About the FNS

Board of Directors

President - Rabih Tawk, MD

Rabih G. Tawk, MD, is a neurosurgeon, with subspecialty in cerebrovascular neurosurgery. His clinical practice focuses on the open surgical and endovascular treatment of complex cerebrovascular disorders, with an emphasis on functional outcomes. A primary interest lies in the treatment of patients with skull base tumors using minimally invasive and endoscopic approaches. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Tawk is active in research and education, providing mentorship to residents and fellows. He authors expert content and publishes in high-impact scientific journals. He is a peer reviewer for prominent peer-reviewed journals in the field of cerebrovascular neurosurgery.

President-Elect - Ashish Shah, MD

Ashish Shah, MD is Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. He was born and raised in Corpus Christi, Texas. He graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in Biology, Chemistry and Spanish. During his undergraduate studies, Dr. Shah was awarded the prestigious Foote Fellowship and inaugurated in the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. He received his medical degree from the University of Miami Medical School, where he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. He completed his neurosurgical internship and residency at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital, followed by a fellowship in Surgical Neuro-Oncology at the University of Miami. Following residency, Dr. Shah completed another fellowship in Translational Neuro-Oncology at the National Institutes of Health within the Surgical Neurology Branch where he specialized in clinical trials for brain tumors.

As Director of Clinical Trials and Translational Research within the University of Miami Brain Tumor Initiative, Dr. Shah’s main clinical interests include surgical and radio surgical treatment of primary and metastatic brain tumors as well as pituitary lesions and meningiomas. Dr. Shah is a specialist in minimally invasive approaches to brain tumors utilizing cutting-edge techniques such as Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy, Gamma Knife Radiosurgery, Awake Craniotomies, and Robotic Neurosurgery. Dr. Shah is an investigator on several clinical trials aimed at improving outcomes for our brain tumor patients.

Dr. Shah is currently serving as principal investigator for the Section of Virology and Immunotherapy and Director of clinical trials and translational research in the UMBTI. The laboratory goal is to develop novel treatment options for brain tumors including virotherapies, immunotherapies, and targeted molecular therapeutics. Dr. Shah has authored over 200 peer-reviewed scientific articles, book chapters and invited editorials, and has received funding from the National Institutes of Health as well as other national and regional grants for his research. He is a member of the Society of Neuro-oncology, American Association of Neurological Surgery and the Congress of Neurological Surgery. He is a reviewer for several neurosurgical and virology journals.

Aside from his clinical work, Dr. Shah is deeply invested in mitigating global health disparities. Since 2008, Dr. Shah has actively involved with Project Medishare to create a sustainable neurosurgery residency program in Haiti in collaboration with the Haitian Minister of Health and the Dean of the National School of Medicine in Port-Au-Prince. The work in Haiti has been internationally recognized by the World Federation of Neurological Surgery and has been funded by national and regional organizations.

Program Chair - Heather McCrea, MD

Dr. McCrea sees patients at the Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery in Nicklaus Children's Hospital's Main Campus.

Heather J. McCrea, MD, PhD, specializes in the field of pediatric neurosurgery. Her neurosurgical training was completed at New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. She then completed specialized fellowship training in pediatric neurosurgery and served as the Shillito Staff Associate at Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School. Prior to her neurosurgical training, Dr. McCrea completed her undergraduate degree at Brown University with an ScB degree with honors in biochemistry and received her MD and PhD degrees from Yale University. Her PhD in cell biology was completed under the supervision of Dr. Pietro De Camilli, a noted cell biologist and neuroscientist and member of the National Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Medicine. During her PhD, she studied a rare genetic disorder affecting the brain, eye, and kidney.

Dr. McCrea operates on the entire range of pediatric neurosurgical conditions, but has a particular interest in pediatric brain tumors, pediatric vascular conditions including Moya Moya, hydrocephalus, Chiari malformation, tethered cord, and traumatic brain injury. She also has significant expertise in the use of endoscopy to treat brain and pituitary tumors, hydrocephalus, intracranial cysts, and craniosynostosis.

In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. McCrea is an accomplished researcher with significant basic and translational science contributions, and she has presented her research both nationally and internationally. While in neurosurgical residency at New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell she received a prestigious Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation (NREF) research fellowship grant to support her research on the role of the vasculature in supporting brain tumor growth. Her current research focuses on understanding and developing new treatments for pediatric brain tumors, drug delivery across the blood brain barrier, intra-arterial chemotherapy for high-grade glioma and diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), and concussion/traumatic brain injury.

Treasurer - Stephen Shelby Burks, MD

Dr. Burks grew up in Orlando, FL. He obtained his liberal arts degree at Rollins College with magna cum laude distinction, subsequently completing medical school at the University of Miami with Alpha Omega Alpha distinction. He completed Neurosurgical residency at the University of Miami Jackson Memorial Hospital. At UM he obtained CAST accredited fellowship training in complex and minimally invasive spine surgery and peripheral nerve surgery. He maintains an active lifestyle playing tennis and basketball. He enjoys reading both fiction and non-fiction.

Secretary - Matthew Decker, MD

Matthew Decker, MD, MBA, MPH is an assistant professor in the department of neurosurgery at the University of Florida. In 2002 he enlisted in the United States Army as a respiratory therapist, quickly rising to the rank of Sergeant. He subsequently obtained a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Maryland in 2009. In 2013 he completed his medical degree and master’s in public health from New York Medical College.

After medical school, Dr. Decker began his neurosurgical training at the University of Florida. During residency he served as a representative to the Housestaff Quality Committee, was an elected resident representative to the Graduate Medical Education Committee, served as a resident representative to the Florida Neurosurgical Society, received the Tom Ellis Neurosurgical Research Award, and was a Socioeconomic Fellow of the Council of State Neurosurgical Societies. In addition, he concurrently obtained a master’s in business administration from the University of Florida. Upon completion of his neurosurgical residency he joined the neurosurgery faculty at the University of Florida.

Dr. Decker provides care to patients with all general neurosurgical conditions. He has a specific clinical interest in treating spinal pathologies such as traumatic injuries, degenerative spine, spinal tumors, and infectious conditions. He utilizes various surgical techniques from minimally invasive approaches to complex spinal correction as well as collaborates with his non-surgical colleagues within the UF Health Comprehensive Spine Center in order to best address his patients’ conditions.

Immediate Past President - Adam Polifka, MD

Adam Polifka, MD, is board-certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgeons. After attending medical school at the University of Vermont, he completed his residency in neurosurgery at the University of Maryland, followed by a fellowship in cerebrovascular surgery at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA. Prior to joining Lyerly, Dr. Polifka was an associate professor of neurosurgery at the University of Florida for 8 years.  His special interest in Neurosurgery include minimally invasive spine surgery and cerebrovascular surgery. Dr. Polifka advocates for the very best in patient care not only in the operating room but also within the neurosurgical community and is seen as a leader and innovator among his peers.

Reps to the CSNS
Greg Murad, MD
Heather McCrea, MD
Steve Pirris, MD
Jason Blatt, MD
Shelby Burks, MD

Rep to FMA House of Delegates
Lloyd Maliner, MD
Avery Buchholz, MD

Members at Large
Steven Roth, MD
Avery Buchholz, MD
Julie Chan, MD
Victoria Clark, MD

Rep to the SNS
Steve Pirris, MD

Resident Liason
Zachary Sorrentino, MD

Advocacy Consultant
Chris Nuland Esq.