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John M. Abrahams, MD

headshot of dr. john m. abrahams

Get to know Dr. Abrahams.

Dr. John Abrahams treats disorders of the brain and spine as BSSNY President. He is the author of numerous patents, has authored over 30 publications in peer-reviewed journals and textbooks, and given lectures at many national and local meetings.  In addition to being BSSNY President, he is also Northern Westchester Hospital’s Co-Director of the Spine Section of the Orthopedic and Spine Institute. In 2009, he founded and now runs the Westchester Neuroscience Research Foundation.  The Foundation is currently funding a project in conjunction with the Department of Pathology at New York Medical College studying the genomic profile of malignant brain tumors.

 

Dr. Abrahams has a background in biomedical engineering and been quite active as a biomedical entrepreneur, and has founded numerous biomedical companies including EndoMedix, AsiloMedix, Connectiphi, and Osteomedix. Dr. Abrahams’ most recent project is a surgical robotic device for brain surgery.

 

Dr. Abrahams was named President of Brain & Spine Surgeons of New York in 2015 and was recently named one of the “Top 10 Spine, Orthopedic Surgeon Tech Entrepreneurs to Know” by Becker’s Spine Review. To read the article, click here.

Hospital Appointments

Education

  • B.S. LeMoyne College (Physics), Syracuse, New York
  • M.S. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Biomedical Engineering), Rensselaer, New York
  • M.D. New York Medical College, New York, New York

Postgraduate Training and Fellowships

  • Intern in General Surgery, New York University Medical Center, New York, New York
  • Resident in Neurosurgery, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Research Associate, Institute for Medicine & Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Philadelphia Spine Fellow, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Specialty Certification

  • American Board of Neurological Surgeons

Companies Founded

  • In 2006, Dr. Abrahams founded Endomedix, a medical device company that is developing a surgical sealant. The company is based in Newark, NJ and has received a number of government grants for product development.
  • In 2009, Dr. Abrahams founded AsiloMedix, a medical device company that developed spinal implants for surgery. The company licensed the technology to Precision Spine, Inc. and Atlas Spine, Inc.
  • In 2012, Dr. Abrahams began development on MDChat, a HIPPA-compliant communication tool. The application is now available for download in the Apple and Droid store and is actively used by thousands of healthcare professionals.
  • In 2014, Dr. Abrahams founded Osteomedix, a medical device company that is developing a next-generation fusion adjunct that utilizes the patient’s own bone rather than cadaver bone.
  • In 2016, Dr. Abrahams founded Connectiphi, a digital communication system for healthcare professionals that is 100 percent accurate and HIPAA-compliant.

