VISE Fall Seminar – Lola Chambless, MD
VISE Fall Seminar
to be led by
Lola Chambless, MD,
Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Date: Thursday,September 21, 2017
Location: Stevenson Center 5326
Time: 12:10 p.m. start, Noon lunch
Title: Minimally invasive brain surgery – a field in consolidation
Abstract:
The concept of “minimally invasive surgery” was popularized in the late 20th century as surgeons began to recognize the benefits of small exposures on patient outcomes. As technology allowed surgeons to operate with less risk to normal tissues, significant reductions in pain, length of hospitalization, and morbidity were identified in a number of settings. Perhaps because of its anatomic complexity, the field of neurosurgery lagged behind in the adoption of much of this technology, but over the last 15 years advancements in catheter-based therapies and endoscopic minimal access techniques have changed the field dramatically. Minimally invasive neurosurgery is now in a “consolidation phase” where the benefits of this technology are understood, and the limitations are well-recognized. The next phase of the field will be driven by the incorporation of these early lessons into techniques which will expand the surgeon’s armamentarium in a manner that is thoughtful, cost-conscious, and focused on critical patient needs.
Bio:
Dr. Chambless received her MD from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, and her bachelor of science in biological sciences from Stanford University. She completed her residency in Neurological Surgery and fellowship in Neurosurgical Oncology at Vanderbilt. She also completed a specialized fellowship in minimally invasive/endoscopic surgery for brain tumors at the Centre for Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery in Sydney, Australia. Dr. Chambless is the associate residency program director and an assistant professor in the department of Neurological Surgery.
Her clinical interests are in all aspects of intracranial neurosurgery for the treatment of benign and malignant brain tumors, with a special focus on minimally invasive endoscopic techniques. She is also actively involved with national efforts aimed at reducing the frequency and severity of sports-related head injuries.
Dr. Chambless continues to engage in a number of research efforts. She developed the clinical outcome program for the Vanderbilt Brain Tumor Center and participates in a number of projects evaluating the impact of metabolic disorders on brain cancer. She is also currently working on a multidisciplinary study with the Vanderbilt Department of Electrical Engineering on tumor morphometry. Her findings have been published in such peer-reviewed journals as the Journal of Neuro-Oncology and the Journal of Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery.