It is my pleasure to extend a warm welcome to you on behalf of the Neurosurgical Oncology Fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center in the Department of Neurosurgery. As the program director, I am grateful for the opportunity to introduce you to our prestigious fellowship program.

The Neurosurgical Oncology Fellowship has had a transformative impact on the academic and research landscape within our institution. The fellows, hailing from diverse backgrounds, have consistently exhibited exceptional aptitude, creativity and a passion for their chosen disciplines. Their collective achievements in publications and participation in important conferences underscore the program's effectiveness in nurturing talent and cultivating
future leaders in neurosurgical oncology.

Moreover, the program's emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration has proven to be particularly fruitful, fostering cross-pollination of ideas and driving innovation in ways that we had not anticipated.  By bridging the gap between different departments and research areas, the Neurosurgical Oncology Fellowship has enriched our academic community and helped forge rewarding partnerships that have extended beyond the program's tenure.

As we look towards the future, I am confident that the continued development of the Neurosurgical Oncology Fellowship will yield even more profound and far-reaching outcomes. Our commitment to continuous improvement, evidence of best practices and promises to further enhance the program's impact on both the fellows and our institution is reflected in the success of past trainees.

Kevin Cross, M.D. (Research) , was raised in St. Louis, MO. He graduated from Washington University School of Medicine, where he also completed residency. During residency he studied anatomic considerations of neuroimmunology in the lab of Jonathan Kipnis, Ph.D. His fellowship will consist of one year in the Lang laboratory, followed by the general neurosurgical oncology year.

Gil Kimchi, M.D. (spine), grew up in Tel Aviv, Israel, and pursued his medical education at Tel Aviv University. After completing his residency at Sheba Medical Center, he graduated from a Neurosurgery Spine Fellowship at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, IL. He is married to Doran, and they have two young children, Rom (3.5 years) and Ella (2 years). Dr. Kimchi is completing the spine fellowship at MD Anderson.

Franziska Loebel, M.D., is a German native. She underwent medical school training in Leipzig, Germany, with rotations in Sydney, Australia, Boston, MA and Switzerland. Her passion for neurosurgical oncology developed when one of her friends in medical school was diagnosed with an IDH-mutant astrocytoma. She pursued a post-doctoral research fellowship in the neurosurgery department at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, mentored by Dan Cahill, M.D., Ph.D., studying advanced imaging techniques and novel treatment opportunities for IDH-mutant gliomas. She entered residency training at Charite Hospital /University of Berlin, where she continued to focus on her interest in neurosurgical oncology, both clinically and scientifically. She completed fellowships in the University of Madrid in Spain with Dr. Marisa Gandia Gonzalez and at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London, UK under Dr. George Samandouras. At MD Anderson, she hopes to expand her surgical skills and scientific knowledge in the treatment of complex brain tumors. 

Sophie Peeters, M.D. (skull base), was born in Liège, Belgium and raised around the world, including Belgium, the Netherlands, Chile, the U.A.E., and the U.S. As a result, she gained fluency in French, Flemish, Spanish, and English. She graduated summa cum laude from Rice University double majoring in Sports Medicine and Psychology, with a minor in Biochemistry and Cell Biology. She then went on to medical school at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, where she also did a Global Health Exchange program for a year and spent time volunteering and doing research in neurosurgery in France, Cambodia and Indonesia. She completed her residency training at the University of California, Los Angeles. She was a two-time recipient of the NIH R25 research grant. Dr. Peeters obtained further research funding from the NREF SBTF and the Glioblastoma Foundation to continue pursuing her project of cold atmospheric plasma as a potential therapeutic tool for malignant glioma. She has won research awards through the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, and the California Association of Neurological Surgeons. Dr. Peeters is an author on more than 75 research publications. She completed an enfolded fellowship at UCLA in neurosurgical oncology.

Michelle Williams, M.D., is originally from Cleveland, Ohio, and went to college at Case Western where she majored in cognitive science. She completed medical school at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, then moved to Winston-Salem, North Carolina for her residency training. She first became interested in human cognition and the central nervous system when she was a teenager and read the story of Phineas Gage in a science magazine. Her current research interests include the application of brain organoids in personalized medicine, and the understanding and management of radiation necrosis. Her other interests include music (particularly piano, violin, and singing), theater, and visiting art museums (though she regrettably lacks any talent herself in the visual arts). She also enjoys hiking and playing tennis. Her husband, Matt, is an accountant and sports enthusiast.