Publications

  • Abrahams JM. Effects of heat and exercise on light reflectance within biological tissue using red and infrared light. Master’s Thesis, August 1991.
  • Sakuma J, Ciporen J, Abrahams J, Young W. Independent depressive mechanisms of GABA and (+/-)-8-hydroxy-dipropylaminotetralin hydrobromide on young rat spinal axons. Neuroscience 75(3):927-38, 1996.
  • Saruhashi Y, Young W, Sugiomori M, Abrahams J, Sakuma J. Evidence for serotonin sensitivity of adult rat spinal axons: studies using randomized double pulse stimulation. Neuroscience 80(2):559-66, 1997.
  • Abrahams JM, Forman MS, Lavi E, Goldberg HI, Flamm ES. Hemangiopericytoma of the Third Ventricle: Case Report. J Neurosurg 90(2):359-362, 1999.
  • Abrahams JM, Hurst RW, Zager EL. Anterior choroidal arterial supply to the posterior cerebral artery distribution: Embryology and clinical implications. Neurosurgery 44(6):1308-1314; 1999.
  • Abrahams JM, Flamm ES. Hemangiopericytoma of the Third Ventricle: Case Report. Comment. J Neurosurg 91:167, 1999.
  • Abrahams JM, Duhaime AC, Rorke LB, Sutton LN, Schut L. Extrarenal nephroblastic proliferation in spinal dysraphism. Pediatr Neurosurg 31:40-44, 1999.
  • Saruhashi Y, Young W, Sugiomori M, Abrahams JM, Sakuma J. GABA increases refractoriness of adult rat dorsal column axons. Neuroscience 94(4):1207-1212, 1999.
  • Abrahams JM, Diamond SL, Hurst RW, Zager EL, Grady MS. Topic Review: Surface Modifications of Guglielmi Detachable Coils. Surg Neurol 54(1):34-51, 2000.
  • Abrahams JM, Arle JE, Hurst RW, Flamm ES. Extracranial Aneurysms of the Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery. Cerebrovasc Dis. 2000 Nov-Dec;10(6):466-70.
  • Abrahams JM, Forman MS, Grady MS, Diamond SL. Delivery of human vascular endothelial growth factor with platinum coils enhances wall thickening and coil impregnation in a rat aneurysm model. AJNR Amer J Neuroradiol 22(7):1410-7, 2001.
  • Abrahams JM, Putt M, Kaiser LB, Judy KJ. Risk factors affecting survival after brain metastases from non-small cell lung carcinoma: a follow-up study of 70 patients. J Neurosurg 95(4):595-600, 2001.
  • Abrahams JM, Forman MS, Grady MS, Diamond SL. Biodegradable Polyglycolide Endovascular Coils Promote Wall Thickening, Drug Delivery, and Gene Transfer in a Rat Aneurysm Model. Neurosurgery 49(5):1187-95, 2001.
  • Simon SL, Abrahams, JM, Grady MS, LeRoux PD, Rushton SA. Intramedullary Injection of Contrast into the Cervical Spinal Cord during Cervical Myelography: A Case Report. Spine 27:E274-7, 2002.
  • Abrahams JM, Song C, Forman MS, Grady MS, Levy RJ, Diamond SL. Endovascular microcoil gene delivery using immobilized anti-adenovirus antibody for vector tethering. Stroke 33:1376-82, 2002.
  • Abrahams JM, Saha PK, Hurst RW, Udupa JK, LeRoux, PD. Bone-Free Renditions of the Cerebrovasculature Using Three Dimensional Computed Tomographic Angiography Using Fuzzy Connectedness. Neurosurgery 51:264-269, 2002.
  • Abrahams JM, Reiter GT, Acker MA, Sinson GP. Propofol (Letter). J Neurosurg 96:1160-1, 2002.
  • Abrahams JM, McGarvey M, Putt M, Baranov D, Sinson GP. Assessment of Coagulability in Neurosurgical Patients Using Thromboelastography. Surg Neurol 58:5-12, 2002.
  • Arle JA, Abrahams JM, Zager EL, Taylor C, Galetta S. Pupil-Sparing Third Nerve Palsy with Preoperative Improvement from a Posterior Communicating Artery Aneurysm. Surg Neurol 57:423-7, 2002.
  • Abrahams JM, Sinson GP, Bagley LJ, Flamm ES, Hurst RW. Anterior Fossa Dural Arteriovenous Malformations: Clinical Presentation and Management Considerations. Surg Neurol 58:410-6, 2002.
  • Abrahams JM, Gokhan S, Flamm ES, Mehler MF. Topic Review: De Novo Neurogenesis and Acute Stroke: Are Exogenous Stem Cells Really Necessary? Neurosurgery 54:150-6.
  • Ances BM, McGarvey ML, Abrahams JM, Maldjian JA, Alsop DC, Zager EL, Detre JA: Continuous Arterial Spin Labeled Perfusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients Before and After Carotid Endarterectomy. J Neuroimaging 14:133-8, 2004.
  • Smith ML, Abrahams JM, Chandela S, Smith MJ, Hurst RW, Le Roux PD. Subarachnoid Hemorrhage on Computed Tomography Scanning and the Development of Cerebral Vasospasm: The Fisher Grade Revisited 20 Years Later. Surg Neurol 63, 229-34, 2005.
  • Stiefel MF, Heuer GG, Abrahams JM, Bloom S, Smith MJ, Maloney-Wilensky E, Grady MS, LeRoux PD. The effect of nimodipine on cerebral oxygenation in patients with poor-grade subarachnoid hemorrhage. J Neurosurg 101:594-9, 2004.
  • Pan H, Zimmerman T, Abrahams JM, Jiang HL, Chen W. A bioactive hydrogel for tissue filling of aneurysm. J Neurosurg 112(3):658-65, 2010.
  • Omeis I, Chen W, Jhanwar-Uniyal M, Rozental R, Murali R, Abrahams JM: Local Delivery of Cromakalim Using a Biodegradable Controlled-Release System Prevents Cerebral Vasospasm in a Rat Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Model. J Neurosurg 110(5):1015-20, 2009.
  • Omeis I, Neil JA, Murali R, Abrahams JM: Treatment of Cerebral Vasospasm with Controlled-Release Systems for Intracranial Drug Delivery: Topic Review. Neurosurgery 63(6):1011-9, 2008.
  • Omeis I, Duggal N, Rubano J, Cerabona F, Abrahams JM, Fink M, Das K: Surgical Treatment of C2 Fractures in the Elderly: A Multicenter Retrospective Analysis. J of Spinal Disord. J Spinal Disord Tech 22(2):91-5, 2009.
  • Ormond DR, Omeis I, Abrahams JM: Uncommon Presentation of an Intradiploic Orbital Epidermoid Tumor: Case Report. Oral Maxillofac Surg 15(3):165-7, 2011.
  • Yu Y, Santos LM, Mattiace LA, Costa ML, Ferreira LC, Benabou K, Kim AH, Abrahams J, Bennett MV, Rozental R.: Reentrant Spiral Waves of Spreading Depression Cause Macular Degeneration in Hypoglycemic Chicken Retina. PNAS USA 109(7):2585-9, 2012.

Awards & Honors

  • Best Research Presentation, Pennsylvania Neurologic Society
  • Galbraith Award for Research in Cerebrovascular Surgery, Congress of Neurological Surgeons
  • Best Abstract, 4th International Society of Neurosurgical Technology and Instrument Invention

Societies

  • Congress of Neurological Surgeons
  • American Association of Neurological Surgeons
  • AANS/CNS Cerebrovascular Section
  • Medical Society of the State of New York
  • New York State Neurosurgical Society

Academic Appointments

  • Associate Professor, New York Medical College, Westchester County Medical Center

Insurance Accepted

  • Workers Comp
  • No-Fault
  • Medicare
  • Pomco
  • Railroad Medicare
  • Corvel Workers Comp PPO
  • Aetna
  • Cigna

Patents

  • 20140236240 – Spinal implant apparatuses and methods of implanting and using same. Inventors: John M. Abrahams, Peter J. Amarosa, Michael Leatherman
  • 20140148654 – Cranial evacuation system and use thereof. Inventors: John M. Abrahams.
  • 20140107065 – Biopolymer system for tissue sealing. Inventors: Weiliam Chen, John M. Abrahams.
  • 20130325503 – Secure communications and workflow management for healthcare professionals. Inventors: John M. Abrahams, David Crane.
  • 20130325490 – Secure communications and workflow management for healthcare professionals, including referral tracking. Inventors: John M Abrahams, David Crane.
  • 20130325489 – Secure communications and workflow management for healthcare professionals, including healthcare professional availability status. Inventors: John M. Abrahams, David Crane.
  • 20120323217 – Cranial evacuation system and use thereof. Inventors: John M. Abrahams.
  • 20120158069 – Spring screw apparatuses and methods of using same. Inventors: John M. Abrahams, Peter J. Amarosa, Michael Leatherman.
  • 20120158060 – Spinal implant apparatuses and methods of implanting and using same. Inventors: John M. Abrahams, Peter J. Amarosa, Michael Leatherman.
  • 20110054450 – Diamond medical devices. Inventors: Robert C. Linares, Patrick J. Doering, Bryant Linares, Alfred R. Genis, William W. Dromeshauser, Michael Murray, Alicia E. Novak, John M. Abrahams.
  • 20110002999 – Biopolymer system for tissue sealing. Inventors: Weiliam Chen, John M. Abrahams.
  • 2808235 Canada – Systeme De Biopolymeres Pour Reparer De Tissus. Inventors: Weiliam Chen, John M. Abrahams.
  • 2858696 Canada – Systeme De Biopolymeres Pour Reparer De Tissus. Inventors: Weiliam Chen, John M. Abrahams.

Lectures

Apr 2, 1991 – “Effects of Heat and Pressure on Surface Light Reflectance at 660 and 880nm” – 3rd Annual Northeast Bioengineering Conference, Hartford, Connecticut.

 

Aug 26, 1999 – “Biologically Active Devices in Endovascular Neurosurgery” – Neurosurgery Grand Rounds, The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.

 

Feb 10, 2001 – “Delivery of human vascular endothelial growth factor with platinum coils enhances wall thickening and coil impregnation in a rat aneurysm model” – Fourth AANS/ Cerebrovascular Section Meeting, Hawaii.

 

Mar 7, 2001 – “Surface Modifications of Platinum Microcoils for Localized Adenovirus Delivery under conditions of Arterial Stasis and Pressurization” – Philadelphia Neurologic Society, Philadelphia.

 

Oct 1, 2001 – “Surface Modifications of Platinum and Biodegradable Microcoils for Localized Adenovirus Delivery In Vitro and In Vivo using a Rat Aneurysm Model. – Congress of Neurological Surgeons 51st Annual Meeting, San Diego, California.

 

Oct 1, 2001 – “Biodegradable Polyglycolide Endovascular Coils Promote Wall Thickening and Drug Delivery in a Rat Aneurysm Model” – Congress of Neurological Surgeons 51st Annual Meeting, San Diego, California.

 

Dec 7, 2001 – “Surface Modifications of Platinum and Biodegradable Microcoils for Localized Adenovirus Delivery In Vitro and In Vivo using a Rat Aneurysm Model.” The Thirteenth Pan-Philadelphia Neurosurgery Conference, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

 

Sep 18, 2002 – “Endovascular Research in Neurosurgery” Department of Biomedical Engineering, City College of New York, New York, New York.

 

Nov 13, 2002 – “Cerebrovascular Disease in Neurosurgery“, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.

 

Dec 3, 2002 – “Evaluation of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in the Emergency Room“, Department of Emergency Medicine Grand Rounds, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York.

Contact us today to make an appointment with Dr. Abrahams.