JOE NIEKRO FOUNDATION - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Angela Graham is a REALTOR®️ in Dallas/Ft. Worth. She is a 5th generation Texan and grew up in Plano, Texas. After graduating from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville with a degree in RTF-Broadcast Journalism, she moved back to the Plano area. Volunteerism and helping people are strong foundations in Angela's life due to the influence of her beloved parents. She has served on the Board of the Frisco Public Safety Officer Recovery Fund, previously was a member of Frisco Citizen's on Patrol, participates in the Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's, and more. Her hobbies are photography, travel, music, reading, writing, and participating in film shoots.
On April 1, 2018, Angela was diagnosed with an unruptured fusiform aneurysm on her left Middle Cerebral Artery. Due to the size, shape, and location of the aneurysm, it was decided that the best course of action would be to watch and wait with annual scans to check for growth. Treatment could/would cause more issues than leaving it in place. To say this was life changing is an understatement. Over the course of the past few years, Angela has learned to live with her condition and accept certain limitations on her enjoyment of roller coasters and sky diving. It's no longer a daily panic and she has gained an acceptance that this is the situation and it can change at any moment. She tries to enjoy life and make every day count.
Through participation in a Joe Niekro Foundation sponsored Support Group at Medical City-Plano, Angela has gained a great deal of knowledge and compassion for the other members of the group that have gone through so much more in their journeys. It's both terrifying and inspiring to see new members, some very shortly after hemorrhage, and the progress that they make over the months.
Angela is excited and honored to serve and support such an important foundation. Awareness is critical.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Medical Advisory Board
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Partner at Akerman
Brian Bagley is a trial lawyer and partner at Akerman - a top 100 U.S. law firm -practicing out of the firm's Houston office. Brian brings more than 15 years of experience representing companies and individuals in complex commercial litigation matters. He has successfully tried cases in state and federal courts in addition to advocating for clients in arbitration. Brian focuses his practice on commercial litigation, oil and gas, employment matters, products liability, and intellectual property litigation. His work encompasses numerous sectors, including automotive, energy, banking, real estate, hospitality, construction, and manufacturing. He also mentors younger lawyers within the firm, and is deeply involved in Akerman's philanthropic efforts.
The father of one of Brian's closest friends passed away from a brain aneurysm, and he Brian witnessed the devastation that a sudden loss causes a family and loved ones of those afflicted. Brian welcomes the opportunity to bring his advocacy skills to help raise awareness for the valuable work undertaken by the Joe Niekro Foundation.
A sixth generation Texan who grew up in Austin, Brian has called Houston home since graduating law school in 2005. Brian earned his undergraduate degree at Baylor University and his law degree, cum laude, from St. Mary's University School of Law. Brian and his wife, Christen, have four children and are active volunteers at their church, St. Luke's United Methodist. Brian also volunteers with the Houston Young Lawyers' Legal Lines Program, has been an avid supporter of the United Way, the International Justice Mission, and the Texas Bar Foundation, and has served on various committees of the Houston Bar Association.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Dave Bergman, former Chairman of the Board, lost his life to bile duct cancer on Feb. 2, 2015. Dave was an investment counselor for Sigma Investments which he joined in 1990 after gaining considerable experience as a licensed securities broker with Merrill Lynch, E.F. Hutton and Roney & Co., as well as participating on the Professional Baseball Players Pension Committee for several years. Prior to joining Sigma on a full time basis, Dave played professional baseball for 20 years and is perhaps best known for his contribution to the Detroit Tigers during the latter part of his career.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Medical Advisory Board
Demetrius K. Lopes, M.D., is the Director of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Surgery at Advocate Health and Professor of Neurosurgery at Advocate Health. Previously, Dr. Lopes was also Surgical Director of Interventional Services and the Comprehensive Stroke Center at RUSH University.
Dr. Lopes received his medical degree at Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil), completed surgical internship at the University of Illinois, neurology (PGY-2) at Indiana University and neurological surgery residency as well as neurovascular fellowship at the State University of New York at Buffalo.
He is a board-certified neurosurgeon, dual trained and highly skilled in the field of cerebrovascular and endovascular neurosurgery. Specifically, in the treatment of brain aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations (AVM), cavernous malformations and revascularization of the brain for cerebral ischemia, stroke and the conditions leading up to stroke such as carotid and intracranial artery stenosis and moyamoya disease. He has performed well over 1000 brain aneurysm repairs in his surgical career.
