Pioneering Neurosurgeon Andrew Venteicher Joins UMN Medical School Department of Neurosurgery and the Masonic Cancer Center
Distinguished surgeon-scientist, Andrew Venteicher, MD, PhD, has joined the University of Minnesota Medical School’s Department of Neurosurgery and the Masonic Cancer Center, where he will be leading key research initiatives in the genomics of brain tumors as the Director of Center for Cranial Base Surgery.
“Dr. Venteicher is one of the nation’s most sought after recruits who contributed first author publications to highly regarded scientific journals, including Cell, Science, and Nature. His single-cell genomic studies lay the foundation for our understanding of brain tumors,” said Dr. Clark C. Chen, the Lyle French Chair in Neurosurgery and the Head of the University of Minnesota Medical School Department of Neurosurgery. “In addition to his scientific achievements, Dr. Venteicher is a phenomenal surgeon who tackles the most challenging surgeries with ease. The synergy between his surgical and scientific expertise will further the prominence of the University of Minnesota in brain tumor research.”
Dr. Venteicher completed his bachelor of science from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Mathematics, attended Stanford for both his MD and PhD, trained at the Harvard Medical School for his residency, and was selected for a prestigious cerebrovascular and cranial base fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh. He will now bring his unique surgical skill set in minimally invasive approaches, endoscopic endonasal surgery, and traditional open cranial approaches to the Twin Cities metropolitan area to treat patients with complex cranial base and cerebrovascular pathology.
Dr. Venteicher was recruited as part of a collaborative hire effort between the Medical School and the Masonic Cancer Center to launch a new initiative in functional genomics of solid tumors. This multidisciplinary team of researchers will develop new technologies and models for understanding cancer heterogeneity. The team will be the first to move into the new Masonic Cancer Center Discovery Labs, located in the Malcolm Moos Health Sciences Tower. Additionally, Dr. Venteicher will be the Director of the Center for Cranial Base Surgery at the University of Minnesota Medical Center, a new program dedicated to providing outstanding comprehensive clinical care and performing cutting edge translational research for patients with brain and cranial base tumors.
“Dr. Venteicher is a star in cancer research. To recruit him to the Masonic Cancer Center and catalyze a genomic solid tumors lab is paramount for transformational care in this area,” said Dr. Douglas Yee, Director of the Masonic Cancer Center.
Dr. Venteicher is a 2019 recipient of the Burroughs Wellcome Fund (BWF) Career Awards for Medical Scientists (CAMS) as well as the 2019 Neurosurgeon Research Career Development Program (NRCDP) award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The BWF awards thirteen CAMS internationally each year in recognition of promising physician-scientists. The NIH awards two NRCDP awards yearly to the most accomplished neurosurgeon scientists in the US. Dr. Venteicher will be the first University of Minnesota faculty member to have received these prestigious awards.
About the University of Minnesota Medical School
The University of Minnesota Medical School is at the forefront of learning and discovery, transforming medical care and educating the next generation of physicians. Our graduates and faculty produce high-impact biomedical research and advance the practice of medicine. Visit med.umn.edu to learn how the University of Minnesota is innovating all aspects of medicine.
About the Masonic Cancer Center
The Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, is the Twin Cities’ only Comprehensive Cancer Center, designated ‘Outstanding’ by the National Cancer Institute. As Minnesota’s Cancer Center, we have served the entire state for more than 25 years. Our researchers, educators, and care providers have worked to discover the causes, prevention, detection, and treatment of cancer and cancer-related diseases. Learn more at cancer.umn.edu.