McMaster University
Division of Neurological Surgery
Educational Program
Finding Inspiration in Every Turn
Residency Curriculum
McMaster Neurosurgery is now 'competency based' in coordination with all other Canadian neurosurgery residency programs. Details are available through the Royal College website. What this breaks down to is making sure every candidate has the full breadth of neurosurgical exposures and skills to practice independently after residency. Significant flexibility exists to pursue professional interests in rotation plans, and all residents meet twice yearly with the program director to discuss their progress, education, and goals.
Our rotations focus on early neurosurgery clinical and operative skill development in a supportive academic environment. Our workload is typically high, with significant demands on trainees. McMaster encourages an environment rapid mastery of general and subspecialty care for the benefit of our patients.
All PGY1 and PGY2 surgical residents participate in Surgical Foundations. Documentation on specific requirements is available through the Royal College Website. This comprehensive two year introduction to principles of surgery takes place with a weekly half-day program focused on both surgical research methodology and clinical knowledge development. Practical anatomy lab based technical skills sessions are run by the neurosurgery attendings for PGY1 and PGY2 residents.
Weekly academic half-days contain case rounds, Neurosciences Grand Rounds, and a rotating faculty-led subspecialty education curriculum which repeats every 2-3 years. Additional educational opportunities occur in the form of journal club, cerebrovascular teaching rounds, spine teaching rounds, morbidity & mortality conference, stroke teaching rounds, junior resident teaching rounds, senior resident teaching rounds, and local conferences and retreats. There are limitless educational opportunities to develop neurosurgical acumen.
Residents are encouraged to participate in multiple courses such as in-house cadaver surgery programs for skull base and MIS spine, the Ottawa Review Course, the Lougheed Course, international conferences, and the Research Update in Neurosciences for Neurosurgeons. We want you to pursue education and training from both our institution and others, to become the best neurosurgeon you can. Our residents are expected to maintain clinical, academic, and operative excellence throughout their training. Details are found here.
Residents wishing to pursue graduate degrees and advanced research studies may consider applying for the competitive Clinician Investigator Program. This is also a Royal College certification program. CIP focuses on both enabling research through networking and funding as well as development of academic competencies specific to clinician scientists. The Division of Neurosurgery additionally allows for a full year of residency-enfolded dedicated research time for trainees wishing to pursue further academic development.
Medical Student Electives
McMaster Neurosurgery welcomes elective medical students from both McMaster University and institutions across Canada. International electives are also available for select candidates.
Electives can be conducted in either adult neurosurgery or pediatric neurosurgery. Expect to participate with the full team daily in a learning-dense, supportive environment. Experience neurosurgical case complexity, clinics, operating theatres, acute care, emergencies, longitudinal patient management, and our educational curriculum. For further details, see the 2022 info night with CaMSIGN where our program director, Dr. Yarascavitch, shared information about our program.
The Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) is the national not-for-profit entity managing all residency matching positions for Canadian applicants. Details for upcoming positions across Canada can be found on their website. McMaster University typically accepts one funded International Medical Graduate per year through a competitive process. Please contact our residency program coordinator for both electives and if you wish to apply for an IMG position.
McMaster Neurosurgery Residency Introduction
Residents
McMaster is fortunate to have many excellent residents. Get to know us below!
Khalid Alshammari, MBBS
Incoming PGY1
Zhra Al Sadah, MBBS
PGY1
McNeil-Inyani Keri, MD MSc
PGY2
Shannon Hart, MD
PGY4
Hometown: St. John’s, NL
Undergraduate:
Bachelor of Science (Honours) Behavioural Neuroscience and Biochemistry – Memorial University 2017
Medical School: Memorial University of Newfoundland 2021
Why did I choose Neurosurgery?
I’ve had an intense fascination with the nervous system for as long as I can remember. When my dad passed away with a brain tumour, I knew I wanted to be involved in caring for patients like him and supporting people in possibly the most difficult times in their lives. The more experiences I gained in the field of neurosurgery, the more passionate I became. I felt at home in the OR and loved the acuity and diversity of surgical cases in neurosurgery. It brought me so much fulfilment to care for neurosurgical patients and their families, and I could not imagine doing anything else.
Why McMaster Neurosurgery?
McMaster offered everything I was looking for in terms of clinical and academic experience – the opportunity to pursue high quality research, early operative exposure, and a large volume of high acuity
cases. Most importantly, however, the fantastic support system and excellent group of residents and staff were what sealed the deal. In an incredibly challenging specialty, I knew I would be well supported and have a great team of people to work with.
