“We welcome Dr. Pandey as the new chair of Neurosurgery,” says Eva Feldman, MD, PhD, Russell N. DeJong Professor of Neurology and director of the NeuroNetwork for Emerging Therapies. “He is an incredible neurovascular surgeon, and he has proven himself to be the type of leader Michigan Medicine needs to shape the department’s journey into a new era.”
Dr. Pandey is not only a professor of neurosurgery but of radiology and otolaryngology-head and neck surgery as well. In addition, he serves as surgical director of the Comprehensive Stroke Center, director of strategic vision and outside collaborations in the Department of Neurosurgery, and director of the Endovascular Neurosurgery Fellowship.
We spoke to Dr. Kevin Chen, Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery and Neurology and the Handleman Emerging Scholar, about the new chair of Neurosurgery:
Tell us what you know about the new chair of neurosurgery.
It’s finally official! Dr. Pandey has been in our department (neurosurgery) ever since finishing his fellowship and is a neurovascular specialist. I worked with him throughout my residency training and got to know him well. He has been very helpful in mentoring me particularly when I was working in Grand Rapids and helped me return to Michigan Medicine in Ann Arbor.
What do you think about Dr. Pandey as chair?
He is a great choice.
Since he has been here so long, he understands our department's specific needs and culture. Dr. Pandey has already shown himself to be a supportive leader and able to drive growth in the program. He is helping me develop the Stereotactic/Functional program on the clinical side of neurosurgery.
What can we expect with him as chair?
I believe that in the short term his focus will be on rebuilding the Spine program. Two of our senior faculty are leaving, including the past chair. Next, he will most likely look to grow the Neurosurgery Department in anticipation of moving to the new “Neuro” tower.
What about with regards to research?
Dr. Pandey is a strong supporter of our research mission. He himself is very interested in developing new techniques and using new devices, and partnerships with industry. For example, he is involved in focused ultrasound histotripsy—a very precise technique to destroy tissue, causing minimal damage to surrounding tissue—through the BME (Biomedical Engineering) Department.
To learn more about Dr. Pandey, click here to view his profile on the Department of Neurosurgery’s website.