereotactic Radiosurgery, where his team offers the latest treatment technologies. His research focuses on improving methods of image guidance for brain tumor surgery, and on new techniques for radiosurgery."I've always been fascinated by the workings of the brain and how it gives rise to our thoughts, memories and personalities in ways that aren't fully understood," Dr. Schulder says. He attended medical school at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, and completed his residency in neurological surgery at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Schulder also trained in stereotactic neuro-oncology at the University of Florida and the Brigham and Women's Hospital.Dr. Schulder works with neuro-oncologists, radiation oncologists and other neurosurgeons to create evidence-based treatment plans. "We offer close multidisciplinary collaboration to help avoid delay in seeing patients," he says. The team strives to offer minimally invasive treatments as often as possible.With a keen interest in neurosurgical image guidance-the use of real-time images of the brain to make procedures safer and more precise-Dr. Schulder is studying the next generation of intraoperative MRI. He runs a brain tumor clinical trials program, giving his patients ready access to innovative approaches to care. While performing complex neurosurgery is one of the most satisfying parts of Dr. Schulder's job, "empathizing with patients and their families throughout treatment is equally fulfilling," he says.In addition to treating brain tumors, Dr. Schulder performs functional neurosurgery to manage pain conditions like trigeminal neuralgia, and movement disorders including essential tremor and Parkinson's disease. He is the program director of neurosurgical residency training at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. Dr. Schulder is active in organized neurosurgery, where among other offices he is past president of the World Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, director-at-large of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, and historian of the American Academy Neurological Surgery.