Mayfield Foundation presents annual Keller Lectures

Speakers emphasize the importance of foundational anatomy, lab experience

Whether training for brain surgery to preserve critical functions like eyesight, or grafting an artery to bypass a blockage in the brain, there's no substitute for anatomical expertise or practical application in a laboratory setting. That was the counsel from some of neurosurgery's leading practitioners while kicking off the 12th annual Keller Lectures Dec. 10-11, presented by the Mayfield Education & Research Foundation.

Dr. Franco DeMonte, Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, presented the keynote lecture on "Cochlear Implants and Unilateral Acoustic Neuroma – a Concept in Evolution." The Keller Lectures draw neurosurgery and otolaryngology (ENT) residents from around the country, outside experts and the clinicians of Mayfield Brain & Spine.

In his keynote lecture, Dr. DeMonte said electrical stimulation through the cochlear device, implanted just before removal of an acoustic neuroma, can help preserve the cochlear nerve and restore hearing in select patients. Symptoms, such as loss of spatial perception and cognitive issues, can be improved with hearing restoration with the cochlear implant. The most important tasks for the surgeon, he said, are the removal of the tumor while maintaining the integrity of the cochlear nerve.

"People sometimes look at these patients and because of the profound hearing loss, they may seem distracted or inattentive," Dr. DeMonte said. "Restoration of hearing can resolve these issues. Hearing preservation is a priority. You have to keep the cochlear nerve intact."

Mayfield neurosurgeons and brain tumor specialists Dr. Vincent DiNapoli and Dr. Yair Gozal organized the conference and presented several cases. The two-day event featured hands-on dissections and laboratory sessions in the Mayfield Surgical Innovation Center lab. The Mayfield Education & Research Foundation operates the leading-edge training facility for spine and cranial surgery technology and procedures.

"Practical application in a laboratory setting is an important element in neurosurgical training," Dr. DiNapoli said. "Along with a working knowledge of foundational anatomy of the brain and surrounding structures, these are among the building blocks to produce excellent surgical techniques and patient outcomes."

The Mayfield Foundation has been sponsoring the Keller Lectures for more than a dozen years. They are named for Dr. Jeffrey Keller, a retired neuroanatomist at the University of Cincinnati who has been training surgeons, residents and medical students in applied neuroanatomy for more than 30 years.

About the Mayfield Education & Research Foundation

The Mayfield Education & Research Foundation is the affiliated non-profit of Mayfield Brain & Spine. Founded in 1937, Mayfield Brain & Spine is a nationally known independent neurosurgery practice, with 20 neurosurgeons, one orthopedic spine surgeon and six physicians specializing in interventional pain treatments or Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. Mayfield surgeons operate in multiple leading health systems in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. With about 275 total associates, Mayfield served more than 30,000 patients from 39 states in 2023. Mayfield also was named among the region's "Best Places to Work" in 2022 and 2024 in a competition sponsored by the Cincinnati Business Courier.

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Cliff Peale, Senior Writer/Media Relations Specialist
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