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KU neurosurgery recognizes graduates in a virtual ceremony

KU neurosurgery honored graduating residents Megan Jack, M.D., Ph.D., and Mairaj Sami, M.D.

2020 grads

The department of neurosurgery at the University of Kansas Medical Center honored graduating residents Megan Jack, M.D., Ph.D., and Mairaj Sami, M.D., during a virtual celebration June 27.

Jack and Sami were co-chief residents during the 2019-20 academic year.

Jack has authored more than a dozen published manuscripts and a book chapter as well as given nearly 100 poster and oral presentations. She earned the Presentation Abstract Award (American Association of Neurological Surgeons/Congress of Neurological Surgeons Section on Spine and Peripheral Nerve) at the 2018 Spine Summit. In addition, she has been the recipient of two research grants, including a 2017-18 Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation award.

An active member of the KU Medical Center community, Jack served on multiple committees, including, but not limited to, the Quality Improvement, Patient Safety and Graduate Medical Education committees. She volunteered with a local school district and helped develop a wellness curriculum for the residency program. Jack also served as a suture clinic instructor for the Association of Women Surgeons and was honored by that group in 2017 with the Impactful Resident Role Model award.

Jack earned a bachelor's degree in biological sciences from the University of Iowa then completed a degree medicine and surgery as well as a doctorate in anatomy and cell biology at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. After completing a fellowship in peripheral nerve surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

Sami was finalist for the Congress of Neurological Surgeons Self-Assessment in Neurosurgery Challenge, posting a top-8 score among all neurosurgery programs in the nation for the interactive educational curriculum. He also earned the KU neurosurgery department's American Board of Neurological Surgery (ABNS) Examination award, which honors residents for exceptional performance on the ABNS primary exam.

In addition to serving as a clinical instructor in the simulation center at the Zamierowski Institute for Experiential Learning (ZIEL) at KU Medical Center, Sami was a sub-investigator on multiple clinical research studies. He has published research articles and two book chapters, along with giving dozens of oral and poster presentations.

Sami was an active participant on several campus committees, such as the Neurosurgery Quality Improvement, Neurosurgery Education and Training, Transitions of Care, and Graduate Medical Education Wellness committees. He also was co-founder of the KU Medical Center Resident Diversity Committee.

Sami holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan, a master's degree from Purdue University and a medical degree from the Indiana University School of Medicine. With clinical interests in complex and minimally invasive spine, neuro-oncology, cranial vascular, peripheral nerve and functional neurosurgery, he will enter private practice in Atlanta.

The neurosurgery residency at KU Medical Center is a seven-year program and features a compliment of 14 residents.


Department of Neurosurgery

University of Kansas Medical Center
Neurosurgery
3901 Rainbow Blvd.
Mailstop 3021
Kansas City, KS 66160
Phone: 913-588-6122
Fax: 913-535-2201