Professional Interests: Neuro-oncology, Trauma, and Medical Education
Other Interests: Anything active and outdoors! I love running, hiking, backcountry camping, and downhill skiing. I grew up a dancer so that still holds a huge place in my heart. Finally, I’m a big foodie and love to travel.
Melissa Lannon, MD PhD
PGY5
Hometown: Labrador City, Newfoundland
Undergraduate:
Bachelor of Science (Honours) Behavioural Neuroscience – Memorial University 2012
Bachelor of Nursing – Memorial University 2014
Medical School: Memorial University of Newfoundland 2018
Why did I choose Neurosurgery? I am interested in the diagnosis of disease criteria. I did research in neuroscience throughout undergrad neurosciences worked as a neurology nurse, so I considered neurology briefly, but ultimately, I found my comfort zone in the OR. I also enjoy caring for high acuity patients and being there for patients & families during the most impactful moments of their lives.
Why McMaster Neurosurgery? I love the people, the support system here, nice co-residents, staff & the care team at HGH all have quickly made Hamilton home after moving from Newfoundland for the first time.
Professional Interests: Functional Neurosurgery, trauma, and critical care
Other Interests: Yoga, hiking, swimming, and travel
Nirmeen Zagzoog, MD PhD
PGY6
Hometown: Makkah, Saudi Arabia
Undergraduate: Bachelor of Arts and Humanities (Honours), King Abdulaziz University
Master of Health Sciences, Western University (formally known as University of Western Ontario)
Medical School: Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University
Why did I choose Neurosurgery? Fast-paced, diverse, complex and challenging. Wide scope of operative approaches including open and endoscopic procedures. Ability to provide care in acute setting where one can make definitive impacts on patient’s lives. Neurosurgery is at the forefront of technological advances which matches my intellectual curiosity and interest. It is an incredibly rewarding field combining medicine and surgery with integration of cutting-edge technology to improve patient’s quality of life.
Why McMaster Neurosurgery? High volumes of clinical and operative exposure, early hands-on surgical experience, loved working with all the staff and residents during my time in medical school, very collegial tight-knit group of residents, freedom to pursue academic interests outside of McMaster University.
Professional Interests: Skull base surgery, Neuro-oncology, Minimal access surgery, cerebrovascular surgery. Currently pursuing PhD in surgical innovation and knowledge translation with focus on device development and robotic surgical drilling for skull base procedures at Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of Toronto.
Other Interests: Travelling, reading, fashion, spending time with family and friends.
Germain Sophie Ngana, MD PhD
Incoming PGY1
Rufus Alubankudi, MD
PGY1
Nadeen Alkhoori, MBBS
PGY3
Mohamad Kesserwan, MD
PGY4
PhD Candidate: Computational Neurosciences
Taylor Duda, MD, MSc
PGY6
Hometown: Regina, Saskatchewan
Undergraduate: BscHons Anatomy & Cell Biology, University of Saskatchewan
Medical School: University of Saskatchewan
Why did I choose Neurosurgery? Started with good mentors and wet lab brain dissection courses, and the more exposure I had, the more I knew what I wanted to do. I think being in an operating room for the first time is a very dichotomous experience and in my case, it quickly became the only career I wanted to choose.
Why McMaster Neurosurgery? McMaster offers the full package. Complete support, fantastic co-residents and staff relationships, high quality academics, high volume, and high acuity, interdisciplinary support, surgical experience from day one, and an ever-improving program.
Professional Interests: Still everything! Every time I spend time in a discipline, I find it more and more interesting. So far…vascular, pediatrics, skull base, functional, spine, tumour…everything. Medical education is another passion of mine. I’m pursuing a Master’s in Clinical Epidemiology to help answer those immediate clinical questions that guide our discipline. International neurosurgery is an interest I hope to pursue in the future.
Other Interests: Family, good beer, many nerdy activities I don’t tell my co-residents about, racquetball,
good whiskey, squash, reading (fiction & non-fiction), movies.
Hassan Khayat, MBBS, MSc
PGY6
Hometown: Makkah, Saudi Arabia
Undergraduate: Medical bachelor and Bachelor of Surgery MBBS
Medical School: King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences – National Guard, Saudi Arabia
Why did I choose Neurosurgery? First and foremost, neurosurgery is a life-saving service for many patients who show up in the ER for acute incidents. I really feel the value of being at those people need. It also can improve the quality of life of many chronic conditions involving spine and peripheral nerves. In addition, the technology is always utilized here and rapidly evolving. I would add that this service is also in high demand and many health systems are in shortage of it.
