Neurosurgeons from the Seton Brain and Spine Institute Speak at February Seton Circle Meeting
Dr. Alex Valadka and Dr. Robert Buchanan with the Seton Brain and Spine Institute were the February speakers at the Seton Circle meeting. In conjunction with SMCW’s Trauma II initiative, these two surgeons are bringing their neuroscience expertise to Seton Medical Center Williamson. The Seton Brain and Spine Institute provides leading edge academic and clinical programs across the Seton network to support the neurological needs of the local and regional communities through exceptional treatment, research, and teaching. The brain and spinal cord are the most sensitive areas of the body and the team of specialists uses the most sophisticated technology, treatments and surgical techniques to provide the highest level of care possible to patients. The goal of the Brain and Spine Institute is to improve a patient’s condition and quality of life with the most advanced, least invasive treatment available. It is a Neurological Center of Excellence that includes Neurosurgeons, Spine Surgeons, Neurologists, and Psychiatry. Other programs to be developed are Intractable Pain, Neuro-Psychiatry, and Aging Brain procedures.
Dr. Robert Buchanan serves as Chief of Functional and Restorative Neurosurgery & Neuroscience at the Seton Brain and Spine Institute. Dr. Buchanan received his medical degree from St. Louis University School of Medicine with distinction in Research and Honors. Dr. Buchanan completed his residencies at the University of California-San Diego School of Medicine in the Department of Psychiatry and the Department of Surgery/Neurosurgery. His fellowships included Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, in Epilepsy Surgery and Functional Neurosurgery; UCSD Department of Psychiatry and The National Institute of Health (NIH/NIMH) Psychobiology and Psychopharmacology as well as The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, Post-Doctoral Fellow with the Lab of Genetics. Dr. Buchanan, a psychiatrist and neurosurgeon, helps patients recover both physically and psychologically. His research is focused on the functioning of the human brain and mind in both health and disease.
Dr. Alex Valadka attended the University of Dallas in Irving, Texas and then went on to the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. His interest in Neurotrauma and Critical Care led him to pursue residency training at the Medical College of Virginia. Following residency, he joined the faculty of Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas and in 2006, he became Professor and Vice Chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston. In 2009, he moved to Austin to help establish an academic program at the newly created Seton Brain and Spine Institute. Dr. Valadka has served as chair of the AANS/CNS Section on Neurotrauma and Critical Care, chair of the Neurosurgical Specialty Group of the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma, and chair of the AANS Public Relations and Membership Committees. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the AANS. Dr. Valadka's research interests include cerebral blood flow and metabolism after traumatic brain injury, as well as biochemical markers of brain injury.
The Seton Circle Kicks Off with Dr. Brent New as First Speaker
On November 17th, the Seton Circle hosted a kick off meeting at Seton Medical Center Williamson. The first speaker of the year was Dr. Brent New, with Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons, discussing the new daVinci Robotic Surgical System, a philanthropy-funded, state-of-the-art piece of equipment at Seton Medical Center Williamson. Dr. New is the first surgeon in Central Texas to incorporate the daVinci technology with heart surgeries. For members who were not able to attend and for future members that are curious to find out more about the daVinci technology, Dr. New has graciously provided a recap of his presentation below.
Dr. New believes a big problem with complex, small incision surgery is the limitation of the instruments and having generally only 2 degrees of freedom. The daVinci allows us to essentially put our hands in the patient thru tiny incisions, using endowrist instruments that articulate even better than the human wrist. With the daVinci, one surgeon directly controls four “arms” to operate on a patient instead two. Thanks to the high definition video and 3D optics, doctors are able to see the surgeries much clearer than ever before. The many benefits of minimally invasive procedures include: shorter hospital stays, less pain and scarring, less risk of infection, less blood loss and fewer transfusions, faster recovery and return to normal activity, and better results that equals lower costs and less stress for patients and their families.
The daVinci Robotic Surgical System is one example of why Seton Medical Center Williamson is the best equipped hospital in Central Texas. “My desire to move my practice here was not to replicate the care in downtown Austin, but to set a new standard for care in Central Texas. This and other equipment at SMCW clearly were only possible with the vision, enthusiasm and financial support of many important supporters of the Seton Williamson Foundation,” said Dr. New.
You are invited to join the Seton Circle today! An annual gift of just $250 per person makes the Seton Circle accessible and inclusive, which is exactly what makes it powerful. This collective philanthropy gives members greater impact to promote healing in our community than they may be able to have as individuals. The next meeting will be on February 16th, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Seton Medical Center Williamson.