Research Focuses on Connections of Neural Activity and Vocal Changes

Ali Mesiwala, MD, directs neurosurgery at St. Bernardine Medical Center and works as a neurosurgeon for the Chaparral Medical Group. With a background as an educator, Ali Mesiwala, MD, stays informed on the latest developments in the science of the brain. 

A recent study at the University of California, San Francisco, brought focus to the brain’s neural codes and the ability to imbue words with meaning through pitch. Working with patients who had uncontrolled epileptic seizures, surgeons placed electrodes in the patients’ brains to assist in guiding the scalpel through the surgery. 

This allowed the neural activity of the patients' sensorimotor cortex to be monitored while hundreds of distinct sentences were spoken aloud. Researchers found that the neurons gather in clusters when they are coordinating approximately 100 separate muscle movements of the lips, jaw, tongue, and larynx.

One issue this research may inform is aprosodia, a neurological condition that involves disruption of comprehension and expression of vocal changes used to signal emotional intent in language. Patients with this condition do not understand and are unable to express the subtle changes of rate, pitch, loudness, and rhythm we use to communicate.

Project ArtStart from the Claremont Museum of Art

Ali Mesiwala received his bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering and electrical engineering from Johns Hopkins University, where he graduated summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA. He went on to earn an MD from the University of California, San Francisco. He is now the chief of neurological surgery at St. Bernardine Medical Center. In addition to his work, Ali Mesiwala, MD, is a founding member of the Claremont Museum of Art in Claremont, California.

Incorporated in 2004, the Claremont Museum of Art was formed to revitalize the region’s cultural scene and celebrate the rich artistic legacy of Claremont, which was considered an art mecca in the early 20th century. While paying homage to the past, the museum is dedicated to nurturing budding artists through a wide array of programs, including Project ArtStart.

Project ArtStart is a program to make high-quality art accessible to students. In the program, high school students work with college-level mentors to offer multi-visit art appreciation lessons to elementary students, either in a museum or classroom setting. 

Participating students are taught to use Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) in interacting with artists, teachers, curators, and other students. To learn more, visit ClaremontMuseum.org.

National Geographic Declares 2018 the Year of the Bird

Ali Mesiwala, MD, a reputable neurosurgeon in California, has earned dozens of awards over the course of his career and written more than 50 articles and book chapters. The director of the Southern California Center for Neuroscience and Spine and the chief of neurological surgery at St. Bernardine Medical Center, Ali Mesiwala, MD, supports several charitable and community organizations, such as National Geographic.

In honor of 2018 being the centennial anniversary of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act - legislation that made the sale, possession, and exportation of migratory birds or eggs illegal - National Geographic declared 2018 the “Year of the Bird.” Alongside the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the National Audubon Society, BirdLife International, and over 100 other organizations, National Geographic plans to increase its efforts to improve public awareness of the beauty and importance of birds.

Over the course of 2018, National Geographic and its partner organizations will use scientific research, storytelling, and conservation efforts to draw attention to the recent losses of bird species around the world. These activities will highlight what society can do to ensure they live together with the birds that inhabit the earth and hopefully inspire action among community members.

National Geographic itself has committed to a variety of content and activities to support the Year of the Bird. These include featuring one story in every National Geographic magazine that discusses bird species, releasing two new books focused on birds, and creating bird-related kids content. Further, the organization plans on making migration maps available based on data from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and supporting the #BirdYourWorld campaign on social media platforms.

CNS to Co-Publish Journals with Oxford University Press

Ali Mesiwala, MD, functions as a director at the Southern California Center for Neuroscience and Spine. Formerly an attending neurosurgeon at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, he has written extensively, both for books and peer-reviewed journals. Additionally, Ali Mesiwala, MD, maintains active membership with the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS).

The CNS recently announced a joint initiative with Oxford University Press (OUP) that will see the latter as the new main publisher for both of CNS’s journals, namely, Neurosurgery and Operative Neurosurgery. CNS says it decided to go with OUP as its publisher because of its previously successful experience partnering with other organizations to co-publish their scientific literature.

According to CNS, its Neurosurgery journal is the fastest-growing publication in the neurosurgical sector. The journal solicits input from respected voices in the field and publishes leading research on both clinical and experimental topics.

The Operative Neurosurgery journal specifically targets literature pertaining to surgical procedures and the use of devices in the field. The journal is mostly populated with articles that feature the latest operative techniques, revelations on neurosurgical anatomy, and technology shaping the field.

The National Geographic Society BioBlitz Program

A California-based neurosurgeon, Ali Mesiwala, MD, serves as the medical director of Chaparral Medical Group and as a division chief at St. Bernardine Medical Center. Outside of his professional responsibilities, Ali Mesiwala, MD is, an avid supporter of the National Geographic Society.

Formed in 1888 to protect nature and provide educational content, the National Geographic Society operates a number of programs to support its goal of preservation and education, including BioBlitz events. A BioBlitz is a cooperative group event in which scientists, families, students, and others work together to identify as many species living in a specific area as possible in a short amount of time. To identify species, participants take photos of plants and animals that are found and upload them to iNaturalist, a smartphone application that enables anyone to record observations and share them with scientific data repositories, to be scientifically verified. 

BioBlitz events, which typically take place in parks and outdoor recreation areas, provide an opportunity for participants to explore nature, share photos with scientists, network, and celebrate nature. BioBlitz events are held all over the United States, and more than 250 were held in 2016.

Understanding SI Joint Pain

Ali Mesiwala, MD, is a California-based neurosurgeon who heads the neurological surgery department at St. Bernardine Medical Center. In addition, he is the medical director of Chaparral Medical Group. A board-certified physician, Ali Mesiwala, MD, is also engaged in several professional associations, including the SI Joint Society, of which he is a founding member.

The SI Joint Society is a professional association of surgeons who diagnose and perform surgery related to the SI joint. “SI joint” is the shorthand term for the sacroiliac joint, which is located below the lumbar spine and above the tailbone, connecting the sacrum with the pelvis. The primary role of the joint is to carry the weight of the upper body when a person is upright.

Although there are many factors that can lead to SI joint pain, it typically results from either too much or too little movement. Too much movement, known as hypermobility, causes pain to be felt in the lower back, hips, and groin. Too little movement in the joint, or hypomobility, causes pain to be felt in the lower back, in the buttocks, and down the leg.

AANS Offers the William P. Van Wagenen Fellowship

 


A graduate of the University of California, San Francisco, Ali Mesiwala, MD, received further training as a general surgery intern at the University of Washington. After nearly two decades of medical practice, Dr. Mesiwala is now the chief of the division of neurological surgery at St. Bernardine Medical Center. Ali Mesiwala, MD, also serves as a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS).

Founded in 1931, AANS has grown to more than 9,000 members. The association promotes the advancement of neurological surgery and ensures quality patient care. AANS also serves as a resource for its members.

One of the fellowships offered by AANS was created by one of its founders, Dr. William P. Van Wagenen. The William P. Van Wagenen Fellowship gives post-neurosurgical residents the opportunity to pursue scientific enrichment in another country.

Recipients of the fellowship are provided a stipend of $140,000 to cover living expenses, travel expenses, research support, and medical insurance. Fellows with accompanying families receive an additional living allowance.