Dr. Lopes, speaks fluently English, Portuguese, and Spanish.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Medical Advisory Board
Donald Heck, MD is the Director of Neurointerventional Radiology at Novant Forsyth Medical Center in Winston Salem, NC and the co-director of the Forsyth Comprehensive Stroke Center. Dr. Heck is a graduate of Wake Forest University and Duke University Medical School in North Carolina. He trained in radiology and interventional radiology at Barnes-Jewish Hospital/Washington University in St. Louis, MO, and completed a neurointerventional radiology fellowship at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, MD. Dr. Heck serves on the Board of Directors of the Society of Neurointerventional Surgery (SNIS), and has authored numerous publications on a wide range of topics concerning stroke and aneurysm treatment, including the Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery, Stroke, the American Journal of Neuroradiology and others. In addition to the SNIS, Dr. Heck is a member of the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) and the American Stroke Association (ASA).
Job Titles:
- Member of the Medical Advisory Board
- Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery at St. Joseph's Children 's Hospital
Dr. Abilash Haridas is chief of pediatric neurosurgery at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital. He is board certified and one of few neurosurgeons in the country dual fellowship trained in pediatric and cerebrovascular neurosurgery. Dr. Haridas earned his Doctor of Medicine
from PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in Tamil Nadu, India. He then completed a fellowship in pediatric neurosurgery at Lurie Children's Hospital/Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois and a second fellowship in cerebrovascular and skull base surgery at the University of Illinois in Chicago. Dr. Haridas treats all aspects of pediatric neurosurgery, with special interests in Moya Moya
disease, arteriovenous malformations, stroke, and bypass surgery. His surgical expertise also includes complex skull base, epilepsy, brain tumors, hydrocephalus, spasticity, craniosynostosis, brachial plexus injury, and spine disorders. Dr. Haridas is an accomplished academic author with several peer-reviewed publications in leading Neurosurgical journals. He has also authored several book chapters in Neurosurgical textbooks, and remains committed to global neurosurgical education. He has lectured extensively in the United States and abroad, including Japan, Finland, and India. He is fluent in Malayalam, Hindi and Tamil.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Medical Advisory Board
- Associate Professor of Neurology and Director
Gary Spiegel, MD, is fellowship trained in surgical neuroangiography and diagnostic neuroradiology. His practice encompasses the full scope and breadth of adult and pediatric neurointerventional treatments for brain, spine, head and neck conditions, with a focus on endovascular treatments for brain aneurysms, brain and spinal arteriovenous malformations and stroke.
An associate professor of neurology, Dr. Spiegel received his medical degree at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. After completing his residency in diagnostic radiology at New York University Medical Center in New York City, he completed fellowships in neuroradiology and surgical neuroangiography at the same institution.
Upon entering professional practice, he initiated and directed neurointerventional surgery programs at Yale University's Hospital of Saint Raphael in New Haven, Connecticut, and later at Hartford Hospital, where he co-directed the Stroke Center. Dr. Spiegel's efforts led the Hartford Hospital Stroke Center to become the most active acute stroke care and endovascular aneurysm treatment center in New England. He has held teaching appointments at Yale-New Haven Hospital in New Haven, Connecticut, and at the University of Connecticut's John Dempsey Hospital in Farmington, Connecticut.
Dr. Spiegel's clinical research efforts led Hartford Hospital to be the third leading enrolling site in the MERCI trial, establishing the first mechanical treatment for acute stroke. He has authored articles published in Neurology, Spine and Stroke and coauthored the textbook, Ischemic Stroke: An Atlas of Investigation and Treatment.
Dr. Spiegel is committed to providing exceptional clinical care to his patients.pt informed about patient progress, and the clinic team encourages continued communication about each referred patient.
Dr. Gary Spiegel is currently an associate professor of neurology and director of endovascular neurology at McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth).
