Dr. Thomas B. Ducker, F.A.C.S

Thomas Barbee Ducker was born in Huntington, West Virginia in 1937. After completing his basic education in the public schools there, he entered the University of Virginia. He spent his junior year at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland and graduated from the University of Virginia, BA(1959). He attended medical school at the University of Virginia (M.D.,1963). His postgraduate education began with an internship in surgery at the University of Michigan. This was followed by an additional year of General Surgery, after which he entered the neurosurgery training program at Michigan. During the Vietnam conflict, he was called to active duty in the U.S. Army (1966-68), and spent two years at Walter Reed Army Medical Center as a Neurosurgery Fellow. He returned to Michigan to complete his Residency in Neurosurgery, and he passed the certifying boards in neurosurgery (1972). During his last year at Walter Reed and the final two years of neurosurgical residency, he had research grants, which he used to study the neuropathological response to spinal cord injury.

In 1970, Dr. Ducker and his family moved to Charleston, South Carolina where he became Assistant Professor at the Medical University of South Carolina. He spent 5 years there, with continuing research support and serving as an Assistant Dean to the College of Medicine.

In 1975, he assumed the responsibilities of Professor and Head of Neurosurgery at the University of Maryland. The position soon expanded to include the Director of the Neurotrauma Program for the Maryland Emergency Medical Service Systems. As the
Program Director at the University of Maryland, he continued his active teaching and research interest, as well as assuming increased clinical obligations. His research during this period concentrated on stroke and trauma with special interest in emergency problems. During his tenure at Maryland (1975-1983), fourteen residents completed training, passed their boards and entered either private practice or academic neurosurgery.

In 1984, Dr. Ducker moved his primary office to Annapolis, Maryland, where he began to devote more time to clinical practice. In 1985 he became Professor of Neurosurgery at the Johns Hopkins Medical School. He has been editor of several textbooks and continues to be editor for the Journal of Spinal Disorders.

His bibliography lists over 300 titles. His most notable written contributions are in the area of cervical spine disorders, peripheral nerve surgery, spinal cord injury, and the emergency aspects of cerebrovascular disease. Dr. Ducker has been consistently voted a "Top Doc" by community physicians in both Baltimore Magazine and What's Up Annapolis.


Dr. Brian J. Sullivan, F.A.C.S.

Born and raised in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area where he had his basic education, Dr. Sullivan obtained his B.S. degree at Dickinson College in Pennsylvannia. He then obtained his M.S. in Physiology and Doctor of Medicine at Georgetown University. His neurosurgery residency was completed at the George Washington University Medical Center. Dr. Sullivan passed his certifying boards in 2003.

In addition to general neurosurgery, Dr. Sullivan has been trained in the sub specialized field of skull base neurosurgery (including pituitary tumors) and has extensive experience in the use of neuronavigational instrumentation such as the Vector Vision system. Dr. Sullivan has been chosen to conduct FDA trials for the Bryan Disc Prosthesis, a surgical alternative to cervical spine surgery. Dr. Sullivan has spoken extensively on new techniques for spine surgery and has lectured on head injuries in sports and return to play guidelines.

Dr. Sullivan has been practicing at Annapolis Neurosurgery since 1999. He has privileges at Anne Arundel Medical Center, Baltimore Washington Medical Center, and Johns Hopkins Hospital. Dr. Sullivan has been listed by community physicians as a "Top Doc" in What's Up Annapolis for the past couple of years.

His wife is a certified Family Nurse Practitioner. They reside in Annapolis with their children.


Dr. Timothy G. Burke

Born and raised in California, Dr. Burke completed his medical school training general surgery residency and neurosurgery residency from the George Washington University in 2001. Prior to that Dr. Burke did his undergraduate studies at Chapman University. Dr. Burke joined Maryland Brain & Spine in 2001. Dr. Burke works with the team at the DeCesaris Cancer Institute at AAMC to use stereotactic radiosurgery (Novalis) to non-invasively treat tumors.

Dr. Burke has a special interest in minimally invasive surgical techniques. Many of the spinal procedures allow patients to walk out of the hospital only hours after the completion of their procedures. He has also undergone extensive training for the treatment of complex brain tumors of the cranial base and pituitary gland. Dr. Burke routinely speaks at regional and national conferences to train other surgeons on innovative and complex surgical techniques. He also serves as a consultant for several surgical equipment manufacturers on innovative new technologies for neurosurgical disorders. He passed the certifying boards in neurosurgery (2006).

