From Rowing to Neurosurgery

How is artificial intelligence transforming healthcare, and what new career opportunities are emerging at the intersection of AI and surgery?

In this episode of Neurocareers: Doing the Impossible!, Milena Korostenskaja, PhD, interviews Daniel Donoho, MD, a pioneering pediatric and adult neurosurgeon at Children’s National Hospital and George Washington University. Dr. Donoho discusses the role of AI in healthcare—what’s possible now, the challenges that remain, and how to carve out a career in this innovative field. He explores how AI is reshaping surgery and healthcare delivery, from improving surgical training to enhancing patient outcomes.

Dr. Donoho also highlights how AI can democratize surgical knowledge, especially in resource-limited regions, and addresses the challenges of AI adoption, including resistance to change and the need for interdisciplinary collaboration. He shares insights into emerging career opportunities at the intersection of AI and healthcare, offering guidance for those looking to enter this rapidly evolving industry.

Join us as Dr. Donoho reflects on his career journey, the future of AI in medicine, and the exciting possibilities for professionals seeking to impact this transformative field.

About the Podcast Guest:

Daniel Donoho, MD, is a pediatric and adult neurosurgeon at Children’s National Hospital and George Washington University, where he also serves as an assistant professor of pediatric neurosurgery. Dr. Donoho’s career blends clinical expertise with groundbreaking work in surgical data science and artificial intelligence, focused on improving surgical outcomes worldwide. He is also the founder and president of the Surgical Data Science Collective (SDSC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing access to surgical data, particularly surgical videos, through machine learning to improve surgery outcomes globally.

Dr. Donoho’s academic journey began at Dartmouth College, where he earned an undergraduate degree in economics before pursuing a medical degree from SUNY-Stony Brook, where he was elected to the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. His early research in neuroendocrinology included studies on growth hormone replacement and oxytocin function. Following medical school, he completed his internship and residency in neurological surgery at the University of Southern California, gaining invaluable mentorship from renowned surgeons like Steven L. Giannotta, M.D., J. Gordon McComb, M.D., and Martin Weiss, M.D. During this time, he published over 50 manuscripts and book chapters and became a sought-after speaker on innovations in brain and spinal disorders.

Dr. Donoho further honed his expertise with a prestigious fellowship in endoscopic, minimally disruptive surgery at Harvard Medical School under Edward R. Laws, Jr., M.D., specializing in skull base tumors. He then completed a fellowship in pediatric neurosurgery at Texas Children’s Hospital, where he also served as a clinical instructor at Baylor College of Medicine. His clinical interests include brain and pituitary tumors, spinal disorders, hydrocephalus, myelomeningocele, and other complex pediatric conditions.

In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Donoho leads research at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, the Children’s National Center for Neuroscience Research, and the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation. His research focuses on surgical education and the integration of technological innovations to improve surgical safety. He founded one of the first neurosurgical computer vision research groups at USC and Caltech, where he remains actively involved in studying surgeon performance using computer vision and machine learning.

Dr. Donoho’s extensive experience in both clinical practice and cutting-edge research has positioned him at the forefront of AI and surgical data science, aiming to bridge the gap between healthcare and technology. His work continues to influence the future of surgery, healthcare access, and the integration of AI into clinical practice.

A link to SDSC: https://www.surgicalvideo.io/

A link to Dr. Donoho's page at Children's National Hospital at Washington University: https://appointments.childrensnational.org/provider/daniel-aharon-donoho/2359746

A link to Dr. Donoho's page at George Washington School of Medicine and Health Science: https://smhs.gwu.edu/faculty-research/daniel-donoho-md 

Connect with Dr. Donoho via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danieldonoho/

Follow Dr. Donoho on X: https://x.com/ddonoho 

About the Podcast Host:

The Neurocareers podcast is brought to you by The Institute of Neuroapproaches (https://www.neuroapproaches.org/) and its founder, Milena Korostenskaja, Ph.D. (Dr. K), a career coach for people in neuroscience and neurotechnologies. As a professional coach with a background in neurotech and Brain-Computer Interfaces, Dr. K understands the unique challenges and opportunities job applicants face in this field and can provide personalized coaching and support to help you succeed.

Here's what you'll get with one-on-one coaching sessions from Dr. K:

• Identification and pursuit of career goals
• Guidance on job search strategies, resume, and cover letter development
• Neurotech / neuroscience job interview preparation and practice
• Networking strategies to connect with professionals in the field of neuroscience and neurotechnologies
• Ongoing support and guidance to help you stay on track and achieve your goals

You can always schedule a free neurocareer consultation/coaching session with Dr. K at https://neuroapproaches.as.me/free-neurocareer-consultation

Subscribe to our Nerocareers Newsletter to stay on top of all our cool neurocareers news at updates https://www.neuroapproaches.org/neurocareers-news

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