CNS/ASAP Fellowships

ASAP joins with the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) to sponsor resident fellowships. Neurosurgical residents can apply for up to $10,000 to conduct research or receive special training particular to syringomyelia and/or Chiari malformations. These fellowships provide a unique opportunity to encourage upcoming neurosurgeons to explore the complex issues surrounding syringomyelia and Chiari malformations.

ASAP is pleased to announce our 2008-2009 Recipient:


CNS/ASAP Fellowships
Congratulations to Dr. Spiros Blackburn, a fifth year resident at the Washington University in Saint Louis. Before attending medical school at UT Southwestern in Dallas, Dr Blackburn earned a mechanical engineering degree from Old Dominion University.

He will be working under the direction of Dr. Michael Chicoine to evaluate anatomical changes in the posterior fossa during surgical decompression using intra-operative MRI. They hope to shed light on why certain patients improve with a bone-only decompression and determine if it is possible to identify these patients prior to surgery.

In addition to skull base neurosurgery, Dr. Blackburn’s subspecialty interests include cerebrovascular and endovascular surgery.