He has privileges at Anne Arundel Medical Center. He lives in Annapolis with his wife and son.


Dr. Gary Dix

Dr. Gary Dix joined Maryland Brain & Spine November 2004. For four years prior to this, Dr. Dix worked at Mid-Atlantic Neurosurgical Associates in Baltimore, seeing patients at Sinai Hospital, Good Samaritan Spine Center, St. Josephs Medical Center, Maryland General Hospital and Northwest Hospital.

He has extensive experience with complex spine and brain disorders, incorporating the use of the latest minimally invasive procedures, as well as stereotactic radiosurgery to non-invasively treat conditions of the brain and spine. He is also involved in research and teaching and serves as a consultant for several biotechnology companies.

Dr. Dix was born and raised in South Africa where he received his medical degree from the University of Stellenbosch. After completing his internship at Baragwaneth Hospital in Soweto, he emigrated to Canada where he practiced family medicine in northern British Columbia, providing him a unique perspective in helping patients to make decisions about their surgery. In 1993, Dr. Dix entered the neurosurgery residency program at the University of Calgary, Canada and then completed a spine surgery fellowship at Foothills Hospital in Calgary, where he served as staff neurosurgeon for two years. He passed the certifying boards in neurosurgery (2006).

Dr. Dix has prvilieges at Anne Arundel Medical Center, Doctors Community Hospital, Sinai Hospital, and Johns Hopkins Hospital. He lives in the area with his wife and three children.


Mark G. Burnett, M.D.

Dr. Burnett was born and raised in the Baltimore and Annapolis areas. After finishing his undergraduate degree at Yale University he was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to study international healthcare policy. He completed his medical degree at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in 1998 and his residency training in neurosurgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in 2005. Following the completion of his residency, Dr. Burnett completed a fellowship in complex spinal surgery at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix , Arizona . Dr. Burnett joined Maryland Brain and Spine in 2006.

Dr. Burnett's interests include complex and minimally-invasive spinal surgery, spinal sports medicine, neurotrauma, and peripheral nerve surgery. He has been awarded two research grants from the National Institutes of Health for his work on cerebrovascular physiology and the development of non-invasive bloodflow monitors to treat patients with brain and spinal injuries. He has authored more than twenty peer reviewed manuscripts and multiple book chapters. Dr. Burnett continues to research and publish clinical outcomes and decision analysis studies relating to neurosurgical procedures and treatment pathways.




Christopher Burroughs, PA-C

Chris joined Maryland Brain & Spine in 2003 after working as a neurosurgical PA at Maryland General Hospital. Chris completed his Physician Assistant training at Anne Arundel Community College and became certified in 2001. He received his B.S. from Salisbury University in 1996 Prior to becoming a Physician Assistant, Chris was a respiratory therapist. He and his wife live in Anne Arundel County.


Robert Crowder, PA-C

Bob joined Maryland Brain & Spine in 2003. He became certified in 2002 having trained at Anne Arundel Community College. Bob received his B.S. in Zoology and M.S. in Adult Fitness/Cardiac Rehab from Marshall University. Prior to joining Maryland Brain & Spine, Bob worked ten years as an exercise physiologist coordinating wellness and cardiac rehab programs for a community hospital in West Virginia. He lives in Anne Arundel County.


Carol Jerosimich PA-C

Carol joined Maryland Brain & Spine in 2005 after working seven years as a neurosurgical PA at Maryland General Hospital in Baltimore. Carol completed her Physician Assistant training at Alderson-Broaddus College in West Virginia. She also received her BA from the University of Maryland. Carol started out as an LPN working at North Arundel Hospital in a variety of capacities. Carol lives in Anne Arundel County.

 



Frank Hepfer, Jr., PA-C

Frank joined Maryland Brain & Spine in 2006. Prior to this, Frank was a surgical Physician Assistant specializing in orthopedic and pain management in Southern Maryland. Frank completed his training at Anne Arundel Community College and became certified in 2000. Frank started out his professional career as a respiratory therapist before becoming a Physician Assistant. He and his family live in Anne Arundel County.