I specialize in skull base tumors, certain vascular tumors that affect the brain, brain aneurysms, and strokes. Skull base tumors usually occur in a hard-to-reach area where there are a lot of sensitive structures. I have devoted many hours to perfecting my technical skills and my surgical approaches. Skull base tumors tend not to be malignant, so if you can remove the tumor cleanly, you can cure the patient. It's thrilling to be able to reassure the patient and family that they don't have to worry about this disease anymore. Having these conditions can be a scary time in patients’ lives, and I have committed myself to helping them through the process. It's also important to be able to perform surgery in a setting where the patient has the best likelihood of a good outcome. That's what makes Duke stand out: We do rare things frequently and, as a result, we're quite good at them.