Padraic Sweeny, M.D., also named interim chair of emergency medicine

Dean Robert Frank recently announced that Murali Guthikonda, M.D., has been appointed chair of the Wayne State University School of Medicine's Department of Neurological Surgery, pending formal approval by the WSU Board of Governors.

Dr. Guthikonda has served as interim chair of the department since 2001.

"I have full confidence that Dr. Guthikonda is the right person to lead the school's neurosurgeons," Dean Frank said. "He will continue a long tradition in the department to develop advanced technologies while providing an outstanding learning experience for our students and compassionate care to some of our sickest patients."

Dr. Guthikonda is a specialist in skull-base and cerebro-vascular surgery. He is experienced in treatment of complex tumors at the base of the skull using special techniques. His special training allows him to treat difficult aneurysms and vascular malformations of the brain using advanced neurosurgical and microsurgical techniques.

In 1993, Dr. Guthikonda joined the WSU School of Medicine as an assistant professor and was promoted to associate professor eight years later. After obtaining his medical degree from Guntur Medical College, in Guntur, India, Dr. Guthikonda completed a general surgery residency at St. Elizabeth Hospital, in Youngstown, Ohio, and a neurosurgery residency at the University of Vermont 's Medical Center Hospital of Vermont. He spent time in training at Institute of Neurology in Queen Square, London, UK as well in Zurich, Switzerland.

Dr. Guthikonda completed his fellowship in skull-base and vascular surgery at the University of Cincinnati . He has also been trained endoscope-assisted neurosurgery for cranial-base surgery and gamma knife radiosurgery.

Dr. Guthikonda is the author of numerous articles and a frequent lecturer throughout the United States and India on topics related to skull base surgery. He has been an invited guest speaker at various skull base society meetings in other countries. He is the neurosurgery residency program director at Detroit Medical Center and Wayne State University .

In addition, Dr. Frank announced that Padraic J. Sweeny, M.D., has been selected to serve as interim chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine. Dr. Sweeny served as vice chief of the department under the leadership of Dr. Brooks Bock, who left the chairmanship to serve as president of Harper University and Hutzel Women's hospitals.

A graduate of the University of Washington School of Medicine, Dr. Sweeny joined Detroit Receiving Hospital's emergency medicine staff after completing his residency there in 1982. Three years later, he joined the WSU School of Medicine faculty; he now holds the rank of associate professor.