Paolo Cappabianca, MD has spent his entire career at the Universita degli studi di Napoli Federico II, Napies, Italy, where he compieted his medical training and currently serves as Professor and Chairman of the University's Neurological Surgery Department.

Since 1997, Prof. Cappabianca has focused his clinical, teaching, and research efforts on developing and refining clinical standards for endoscopic neurosurgery, with special emphasis on transsphenoidal and skull base surgeries; in the course of this work he has led and inspired a team of young and highly motivated neurosurgeons to advance the field of endoscopic skull base surgery. By forming multidisciplinary collaborations with endocrinologists and other specialists, Prof. Cappabianca has made important contributions to the international research community.

Dr. Amin Kassam Former Chair of Neurological Surgery at University of Pittsburgh to Develop New Neuroscience Institute SANTA MONICA, Calif.(Business Wire) Saint John`s Health Center today announced the appointment of world-renowned neurosurgeon Amin Kassam, MD, as Director of the new Saint John`s Neuroscience Institute and faculty member of the John Wayne Cancer Institute at Saint John`s.

Dr. Kassam will lead the development of the new Neuroscience Institute which will offer an international minimally invasive neurosurgery center, as well as neuro-oncology, neuro-vascular surgery and other neuroscience services. The Institute will build on the foundation established over the last two years by Daniel F. Kelly, MD, Medical Director of the highly regarded Saint John`s Brain Tumor Center.

Prior to his arrival at Saint John`s, Dr. Kassam served as Chairman of the Department of Neurological Surgery, Professor of Neurological Surgery, and Director, Minimally Invasive endoNeurosurgery Center at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). In this role, he directed one of the world`s leading neurosurgical centers, consistently ranked as one of America`s best neuroscience facilities by U.S. News & World Report.

Ricardo Carrau, MD, FACS

Dr. Carrau, associate professor of otolaryngology and neurological surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, is active in all surgical aspects of sino-nasal disorders, including the treatment of chronic sinusitis and nasal polyposis. His research interests include sino-nasal tumors, with particular emphasis on sino-nasal tumors that require cranial base surgery.

In collaboration with Carl Snyderman, MD, and other members of the Center for Cranial Base Surgery, Dr. Carrau modified and/or developed new procedures for the endoscopic treatment of nosebleeds and the repair of cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea. He has also developed procedures that combine traditional surgical methods with endoscopic approaches.

Dr. Carrau has authored more than 50 papers and chapters about his specialties. He is a member of the North American Skull Base Society and the American Rhinologic Society.