Specialists in neurovascular surgery and care

Eric Nussbaum, MD, FACS
Chair of the National Brain Aneurysm Center

One of the founders of the National Brain Aneurysm Center and chair of the neurovascular division at HealthEast Care System in Minnesota, Dr. Eric Nussbaum is a visionary and one of the top rated surgeons in the country.

Dr. Nussbaum received a medical degree from the University of Maryland Medical School and training from the University of Minnesota before training as a vascular neurosurgeon at Western University in Ontario, Canada.

An expert in brain aneurysm surgery, Dr. Nussbaum performs more than 350 brain surgeries yearly and has clipped more than 1,000 aneurysms. He is one of only a handful of neurosurgeons in the world with the expertise to perform such complex operations. A dedicated neurovascular surgeon, he perfects his techniques by performing hundreds of complex surgeries, often taking on difficult cases that other surgeons have turned down.

A member of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, American Association of Neurological Surgeons, the American College of Surgeons and more, Dr. Nussbaum came to HealthEast in 2002. He joined forces with Interventional Neuroradiologist Mike Madison, MD, to form the National Brain Aneurysm Center.

Dr. Nussbaum has authored several books and more than 50 papers on neurovascular care, brain aneurysms and vascular malformations. He has also been the principal investigator in clinical trials and basic science research.

As the only surgeon in the Twin Cities area and one of the few in the country who performs extracranial-intracranial bypass surgery on a regular basis, Dr. Nussbaum dedicates his time and abilities to pinpointing the procedures and techniques that work, influencing the way neurosurgery is practiced.

Dr. Nussbaum's philosophy is to evaluate each patient individually and determine the best course of action for the best possible outcome. "I can treat your quality of life, not just your aneurysm," he said.

In May 2009, Dr. Nussbaum was awarded the BrainLAB Community Neurosurgeon Award at the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) annual conference.

Dr. Nussbaum completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore in 1987. He went on to attend the University of Maryland Medical School to obtain his medical degree in 1991. He perfomed his internship in the department of surgery at the University of Minnesota (1991 to 1992), as well as his residency in its department of neurosurgery from 1992 to 1997.

Michael T. Madison, MD
Medical Director, Interventional Neuroradiology, National Brain Aneurysm Center

Joining forces with Dr. Eric Nussbaum in 2001, Dr. Mike Madison helped create what is now called the National Brain Aneurysm Center. He is a member of the Radiological Society of North America, the American College of Radiology and the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery.

One of the Twin Cities' most respected physicians, Dr. Madison provides expert interventional neuroradiology care to patients through his practice with St. Paul Radiology.

Dr. Madison has long found value in a team approach to caring for patients, whether that approach is focused on stroke patients, epilepsy, ruptured or unruptured brain aneurysm care. With their unique approach, Drs. Madison and Nussbaum consult on each patient, sometimes operating together in order to assure the best possible outcome.

A medical innovator, Dr. Madison was one of the first interventional neuroradiologists in Minnesota to begin performing interoperative medical procedures on stroke patients, and one of the first to begin coiling aneurysms. He is an expert on hemorrhagic strokes and ruptured aneurysms and is sought after to speak on neuroradiologic topics at medical conferences nationwide.

Dr. Madison began his college education at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, later transferring to the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree. He completed medical school in 1987 at the University of Minnesota, where he also did his residency in diagnostic radiology. In 1994, Dr. Madison finished a fellowship in interventional neuroradiology. He is board certified in radiology and neuroradiology.

Tariq Janjua, MD, FCCP
Medical Director, Neurocritical Care Medicine, National Brain Aneurysm Center

Tariq Janjua, MD, is an expert in neurocritical care. While most hospitals have an intensive care unit (ICU) to treat critically ill patients, Dr. Janjua has a unique skill set as a neurointensivist, caring for brain injury and brain surgery patients in an ICU specifically designed for neurological intensive care.

As medical director of neurocritical care medicine at the National Brain Aneurysm Center, Dr. Janjua carefully assesses and treats critically neurologically ill patients. Using a multi-faceted approach, Dr. Janjua can be found providing intraoperative assistance to the neurosurgeon or interventional radiologist or meeting patients in recovery or the emergency department.

He coordinates care between specialties including neurosurgery, stroke neurology, interventional radiology and administration. Working with a team of dedicated neurocritical care nurses, he uses medical techniques specifically designed to ensure the brain heals during recovery. Dr. Janjua's expertise plays a critical role in our surgery success rate.

