Theodore H. Schwartz, MD, was named the recipient of the 1999 Van Wagenen Fellowship at The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) Annual Meeting, April 24-29, 1999, in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Fellowship provides funds for a one-year neurosurgical research fellowship outside of North America.

Dr. Schwartz earned both his bachelor's degree and medical degree from Harvard, before completing his internship in general surgery at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center. Presently, Dr. Schwartz is neurosurgical chief resident at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center.

His research has focused on intraoperative investigations that apply optical imaging techniques to the study of epileptogenesis and cortical mapping. Dr. Schwartz will use the Van Wagenen Fellowship to study under Tobias Bonhoeffer, MD, at the Max-Planck Institute for Neurobiology in Germany. Dr. Bonhoeffer is a leader in in vivo optical imaging, and his laboratory is at the forefront of optical investigations into visual cortex physiology.

The primary goal of Dr. Schwartz' six-month clinical investigation is to optically record the spatial and temporal dynamics of a neocortical seizure and then determine the optimal length, spacing and orientation of MSTs to prevent its initiation and spread. A second goal is to determine if tailoring the subpial incisions to the known columnar architecture of the cortex is less damaging than the parallel, evenly spaced incisions currently recommended.

Dr. Schwartz is an established clinical investigator and has received several research grants in support of his projects from such institutions as the Epilepsy Foundation of America (1998); Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital (1997); Harvard Medical School (1991); and the University of Washington's Department of Neurosurgery (1991). In recognition of his work, he also has received numerous academic or research awards, including the American Epilepsy Society's Junior Investigator Award (1997); American Academy of Neurological Surgeons Academy Award (1997); and Harvard College's Hoopes Prize (1987).

A well-respected author, Dr. Schwartz has authored and co-authored numerous scientific journal articles on a variety of neurosurgical topics, including subarachnoid hemorrhage, language mapping and third ventriculostomy.

Founded in 1931 as the Harvey Cushing Society, The American Association of Neurological Surgeons is a scientific and education association with approximately 5,300 members in the United States, Canada and Mexico. It is dedicated to advancing the specialty of neurological surgery in order to provide the highest quality of neurosurgical care to the public. All active members must be certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgeons. Neurosurgery is the medical specialty dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of disorders affecting the nervous system, brain, spinal cord and spinal column.