Zulma Tovar-Spinoza

Born in Bogota, Colombia and raised in San Cristobal, Venezuela. Dr. Tovar-Spinoza obtained her medical degree with Cum Laude Honors at the Universidad de los Andes Medical School. Dr. Tovar-Spinoza completed an internship in general surgery, trauma, and neurosurgery at Hospital IVSS Patrocinio Penuela Ruiz in San Cristobal, Venezuela before entering the Rabin Medical Center Neurosurgery Training Program (University of Tel Aviv),  in Petach Tikva Israel in 1997 under the supervision of Prof. Zvi Harry Rappaport, being the first female resident accepted to this program. Upon conclusion of her neurosurgical residency and after obtaining her board certification by the Israeli Society of Neurological Surgery in 2005, Dr. Tovar-Spinoza completed fellowships in Pediatric Neurosurgery and Pediatric Epilepsy and Epilepsy Surgery at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada under the supervision of Professors James Rutka, James Drake, and Carter Snead. She assumed her appointment as Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery in the Department of Neurosurgery at SUNY Upstate Medical University, in Syracuse, NY in 2009. In 2015 she was promoted to Associate Professor of Neurosurgery, Neurology and Pediatrics. Under her leadership, the Pediatric Neurosurgery Program at Upstate has escalated to be internationally recognized. Dr. Tovar-Spinoza’s research and clinical interests relate to the surgery of pediatric brain tumors and epilepsy, minimally invasive surgery, spina bifida, congenital and developmental malformations of the nervous system, global neurosurgery, hydrocephalus, endoscopic treatment of hydrocephalus and brain tumors, Chiari malformation, craniofacial surgery, and pediatric brain trauma. Her pioneering clinical interests in the use of laser ablation in the surgical treatment of brain tumors and epilepsy in children, has catapulted her to international recognition and expertise in this topic. Dr. Tovar-Spinoza has authored several chapters and peer reviewed publications and is a frequently invited speaker on national and international conferences and international neurosurgical training courses for peers and the Listserv International Neurosurgery Resident Training Course. She is a member of the American Society of Pediatric Neurosurgery (ASPN), the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Women in Neurosurgery, Women in Medicine, American Epilepsy Society (AES), Pediatric Craniocervical Society (PCS), American Society of Pediatric Neurosurgeons, AANS/Joint Section on Neurotrauma and Critical Care. She has long-standing contributions with the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery (ISPN) where she has been the publication manager of The Guide, an on-line reference book for pediatric neurosurgeons around the globe working in conjunction with Dr. Rick Abbott. Currently Dr. Tovar-Spinoza acts as the Liaison Committee of the Executive Board of the ISPN. She is the invited editor of many pediatric and neurosurgical publications.