Dr. Janjua is exceptionally skilled at the art of integrating science, technology and compassion. Dr. Janjua is relentless in his pursuit of the best outcomes for extremely ill individuals in neurological crisis. He has a personal commitment to being closely involved with both patients and family members in their time of medical crisis.

Dr. Janjua holds board certification in multiple specialities, including neurocritical care medicine, critical care medicine, pulmonary medicine, internal medicine and sleep medicine. He has authored and co-authored multiple research articles and serves as a reviewer of proposed publications in the field of neurocritical care medicine. Dr. Janjua was the neurocritical care section editor for the book Cerebral Revascularization: Microsurgical and Endovascular Techniques.

Dr. Janjua is an invited speaker both nationally and internationally on neurocritical care topics, including vasoactive therapy in neuro ICU and intracranial hemorrhage. He conducts neurocritical care update courses for staff of the National Brain Aneurysm Center and is currently involved in several research projects at the hospital.

Dr. Janjua completed his medical degree at Army Medical College in Rawalpindi Pakistan in 1988. He performed a residency in surgery and medicine at Combined Military Hospital in Lahore Pakistan in 1989, as well as completed a residency in internal medicine at Maricopa Medical Center in Phoenix in 1994. Dr. Janjua was a Critical Care Medicine Fellow at the Mayo Clinic, 2001.

Charles Ormiston, MD
Director, Primary Stroke Center
Co-Medical Director, National Brain Aneurysm Center

Serving neurology patients since 1983, Dr. Charles Ormiston has helped to evolve and grow the field of neurovascular care in the St. Paul medical community. One of the founders of Neurological Associates of St. Paul in 1987, he plays an integral role in the National Brain Aneurysm Center as director of neurology.

Spearheading HealthEast's development and quest to become the state's first health care system to earn The Joint Commission's primary stroke center certification, Dr. Ormiston is a respected clinician, advocate and researcher in the field of neurology.

In 2001, Dr. Ormiston was named medical director of neurology at what is now the National Brain Aneurysm Center. Later, he was named director of the Primary Stroke Center.

Appointed to the Minnesota Stroke Association Board in 2006, Dr. Ormiston is also a member of the American Academy of Neurology, the American Society of Neurorehabilitation and the Minnesota Neurological Association. His studies of the brain and brain injuries have led to numerous research publications.

Dr. Ormiston holds a Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacy from North Dakota State University. He earned his medical degree in 1979 from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks. Dr. Ormiston completed his residency in neurology at the University of Minnesota in 1983, and became board certified in neurology and psychiatry in 1985.

Dr. Ormiston has held various leadership positions at HealthEast Care System and St. Joseph's Hospital, including: director of acute rehabilitation, Bethesda Hospital, St. Paul; director, coma management program, Bethesda Hospital; president, HealthEast medical staff; member, Minnesota Head Injury Association.

Sandra K. Hanson, MD
Medical Director, HealthEast Stroke Care
Co-Medical Director, National Brain Aneurysm Center

Stroke neurologist Dr. Sandra Hanson is a fellowship-trained stroke neurologist and has earned a reputation as one of the most respected and best stroke neurologists in the region.

Prior to joining the National Brain Aneurysm Center, Dr. Hanson was a neurologist at Park Nicollet Clinic, serving as director of Methodist Hospital's stroke program. Her interest in the acute treatment of ischemic stroke and stroke prevention lead to an early adoption of a stroke unit, stroke code process, TIA (transient ischemic attack) clinic, stroke prevention clinic, and outreach with telemedicine treatment of stroke in rural Minnesota.

Dr. Hanson has authored numerous professional journal articles, abstracts and book chapters, and she has extensive clinical study experience.

Dr. Hanson joins Dr. Ormiston as a co-medical director of the National Brain Aneurysm Center. Their leadership focus includes enhancement of the stroke treatment strategy at HealthEast hospitals, the HealthEast Telestroke program, initiating outpatient stroke prevention and TIA clinics, and involvement in clinical research.

With double undergraduate degrees in biology and music, Dr. Hanson went on to earn her medical degree at the University of Minnesota in 1982. At the University of Texas in Houston, she completed an internship in internal medicine, a neurology residency and a cerebrovascular fellowship at the University of Texas in 1992. Dr. Hanson is board certified in neurology and psychiatry.