This week we welcome Doctor Amir Vokshoor, a neurosurgeon who specialized in multidisciplinary approach to spinal and cranial disorders. Tune in to hear how he found his career and what life changing event inspired him to start his own non-profit, Institute of Neuro Innovation. To learn more visit https://inifoundation.org.
This week we welcome Doctor Amir Vokshoor, a neurosurgeon who specialized in multidisciplinary approach to spinal and cranial disorders. Tune in to hear how he found his career and what life changing event inspired him to start his own non-profit, Institute of Neuro Innovation. To learn more visit https://inifoundation.org.
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This week's episode is brought to you by Beverly Hills Orthodontics, brightening smiles with the state of the art technology and Invisalign since 2008. Love yourself, Love your smile. You can find them on Instagram at Beverly Hills Orth O or online at w w dot Beverly hills Ortho dot com. Good morning, everyone. This is branded Matt Lof in Los Angeles. Welcome to the Stella Oak Mavens podcast, where we feature different mavens in different fields. Maven is an expert of an expert there the go to person who you would want to ask all the questions to before making a decision. The purpose of our podcast is to help the consumer be more knowledgeable. Today, our podcast features Dr Amir Bowsher, neurosurgeon whose passion is research of brain performance and its effect on everyday life and surgical healing. He utilizes a multidisciplinary approach in the treatment of adult spinal and cranial disorders. He is also the founder of the Institute of Neuro Innovation, and we're looking forward to hearing about the opportunity to get involved with that organization. Ah, Welcome, Amir.
spk_1: 1:09
Thank you. Thanks for having me. Good morning.
spk_0: 1:12
So, before we start, could you give us a little bit about your background. What was a neurosurgeon like back in college? What were you doing?
spk_1: 1:25
So I had a slightly a typical route. You know, there are neurosurgeons who, since they were five years old, they know they were going to be brain surgeons. Um, I actually, uh I knew that I liked spine and the function of the spine, and I really liked, um and I and I had orthopedic injuries as a child and as a small young skateboarder from ages like 16 on. But what really drew me to neurosurgery? Waas learning about the structure and function of the brain and the nervous system as a whole. And it was completely eye opening for me because I was so at such gravitation toward it that I did not have to any other subject matter. Frankly, remember science being sort of a boring subject matter in high school for me? So I wasn't typically the kind of student that has incredible aptitude for information, although in retrospect, I think I could have been coached better or guided better, but that that's what brought me to it. Just brain structure and function.
spk_0: 2:31
What's interesting is that one that you said that, you know, science wasn't the most exciting subject in school, and I would guess that a lot of our listeners would feel the same way. But you still figured out a way to get into neurosurgery. And then what's clear is you have a passion for what you do because you also started a nonprofit revolving around, uh, neurological disorders. And so what I'm wondering is, How did this passion occur? Was it really just You were a skateboarder surfer and just words was obsessed with the brainer. Was there a trigger moment or something that happened that that you knew or that kind of made the difference of not just being a neurosurgeon but really having passion for what you d'oh?
spk_1: 3:21
That's great question. I think most of my life I've been a connector as faras, connecting different parts of the information of my own life narrative and being impatient, being having, undergoing, like a minor, with big surgeries on my knees, etcetera and then being a doctor, to try to alleviate suffering and then being like, just curious human being on it and passionate about the way our brain that creates our experience on a daily basis and, uh, sort of dictates our overall energy and especially mindset and mindful control was how I tried to connect it all. And I think a lot of information in, uh, our society comes in tiny little pockets and silos of philosophy and psychology and neurosurgery and your anatomy. And I was like, How great would it be if we if I could surround myself with experts from all those fields, from holistic healing to, uh, incredibly deep science into the nano level structure of the nervous system? So that that sort of word, the the idea came that instead of being in silos and working separately, these fields should talk to each other toe, actually see how the nervous system functions the way it does howto howto pixels become a picture for our reality to be made by the brain.
spk_0: 4:55
Is this something that you kind of learn on your own? Or did you have a lot of mentors or people around you that helped lead you to this awareness?
