Mark Lyerly, MD

Being a neurosurgeon was my ambition as far back as elementary school. I've always found the nervous system absolutely fascinating. I still feel that way. Throughout medical school, I explored other specialties but never found anything as enthralling as neurosurgery. I feel very privileged to care for patients with brain or spinal cord tumors and other neurosurgical diseases. Medicine is personal to me. I approach patients the same way I would approach caring for a member of my own family. My focus is always on improving quality of life while limiting interventions and medications whenever possible. I strive to educate patients about their own medical conditions and empower them to be shared decision makers in their care. I'm a member of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, American Association of Neurological Surgeons and North American Skull Base Society. I have published over 40 peer-reviewed research articles on complex topics such as Chiari malformation, hydrocephalus, subdural hematoma, quality measures in neurosurgery and more. My family is originally from North Carolina. I grew up living all over the East Coast, but I am very happy to be back home in Winston-Salem. I have two rescue pups and enjoy volunteering with animal rescue organizations. I stay active by running, hiking, swimming and biking. I also enjoy reading, gardening and needlepoint.

Healthcare was always my chosen field, but not always in a patient-facing role. When I was in school at Appalachian State University, I initially trained to work in healthcare management and administration. During my internship, I began to spend more time with clinicians. I witnessed firsthand the deep and rewarding relationships clinicians have with patients, and the role they can play in helping patients improve their health and well-being. This inspired me to shift course from administration to clinical practice. While in physician assistant school, I spent time working in multiple specialties and learned from great doctors and physician assistants across those fields. When I worked with the neurology team at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, something just felt right. I had always thought neurology was an intriguing specialty, and working with the clinicians in the field sealed the deal. It was not only their talents in the art of medicine, but also their compassion for both patients and those around them who stood out to me. I knew this specialty was my passion. My approach to healthcare relies heavily on efficacy-based medicine and shared decision making. I want the best outcomes for my patients, and that starts with including them in the decision-making process. I see my job as helping to guide them so that we can find a medically appropriate therapy that works best for them. I was born and raised in the Winston-Salem area, and feel a deep connection to the region and its people. I still love going back to Appalachian State for football games. Closer to home, participating in running, tennis and lacrosse keeps me active. Also in my downtime, I enjoy seeing family, as well as exploring new coffee shops and bakeries around town.