Gabe LeBeau, M.D., from the University of Kansas, and Brandon Sharkey, M.D., from the University of Toledo College of Medicine, began their residencies in July.

At the start of the 2024-25 academic year, the Department of Neurosurgery welcomed Gabe LeBeau, M.D., a graduate of KU School of Medicine, and Brandon Sharkey, M.D., a graduate of the University of Toledo College of Medicine. These young doctors bring a wealth of academic accomplishments, motivation and genuine enthusiasm for neurosurgery and have made an outstanding addition to our residency program.

Gabe LeBeau comes to us from the University of Kansas School Medicine. He received his undergraduate degree in physiology and biology from Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas. He was awarded the Presidential Scholarship at Benedictine. He felt his degree fostered a passion for the intersection of ethics, neurosurgery and the humanities.

Gabe’s interest in neurosurgery started with a philosophy course, Philosophical Psychology, during his undergraduate studies. The course studied neuroscience from a philosophical perspective. Profound questions concerning free will and consciousness, amongst others, piqued his interests in regard to the relationship to neuroanatomy, the brain and the central nervous system. 

He was able to integrate his passion for philosophy and neurosurgery by collaborating with Dr. Paul Camarata to author a book chapter titled "From Attenuation and Restoration to Augmentation and Transformation — The Past, Present, and Future of Functional Brain Surgery."

Gabe was a medical student member of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons and the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, serving as vice president for the KU Chapter of AANS. His time serving as vice president provided many opportunities to work with a team in coordinating events and hands-on training opportunities. Through mentoring younger students, he had the chance to develop leadership skills that will serve me well as I progress in training.

He was awarded an NIH research grant that involved the study of neuroanatomical reorganization of healthy brain tissue in response to ischemic stroke in a lab setting.  He worked in the Nudo Cortical Plasticity Lab at KU Medical Center. The work resulted in a presentation at the Annual NIHC T32 Fall Retreat as well as a second-place award place best overall presentation at the KU Medical Center Student Research Forum. 

Gabe received several medical student scholarships in additional to his full ride undergraduate scholarship. He has been an avid volunteer in his communities with tutoring, feeding the homeless and leading book club discussions. 

Outside of the medical world, he is a sports enthusiast, playing several sports including college baseball during his freshman year. He runs marathons, plays acoustic and electric guitar and enjoys reading philosophical literature.

Brandon Sharkey comes to us from The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences. He received his undergraduate degree in biology with an emphasis on neuroscience at Brigham Young University.

Brandon first became interested in neurosurgery after a personal family event positively impacted by a neurosurgeon. The experience ignited his passion for neurosurgery and made him want to similarly make positive difference in the lives of others. Brandon has put forth efforts to do so by participating in research, teaching, educational engagement and mentorship. He has realized teaching is now a passion of his, whether cadaver dissection, mentoring/tutoring or even teaching his 2 boys how to ride bikes.

Brandon has been working on research projects under the guidance of Dr. Reinard, Dr. Schroeder and Dr. Gabel at the University of Toledo. He has mentored other medical students interested in neurosurgery and research through the AANS Toledo chapter. Brandon has several projects in the manuscript phase. Additionally, he has collaborated with KU Neurosurgery, specifically with Dr. Bailey Yekzaman. These research experiences helped shape his commitment to neurosurgery. He realizes that research can be challenging at times but also offers another avenue to help improve the lives of his patients.

As a medical student, Brandon was an active member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Ohio State Neurosurgical Society and the American Society of Clinical Oncology. He was also an active volunteer and mentor during his undergraduate and medical school years, serving as a youth advisor, chief peer leader and medical student advisor.  He was also active in the Office of Student Affairs at his medical school. 

Brandon’s hobbies include playing the violin in the form of ensembles, duets and solos. He enjoys cooking and makes the Thanksgiving turkey each year. He is currently honing his skills on his new grill. He is also an avid pickleballer.