Scholarly Activity

Our residents are active in several professional societies that aim to advance the neurosurgical field and support medical education. As such, our residents present their work at conferences, serve in leadership roles and participate in a variety of subcommittees.

Here are some of our residents’ awards and honors from these pursuits:

AANS/CNS Spine Summit Awards

• James Dragonette, MD – 2024 Charles Kuntz Scholar Award
• Jacob Jasinski, DO – 2023 Charles Kuntz Scholar Award
• Gustavo Anton, DO – 2023 Charles Kuntz Scholar Award
• Michael Lawless, DO – 2022 Charles Kuntz Scholar Award
• Robert McCabe, DO – 2022 Charles Kuntz Scholar Award
• Ammar Alsalahi, MD – 2022 Charles Kuntz Scholar Award
• Chad Claus, DO – 2021 Charles Kuntz Scholar Award
• Chad Claus, DO – 2019 Mayfield Clinical Science Award
• Evan Lytle, DO – 2017 Charles Kuntz Scholar Award

Oral Presentation Awards

• James Dragonette, MD – 2025 Henry Ford Providence Research Day (2nd Place)
• Jeffrey Turnbull, DO – 2024 Michigan Association of Neurosurgeons Summer Meeting (2nd Place)
• Ammar Alsalahi, MD – 2024 Ascension Providence Research Day (3rd Place)
• Gustavo Anton, DO – 2023 Ascension Providence Research Day (1st Place)
• Elise Yoon, DO – 2022 Michigan Association of Neurosurgeons Summer Meeting (1st Place)
• Gustavo Anton, DO – 2022 Ascension Providence Research Day (3rd Place)
• Chad Claus, DO – 2019 Southeast Michigan Center for Medical Education Research Forum (3rd Place)
• Chad Claus, DO – 2019 Ascension Providence Research Day (1st Place)
• Justin Thomas, DO – 2019 Ascension Providence Research Day (2nd Place)
• Richard Cook, DO – 2019 Ascension Providence Research Day (3rd Place)

Poster Presentation Awards

• Ammar Alsalahi, MD – 2024 Ascension Providence Research Day (1st Place)
• Ammar Alsalahi, MD – 2023 Southeast Michigan Center for Medical Education Research Forum (2nd Place)
• Bryce Sarcar, DO – 2023 Southeast Michigan Center for Medical Education Research Forum (1st Place)
• Gustavo Anton, DO – 2023 Southeast Michigan Center for Medical Education Research Forum (1st Place & Dr. Donald Dawson Silver Medallion)
• Michael Lawless, DO – 2023 Ascension Providence Research Day (3rd Place)
• Gustavo Anton, DO – 2023 Ascension Providence Research Day (1st Place)
• Gustavo Anton, DO – 2023 Ascension Providence Research Day (2nd Place)
• Ascher Kaufmann, MD – 2021 Southeast Michigan Center for Medical Education Research Forum (2nd Place)
• Sina Rajamand, DO – 2019 Ascension Providence Research Day (2nd Place, tied)
• Troy Dawley, DO – 2019 Ascension Providence Research Day (1st Place)
• Sina Rajamand, DO – 2018 Ascension Providence Research Day (2nd Place)
• Evan Lytle, DO – 2018 Ascension Providence Research Day (2nd Place)
• Dejan Slavnic, DO – 2017 Ascension Providence Research Day (2nd Place)

Other Honors and Awards

• Roxana Beladi, DO – 2025 International Society for Advancement of Spine Surgery Irene Say Memorial Scholarship Award
• Elise Yoon, DO – 2025 American College of Osteopathic Surgeons Robert C. Erwin Literary Award (5th Place)
• Elise Yoon, DO – 2024 American Association of Neurological Surgeons Louise Eisenhardt Resident Traveling Scholarship Award
• Elise Yoon, DO – 2023 Cervical Spine Research Society Hands-on Surgical Techniques Course Travel Scholarship Award
• Chad Claus, DO – 2021 North American Spine Society Outstanding Paper Award