Donald J. Weisz
- ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR Neurosurgery
- ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR Neurology
- ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR Otolaryngology
Print Profile
Specialty
Education
B.A., Ohio Northern University
Postdoctoral Training, University of California
Postdoctoral Training, Stanford University
Fellowship, Neuroscience
University of California, Irvine
Biography
- Before joining the faculty at Mount Sinai in 1992, Dr. Weisz was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Yale University (1981-1988) and an Associate Professor in the Departments of Behavioral Neuroscience and Neurosurgery at the University of Pittsburgh (1988-1992). At Pittsburgh he served for two years as Assistant Chairman of the Department of Behavioral Neuroscience. Since coming to Mount Sinai in 1992, Dr. Weisz has been Director of Intraoperative Monitoring in the Department of Neurosurgery. He has been the principal or co-investigator on grants since 1977. Presently, he is co-investigator on an NIH grant, "Cerebral Function after Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest."
Dr. Weisz and his staff monitor neurophysiological activity of patients undergoing surgeries of the brain and spine that place the nervous system at risk. Responses are elicited in the nervous system by stimulation of both motor and sensory systems. In addition, Dr. Weisz monitors the activity of single cells in the brain during surgeries for the implantation of deep-brain stimulating electrodes in patients with movement disorders. The single cell recordings are made near and in the target structures to aid the neurosurgeon in refining the site of implantation.
Awards
-
Junior Faculty Fellowship
Yale University2010 -
Office of Technology and Business Development grant
Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Research
Summary of Research Studies
Prevention of neurological dysfunction following cardiothoracic surgery (in collaboration with Dr. Randall Griepp, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery).Understanding the neurophysiologic basis of abnormal upper-extremity motor control in brain-injured individuals, particularly in those who have had a stroke, and elucidating the mechanisms underlying the recovery of voluntary motor functions (in collaboration with Dr. Preeti Raghavan, Department of Rehabilitative Medicine).
Publications
Deiner SG, Kwatra SG, Lin HM, Weisz DJ. Patient Characteristics and Anesthetic Technique Are Additive but Not Synergistic Predictors of Successful Motor Evoked Potential Monitoring. Anesth Analg 2010 Jun;: Epub ahead.
Gracies M, Lugassy M, Weisz DJ, Vecchio M, Flanagan S, Simpson DM. Botulinum toxin Dilution and endplate targeting in spasticity: A double-blind controlled study. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation [accepted for publication] 2009 Jan; 90(1): 9-16.
Weisz DJ. Intraoperative neurophysiology monitoring. In: Naidich T, Castillo , Cha , Raybaud , Smirniotopoulos , editors. Imaging of the Brain and Spine
Intraoperative neurophysiology monitoring
Intraoperative neurophysiology monitoring. Elsevier; ppin press.
Halstead JC, Meier M, Wurm M, Zhang N, Spielvogel D, Weisz D, Bodian C, Griepp RB. Optimizing selective cerebral perfusion: deleterious effects of high perfusion pressures. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2008 Apr; 135(4): 784-791.
Etz CD, Homann TM, Luehr M, Kari FA, Weisz DJ, Kleinman G, Plestis KA, Griepp RB. Spinal cord blood flow and ischemic injury after experimental sacrifice of thoracic and abdominal segmental arteries. [Epub ahead of print]. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2008 Apr 10;.
Halstead JC, Wurm M, Meier DM, Zhang N, Spielvogel D, Weisz D, Bodian C, Griepp RB. Avoidance of hemodilution during selective cerebral perfusion enhances neurobehavioral outcome in a survival porcine model. [Epub 2007 Jul 17]. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2007 Sep; 32(3): 514-520.
Alterman RL, Miravite J, Weisz D, Shils JL, Bressman SB, Tagliati M. Sixty hertz pallidal deep brain stimulation for primary torsion dystonia. Neurology 2007 Aug 14; 69(7): 681-688.
Halstead JC, Etz C, Meier DM, Zhang N, Spielvogel D, Weisz D, Bodian C, Griepp RB. Perfusing the cold brain: optimal neuroprotection for aortic surgery. Ann Thorac Surg 2007; 84(3): 768-774.
Halstead JC, Wurm M, Etz C, Zhang N, Bodian C, Weisz D, Griepp RB. Preservation of spinal cord function after extensive segmental artery sacrifice: regional variations in perfusion. Ann Thorac Surg 2007 Sep; 84(3): 789-794.
Etz CD, Homann TM, Plestis KA, Zhang N, Luehr M, Weisz DJ, Kleinman G, Griepp RB. Spinal cord perfusion after extensive segmental artery sacrifice: can paraplegia be prevented? [Epub 2007 Feb 12]. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2007; 31(4): 643-648.
Etz CD, Halstead JC, Spielvogel D, Shahani R, Lazala R, Homann TM, Weisz DJ, Plestis K, Griepp RB. Thoracic and thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair: is reimplantation of spinal cord arteries a waste of time?. Ann Thorac Surg 2006; 82(5): 1670-1677.
Industry Relationships
Physicians and scientists on the faculty of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai often interact with pharmaceutical, device and biotechnology companies to improve patient care, develop new therapies and achieve scientific breakthroughs. In order to promote an ethical and transparent environment for conducting research, providing clinical care and teaching, Mount Sinai requires that salaried faculty inform the School of their relationships with such companies.
Dr. Weisz did not report having any of the following types of financial relationships with industry during 2012 and/or 2013: consulting, scientific advisory board, industry-sponsored lectures, service on Board of Directors, participation on industry-sponsored committees, equity ownership valued at greater than 5% of a publicly traded company or any value in a privately held company. Please note that this information may differ from information posted on corporate sites due to timing or classification differences.
Mount Sinai's faculty policies relating to faculty collaboration with industry are posted on our website at http://icahn.mssm.edu/about-us/services-and-resources/faculty-resources/handbooks-and-policies/faculty-handbook. Patients may wish to ask their physician about the activities they perform for companies.
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