Why McMaster Neurosurgery? For its well-known history, excellence and experience in providing medical education/training.
Professional Interests: Everything at the moment. I know many areas of neurosurgical practice are yet to come during training.
Other Interests: Aviation
Amro H. Mohammad, MD PhD
Incoming PGY1
Dana Hafeez, MD
PGY1
Rami Hatoum, MD
PGY3
Aseel Kabbani, MBBS
PGY4
Hometown:
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Medical School:
King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences.
Why did I choose Neurosurgery?
My interest in Neuroscience started since medical school and I knew that I wanted a surgical specialty,
the more I got exposed to the field and saw how evolving, challenging and complex the cases are the
more I knew that it was the only career I wanted to choose.
Why McMaster Neurosurgery?
McMaster provides good environment, supportive and encouraging.
Early hands on training with high volume of cases. An evolving program with excellent staff and
residents.
Professional Interests:
Pediatrics, Oncology, Vascular, and open to explore more subspecialties during my training.
Other Interests:
Scuba Diving, Travelling, movies and most importantly spending time with family & friends.
Mohamed Alhantoobi, MBBS
PGY6
Hometown: Al Fujairah, UAE
Medical School: United Arab Emirates University
Why did I choose Neurosurgery? I enjoy all aspects of neurosurgery.
Why McMaster Neurosurgery? McMaster offers a great environment for specializing in neurosurgery.
Professional Interests: Epilepsy, spine, and peripheral nerves
Residency Alumni
Hanan Algethami, MBBS | 2023 Graduate | Fellowship: Pediatric Neurosurgery at University of Calgary and University of British Columbia | |
Majid Aljoghaiman, MBBS MSc | 2023 Graduate | Fellowship: MIS and Complex Spine Surgery at Vancouver Island Neurosurgical Foundation and Cerebrovascular/Endovascular Neurosurgery at Swedish | |
Radwan Takroni, MBBS MSc | 2022 Graduate | Fellowship: Neurosurgical Oncology at Cedars-Sinai and Cerebrovascular/Endovascular Neurosurgery at Swedish | |
Michel Sourour, MD MSc | 2022 Graduate | Fellowship: Skull Base Surgery at University of Toronto | |
Michelle Kameda-Smith, MBChB MSc PhD | 2022 Graduate | Fellowship: Paediatric Neurosurgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust | |
Dragos Catana, MD | 2022 Graduate | Fellowship: Neuro-oncology Ottawa | |
Robert Power, MD | 2021 Graduate | Fellowship: Endovascular Neurosurgery at Columbia University | |
Mazen Alotaibi, MBBS | 2020 Graduate | Fellowship: Interventional Neuroradiology at University of Toronto and Skull Base Surgery at University of Ottawa | |
Kaiyun Yang, MD PhD | 2020 Graduate | Fellowship: Neuro-oncology and Skull Base at University of Toronto, Cerebrovascular at North Short University Hospital |
Fellows
McMaster is fortunate to draw an excellent cohort of local and international fellows for subspecialty training.
We have annual fellowships in Spine, Skull Base / MIS, and Neurointerventional.
William Owiti, MD
2024-2025 Skull Base and Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery Fellow
Faris Yaghmoor
2024-2026 INR Fellow
Abdelaziz Sagga, MD
2024-2025 Integrated Spine Fellow
JJ Te
2024-2026 INR Fellow
Bader Al-Nuaim, MBBS
2024-2025 Integrated Spine Fellow
Maksim Son
2023-2025 INR Fellow
Omar Alsultan, MBBS
2024-2025 Integrated Spine Fellow
Fellowship Alumni
Marcos Ezequiel Yasuda | 2024 Graduate (Skull Base and Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery) | Attending: Spain | |
Suhail Asiri, MBBS, SB-Ortho, SF_Adult & Pediatric Spine | 2024 Graduate (Integrated Spine) | ||
Aziz AlZailaie | 2024 Graduate (Integrated Spine) | ||
Geoffrey Ngetich, MbChB, M MedOrth | 2024 Graduate (Integrated Spine) | ||
Oscar Obiga, MB.ChB, FCS (ECSA) | 2023 Graduate (Neuro-oncology) | Attending: Uganda | |
Kislay Kishore | 2023 Graduate (Interventional Neuroradiology) | Attending: McMaster University | |
Madheea Siddiqi | 2023 Graduate (Interventional Neuroradiology) | Attending: Windsor, Ontario | |
Ali Bahman | 2023 Graduate (Integrated Spine) |
Where are they now? We are exceedingly proud of our graduates for fellowships secured in the last 5 years with:
