Newswise — Dr. Gavin W. Britz, former director of the Cerebrovascular Center at Duke University Medical Center, was named chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery at The Methodist Hospital in Houston.
Britz replaces Dr. Robert G. Grossman, who had been chief of the neurosurgery service of The Methodist Hospital since 1980 and chairman of the department of neurosurgery since 2005.
“Dr. Britz will carry on Dr. Grossman’s legacy and will build on his vision to grow Methodist’s neurosurgical services and research efforts,” said Dr. Marc Boom, president and CEO of The Methodist Hospital System. “With his clinical expertise and leadership talents, I know Dr. Britz will guide the department to become the nation’s leader in neurosurgery.”
More than a dozen clinicians and researchers are housed in the department, and Methodist’s neurosurgeons perform approximately 2,600 procedures each year. Britz’s goal is to enhance Methodist’s neurosurgical services and research expertise in the areas of brain tumors, cerebrovascular disease, spine and peripheral nerve, functional and pain disorders, and epilepsy.
In addition to his leadership role, Britz plans to continue a robust practice as well as further his research. Britz is one of the most experienced cerebrovascular surgeons in the United States treating aneurysms using microsurgical and endovascular techniques. His clinical practice largely focuses on the treatment of disorders of the cerebrovascular system and brain tumors including the skull base. This includes brain aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), carotid disease, Moya Moya disease, spinal AVMs / fistula, meningiomas, chordomas, pituitary tumors, acoustic neuromas and craniopharyngiomas.
Britz’s basic science research focuses on understanding the cerebral microcirculation. His clinical research includes evaluating new and novel tools to treat a wide variety of problems such as brain aneurysm and skull base tumors.
He received his medical degree from the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa; and completed his Internship at Johns Hopkins Hospital and then his neurosurgery residency and fellowships in cerebrovascular surgery and interventional neuroradiology at the University of Washington. Britz also obtained his Masters in Public Health with an emphasis on epidemiology from the University of Washington, and is completing his Master’s in Business Administration from George Washington University.
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