NASS DFNS CLASS OF 2026
Gazanfar Rahmathulla, MD, MBA, FACS
Mayo Clinic Health System
Eau Claire, WI
Neurosurgeon
NASS Member Since 2013
What was a pivotal moment in your career that shaped the professional you are today?
A pivotal moment was becoming Medical Director for Neurosurgery Trauma at the University of Florida Jacksonville. Caring for patients with critical brain and spine injuries taught me that technical skill is only part of excellent care. Surgeons must also improve systems, standardize clinical pathways, and lead multidisciplinary teams with empathy. That lesson shaped my path to becoming a vice chair and associate professor at Mayo Clinic.
How has your involvement with NASS influenced your professional growth or career journey?
Since joining NASS in 2013, my involvement has been central to my academic and clinical growth. Serving on committees focused on evidence-based medicine, patient safety, low back pain, and compression fractures has allowed me to collaborate with leading specialists and help establish rigorous standards for patient care. Co-authoring clinical guidelines for The Spine Journal has deepened my expertise and shown me how organizational leadership can advance safety and consistency in spine care nationwide.
Tell us about one of your mentors and the best piece of advice they gave you.
During fellowships at Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic, I was fortunate to learn from Drs. H. Gordon Deen, Mark Pichelmann, Stephen Pirris, and Ed Benzel. Their best advice was, “Never operate on the imaging; always operate on the patient.” Imaging must be interpreted in the context of the patient’s symptoms, lifestyle, and values. That principle continues to guide my commitment to clinical judgment, humility, and individualized care.