Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery Fellowship Faculty

Aviva Abosch, M.D., Ph.D., is a fellowship-trained, board-certified neurosurgeon and serves as deputy director of Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute as well as the Institute’s director of epilepsy surgery and co-director of functional neurosurgery. Dr. Abosch is also the Esernia Endowed Chair in Surgical Treatment of Adult Epilepsy & Movement Disorders and performs advanced surgical procedures to treat conditions such as epilepsy, movement disorders, brain tumors and neuropsychiatric conditions.

Education & Training

• University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pa., Doctor of Medicine
• University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pa., Ph.D. in Neurobiology
• University of California, San Francisco, Calif., Neurosurgery Residency
• Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Epilepsy Surgery Fellowship
• Toronto Western Hospital, University of Toronto, Functional and Stereotactic Neurosurgery Fellowship

Board Certifications

• American Board of Neurological Surgeon

Justin Sporrer, M.D., is a neurosurgeon and director of functional neurosurgery at Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute. He specializes in general neurosurgery, functional neurosurgery, deep brain stimulation and high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for movement disorders.

Dr. Sporrer received his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University, where he received the Barrett Award for Excellence in Humanities, the Department of Physics Award and the Chapman Award in Biology. He received his medical degree from the University of Florida, earning numerous accolades, including the Academic Perfection Award and the AMA Educational Research Foundation Award.

Dr. Sporrer completed an internship and residency in neurological surgery at the University of Florida. During his residency, he received the Charles “Chuck” Shank Award in Neurosurgical Excellence and the Resident Teacher Award. He also served as chief resident. In addition, Dr. Sporrer was a clinical research fellow at the UF Center for Movement Disorders.

He is a member of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons and the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. He has lectured and presented research findings at medical meetings and published in medical journals.

Luis Felipe Tornes, M.D., is a neurologist and the director of the epilepsy program at Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute. He is fluent in English and Spanish.

Dr. Tornes earned his medical degree from Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. He then completed a neurology residency followed by a clinical neurophysiology fellowship at University of Miami Miller School of Medicine/Jackson Memorial Hospital System.

He is a member of the American Academy of Neurology.

As a neurologist, Dr. Tornes is deeply passionate about the profound impact his specialty can have on his patients’ lives. He is committed to holistic care for his patients, including their emotional and mental well-being and is dedicated to helping them be active participants in their treatment plans.

In his free time, Dr. Tornes enjoys traveling and spending time with his family.

Education & Training

• Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine
• University of Miami Miller School of Medicine/Jackson Memorial Hospital System, Neurology Residency
• University of Miami Miller School of Medicine/Jackson Memorial Hospital System, Clinical Neurophysiology Fellowship

Diego Torres-Russotto, M.D., is the chair of neurology and the Distinguished Endowed Chair in Neurology at Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute. He also serves as the neurology residency program director at Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. He is fluent in English, Spanish and Italian. He is fluent in English, Spanish and Italian.

Dr. Torres-Russotto specializes in neurology and movement disorders, including Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, tremors, spasticity, gait disturbance, tics and other neurological illnesses. He also performs botulinum toxin (botox) injections, deep brain stimulation and DUOPA pump administration.

Prior to joining Miami Neuroscience Institute in 2023, Dr. Torres-Russotto served as professor and vice-chair for education and chief of movement disorders at the Department of Neurological Sciences at University of Nebraska Medical Center.

He has published more than 50 scientific papers and established one of the largest international studies of orthostatic tremor. He is a member of multiple national and international research consortia: the Huntington Study Group, the Parkinson Study Group, the Tremor Research Group and Tremor Study Group. His research interests include tremor, orthostatic tremor, evidence-based physical examination, chemodenervation, Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, and provider burnout, wellness and resilience.

As a council member of the National Board of Medical Examiners, Dr. Torres-Russotto provides guidance and recommendations on all matters concerning physician licensing and standardized examinations. He has received numerous recognitions as an educator, such as the Distinguished Mentor Award and a campus-wide Outstanding Teacher Award from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award from the Gold Humanism Honor Society.

When he is not researching, educating or treating patients, Dr. Torres-Russotto enjoys spending time with family, reading and exploring two of his passions — food and music.

Education & Training

• Barnes Jewish Hospital Washington University Fellowship Program, Movement Disorders, 2009
• Barnes Jewish Hospital (Missouri) Residency Program, Internal Medicine/Neurology, 2007
• Mayo Clinic Foundation Residency Program, Surgery, General, 2003
• Universidad Central de Venezuela Medical School, 1999

Board Certifications

• Neurology — American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, 2008