Isabelle Germano | Neurosurgery | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Isabelle Germano | Neurosurgery | Best Researcher Award

Professor at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, United States

Dr. Isabelle M. Germano, MD, MBA, FACS, is an internationally recognized leader in neurosurgery, with a particular focus on neuro-oncology, stereotactic neurosurgery, and image-guided brain tumor surgery. As a Tenured Professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, she holds joint appointments in Neurosurgery, Neurology, and Oncological Sciences. Over a three-decade academic and clinical career, she has built and led Mount Sinai’s Comprehensive Brain Tumor Program, served as Co-Director of the Radiosurgery Program, and directed multiple fellowships in neuro-oncology. Dr. Germano is also a system-wide Vice Chair for Faculty Affairs and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, demonstrating her commitment to academic excellence and institutional transformation.

Profile

Scopus

Education

Dr. Germano began her academic training at the Liceum Classicum M. D’Azeglio, where she studied classical languages before earning her MD with summa cum laude honors from the University of Turin Medical School. She completed a series of competitive and globally renowned post-doctoral fellowships, including neurosurgery at the University of California, San Francisco; epilepsy and functional neurosurgery at the University of Zurich and Montreal Neurological Institute; and chief residency at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Seeking to bridge clinical science and systems leadership, she earned an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business (2015–2017), complementing her medical expertise with executive knowledge in healthcare economics and strategy.

Experience

Dr. Germano has been an active faculty member at Mount Sinai since 1993, advancing from Assistant Professor to full Tenured Professor by 2009. She has continuously served in critical leadership roles, including Chair of the Multidisciplinary Brain Tumor Board since 2003 and Co-Chair of the Spine Tumor Board since 2007. As Program Director of CAST and UCNS-accredited neuro-oncology fellowships and the CNS Foundation’s International Brain Tumor Fellowship, she has trained numerous global leaders in neurosurgery. Her administrative responsibilities expanded in 2023 with her appointment as System Vice-Chair for Faculty Affairs, following her prior leadership in DEI efforts.

Research Interests

Dr. Germano’s research integrates translational neuroscience, precision medicine, and technology-enabled surgery. Her interests include image-guided brain tumor resection, stem-cell-based therapy for gliomas, molecular oncology, and neurosurgical outcomes research. Recently, her investigations have focused on the intersection of racial disparities and outcomes in glioblastoma treatment, supported by NIH grants. She serves on editorial boards of Neuro-Oncology, Neuro-Oncology Advances, and World Neurosurgery, and frequently leads NIH/NCI and FDA panels. Her grant funding includes RO1s, R03s, and multiple foundation and industry-sponsored research initiatives.

Awards

Dr. Germano has received over 50 prestigious awards recognizing her clinical skill, leadership, innovation, and advocacy. She is the first woman to chair the AANS/CNS Section on Tumors and was named an Aspen Ideas Festival Panelist in 2024. Other honors include the AANS Leksell Radiosurgery Award, the Sundt Distinguished Lectureship at Mayo Clinic (2022), and the Culman Family Award for Physician Communication. She is consistently ranked among “New York SuperDoctors” and “America’s Top Doctors,” and was awarded Castle Connolly’s Hall of Fame distinction. In 2023, she received the Congress of Neurological Surgeons’ Inaugural International Fellowship for global neurosurgical leadership.

Publications

  1. Germano IM et al. “Closing the Gaps: Strategies to Improve Global Neurosurgical Subspecialty Care,” J Neurosurg, 2025, cited by 22 articles.

  2. Germano IM et al. “Navigating the Crossroads: Access to Care among Brain Tumor Patients,” J Neurosurg, 2024, cited by 31 articles.

  3. Germano IM et al. “Charting the Success of Neuronavigation in Brain Tumor Surgery,” J Neurooncol, 2024, cited by 45 articles.

  4. Germano IM et al. “Minimally Invasive Surgery for Metastatic Spine Disease: A Decade Review,” Neuro-Oncology, 2024, cited by 38 articles.

  5. Germano IM et al. “Enhanced Recovery After Brain Tumor Surgery: ERABTS Protocol,” Neurosurgery, 2025, cited by 17 articles.

  6. Germano IM et al. “Survival Predictions for WHO Grade II and III Gliomas via Machine Learning,” NPJ Digital Medicine, 2023, cited by 66 articles.

  7. Germano IM et al. “Adult Neuro-Oncology Trials in the US: 50-Year Review,” Neurooncol Adv, 2024, cited by 29 articles.

Conclusion

Dr. Isabelle M. Germano’s work spans the full arc of academic neurosurgery—clinical care, research, innovation, mentorship, and advocacy. As a physician-scientist and institutional leader, she continues to shape the future of neurosurgery through global engagement, equity-driven research, and technological advancement. Her legacy is distinguished not only by her pioneering work in neuro-oncology but by her commitment to building a more inclusive, effective, and compassionate medical community.

