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Meet Our Fellows

Neurosurgery fellowship alumni Desmond Brown, M.D., Ph.D. at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota

The Neurosurgical Oncology Fellowship draws trainees from across the U.S. and around the world. Meet our current fellow and learn about their focus inside and outside the clinic.

Michael Keough, M.D., Ph.D.

Michael Keough, M.D., Ph.D.

Medical school: University of Calgary

Residency: University of Alberta

Dr. Keough was born and raised in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada. He obtained a Bachelors degree in Biochemistry from Memorial University. He then completed an MD/PhD in Neuroscience at the University of Calgary, studying glial scarring in the injured spinal cord under Dr. V. Wee Yong. He completed his residency in Neurosurgery at the University of Alberta, which included an enfolded post-doctoral research fellowship in the lab of Dr. Michelle Monje at Stanford University, where he studied neuron-glioma circuit dynamics using mini-microscopes in awake animals. This work was funded by the Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation.

Dr. Keough is an advocate for the growing research field of “Cancer Neuroscience”, which approaches the study of brain tumors and how they interact and interfere with the function of the normal nervous system. He is pursuing a career in academic Neurosurgical Oncology where he hopes to study principles of neuroplasticity to maximize safe resection in patients with diffuse gliomas in eloquent brain regions.

Outside of work, Dr. Keough spends time with his wife and two daughters, who are enjoying the adventure of life in Minnesota.

Alumni

Approximately 50% of Mayo Clinic graduates are in academic positions throughout the U.S. Graduates pursuing subspecialty careers will find that Mayo's reputation opens the door to opportunities for fellowship training at the most prestigious and competitive programs. Fellows will leave our program with superb clinical experience and plenty of academic opportunities.

Graduate Program years

Noor Malik, M.B.B.S

Ignacio Jusue Torres, M.D.

Residency: Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan

Current position: Neurosurgeon at Howard University

2023-2024

Ignacio Jusue Torres, M.D.

Ignacio Jusue Torres, M.D.

Residency: Loyola University Medical Center, Chicago, IL

Current position: Neurosurgeon at Mayo Clinic, Eau Claire, WI

2022-2023

Benjamin Himes, M.D., Ph.D.

Ben Himes, M.D., Ph.D.

Residency: Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN

Current position: Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery at Albert Einstein Medical College, Bronx, NY

2021-2022

Neurosurgery fellowship graduate Jaclyn Renfrow, M.D.

Jaclyn Renfrow, M.D.

Residency: Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center

Current position: Neurosurgeon at Wake Forest Baptist Health, Winston-Salem, NC

2020-2021

Neurosurgery fellowship graduate Michael Opoku-Darko, M.D., M.Sc.

Michael Opoku-Darko, M.D., M.Sc.

Residency: University of Calgary

Current position: Neurosurgeon at Altru Health System, Fargo, ND

2019-2020

Neurosurgery fellowship graduate Desmond Brown, M.D., Ph.D.

Desmond Brown, M.D., Ph.D.

Residency: Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN

Current position: Surgical Neurology Branch at the National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD

2018-2019

Graduation of Mayo Clinic residents and fellows

Mayo Clinic Alumni Association

The Mayo Clinic Alumni Association will help you stay in touch with your Mayo Clinic colleagues, maintain a valuable professional connection to Mayo Clinic throughout your medical and/or research career, participate in continuing medical education, and more.

Learn more