Alumni
Alumni Spotlight: Jacques Morcos, MD, FRCS, FAANS, 1990-1993
When U of M neurosurgery residency program alumnus Dr. Jacques Morcos is asked about what makes being a neurosurgeon worthwhile, he is quick to answer. “The look in the patient’s eyes when things go well,” he said. “You’ve worked years to train and perfect your skills and patients come to you and put their trust in you … seeing all of that come to fruition with a happy patient is unbelievable.”

Because the brain still holds a place of mystery for most patients, operating on it is scary, he noted, adding, “When it goes well, the level of patient satisfaction is superior to that from most other medical procedures.”
Lifelong fascination
As professor and co-chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Miami, with a joint appointment in the Department of Otolaryngology, Dr. Morcos credits his high school biology teacher for instilling in him a fascination with the central nervous system. “He was fantastic and helped me decide, at the age of 16, to become a neurosurgeon,” said Dr. Morcos.
He obtained his BSc with High Distinction and his MD from the American University of Beirut and began his neurosurgery residency in the United Kingdom. Dr. Morcos, however, had always wanted to do his residency training in the United States. Based on the University of Minnesota program’s reputation, Dr. Morcos applied for an open resident position outside of the typical match cycle, which explains his abbreviated time at the U (a typical neurosurgery residency is seven years). “After interviewing me and the other applicants, Department Chairman Dr. Roberto Heros offered me a position,” he said. “I jumped at the opportunity.”
Golden age
The educational quality of the U’s program was what attracted Dr. Morcos. “I consider the early ‘90s the golden age of the program under Dr. Heros’ leadership,” he said. “It was what prepared me for my career.” He added that his cerebrovascular/skull base fellowships at the University of Florida in Gainesville, and at The Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, AZ, also had a tremendous impact.
In addition to preparing him for his neurosurgical career, Dr. Morcos fondly recalls the “brotherhood” of the U of M program that left him with lifelong friendships with his co-residents.
Learning a new healthcare system

Residency in a new country, however, wasn’t always easy. “Having grown up in Lebanon, the entire U.S. healthcare system was brand new to me,” he said. “I had to adjust to how healthcare was delivered and it was very confusing at first.”
Dr. Morcos’ range of clinical and research expertise includes all skull base and complex brain tumors, endoscopic skull base surgery, microvascular decompression, radiosurgery, and all aspects of cerebrovascular surgery including AVMs, cavernomas, bypass surgery for complex aneurysms, moyamoya, and ischemic disease.
Over the years, Dr. Morcos has taken on numerous leadership roles within the neurosurgery profession. He is president-elect of the World Federation of Skull Base Societies and completed a year as the inaugural chairman of the American Association of Neurosurgical Surgeons (AANS) Global Strategy initiative. During its 2023 annual meeting, Dr. Morcos was named AANS president-elect and will assume that role of president during the 2024-2025 term.
Not a simple field
When asked what advice he gives aspiring neurosurgeons, Dr. Morcos said that they should shadow neurosurgeons of different types, both in private and academic practice. “You want to make sure it’s something you’re going to dedicate your life to because it’s not a simple field,” he said. “The concept of being a neurosurgeon may seem attractive or even romantic to trainees but make sure you have the passion and dedication to do it. It’s demanding.”
Dr. Morcos has authored close to 200 publications and chapters, given almost 1,000 national/international invited presentations/courses, and has been invited as a visiting professor 100 times. To date, he has trained 30 Fellows in cerebrovascular and skull base surgery. He has been married to his wife Fiona for 30 years and they have three children.
Former Residents
2024

Truong "Huy" Do, MD
2017-2024
2023

Samuel Cramer, MD, PhD
2016-2023

Bryan Ladd, MD
2016-2023
2022

Lauren Albert Sand, MD
2015-2022

David Freeman, MD, PhD
2015-2022
2021

Adam Khan, MD
2014–2021

Jack Leschke, MD
2014-2021
2020

David Darrow, MD, MPH
2013–2020

Coridon Quinn, MD
2013-2020
2019

Molly Hubbard, MD
2012–2019
(deceased 1-9-2020)