Luciano Vitorino | Mental Health and Aging | Excellence in Research Award

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Prof. Dr. Luciano Vitorino | Mental Health and Aging | Excellence in Research Award

Professor and Researcher at Faculty of Medicine of Itajubá -FMIT, Brazil

Luciano Magalhães Vitorino is a university professor, researcher, and research coordinator at the Faculty of Medicine of Itajubá (FMIT), Brazil. With over 17 years of experience in undergraduate and medical education, he has significantly contributed to academic leadership, interdisciplinary teaching, and the integration of innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence in healthcare and education. His scholarly work spans mental health, aging, spirituality, and digital health, establishing him as a thought leader in the intersection of technology and human well-being. Vitorino’s efforts have positioned him as a pioneering force in Brazil’s evolving health education landscape.

Profile

Google Scholar

Education

Luciano Vitorino’s academic journey is rooted in a strong interdisciplinary foundation. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Nursing (BScN) and acquired licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN). He later pursued a Master’s (MSc) and Doctorate (PhD), demonstrating his deep commitment to scholarly excellence. His international academic exposure includes a doctoral fellowship at the University of Alberta, Canada, and a postdoctoral research fellowship at the Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Brazil. These academic experiences solidified his expertise in healthcare, research methodologies, and the ethical implementation of emerging technologies in medical contexts.

Experience

Throughout his career, Vitorino has cultivated a diverse academic and professional profile. In addition to serving as a professor and coordinator, he co-founded Luminai Solution, a consultancy firm specializing in AI integration in healthcare and education. His consultancy work includes strategic implementations of AI tools in hospitals, medical schools, and professional development programs, emphasizing prompt engineering, clinical decision-making, and ethical AI deployment. Furthermore, he has held editorial positions, such as Guest Editor-in-Chief for Frontiers in Psychiatry, and maintains collaborative ties with institutions in Canada, the USA, Saudi Arabia, Portugal, and Chile, reflecting a globally engaged career.

Research Interest

Vitorino’s research is situated at the convergence of mental health, spirituality, aging, medical education, and artificial intelligence. He has conducted impactful longitudinal studies on older adults, investigating themes such as cognitive function, dementia, depression, falls, and spirituality. His research with medical students has examined multidimensional mental health outcomes, including internet addiction and suicidal ideation. Notably, he explores how AI can ethically enhance academic, clinical, and educational environments. His work has brought attention to digital health transformation, bridging the gap between traditional health paradigms and future-ready solutions rooted in compassion and evidence-based innovation.

Awards

Luciano Vitorino has been nominated for the “Excellence in Research Award” at the AI Data Scientist Awards in recognition of his outstanding contributions to healthcare innovation and academic leadership. His work integrating AI with holistic healthcare practices, such as spiritual care and gerontology, reflects a rare synthesis of human-centered research and technological acumen. His leadership in academic projects and cross-cultural collaborations further highlights his influence and capacity to generate transformative research outcomes that address real-world healthcare challenges.

Publications

Vitorino has authored and co-authored over 40 peer-reviewed journal articles. Below are seven notable publications reflecting the breadth of his expertise:

  1. One-Year Changes in Depressive Symptoms and Cognitive Function Among Brazilian Older Adults Attending Primary Care – Healthcare, 2025 (cited by 9 articles).

  2. Mentally Healthy Living After Pandemic Social Distancing: A Study of Older Adults – Psychogeriatrics, 2024 (cited by 7 articles).

  3. Quantitative and Qualitative Research in the Field of Spirituality and Health: An Introductory How-to Guide – Journal of Religion & Health, 2024 (cited by 5 articles).

  4. Large Language Models in Healthcare: An Urgent Call for Ongoing, Rigorous Validation – Journal of Medical Systems, 2024 (cited by 12 articles).

  5. The Role of Spirituality and Religiosity on the Suicidal Ideation of Medical Students – International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 2023 (cited by 18 articles).

  6. How May ChatGPT Impact Medical Teaching? – Revista da Associação Médica Brasileira, 2023 (cited by 15 articles).

  7. The Role of Spirituality and Religiosity on the Cognitive Decline of Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A 4-Year Longitudinal Study – Aging & Mental Health, 2022 (cited by 22 articles).

Conclusion

Luciano Magalhães Vitorino stands at the forefront of transformative research in healthcare and AI integration. Through a career marked by rigorous inquiry, compassionate scholarship, and international collaboration, he has enhanced the understanding of mental health, spirituality, and aging, while pioneering the ethical adoption of artificial intelligence in education and practice. His impactful publications, citation metrics, and leadership in interdisciplinary research attest to a career defined by both academic rigor and societal relevance. As a visionary blending data science with humanity, Vitorino is a deserving nominee for the AI Data Scientist Award for Excellence in Research.