Jason Sheehan, MD, PhD, Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of Virginia (UVA), has joined the Focused Ultrasound Foundation as a Senior Advisor for Brain Tumor Research.
In this role, Dr. Sheehan will help define the Foundation’s overall strategy for brain tumor research. He will also engage in Foundation-initiated laboratory and clinical research, interface with medical societies, and assist in organizing collaborative workshops.
Dr. Sheehan has an active neurosurgical practice, including having treated among the largest numbers of patients with radiosurgery using the Gamma Knife. He is the Harrison Distinguished Chair of Neurosurgery and Professor of Neurological Surgery, Radiation Oncology, Biomedical Engineering, and Neuroscience at UVA.
“The addition of Jason to our Brain Tumor Program will result in a quantum improvement in its impact,” said Foundation Chairman Neal F. Kassell, MD. “He is one of the world’s leading authorities on surgical and radiosurgical treatment of brain tumors and a vocal advocate for focused ultrasound’s immense potential in the field.”
Dr. Sheehan has contributed extensively to the medical literature with more than 550 peer reviewed publications, dozens of books, and invited papers. He is editor-in-chief of the Journal of Neuro-Oncology, chair of the Tumor Section for the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Congress of Neurological Surgeons; President of the International Radiosurgery Research Foundation; and a member of many other societies, including the American Academy of Neurological Surgery, Society of Neurological Surgeons, Neurosurgical Society of America, and American Association for the Advancement of Science. He has received numerous honors and awards, including the Lunsford and Leksell Award, Integra Foundation Award, Brainlab Neuro-Oncology Award, Robert Florin Award for Neurosurgery Socioeconomics, National Brain Tumor Foundation Translational Research Award, Synthes Skull Base Award, and the American Brain Tumor Association Investigator Award.
Dr. Sheehan earned his undergraduate degree in chemical engineering with highest honors, MS in biomedical engineering, PhD in biological physics, and MD, at the University of Virginia. He also completed fellowships at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and Auckland Hospital in New Zealand.
“Focused ultrasound has a versatility of mechanisms that are being explored for treating brain tumors,” said Dr. Sheehan. “One or more of these focused ultrasound approaches could help to revolutionize the ways that we treat brain tumor patients. Basic and clinical research as well as clinical trials in focused ultrasound are being meaningfully supported. This support by the Foundation and others should accelerate the application of new focused ultrasound-based therapeutic options for brain tumor patients. I am delighted to help in the neuro-oncology efforts of the Foundation team.”