The Neurosurgical Atlas (ATLAS) is the largest nonprofit (501c3) organization for neurosurgical education and research in the world. With 56,000 members and over 1.3 million website users (as of March 2021,) the ATLAS affects the care of many patients daily. A recent survey demonstrated that the ATLAS is considered internationally as the Bible of neurosurgery.
The mission of the ATLAS enterprise is to advance the care of patients suffering from neurosurgical disorders via introduction of novel and efficient surgical techniques into practice. Our unwavering commitment to surgical excellence through ground breaking technologies, research, and education is demonstrated via our global leadership position as the most innovative and comprehensive platform for advancement of neurosurgical techniques. The ATLAS affects the care of 1.3M patients per year undergoing complex brain surgery for brain tumors, aneurysms, arteriovenous malformation and other life changing neurological disorders.
Each video or chapter in the ATLAS describes the unspoken secrets for safe and efficient performance of complex brain operations. In essence, using the ATLAS, the surgeon can practice the operation the night before the surgery. The ATLAS has transformed neurosurgical education across the globe.
See the full detailed dedicated page of Dr. Aaron Cohen-Gadol for more information.
Aaron Cohen-Gadol, MD, MSc, MBA is the President and the founder of The Neurosurgical Atlas. He has extensive experience with surgeries of brain tumors, aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations and microvascular decompression surgery for hemifacial spasm and trigeminal neuralgia. The Atlas reflects the surgical experience of Dr. Cohen with more than 5,500 complex brain operations. He is the recipient of the Vilhelm Magnus medal, comparable to the Noble Prize, from the Scandinavian Neurosurgical Association, for advancing neurosurgical techniques and outcomes worldwide.
His surgical philosophy focuses on efficient and minimally invasive surgery based on the fundamental principle that his true passion for technical excellence yields unparalleled surgical results. He has published over 510 publications on the aforementioned topics. He is recognized internationally for his expertise in complex intracranial surgery.
For more information on Dr. Cohen, please see his CV in this PDF and Wikipedia. Please refer to this editorial in the Journal of Neurosurgery on the work related to the Atlas. In addition, please see this Preface Chapter and its associated video introductions by Dr. Cohen to the Atlas.
Benjamin K. Hendricks, MD is a neurosurgery resident at the Barrow Neurological Institute and a major contributor to the content within The Neurosurgical Atlas. He oversees the strategic planning for the Atlas projects. Ben's leadership and expertise have been instrumental to our success. He is also an executive member of the Board of Directors of the Atlas.
He is from Indiana and attended medical school at Indiana University School of Medicine. He has future career interests in the area of neurosurgical oncology and neurosurgical education.
Juan Carlos Fernandez-Miranda, MD is Professor of Neurosurgery and Chief of the Pituitary and Skull Base Division at Stanford University. He is internationally renowned for his expertise and innovative contributions in endoscopic skull base and pituitary surgery, open skull base surgery, and complex brain tumor surgery. He is also an executive member of the Board of Directors of the Atlas and director of the Neurosurgical Atlas Surgical Neuroanatomy Research fellowship at the Stanford Neurosurgical Training and Innovation Center.
Dr. Fernandez-Miranda completed neurosurgery residency at La Paz University Hospital in Madrid, Spain. From 2005 to 2007, he underwent fellowship training in microsurgical neuroanatomy at the University of Florida under legendary neurosurgeon Albert L. Rhoton, Jr. From 2007 to 2010 he continued subspecialty clinical training in cerebrovascular surgery at the University of Virginia, and endoscopic endonasal and open skull base surgery at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). During his 10-year tenure at UPMC, he pioneered endoscopic endonasal approaches to highly complex pituitary and skull base tumors, developed a world-class complex brain surgery program, and led a premier training and research program on surgical neuroanatomy and skull base surgery.
Joshua Klein, MSMI gained his Master of Science in Medical Illustration from Augusta University and Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Toledo.
He spent several years interning at the Center for Creative Instruction at the University of Toledo Health Science Campus, where he contributed illustrations to various projects including a clinical anatomy textbook. He has worked as an illustrator, 3D animator, as well as a department manager in medical animation in the fields of medical education, personal injury law, and pharmaceutical industry.
Growing up in Ohio, he has developed an insatiable curiosity and is a lifelong learner and hobbyist, always looking for new inspiration to inform his work and seeking tools of the future for medical education. His unparalleled and artistic illustrations have transformed the beauty of The Neurosurgical Atlas.
Jill M. Sebra has worked for more than 18 years as an STM copy editor, trainer and freelance copy editor for numerous well-known journals (including Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Pediatrics, Journal of Biological Chemistry, Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, and journals of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, American Society for Microbiology, and American Society of Civil Engineers). Her unparalleled editorial efforts have transformed the readability of this Atlas to a new level.
Luke Brown, BS studied Media Arts and Science at Indiana University, specializing in Computer Graphics, and was involved with several VR/AR medical collaborations during his time there.
He has been with the Atlas for several years and has developed the Atlas's remarkable 3D Catalog.
With the recent increase in web-based lectures and events, Luke has also become the media producer for the Atlas's various webinar events.
Tao Xu, MD, PhD is an Associate Professor of neurosurgery at Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China. He has been the major driving force to make the Atlas translation to Chinese language possible. His immense contributions have made the Atlas available to our Chinese colleagues and have advanced neurosurgical training in China.
He graduated from the Naval Medical University and finished his residency in Changzheng Hospital. He completed fellowship training in skull base surgery at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical college. He also worked as a Visiting Consultant Neurosurgeon in Phnom Penh, Cambodia for one year, using his knowledge and skills to help the local patients as well as training the local neurosurgeons. The versatile background provided him a global view of both health care system and surgery. He has published more than 30 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters. His clinical interests include skull base surgery, neurosurgical oncology, and neurosurgical education.
The Neurosurgical Atlas depends almost entirely on your donations.
We are unable to continue the Atlas without a significant donation from you.
Please commit at least a yearly $250 donation to the Atlas.Without this commitment, the Atlas will soon require a paid subscription and will become inaccessible to many surgeons around the world whose patients’ care depend on it.
Please donate now!
We are unable to continue the Atlas without a significant donation from you. Please commit at least a yearly $250 donation to the Atlas.
Without this commitment, the Atlas will soon require a paid subscription and will become inaccessible to many surgeons around the world whose patients’ care depend on it. Please donate now!
