Cerebrovascular and Skull Base Neurosurgery Fellowship Faculty

Evan D. Bander, M.D., is a neurosurgeon, director of endoscopic skull base surgery and co-director of the pituitary tumor program at Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute. He specializes in cranial neurosurgery with a subspecialty focus on brain tumors. He treats both benign and malignant tumors, including skull base tumors, meningiomas, pituitary tumors, craniopharyngiomas, primary brain tumors (gliomas and glioblastoma) and secondary brain tumors (metastases). He is fellowship trained in minimally invasive, keyhole and endoscopic approaches as well as in neurosurgical oncology at two of the leading cancer centers in the country.

Education and Training

• University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Fellowship Program, Neurosurgical Oncology, 2024

Postgraduate Training

• New York and Presbyterian Hospital-Cornell Campus Residency Program, Neurological Surgery, 2023

Certifications and Licenses

• Weill Cornell Medical College (New York) Medical School, 2016

Michael McDermott, M.D., is a neurosurgeon and the chief medical executive of Miami Neuroscience Institute. He is a world-renowned leader in neurosciences and has clinical expertise in the field of meningioma research and Gamma Knife radiosurgery.

Dr. McDermott is widely known for advancing neurosurgical techniques and pioneered the surgical management of meningioma, a slow-growing tumor that affects the brain. He is an expert in the treatment of a wide variety of neurological disorders.

Dr. McDermott joined Baptist Health South Florida from the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Medical Center, where he served as co-director of the Gamma Knife radiosurgery program and Skull Base Surgery programs, vice chairman of clinical programs and Wolfe Family Endowed Professor in Meningioma Research.

Throughout his career, Dr. McDermott’s research has generated more than 400 peer-reviewed publications. In addition to his clinical and research leadership, he is an accomplished educator. As residency program director at the UCSF Medical Center, he trained young surgeons from around the world.

Dr. McDermott has been recognized with several professional awards, and numerous visiting professor invitations.

When he is not treating patients, Dr. McDermott enjoys being with his family and watching his sons play lacrosse. He also has his own wine label and is a vintage Formula Ford race car enthusiast.

Education & Training

• University of Toronto School of Medicine
• University of British Columbia Hospital (Residency)
• UCSF Medical Center (Fellowship)

Board Certifications

• Neurological Surgery

Vitaly Siomin, M.D., is a board-certified neurosurgeon, director of cerebrovascular surgery and co-director of skull base surgery at Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute.

Dr. Siomin graduated from I.M. Sechenov First Moscow Medical Academy in Russia and completed residencies at Burdenko Neurosurgical Institute in Moscow and the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland. He completed fellowships at Tel Aviv-Sourasky Medical Center in Israel, Toronto Western Hospital/University of Toronto and the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

Dr. Siomin has participated in clinical and basic science research on brain cancer. He has published in medical journals, including the Journal of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgery, Journal of Neuro-oncology, Neoplasia and Pediatric Neurosurgery. He is a member of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.

Education & Training

• Cleveland Clinic Foundation (Ohio) Residency Program, Neurological Surgery, 2009
• Cleveland Clinic (Ohio) Fellowship Program, Brain Tumor/Neuro-Oncology, 2003
• First Moscow State Medical University named after I. M. Sechenov (Russia) Medical School, 1994

Board Certifications

• Neurological Surgery

Robert Wicks, M.D., is a neurosurgeon, director of cerebrovascular surgery, director of the neuroendovascular surgery fellowship program and director of the neurosurgical anatomy laboratory at Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute. Dr. Wicks specializes in neurological surgery, interventional neuroradiology and skull base surgery.

Prior to joining Miami Neuroscience Institute in 2021, Dr. Wicks completed a cerebrovascular and skull base fellowship at the Barrow Neurological Institute followed by an endovascular neurosurgery fellowship at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Before starting his neurosurgical training, Dr. Wicks completed a research year in the Hunterian Neurosurgical Laboratory of Johns Hopkins. During that time, his research focused on the local delivery of new chemotherapies for brain tumors and the development of a handheld imaging device for the detailed imaging of brain blood vessels during aneurysm surgery. This research resulted in several academic publications and was awarded the Johns Hopkins Department of Neurosurgery Harvey Cushing Student Research Award.

Dr. Wicks’ approach to patient care focuses on developing a comprehensive treatment plan based on the needs and desires of the patient and family. Through the integration of new technologies and minimally-invasive treatment approaches, he hopes to not only guide his patients through the best treatment options, but also help them to achieve a successful, lasting recovery. It is his goal to provide the highest level of clinical care and technical expertise in a compassionate, holistic manner.

When he is not treating patients, Dr. Wicks enjoys traveling, hiking, running and reading about technological advancements in medicine.

Education & Training

• Johns Hopkins School of Medicine nFellowship Program, Endovascular Neurosurgery, 2021
• Barrow Neurological Institute Fellowship Program, Cerebrovascular/Skull Base Sur, 2019
• Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center Residency Program, Neurological Surgery, 2018
• Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (Maryland) Medical School, 2012

Board Certifications

• Neurological Surgery