Daniel Donoho, MD

New Job in Surgical Data Science: please RT/share! We're hiring a PhD computer vision / machine learning staff scientist in my NIH-funded lab @ChildrensNatl Unique access to clinicians, clinical data, research infrastructure. Send CV cover letter to email in the image below.

Great to be at @NASBSorg NASBS 2026 connecting with the skull base surgery community and continuing important conversations around AI, surgical video, and the future of surgical data science. Our founder @ddonoho and Research Partnership Manager Hillary Henzler-Buckingham were on site throughout the meeting, sharing updates, gathering feedback, and connecting with surgeons exploring new ways to use surgical data and AI. A few highlights from the meeting: 🧠 AI in Skull Base Surgery Discussions ranged from “Can’t Spell Meningioma without AI” to a two-part session on advances in skull base AI—exploring how surgical data science is beginning to directly support patient care and expand surgical capability. 📊 Growing Presence in the Field As an encouraging signal of our position within the field, three additional presenters referenced SDSC from the podium during our sessions besides our own SDSC-led sessions 🛠 Product Insights from Surgeons We shared developments in pituitary surgery and craniotomy analytics with more than a dozen surgeons. The feedback was incredibly valuable and will help guide the next iteration of our platform. 🤝 New Connections We met many surgeons discovering the Surgical Video Platform (SVP) for the first time; several even scanning QR codes on the spot to create new accounts. We’re excited to continue those conversations and collaborations. 📄 Research Momentum It was also great to see collaborative research highlighted at the meeting, including work on deep learning–based surgical instrument detection in a synthetic endonasal surgical simulator, presented by Tony Asher, MD (Barrow Neurological Institute), with SDSC supporting as a technology collaborator. 🍽 Community Beyond the Meeting Conversations continued beyond the conference halls with colleagues and collaborators over dinner...always one of the best parts of meetings like this. Overall, NASBS was a strong step forward in building relationships, gathering feedback, and expanding awareness of how surgical video and AI can support the next generation of neurosurgical training and research. Thank you to everyone who connected with us. 👉Learn more about SDSC: surgicalvideo.io #NASBS #Neurosurgery #SurgicalAI #SurgicalDataScience #MedTech #MedicalInnovation

@Aviation_Intel MiG 28

Clearly an F-20!

🎓🧠 It’s never too early to shape the future of surgery. Between her third and fourth years of medical school at @StGeorgesU , Danielle Levy partnered with SDSC to lead our first student-driven project on the Surgical Video Platform (SVP). She uploaded 150 transsphenoidal pituitary cases and helped train AI models that analyze surgical workflow, tool use, and procedural phases. The result? SVP transformed complex neurosurgical cases into structured, quantitative insights. Danielle’s work is proof that medical students don’t have to wait for residency to contribute to innovation. With the right tools, curiosity becomes contribution. 🚀 🔗 Read the full story: tinyurl.com/4ja6kjdu 👉 If you’re looking to expand your network, get hands-on exposure to surgical data and AI workflows, and play a role in advancing the field, please reach out to us here: surgicalvideo.io/community #Neurosurgery #AIinResearch #SurgicalInnovation

