SNS 2024 Featured Speakers

Learn more about our honored guests at the 74th Annual Meeting

Downing Lecturer

Haley Fortier
Owner/Operator
haley.henry wine bar & nathálie wine bar

Haley Fortier brings over 20+ years of experience to the hospitality industry and is the entrepreneur of two charming, sophisticated & energetic wine bars in the heart of Boston, MA; haley.henry & nathálie wine bars.

Both haley.henry & nathálie wine bars are known for their carefully curated selections of natural, organic and biodynamic wines from around the globe. Fortier's specific vision on creating spaces in the wine world that offer inclusion, education, diversity and undeniable vibes has allowed her to create memorable wine-drinking experiences for seasoned oenophiles & those wanting to dip their toes into the captivating world of wine. Moreso, her commitment to supporting small, independent winemakers, with a focus on women-led wine operations is what has set her apart from other wine bars within the city.

 Under Fortier’s leadership, haley.henry wine bar was recognized consecutively in 2019 and 2020 as a semifinalist in the James Beard Award category of “Outstanding Wine Program”. She was also named in 2019 by Food & Wine magazine as one of the “2019 Sommeliers of the Year”. Her entrepreneurial style has garnered her recognition in both local & national press, including Imbibe, Food & Wine, Bon Appetit, Wine Enthusiast & numerous local accolades and awards.

Hudson Lecturer

John Sampson, MD, PhD

John H. Sampson, MD, PhD, MBA, is the Robert H. and Gloria Wilkins Distinguished Professor of Neurosurgery and Senior Vice President of Duke University Health System and head of the Duke Health Integrated Practice (DHIP). He is a recognized leader in the surgical resection and experimental treatment of complex brain tumors. After earning his medical degree from the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Dr. Sampson went on to pursue his PhD in neuropathology and MHSc in clinical research at Duke University. He did his research training under the internationally renowned scientist, Darell D. Bigner, MD, PhD, and Nobel Laureate Gertrude Elion. Recognizing the need for additional health sector management and leadership training, he completed an MBA at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.

He has authored nearly 300 peer-reviewed publications documenting the development of multiple immunotherapeutic agents that have affected the standard of care in glioblastoma multiforme, the most malignant form of brain cancer. Dr. Sampson is a member of the prestigious National Academy of Medicine as well as the Association of American Physicians.

Semmes Lecturer

David Limbrick, MD, PhD

David D. Limbrick Jr., MD, PhD recently assumed the role Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at Virginia Commonwealth University. Prior to this current role, he served as the T.S. Park Chair and Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery, and Executive Vice Chair of Neurological Surgery at Washington University. Dr. Limbrick is internationally regarded for his expertise in treating disorders of the craniovertebral junction, including the Chiari malformations, neuro-endoscopic treatment of hydrocephalus, and pediatric brain tumors. Dr. Limbrick’s primary research focus is on cerebrospinal fluid disorders, where he is active in basic, clinical, and translational research.  He serves as Principal Investigator for two major multicenter randomized controlled trials: Posterior Fossa Decompression with or without Duraplasty for Chiari Type I Malformation and Syringomyelia and Endoscopic Versus Shunt Treatment of Hydrocephalus in Infants. He is Chair of Biospecimens and Neuro-Imaging for the Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network and has been the Principal Investigator for the Park-Reeves Syringomyelia Research Consortium since its inception. Nationally, he serves on the boards of Cure Hydrocephalus, Bobby Jones Chiari & Syringomyelia Foundation, Rudy Schulte Institute, and the Hydrocephalus Association, including the HA Washington Advocacy Committee.

Distinguished Practitioner

Domagoj Coric, MD

Dr. Dom Coric spent 25 years as a neurosurgical spine surgeon at Carolina Neurosurgery and Spine Associates (CNSA) in Charlotte, North Carolina. He served 13 years as Chief, Department of Neurosurgery at Carolinas Medical Center (CMC)/Atrium Health. He also served as Executive Medical Director of SpineFirst and as the Director of the Carolina Center for Specialty Surgery. He is the Jerry and Audrey Petty Endowed Professor of Spine Surgery at Atrium Health/Wake Forest University and the Medical Director of the Atrium Health Southeast Spine Center of Excellence.

Dr. Coric has served as President of the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery (ISASS), Chair of the AANS/CNS Joint Section on Spine and Peripheral Nerves, President of the Southern Neurosurgical Society, President of the North Carolina Spine Society, and is on the Board of Directors of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS).

Dr. Coric has served on the International Journal of Spine Surgery (IJSS) Editorial Board and as a reviewer for New England Journal of Medicine, Neurosurgery journal, Journal of Neurosurgery, World Neurosurgery and Spine Journal. His professional interests include research focused on spinal motion-preserving techniques. He has served as a Principal Investigator in over thirty IDE/IND trials and was national Lead, or co-Lead, Investigator in ten IDE/IND trials. He has contributed more than one hundred and twenty peer-reviewed articles and over eighteen book chapters to the scientific literature.