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June 20, 2025
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Kristen Scheitler, M.D., a neurologic surgery resident and Ph.D. candidate with Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education and Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, respectively, was recently awarded the Neurosurgeon-Scientist Training Program grant presented by the Society of Neurological Surgeons.
This program, which comes with a $50,000 funding award, was established by the Society of Neurological Surgeons to increase the pool of neurosurgery residents conducting advanced research and to enhance their success rate in becoming independent neurosurgeon-scientists. The program is highly competitive – the Society of Neurological Surgeons reports that only four to five candidates are selected each year.
Dr. Scheitler conducts her research in the lab of Kendall Lee, M.D., Ph.D., investigating the neurobiology of addiction using electrochemical technology created in the lab to measure neurotransmitters in the brain in real time during deep brain stimulation surgery. Much of her Ph.D. has involved developing a large animal model to help translate this technology to human clinical studies.
Last year, she submitted a formal grant application with the support of her department and Dr. Lee for Year 1 of the Neurosurgeon-Scientist Training Program, which included stipends to attend several conferences and research symposiums. Dr. Scheitler reapplied for Year 2 of the program, which granted her $50,000 in grant funding to support the continuation of her research.
Dr. Scheitler is grateful for this award, which she says is formative in the career of a resident. It fills a critical need, she says, allowing her to continue high-impact research while transitioning from residency to early career. "It also brings deserved attention to our lab team. I am incredibly grateful for Dr. Lee’s mentorship and the collaboration that makes this possible."
Dr. Scheitler has undertaken the transformative and difficult project of translating our MAVEN electrochemical and electrophysiologic technology into humans. To accomplish this, she has already made tremendous progress by developing large animal models that will ultimately lead us to uncovering the therapeutic mechanisms of action of deep brain stimulation.
Kendall Lee, M.D., Ph.D.
Neurosurgeon
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This research has shown me the opportunity neurosurgeon-scientists have to take what they’re doing in the operating room and inform their research in the lab, which can then be brought back to the operating room to help their patients even more and advance the field.
Kristen Scheitler, M.D.
Neurosurgery resident, Mayo Clinic
Nearing the end of her sixth year in the Neurologic Surgery Residency at Mayo Clinic, Dr. Scheitler has spent the last two years pursuing her Ph.D. in the Clinical and Translational Sciences track during her elective time. She is about to enter her seventh year, which will be the last spent earning her Ph.D., before going back to finish her eighth and final year of residency training.
Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Dr. Scheitler worked as a professional pianist before pursuing medicine. During her Ph.D., she has published multiple papers, has been invited to present her research at various conferences and served as an associate editor for a textbook on deep brain stimulation. She says she has enjoyed the opportunity to mentor medical students and graduate students in the lab, as well.