How many years would this take off your PhD? Like for > 1 , comment for <1

The other week, we wrapped an incredible experience at the Orlando Health Flexible Ventricular Neuroendoscopy Workshop & Conference 🧠 🌎 Over three days, surgeons from 10+ countries across five continents came together for live surgery, hands-on lab training, expert lectures, and case-based discussion focused on ETV-CPC, a life-saving yet technically demanding procedure with a steep learning curve and limited formal training pathways worldwide. What made this collaboration especially meaningful was the shared commitment to going beyond instruction: 📚 Designing training that is rigorous, repeatable, and accessible 🤝 Using anatomical models to enable scalable hands-on learning 🎥 Intentionally capturing surgical training video to support future research, education, and quality improvement 👩‍💻 Exploring how digital platforms and AI-enabled tools may eventually help educators better understand learning curves and trainee progress 📸 Swipe through our highlights: 🩺 Global connections in action: Dr. Fadel Albatran receiving his SDSC surgical cap and flash drive 🧰 Doctors practice using the flexible endoscope for future ETV-CPC procedures 🌟 A powerful moment capturing hands-on learning with world-class mentors: medical students learning flexible endoscopy techniques from Dr. Benjamin Warf 🔧 Learning through challenge: Dr. Samer K. Elbabaa tasked participants with using flexible endoscopes to remove seeds from a bell pepper (representing the size of a baby's brain), a fun yet humbling simulation of surgical precision We’re grateful to the @orlandohealth team and faculty for their leadership and openness to innovation. We see this as a model worth expanding, and we’re eager to collaborate with other nonprofit hospitals and academic medical centers committed to advancing surgical education, research, and global health impact. 🎓 If your institution is thinking about how to build partnerships that meaningfully support training and knowledge-sharing, we’d love to start that conversation 👉 surgicalvideo.io/research #Neurosurgery #Hydrocephalus #ETVCPC #GlobalHealth #ClinicalCollaboration

🌟 As we move into 2026, it’s worth reflecting on what 2025 made unmistakably clear for surgeons. 🩺 Last year, we listened closely to clinicians and academic teams working at the intersection of surgery, research, and education. The same themes surfaced again and again: clarity over complexity, tools that respect clinical reality, and systems that genuinely support learning and discovery. Our latest blog reflects on those insights and what surgeons were consistently calling for not as predictions, but as lessons learned: 🧠 Practical needs from the OR 📚 Expectations from research and training environments 🏥 The realities faced by modern academic institutions If you’re thinking about where surgical innovation needs to go next, this reflection may resonate. 👉 Read the full blog: tinyurl.com/2pk7v63w #AIforCoaching #Infrastructure #Feedback #SurgicalDataScience

But make it surgery …

🌟 Happy Giving Tuesday! 🩺 Today is a reminder of the incredible ripple effect that education and training can create. Training just one surgeon can impact over 10,000 patients throughout their career. Every step we take toward advancing surgical knowledge, tools, and AI-driven assessment helps expand access to safe, high-quality surgery across the globe. 🙏 We are deeply grateful for the support of our community, our partners, collaborators, and advocates, who make this work possible. On this Giving Tuesday, consider joining us in our mission to close the global surgical divide and bring surgical excellence to every patient on Earth. 💛 Donate today: surgicalvideo.io/donation #GivingTuesday #GlobalImpact #SurgicalTraining #HealthEquity #AIinSurgery #SDSC

🌟 We’re excited to welcome Intissar Sarker to our team! Intissar joins us as Strategic Partnerships Manager, where she leads the expansion of research and training collaborations into new surgical specialties. With over 15 years of global health experience, Intissar has designed and led health programs across Africa and Asia. She previously held roles at USAID and Abt Global, where she managed multi-million-dollar initiatives, forged partnerships with governments, clinicians, and the private sector, and advanced access to quality health services. 🚀 We’re so proud to have you join us. Get ready for an inspiring journey ahead!

Don’t miss this exciting surgical data science learning opportunity! For all #medtech #AI enthusiasts trying to figure out the surgical data science ecosystem And #neurosurgery folks looking for what is possible with AI

🚨 This week: SDSC Data Science Roundtable! Join Dr. Sem F. Hardon (surgeon, data scientist & innovator-bio below) as he shares breakthroughs in: 🔹AI-driven skill assessment 🔹Real-time feedback (Lapron box trainer) 🔹Automated credentialing for #MIS 📅When: Thu June 12, 10AM-11AM EST 🔗Sign up here: forms.gle/U5SBtitw67x8fD…

@neurosurgery @childrenshealth @AAOHNS @rahul_shah_md @ChildrensNatl 🧸🤝

A welcome surprise at the policy roundtable: @ddonoho found himself seated next to his @ChildrensHealth colleague Dr. Rahul Shah, who was representing the @AAOHNS. A great example of coordinated care in action. Two surgical specialists, one voice on smarter Medicare policy.

