August marks Neurosurgery Awareness Month, which focuses on specialty care for the brain and spine. PAs practicing in neurosurgery are integral to the high-functioning teams that support patients through diagnosis, surgery and recovery.

Four NCCPA Ambassadors, each with a unique journey into the specialty, share what drew them to neurosurgery and how they are redefining the role through advocacy, education and patient-centered care.

Shifting the Narrative About Neurosurgery

“One misconception is that neurosurgeons always want to operate. But many are incredibly thoughtful and conservative in their approach,” said Sarah Maddux, MSM, PA-C. “Neurosurgery Awareness Month gives us the chance to highlight the critical thinking and restraint that define our specialty.”

Maddux, who practices with St. Luke’s Health System and serves as an assistant professor at Idaho State University, never planned to enter neurosurgery. An opportunity arose more than a decade ago when a former trauma surgery colleague remembered her clinical skill and invited her to join his team. What kept her in the specialty wasn’t just the technical challenge. It was a shared philosophy:

“We put people first,” she said, “and that takes more than objective imaging. It requires seeing a holistic person and using shared decision-making to inform our care.”

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