Neurosurgeon from the University of Southern California Jonathan Russin, MD, recently ran the Los Angeles Marathon with one of his former patients — a patient whose life he saved, according to a report in The Daily News.
The patient underwent surgery after an aneurysm ruptured in her brain; she was in a coma before the surgical procedure saved her life. The patient is an avid runner and previously completed full Ironman triathlons, according to the report.
The patient decided to run the Los Angeles marathon as a tribute to her medical team and raise money for the USC Comprehensive Stroke Cerebrovascular center. She raised more than $4,500 for brain aneurysm research so far. Dr. Russin ran the race in her honor, in addition to four other Keck Medicine employees.
Here are five things to know about Dr. Russin:
1. He is an assistant professor or clinical neurological surgery and assistant surgical director for the Center for Neurorestoration.
2. He completed his medical degree at New Jersey Medical School and a residency at the University of Southern California.
3. Dr. Russin underwent a fellowship in epilepsy at the University of Southern California and a fellowship in cerebrovascualr and skull base surgery at Barrow Neurological Institute.
4. He has a special interest in cerebral aneurysms, malformations, dural arteriovenus fistulas, epilepsy, spinal cavernous malformation and intradural spinal tumors.
5. Dr. Russin traveled to Japan to study under Dr. Takanori Fukushima studying skull base and cerebrovascular neurosurgery.