spk_1: 5:08
So, you know, I think that that's a great question. And sometimes mentors happen when they least intend to. So I would say everything from like, uh, my father's humanistic approach to just being compassionate and empathetic toward people that are suffering to the harsh realities of doing a residency in neurosurgery when you're, uh, extremely exhausted. And sometimes, um, uh, some verbal, uh, verbally abusive mentors made may say something that you're surprised by you or even pain by at the time during residency, because that's sort of like the way the surgical residency is supposed to work. You're supposed to be made into this tough Marine. Or at least that's how traditionally torque uh, totally. Hopefully not as much now, but it was sort of like, uh, you get you get lessons where you least expect it and you make lemons. You make lemonade out of the lemons that you've been dealt, and how you deal with those is another part of like my making is. It is also my brain and my nervous system taking all this end and then trying to create my next path or my perception of it. And even during those you know, the harsh years of early neurosurgery training, I used to tell myself that, um, the goal at site is what matters not what you're undergoing on a daily basis, which is hours of work and sleeplessness and mentors that are, for whatever reason, to parson their personality or the perception of the reality of hand or unhappy.
spk_0: 6:50
You mentioned your your father early on, as you were explaining different mentors that you may have had. I'm Was he one of the reasons why you created I and I and maybe sure share with the audience? What is what is I and I
spk_1: 7:06
Yes, thanks for asking. So, yeah, my father contracted Alzheimer's, but he he kind of hit it from us for the approximately 10 to 15 years, and he would just become this kind of humorous person. But we soon realized that it was much more of that. And it was a floor, uh, manifestation of his Alzheimer's disease, which he finally to come to. And after he did, I had this kind of urge within myself to doom or on, actually, uh, sort of put my money where my mouth is, and I created this nonprofit called I and II Institute of New Innovation, which does try to bring those silos of neuroscience into the same room together. So everything from holistic practitioners to nana. Scientists, neuroscientists Neurosurgeons are sitting at the same board table talking about the same exact disease processes and things that cause suffering within human beings such as Alzheimer's dementia. Post traumatic stress, which is quite more rampant than people give it credit for, as well as, um, concussion post concussion, injuries that happen, and young and professional athletes A CZ well, a general stress in the general disdain that happened in the Western society for a variety of other reasons that also have to do without a brain is budgeting our energy.
spk_0: 8:25
I've looked at your pulled up your Web site, and I see that you have a really diverse group of board of directors. So just like you said, you have people in different areas in different aspects of science, coming together and working on a common vision. And so what? I guess the listener is wondering is, How does how does this non profit help society and where where do you see I and I going in the future?
spk_1: 8:55
So I think our goals are very clear. We want we want to be a world class research institute. We want to help people alleviate suffering especially those who are in need and can't afford to care. And we want to educate the public about this this concept of a non siloed approach to neuroscience and, uh, innovating in that space of how science is done in the first place. Uh, it is The method starts with just forming the diverse team that you're talking about and then having stakeholders and decision makers for those cases that involve actual human life and suffering and having experts in research and education on the other aspects of our mission,
spk_0: 9:38
but
spk_1: 9:38
that that's a very ambitious goal that we have. And I really am more than excited to say that it is time for neuroscience to finally make a huge difference in human life.
spk_0: 9:49
I can't wait for that. We all we all need it. And we all know somebody who suffered from dementia or Alzheimer's or some type of neurological disorder over over our lifetimes. So I'm imagining a lot of our listeners, um, have experienced something and someone in one of these capacities. And if they wanna learn more or get involved or do something Thio, you know, help out. Is there an opportunity to do that? with the nonprofit or the foundation.
spk_1: 10:20
Absolutely. We have from a from a simple education program of a one week internship with us in the operating room as well as outside to, uh, to actually getting involved from volunteering to interning to. Actually, even employment opportunities with the organization can be found on our website at the eye and I foundation dot org
spk_0: 10:44
And, um, just for the listeners that are outside of California, Maybe you could just share where that you're found it were ionized located.
spk_1: 10:56
Sure we are. We're headquartered at Santa Monica, California but we do have. We have board members and advisers all throughout the United States, and we even have some international collaborators. But we're currently out of loss of greater Los Angeles area, and, uh, we're happy to host anyone here for an opportunity to do with the organization's about and help us.