CNS and AANS member and @childrensnatl neurosurgeon @ddonoho represented @neurosurgery at a physician roundtable, offering actionable insights on two critical areas shaping Medicare reform: ✅ Aligning value-based care with real-world specialty practice 🤖 Ensuring AI policy supports safe, effective tools.... not cautionary tales TY to the @GOPDocCaucus for hosting this important discussion. Proud to have neurosurgery at the table helping chart the future of care delivery for #Medicare. #HealthPolicy #priorauth

It was my great pleasure to represent our @neurosurgery field at a congressional roundtable with leaders and fellow physicians like @RepJohnJoyce and @RepGregMurphy and leaders from our medical societies. Care quality, value based care, and reducing administrative burden are common values we all share. New technologies like AI can help- or hurt - depending on our leadership and design. (And great to see current and former colleagues from @ChildrensNatl @AAOHNS @AmCollSurgeons !)

Team lunch with heart! 🧡 Nothing beats great food with even better colleagues—especially when we can support a meaningful cause like @HydroAssoc together. Keep an eye out for their fundraisers!

Shout-out to our founder Dr. @ddonoho for participating in the AI panel with @AmCollSurgeons! 🧠🤖 Discussing: 🔹 How AI changes physician decisions 🔹 Global surgical innovation 🔹 Critical privacy in healthcare AI Pioneering the future of #AI in surgery!

@MigsRunner @acog @gynoncjnls Let me know if you’re interested or have recs on whom to talk to in the field

@ddonoho @acog @gynoncjnls The biggest issue is poorly integrated video systems preventing ease of upload and automatic labeling/editing of our videos. The USB is still alive and well sadly.

Would love the perspective of our OBGYN colleagues on this @acog @gynoncjnls @MigsRunner

So much inspiring work happening at @UMichMedicine! From expanding laparoscopic surgery training across Africa (shoutout to our amazing partners at @ALLSAFE_Lap ) to innovating medical tech for low-resource settings—these leaders are making waves in global health. Congrats to Dr. Grace Kim, Dr. Dhanalakshmi Thiyagarajan, and Erin Kim! 🌍👏 Full article here: medschool.umich.edu/department-new…

🚀 Join us May 14th! SDSC Data Science Roundtable presents "AI for Surgical Quality Assurance" with pioneering surgeon-scientist Dr. Pietro Mascagni (@p_masca, bio attached) 🔍 What you'll learn: ✅ How AI is transforming surgical safety ✅ Real-world applications from OR to algorithm ✅ The future of data-driven surgery 📅 Wed May 14, 11am - 12pm EST 🔗 Sign up here: tinyurl.com/5n6mjmdc

@TheJNS @hbomax

#OnlineFirst: Intraosseous needle for management of subacute and chronic subdural hematoma. thejns.org/view/journals/….

🚨 Missed our monthly SDSC Data Science Roundtable with Dr. Ronald Barbosa (@rbarbosa91)? No worries—we’ve got you covered! 🎥 Check out the full recording of his talk on "Surgical Technical Skills: What AI Engineers Need to Know” — drive.google.com/file/d/1oqhxtt… As an applied scientist, Dr. Barbosa bridges the gap between surgeons & AI engineers—answering unasked OR questions (like effective knot security, drain placement, etc.), and shaping real-world AI solutions. Collaboration like this is key to surgical innovation! 🔥 "In robotics, we measure instrument path plots—why not apply this rigor to open surgery, the bedrock of all techniques?" - Dr. Barbosa A huge thank you to Dr. Barbosa for sharing his expertise. Don’t miss future talks—join us for more cutting-edge insights! 🚀 #SurgicalDataScience