Job Titles:
- Member of the Medical Advisory Board
- Professor
Dr. Peter Kan is the Professor and Robert L. Moody Sr. Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Texas Medical Branch. Dr. Kan pursued neurosurgical training at the University of Utah where he also completed a Masters of Public Health. He became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada prior to starting his endovascular fellowship at the University at Buffalo. Upon the completion of his fellowship, he joined the faculty at University of South Florida and served as the director of cerebrovascular and endovascular neurosurgery. He was subsequently recruited to Baylor College of Medicine as an associate professor and the director of cerebrovascular surgery. His research interests include clinical trials for new neuroendovascular devices, intravascular imaging, neuroprotection for acute ischemic stroke, and intra-arterial cell-based therapy for malignant brain tumors.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- Executive Director at JNF
Elizabeth Hamburg is the Executive Director at JNF. Elizabeth is a graduate of Texas A&M University and has 7 years of non-profit leadership experience. Prior to that she was a Director of Sales and Marketing in the for-profit sector. She is a native Houstonian and her and her husband Brandon have three children ages 4, 6, and 8. Elizabeth is excited to join the Joe Niekro Foundation Team as we raise awareness, support patients and caregivers, and fund brain aneurysm, AVM and hemorrhagic stroke research.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Partner
Jeff Mayer is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group where he concentrates on complex commercial and business litigation. He routinely speaks on supply chain and purchasing matters, and regularly represents companies in real estate litigation, and complex scientific and technical contract disputes. Jeff has significant experience in the restaurant industry, and has handled hundreds of employment disputes, including complex collective and class actions throughout the country. He has been lead attorney in federal courts, state courts, arbitration tribunals and before administrative agencies throughout the U.S. Jeff also has significant experience resolving matters through mediation and arbitration with an emphasis in designing arbitration programs and clauses. In addition to his practice, Jeff teaches real estate litigation at The John Marshall Law School and writes on arbitration, trial techniques, and supply chain issues.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Medical Advisory Board
Justin Mascitelli, MD is a neurosurgeon who specializes in the surgical and Endovascular management of cerebrovascular disorders. He completed a fellowship in endovascular neurosurgery at Mount Sinai Health System in New York, New York and a fellowship in cerebrovascular surgery at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona. He is an assistant professor for the Department of Neurosurgery at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio and the principle investigator of a multicenter, prospective registry of wide-neck intracranial aneurysms treated by both microsurgical and endovascular techniques. Dr. Mascitelli has substantial expertise in the surgical management of cerebrovascular disorders. He also performs clinical outcomes research studying the treatment of intracranial aneurysms and the surgical treatment of stroke caused by large vessel occlusion.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Medical Advisory Board
Lee Pride, MD is Professor of the Radiology and Neurological Departments at UT Southwestern in Dallas, TX. After medical school at the University of Alabama, Dr. Pride completed his internship at UNC Hospitals focusing on Internal Medicine. He then proceeded to do his residency in Neurology and Radiology, with fellowship in Interventional Neuroradiology. His specialty areas include NeuroInterventional Radiology, Neurology, Neurosciences and Radiology with clinical interests in Arteriovenous Fistula, AVM, Carotid Stenosis, Carotid Stenting, Cavernous Carotid Fistula, Brain Aneurysm, Cerebral Aneurysm Embolization, Spinal Vascular Malformation and Stroke.
Lee is a member of the American Academy of Neurology, American Society of Neuroradiology, Radiological Society of North America, Society of Neurointerventional Surgery and the Texas Medical Association.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Lisa Ellis is a true professional with a caring heart! She has over 30 years in sales, recruitment, and fund raising experiences.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Medical Advisory Board
- Director of Neurointerventional Services at Rhode Island Hospital
Dr. Jayaraman is the Director of Neurointerventional Services at Rhode Island Hospital, and is an Associate Professor of Diagnostic Imaging, Neurology, and Neurosurgery at the Warren Alpert School of Medicine at Brown University. After completing his undergraduate and medical school at Brown University, Dr. Jayaraman went on to complete his residency in Diagnostic Radiology at Brown University/Rhode Island Hospital. During his residency, he conducted research on using CT Angiography (CTA) to diagnose aneurysms in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage, work which eventually led to an RSNA research prize for an outstanding paper in Neuroradiology by a trainee. After finishing fellowships in Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology at Stanford University, Dr. Jayaraman returned to Brown in 2006, where he still practices today.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Medical Advisory Board
Michael Chen, MD has an appointment as Associate Professor in Neurology, Neurosurgery and Radiology at Rush University Medical Center. He received his medical degree in his home state at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine. His training includes a neurology residency at Yale-New Haven Hospital, a cerebrovascular disease fellowship at Harvard Medical School/Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and an interventional neuroradiology fellowship at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons. Chen's practice focuses on caring for patients with brain and spinal cord vascular disease, including minimally invasive endovascular treatments. He directs the Brain Aneurysm Center for Women which focuses on evaluating the relationship between estrogen and brain aneurysms as well as developing longitudinal quality of life data for women with aneurysms.