spk_0: 11:19
That's great. Our next podcast features David Hensel, who's actually in Turkey, and so we have international presence in some of the different countries that focus on different types of businesses and organizations. So, you know, here's another opportunity to take I and II overseas. So now I'm kind of wondering about some other really cool things that I know that you've got going there has to be a time in your life is a neurosurgeon kind of one. Like the lights went on in a sense And you knew, like you made it where you're like, for the ability for you to, like, go outside the spectrum and, like, create a nonprofit. Clearly, you've had to make it as a neurosurgeon and get accolades and all those great things that I'm sure you've achieved over time. But is there a story or you, You know, either send your wife one day, man, I really made it now. Or was there something that, like the lights turned on? You're like, Yeah, this this was meant for me. I was put on this earth to do Ah, neurosurgery. Was there a moment in life that you can recall where you know you separated yourself from everybody else or that you really would be looked at as somebody who's achieved high success? And you recognize that
spk_1: 12:39
death there? There's a few come to mind, I think, from a technical standpoint, the first time you safely take out a complicated brain tumor and the patient is perfect in the post operative area. Do you really feel great about yourself? And he just a gratitude that your patients show you as a result of you alleviating their suffering is quite, um, you know, quite one of those moments where you feel like a superhero and, you know, that's probably, uh, you know, just countless measures now. But
spk_0: 13:13
so basically, just save somebody's life and that's when you feel good about God. I could go with that. I think most people would appreciate that. Is there another story to that was a good one.
spk_1: 13:25
That was amazing. I think the only other time is just the sheer all off looking inside the brain the first time and trying to work out which way's left in which way's right and realizing the three dimensional anatomy that it almost looks part part like a flower part like, uh, Kohler coral reef. And, uh, just the sheer all of it that makes your hair stand up was probably a moment where I was like I belong right here is exactly where I need to be.
spk_0: 13:56
Lovett, um, tell us about either ah, failure you've had or challenge that you're that you that you've experienced. And how did you overcome it? Like what? What went through It could be in working with a patient or in life for anything you want. But can you tell us about either Ah, big failure you've had and I yet overcoming a challenge?
spk_1: 14:21
Yeah, I think one of the biggest challenges is, uh, we're also human beings and we get fatigued and we get injured. And Dr Burnout is actually on the rise. And I had a major injury during surfing where I broke my ankle and afterwards I wanted to work just as hard using a scooter. And, you know, operating on the spine, uh, on the brain is actually easier because you can sit out operating, but for the spine, you have to be standing up on a scooter for hours. And I, uh you know, I really felt like I asked too much of myself and I was too critical. No, I think self care is one of those things where it really comes to mind. But another one is not being able to predict how well a patient will do and whether a surgical strategy is the most optimal strategy for that patient. You know, back surgery is extremely complicated and fraught with a potential for problems and complications. So, uh, we've actually instituted mathematical model to try to predict that using artificial intelligence and that's still in its infancy. But on a daily basis, my own computer, my brain has to go through it thousands of cases and experience and try to come up with the best algorithm to treat a human being. And, uh and we've had failures in that respect. Not a lot, thankfully, but even minor failures really get at you and make you want to strive to be better.
spk_0: 15:56
So how do you do your own, uh, personal healing? You do it through being involved with a nonprofit. Do you do it through surfing still, Or how do you take that time away? Thio work on your inner space.
spk_1: 16:13
So that's a fantastic question. I actually I started a meditation spot because I was so injured that I had to teach myself how to meditate. And I realized that was terrible at it initially, and over months I became better and better. And, uh, the meditative effort itself is extremely therapeutic, and we've gone through having a very signature guided breath work to combination of virtual reality methods with guided breath work. And both of those I practice very similar to you. You may be familiar with the women off at that. There's definitely some physiologic benefits that have been extracted from those methods, but combined with some neuroscience principles as well a cz, self hypnotic methods and all of those together very therapeutic. But basically I would summarize it in saying mindfulness meditation, physical exercise and, uh, at all times trying to modify your own perception off something bad that happened there are trying to look at it from different points of view is very healthy.
spk_0: 17:25
Awesome. Well, before, before we wrap up, Is there any, um, advice that you would give ah, young neurosurgeon or someone who's starting out in that field there any advice that you would give them as they think about the next or even a doctor or could be another type of profession? But any any advice that you would give to somebody coming out of school and tryingto follow in the footsteps of of medicine?
spk_1: 17:54
Yeah, I would, I would say it doesn't even just apply to medicine I mean, I think everything can be looked upon from the standpoint of your nervous system and your your ability to modify your thoughts and perception or at least engaged them at a level. So from an artist to a an investment banking CEO to a doctor, we, uh, budget our energy based on our brain health. If we could keep our brain healthy. And there's many, you know, there's a huge conversation around that I think we will perform better. And I think brain optimization for self care will translate to a better societal care and will be a more empathetic and more effective society.
spk_0: 18:36
Awesome. Well, thanks, Sameer. Appreciate your time. And I'm sure that anybody listening is interested looking at I A and I aa foundation dot or ge And we really appreciate you being here.
spk_1: 18:50
Really? Thank you so much for having me.
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