.png)
Spearheading neurosurgery initiatives
For America's Warriors
THE MISSION
Inspired by US Army Green Berets, we at the Special Forces Neurosurgery Collaborative (SFNC) are driving the advancement of research in neurological injury for our nation’s warriors. Through partnerships between leading neurosurgery researchers and military organizations, we launch clinical research initiatives devoted to tackling brain and spine trauma.
OUR Work
Brain and spine trauma remain a severe and enduring threat to the health of the force among US Army Special Forces Soldiers. These Soldiers sustain a striking 60% of all casualties among Special Operations Forces. This is due to the extraordinary challenges of the missions they perform in high-risk environments and using specialized tactics, techniques, and procedures. Core missions they conduct include unconventional warfare, foreign internal defense, special reconnaissance, direct-action and counterterrorism. The nature of their missions impacts the type and extent of neurotrauma sustained on the most fundamental level.
To push the boundaries of our understanding of neurotrauma in this unique population, we have launched large-scale studies in collaboration with the Green Beret Foundation.
The demographics and ramifications of neurotrauma specifically among the US Army SF are poorly understood. We aim to better understand its incidence in SF, its mechanisms of acquisition, and how it can be prevented by addressing key issues pertaining to personal protective equipment and headgear use. Our primary studies focus on these two key areas:
meet the team
For all inquiries, please use the contact us form below or email us at team@sfneurosurgery.org. Please do not individually contact members of our team.
Deborah Benzil, MD
Vice Chair, Dept. of Neurosurgery
Cleveland Clinic
Constantinos
Hadjipanayis
MD, PhD
Director of Neurosurgical Oncology
Mount Sinai Hospital
REmi Kessler
Fourth Year Medical Student
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Jonathan Rasouli, MD
Neurosurgeon
Cleveland Clinic
Raj Shrivastava, MD
Professor, Dept. of Neurosurgery
Mount Sinai Hospital
Jeremy Steinberger, MD
Director of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
Mount Sinai West
Nikita LAKOMKIN, MD
Resident Neurosurgeon
Mayo Clinic
Brian hwang, md
Chief Neurosurgery Resident
Johns Hopkins Hospital
Ansh bhammar
Co-Founder, Co-CEO
ForagerOne, LLC
Military Advisors
Frances ARIAS
Director of Operations,
Green Beret Foundation
Col. William J. Davis (ret)
US Army Special Forces
LT COl. Dennis Downey (ret)
US Army Special Forces
Related
Publications
Traumatic Brain Injury in the US Army Special Forces
Publication Status:
Under Review
AANS Conference Abstract (2020):
Conclusions: Results demonstrate high incidence of TBI among US Army SF soldiers. Blasts/explosions were the leading cause of both mild and moderate/severe TBI. Given 80% of TBIs occurred while wearing headgear may be reflective of inadequate protective equipment. Low rate of Medevac rescue may suggest a sub-clinical presentation of TBI or that medical rescue was not attainable.
Read the full abstract here: https://thejns.org/view/journals/j-neurosurg/132/4/article-p1.xml
Spinal Cord Injury in the US Army Special Forces
Publication Status:
CONCLUSIONS: A high number of SF soldiers self-reported an SCI diagnosis. Airborne operations landings were the leading cause of SCI, which coincided with warfare tactics employed during the Persian Gulf War, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and other conflicts. A majority of SCIs occurred while wearing headgear and no body armor, suggesting the need for improvements in protective equipment use and design. The low rate of medevac rescue for these injuries may suggest that medical rescue was not attainable at the time or that certain SCIs were deemed minor at the time of injury.
Read the publication here: https://doi.org/10.3171/2020.7.SPINE20804
OUR Partners