Joshua Lim, MD
2012-2019
2018

Amit Goyal, MD
2011–2018

Akshay Gupte, MD
2011-2018
2017

Paramita Das, MD
2011–2017

Catherine Miller, MD
2011-2017
2016

Ciro Vasquez, MD
2010–2016

Zoe Zhang, MD
2010–2016
2015

Daraspreet Kainth, MD
2009–2015

Dino Terzic, MD
2009-2015
2014

Kristin Jones, MD
2012-2014

Farhan Siddiq, MD
2008-2014
2013

Rabia Qaiser, MD
2008-2013

Haejoe Park, MD
2008-2013
2012

Fotis Souslian, MD
2007-2012

Efkan Colpan, MD
2009-2012
2011

Christopher Roark, MD
2006-2011
2010

Greg Sher, MD, MPH
2005-2010

Kyle Uittenbogaard, MD
2005-2010

Praveen Baimeedi, MD
2006-2010
2009

Joel Ulloth, MD
2004-2009
2008

Hart P. Garner, MD
2003-2008
2007

John Drygas, MD, MS
2002-2007

Eun Kyung (Michelle) Won, MD
2002-2007
2006

Adam O. Hebb, MD
2001-2006

Charles R. Watts, MD, PhD
2001-2006
2005

Edward Rustamzadeh, MD, PhD
2000-2005
2004

Ray M. Chu, MD
1999-2004

Ramachandra P. Tummala, MD
1999-2004

Sabrina M. Walski-Easton, MD
1999-2004
2003

Patrick C. Graupman, MD
1998-2003
2002

Lars Anker, MD
1997-2002

Khalid Sethi, MD
1997-2002
2001

Darren S. Lovick, MD
1996-2001

Margaret
Wallen-
friedman,
MD, PhD
1995-2001
2000

Walter C. Jean, MD
1994-2000

Michael P. McCue, MD, ScD
1994-2000

Alejandro Mendez, MD
1994-1999
1998

Walter E. Galicich, MD
1993-1998

Joel D. Seigel, MD
1993-1998

Bradley E. Weprin, MD
1993-1998
1997

Jerone D. Kennedy, MD
1991-1997

Eric S. Nussbaum, MD
1992-1997

Abhay Sanan, MD
1992-1997
1996

Jeffrey P. Blount, MD
1990-1996

Eric P. Flores, MD
1992-1996

Edison P. McDaniels, MD
1991-1996
1995

Todd Y. Nida, MD
1989-1995
1994

John C. Mullan, MD
1988-1994

Leslie A. Sebring, MD, PhD
1991-1994
1993

Paul J. Camarata, MD
1987-1993

Jacques J. Morcos, MD
1990-1993

Mitesh V. Shah, MD
1988-1993
1992

Young Chung, MD
1987-1992

Dennis Y.K. Wen, MD
1987-1992
1991

William F. Ganz, MD
1986-1991

Frank L. Genovese, MD
1986-1991
1990

Christine M. Cox, MD
1985-1990 (deceased 2/24/2019)
1989

Anthony G. Bottini, MD
1984-1989
1988

Thomas A. Bergman, MD
1983-1988

Mary E. Dunn, MD
1983-1988
1987

H. Dennis Mollman, MD, PhD
1982-1987

S. David Moss, MD
1982-1987

Aizik L. Wolf, MD
1982-1987
1986

Edward G. Hames III, MD, PhD
1981-1986
1985

J. Bob Blacklock, MD
1980-1985

Gary L. Rea, MD, PhD
1979-1985
1983

Voravut Chanyavanich, MD
1978-1983

Terry W. Hood, MD
1978-1983

Petr O. Ruzicka, MD
1978-1983
1982

John C. Godersky, MD
1977-1982

Richard P. Moser, MD
1977-1982

Mahmoud G. Nagib, MD
1977-1982
1981

Alexa I. Canady, MD
1976-1981

Dennis L. Shubert, MD, PhD
1977-1981
1980

John R. Mawk, MD
1975-1980
1979

W. H. Druckemiller, Jr., MD
1974-1979

Robert D. Harris, MD, PhD
1974-1979
1978

Daniel B. Ahlberg, MD
