Why did you choose Johns Hopkins for your work?

Mentorship has always been a key consideration for me. I wanted to train at an institution with surgeon-scientist role models who might serve as mentors.

What does receiving this award mean to you personally and professionally? Do you have any connection with the particular award you received?

This award is a tremendous honor and represents early validation of our team-based approach to science.

What contributed to your project’s success?

Excellent mentors, world-class teammates and a healthy serving of good luck.

What thoughts do you have about Young Investigators’ Day itself,  as a celebration of the roles students and fellows play in research at Johns Hopkins?

Recognition of young scientists, and importantly, the critical importance of science, has never been more important.

What has been your best/most memorable experience while at Johns Hopkins?

Doing an emergency surgery with my wife (Chao, plastic surgery chief resident) — working hand in hand to achieve an excellent surgical outcome for the patient is a memorable experience.

What are your plans for the next year or so? Graduating, looking for faculty positions, etc.?

I will be diving more deeply into this research while completing my clinical training, focusing on complex spinal surgery.

Tell  me something interesting about yourself that makes you unique. Do you have any special hobbies, interests or life experiences?

Not sure how unique this is, but being a dog dad (to Artemis) and a real dad (to Rumi), while serving as neurosurgery chief resident this year is the most fulfilling set of experiences I could have imagined.