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Most climbers make the arduous six-day trek up Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa, to put a check on their bucket list. For neurosurgeon Joseph Stern, MD, of Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, the purpose of his climb was to raise awareness for the treatment and support services that are available to patients with brain tumors.

The results of a 10-year international clinical research study, initiated by two Charlotte physicians, will impact the care of tens of thousands of patients with the most common form of brain cancer. The study demonstrated that the use of whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) had significant negative impacts on the overall quality of life for patients with brain cancer and did not extend survival rates. The evidence from this study should serve as a catalyst to immediately reduce the use of WBRT for treatment of cerebral metastases and accelerate the development of novel, focused therapies for brain cancer patients. 

From playing baseball at the University of Tennessee to flying fighter jets on four continents and having a 27-year career as an airline captain, Steve Wieland has led an incredible life. But by the age of 65, he found himself completely helpless. He was unable to walk and was losing function in his hands to the point that he could not feed himself. It would take timing, technology, surgical expertise and rehabilitation to give Steve a new life. 

Today, the use of minimally invasive techniques has expanded to include spinal fusion surgery, which is used to stabilize the spine and reduce or eliminate pain in the lower back and lower extremities. Traditionally, fusion surgery involved an open approach with longer hospital stays and months of recovery. A new minimally invasive option now utilized by our practice is MAS PLIF (Maximum Access Surgery posterior lumbar interbody fusion).

Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates recently welcomed the physicians, staff and offices of Nova Neurosurgical Brain & Spine Specialists to our practice. With this expansion into the Triad area and the opening of our new Matthews office, our practice now has 46 physicians and nine office locations that span from Rock Hill to Greensboro.

Lifesaving neuroendovascular treatment is now available in Greensboro with the addition of fellowship-trained neurosurgeon Neelesh Nundkumar, MD. He is the first and only neurosurgeon in the Greensboro area to offer minimally invasive endovascular treatment for neurovascular disorders.

For decades, Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates has made a difference for children in need of neurosurgical care, and this commitment remains steadfast. As Dr. Michael Heafner nears retirement at the end of 2014, our pediatric neurosurgery program is well-positioned for the future with the recent addition of Scott Wait, MD, and Mark Van Poppel, MD. These highly trained surgeons join Scott McLanahan, MD, in working closely with Levine Children’s Hospital to deliver advanced neurosurgical treatment options for children. 

The physicians and staff of Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates continue to reach out around the world to provide much needed medical care to developing countries. Most recently, physiatrist John Welshofer, MD, and Evelyn Chakarji, CMA, traveled to Nicaragua with a mission trip coordinated by BlessBack Worldwide.