1971-1972; 1974-1978

Fernando G. Diaz, MD, PhD
1973-1978
1977

Robert G. Clubb, MD
1972-1977

Kenneth J. Murray, MD, PhD
1973-1979

Andrew J.K. Smith, MD, PhD
1972-1977
1976

Richard S. Gregory, MD
1967-1970; 1973-1977
1975

George S. Allen, MD, PhD
1970-1975

Phudhiphorn Thienprasit, MD, PhD
1970-1975
1974

Harry O. Cole, MD
1969-1974

Humberto Ortiz-Suarez, MD, PhD
1969-1974

Gaylan L. Rockswold, MD, PhD
1969-1974
1973

Willis E. Brown, MD
1968-1973

Norval M. Simms, MD
1968-1973
Deceased 7/24/1975
1972

James I. Ausman, MD, PhD
1964-1965; 1969-1972

Kil Soo Choi, MD
1970-1972

Harry M. Rogers, MD
1967-1972
1971

Robert E. Maxwell, MD, PhD
1966-1971
Deceased 7-28-22

Anavankot Mohandas, MD
1966-1971
1970

David Danoff, MD
1965-1970
1969

John L. Seymour, MD
1965-1969

Donald L. Erickson, MD
1964-1969
1968

Edward L. Seljeskog, MD, PhD
1963-1968 (deceased 3/16/22)

John P. Wissinger, MD
1963-1968
1967

Michael E. Carey, MD
1962-1967
1965

John Cleary, MD, PhD
1965

Fernando Ruiz Garcia, MD
1964-1965

Donlin M. Long, MD, PhD
1960-1965
1964

Warren Boop, MD
1960-1964

August W. Geise, MD
1960-1964
Deceased 1/14/1997
1963

Joseph H. Galicich, MD
1958-1963

John Serbu, MD
1959-1963
Deceased 12/17/1999
1962

Erich S. Wisiol, MD
1958-1962
Deceased 11/21/2004
1961

Jim L. Story, MD
1956-1961

Jeong Wha Chu, MD
1959-1961

Max E. Zarling, MD
1957-1961
1960

Lucien R. Hodges, MD
1956-1960
Deceased 6/19/2000
1959

Richard H. Strassburger, MD
1956-1959
1957

Bo Sung Sim, MD
1955-1957

Ralph L. Suechtin, MD
1953-1957

James E. McIntosch, MD
1953-1957
1956

Howard Chandler, MD
1952-1956

Purdue L. Gould, MD
1952-1956
Deceased 8/24/2011
1955

Shelley N. Chou, MD, PhD
1950-1955
Deceased 7/21/2001

William S. Ogle, MD
1954-1955
1954

David R. Johnson, MD
1948-1954
Deceased 11/4/2005
1953

Carrel M. Caudill, MD
1949-1953
Deceased 1/1/2006

Gerald L. Haines, MD, PhD
1949-1953
Deceased 2/11/2015
1952

Martin E. Feferman, MD
1948-1952
Deceased 5/21/2011
1951

Paul S. Blake, MD
1947-1951
Deceased 5/23/1997
1950

Robert L. Merrick, MD
1949-1950
Deceased 10/16/2004

C. Kent Olson, MD
1946-1950
Deceased 9/6/2000
1949

Jules D. Levin, MD
1942-1949
Deceased 2/16/2002
1947

Lyle A. French, MD, PhD
1940-1947
Deceased 10/19/2004
1946

Leonard A. Titrud, MD, PhD
1939-1946
Deceased 10/18/2004
1938

Harold Buchstein, MD
1935-1938
Deceased 10/29/1987
William T. Peyton Society
Established in honor of William T. Peyton, founding head of the University of Minnesota's Department of Neurosurgery, the William T. Peyton Society meets in Minneapolis approximately every five years. All graduates and current and former faculty of the Neurosurgery Residency Training Program are members of the Society.