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Connor Berlin, MD

Education

Dr. Berlin

Doctor of Medicine
AOA, Distinction in Research, Distinction in Foundations of Medicine, Clinical Neurosciences Pathway
State University of New York, Downstate Health Sciences University, 2020

Bachelor of Science
Cum Laude
Neurobiology and Behavior
Minor in History
Cornell University, 2015

Professional Experience

NYS licensed firefighter, Cayuga Heights Fire Department & Armonk Fire Department, 2010-2015

Email:cdb5zm@virginia.edu

Research Experience

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Research Fellowship under Dr. Viviane Tabar, Chair, Department of Neurosurgery, 2016-2020
Focus: Neuro-oncology and advanced MR imaging techniques

Weill Cornell Brain and Spine Center, Research       
Research under Dr. Roger Härtl, Director of Spinal Surgery and Neurotrauma, 2015-2016
Focus: basic/translational spine research, minimally invasive spine surgery

Research Interests

Complex Spinal Deformity
Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery
Advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging Techniques
Spinal Cord Injury
Spinal Oncology
Neuro-Oncology

Honors

Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honors Society

Neurosurgery Awards 

NREF Neurosurgical Medical Student Summer Research Fellowship Awardee for project entitled “A rodent model of chemotherapy induced neurocognitive impairment”, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Tabar Laboratory, Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation

Co-recipient: Best Oral Presentation for paper entitled “Annular Repair Using High-density Collagen Gel with Riboflavin Crosslinkage: Prelimnary Results in an in vivo Ovine Model”, World Forum for Spine Research

Co-recipient: Young Investigator Award for abstract entitled “Radiological correlation of facet degeneration and indirect decompression after Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion”, Society of Lateral Access Surgery

Co-recipient: Best Abstract for the abstract entitled “Total disc replacement using tissue-engineered intervertebral discs: In vivo outcome in a canine model”, AO Spine North America

Co-recipient: 3rd Place Basic Science Research Paper entitled “Total Disc Replacement Using Tissue-Engineered Intervertebral Discs: In Vivo Outcome in A Canine Model, Cervical Spine Research Society

Medical School Awards

Graduation honors with Distinction in Research

Robert F. Furchgott Medical Student Research Award: awarded to a single graduating medical student that demonstrates significant accomplishment in research throughout medical school

Abraham Max Rabiner Award for Excellence in Neurology: awarded to two graduating medical students for distinction in the neurosciences

Distinction in Foundations of Medicine for “exemplary performance across all Units in the Foundation Years”, awarded to 14 out of a class of 194

 

Publications

Novel method of iliac accessory rods for rod fracture prevention in adult deformity surgery: a case series of 82 patients with outcomes and complications

J Neurosurg Spine. 2024 Jul 26:1-9. doi: 10.3171/2024.5.SPINE24208. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTOBJECTIVE: Primary rod fracture after surgery for adult spinal deformity (ASD) is a leading cause of revision, with recent…

Iliac Accessory Rod Technique for Rod Fracture Prevention in Long Fusion Constructs: 2-Dimensional Operative Video

Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown). 2024 Jul 5. doi: 10.1227/ons.0000000000001281. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTImplant-related complications in surgery for adult spinal deformity (ASD) account for roughly $1 billion US health care expenditures over…

Determining the time frame of maximum clinical improvement in surgical decompression for cervical spondylotic myelopathy when stratified by preoperative myelopathy severity: a cervical Quality Outcomes Database study

J Neurosurg Spine. 2022 Jun 17;37(5):758-766. doi: 10.3171/2022.5.SPINE211425. Print 2022 Nov 1.ABSTRACTOBJECTIVE: While surgical decompression is an important treatment modality for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM), it remains unclear if the…

Robotic Sacroiliac Fixation Technique for Triangular Titanium Implant in Adult Degenerative Scoliosis Surgery: 2-Dimensional Operative Video

Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown). 2021 Nov 15;21(6):E555-E556. doi: 10.1093/ons/opab326.ABSTRACTCorrective surgery remains a definitive treatment for adult spinal deformity, improving pain and disability. With these cases, instrumentation to the pelvis with iliac…

Long-term clinically relevant rodent model of methotrexate-induced cognitive impairment

Neuro Oncol. 2020 Aug 17;22(8):1126-1137. doi: 10.1093/neuonc/noaa086.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: With the enhanced use of chemotherapy and the advent of increased patient survival rates, there are an increasing number of cancer survivors living…

In vivo annular repair using high-density collagen gel seeded with annulus fibrosus cells

Acta Biomater. 2018 Oct 1;79:230-238. doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2018.07.008. Epub 2018 Jul 5.ABSTRACTOBJECTIVE: The aim is assessing the in vivo efficacy of annulus fibrosus (AF) cells seeded into collagen by enhancing the…

Total disc replacement using tissue-engineered intervertebral discs in the canine cervical spine

PLoS One. 2017 Oct 20;12(10):e0185716. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0185716. eCollection 2017.ABSTRACTThe most common reason that adults in the United States see their physician is lower back or neck pain secondary to degenerative…

Ten-Step Minimally Invasive Spine Lumbar Decompression and Dural Repair Through Tubular Retractors

Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown). 2017 Apr 1;13(2):232-245. doi: 10.1227/NEU.0000000000001407.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Minimally invasive spine (MIS) surgery utilizing tubular retractors has become an increasingly popular approach for decompression in the lumbar spine. However, a…

A New Volumetric Radiologic Method to Assess Indirect Decompression After Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion Using High-Resolution Intraoperative Computed Tomography

World Neurosurg. 2018 Jan;109:59-67. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2017.07.155. Epub 2017 Aug 5.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Two-dimensional radiographic methods have been proposed to evaluate the radiographic outcome after indirect decompression through extreme lateral interbody fusion (XLIF).…

Can Fan-Beam Interactive Computed Tomography Accurately Predict Indirect Decompression in Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Fusion Procedures?

World Neurosurg. 2017 Nov;107:322-333. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2017.07.167. Epub 2017 Aug 7.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Recently, novel mobile intraoperative fan-beam computed tomography (CT) was introduced, allowing for real-time navigation and immediate intraoperative evaluation of neural…

Annulus Fibrosus Repair Using High-Density Collagen Gel: An In Vivo Ovine Model

Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2018 Feb 15;43(4):E208-E215. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000002334.ABSTRACTSTUDY DESIGN: Ovine in vivo study.OBJECTIVE: To perform lateral approach lumbar surgery in an ovine model to administer an injectable riboflavin cross-linked…

Initial investigation of individual and combined annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus repair ex vivo

Acta Biomater. 2017 Sep 1;59:192-199. doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2017.06.045. Epub 2017 Jun 29.ABSTRACTNovel tissue engineered and biomaterial approaches to treat intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration focus on single aspects of the progressive disease…

Carotid Artery Injury in Anterior Cervical Spine Surgery: Multicenter Cohort Study and Literature Review

Global Spine J. 2017 Apr;7(1 Suppl):71S-75S. doi: 10.1177/2192568216688192. Epub 2017 Apr 1.ABSTRACTSTUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study and literature review.OBJECTIVE: To provide more comprehensive data about carotid artery injury (CAI) or cerebrovascular…

The Impact of Cage Dimensions, Positioning, and Side of Approach in Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion

Clin Spine Surg. 2018 Feb;31(1):E42-E49. doi: 10.1097/BSD.0000000000000507.ABSTRACTSTUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective single-center study.OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of cage characteristics and position toward…

Total Navigation in Spine Surgery; A Concise Guide to Eliminate Fluoroscopy Using a Portable Intraoperative Computed Tomography 3-Dimensional Navigation System

World Neurosurg. 2017 Apr;100:325-335. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2017.01.025. Epub 2017 Jan 16.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Portable intraoperative computed tomography (iCT) with integrated 3-dimensional navigation (NAV) offers new opportunities for more precise navigation in spinal surgery,…