Natalie Niekro, the daughter of Joe, is the founder of The Joe Niekro Foundation™. Her passion for the cause began when she unexpectedly lost her father to a ruptured brain aneurysm in 2006. It was then that she knew she had to do something to bring awareness to this devastating condition and help the patients and families who are struggling just as she was. An independent successful entrepreneur of two companies, Natalie made the decision to start another venture…one that would soon change her life forever. This was the beginning to the greatest endeavor of her life. Whether you are a patient, family member, friend or caregiver, WE ARE ALL SURVIVORS and that is the attitude Natalie lives by each and every day!
Keeping her father's legacy alive is part of the magic that makes this foundation not only successful, but undeniably unique. With a nationwide support network of nearly 20,000 survivors, families and caregivers, and alignments with some of the greatest doctors and hospitals in the country, The Joe Niekro Foundation is leading the way for groundbreaking discoveries in neurological research, while providing a safe haven for patients and their families in their recovery.
Natalie's passion for patients is evident in her everyday life and career path. Not only is she the spokesperson for the foundation, but is also the Director of Patient Focused Programs for Penumbra, Inc. a global healthcare company focused on interventional therapies. Penumbra designs, develops, manufactures and markets devices that address challenging medical conditions and significant clinical needs across two major markets, neuro and peripheral vascular. Her emphasis in the neurological arena has given her the platform to be the voice for patients and families across the globe.
In 2017, Natalie became a survivor herself when she was diagnosed with two brain aneurysms. Now walking the difficult road as a patient, Natalie knows first hand the importance of a strong support network and is eternally grateful for the community that has rallied her during this process.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Medical Advisory Board
Ricardo Hanel, MD, PhD, received his medical degree from the University of Federal in Brazil, followed by a fellowship at both State University of New York and Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, AZ. Dr. Hanel is an endovascular neurosurgeon at Baptist Health in Jacksonville, FL. He is known for his skill in treating acute stroke and cerebrovascular conditions with ground-breaking endovascular therapy that can be performed from inside the blood vessel. Dr. Hanel also has a special interest in neurosurgical research. His areas of expertise are Endovascular Neurosurgery, Acute Stroke Intervention, Arteriovenous Fistulas (AVF), Skull Base Neurosurgery, Brain Aneurysms, Arteriovenous Malformations (AVMs) and Cerebrovascular Disease.
Dr. Hanel's philosophy of care is centered on the patient, based on education, encouragement and understanding. He feels that it is important to educate his patients about their conditions and options, thus allowing them to make informed decisions. Dr. Hanel takes the time to engage his patients in their own care and firmly believe this helps them make better decisions.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Medical Advisory Board
- Director of Interventional Neuroradiology at the Methodist Neurological Institute
Richard Klucznik, MD, is the Assistant Professor of Radiology and Director of Interventional Neuroradiology at The Methodist Neurological Institute in Houston, Texas. Graduating Summa Cum Laude and receiving his undergraduate degree from the University of Massachusetts, Dr. Klucznik went on to receive his MD from Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, MA. His surgical internship occurred at the University of Massachusetts and residency at David Grant Medical Center in Fairfield, CA. Dr. Klucznik performed fellowship in Neurology at Tufts-New England Medical in Boston and Interventional Neuroradiology at Baylor College of Medicine at The Methodist Hospital in Houston. In 1980, Dr. Klucznik received the George Howard Award for Anatomy. Dr. Klucznik has held clinical appointments at Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center, The Methodist Hospital, Weill Medical College, Texas Neurovascular Center, Methodist Brain Aneurysm Center, MD Anderson Cancer Center and St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital. Dr. Klucznik currently serves as the Clinical Associate Professor of Radiology at Weill Medical College of Cornell University and Director on Interventional Therapeutic Neuroradiology at The Methodist Hospital in Houston. Dr. Klucznik also serves as the Nominating Committee Chair for The Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery. Watch video of Dr. Klucznik speaking about a new treatment for brain aneurysms, Onyx 500.