Ralph Rahme, M.D., F.A.C.S. - Division Chief

 "Medicine is like a Tango. It takes two to perform: a selfless doctor and a strong-willed patient. I accept nothing less than full partnership with my patients. We either win together or lose together. We typically win."

"Serving people is not a job, it is a vocation. Neurosurgery is not a profession, it is a lifestyle."

Dr. Rahme serves as Chief of the Division of Neurosurgery and Director of the Neurosurgery Fellowship Program. He is a highly experienced and accomplished academic neurosurgeon who is well-regarded in the neurosurgical community and respected by his peers. He has been in neurosurgical practice since 2012, during which time he has taught medical students, trained residents and fellows, and has produced hundreds of peer-reviewed scientific publications and presentations at national and international meetings. Dr. Rahme's background is quite unique, including a 13-year extensive training in general and specialized neurosurgery, including neurovascular/neuroendovascular, skull base, neuro-oncologic, and spine surgery. While most of his training was in the US, he has spent several years training in Canada and in Lebanon, his country of birth, which has provided him with a truly unparalleled, diverse clinical experience. Given his unique multicultural background, Dr. Rahme is fluent in several languages, including English, Arabic, French, Spanish, and Italian.

• Complex Cranial Surgery
• Vascular & Endovascular Neurosurgery
• Stroke Care
• Skull Base & Neuro-Oncologic Surgery
• Neurotrauma & Neurocritical Care
• CSF Hydrodynamics
• Spine Surgery

• Associate Professor (Affiliate Medical), CUNY School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
• Associate Professor (Adjunct Clinical), NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, NY, USA

• 2017-2018: Surgical Neuro-Oncology, Skull Base and Open Vascular Neurosurgery - Lenox Hill Hospital (Northwell Health), New York, NY, USA
• 2014-2016: Neurosurgery - INOVA Fairfax Medical Campus, Falls Church, VA, USA
• 2010-2012: Endovascular Surgical Neuroradiology - University of Cincinnati/Mayfield Clinic, Cincinnati, OH, USA
• 2009-2010: Neurosurgery - Universite de Montreal/Hopital Notre-Dame du CHUM, Montreal, QC, Canada

• 2008-2009: Universite de Montreal/Hopital Notre-Dame du CHUM, Montreal, QC, Canada
• 2005-2008: Universite Saint-Joseph/Hotel-Dieu de France, Beirut, Lebanon
• 2003-2004: Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

• 2002-2003: UMDNJ/New Jersey Medial School (Rutgers), Newark, NJ, USA
• 2001-2002: American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon

• 1994-2001: Universite Saint-Joseph - Faculte de Medecine, Beirut, Lebanon

See Dr. Rahme's publications on PubMed

"Neurosurgery is team work. But, in this field, the MVP and the team’s Capitan is no one else but the patient."

"Success never comes easy. It takes hard work, dedication, focus, faith, and a hint of luck."

Dr. Lazaro is a neurosurgeon with special expertise in complex spine surgery. He is dually fellowship-trained in both neurosurgery and orthopedic spine surgery, and has been in practice for over 13 years. Dr. Lazaro completed his residency in his country of birth, Brazil, following which he spent a whole year at the prestigious Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, AZ as a research fellow in spinal biomechanics. This was followed by a clinical fellowship in complex spinal surgery at Western University in Ontario, Canada. Upon his return to Brazil, he established a busy medical practice in Rio de Janeiro from 2010 to 2020. During that time, Dr. Lazaro was the program director for the neurosurgery residency program and Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery and Neuroanatomy at the University Iguaçu in Rio de Janeiro. During his tenure there, he also received a Master’s in Science degree. In 2020, he returned to the United States where he underwent further post-doctoral training in complex spine surgery and adult spine deformity in the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA. He then moved to New York City where he joined the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Columbia University as Assistant Attending and Postdoctoral Fellow in pediatric spine deformity. During that time, Dr. Lazaro worked with prominent leaders and pioneers in the field of spine deformity surgery, including the world-renowned Dr. Lawrence Lenke, one of the most influential spine surgeons of his era. Shortly before joining SBH Health System, Dr. Lazaro served in the Department of Neurosurgery at Columbia University as Assistant Attending and Postdoctoral Fellow in quality improvement and patient safety. Dr. Lazaro is a highly motivated surgeon-scientist who is deeply invested in the development of a comprehensive, dedicated spine program for the Bronx community. He provides advanced treatment to patients with various spine disorders, including degenerative disc disease (herniated disc, spinal stenosis), spinal oncology (tumors), spinal trauma, revision spine surgery, and spine deformity (scoliosis, spondylolisthesis). Dr. Lazaro sees patients at the SBH Ambulatory Care Center as well as other affiliated clinics in the Bronx, including Union Community Health Center and Medalliance Medical Health Services.

• Degenerative Spine Disease
• Oncologic Spine Surgery
• Spinal Trauma
• Complex Spine Surgery/Reconstruction
• Revision Spine Surgery
• Spine Deformity Correction

• Instructor (Adjunct Clinical), NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, NY, USA

• 2022-2023: Quality Improvement and Patient Safety (Neurosurgery) - Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
• 2021-2022: Advanced Pediatric Spine Deformity (Orthopedic Surgery) - Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
• 2020-2021: Complex Spine Surgery & Adult Spine Deformity (Neurosurgery) - University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
• 2009-2010: Complex Spine Surgery (Neurosurgery) - Western University, London, ON, Canada
• 2007-2008: Spinal Biomechanics (Research) - Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA

• 2003-2007: Hospital de Força Aérea do Galeão (Brazilian Air Force Hospital), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

• 1996-2002: University of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

See Dr. Lazaro's publications on PubMed

Dr. DeMattia is a very experienced and seasoned neurosurgeon who has been in practice in New York City for over 20 years. He directs the neurosurgery program at Lincoln Medical Center in the Bronx, while serving part-time in the Division of Neurosurgery at SBH Health system.

• Cranial Surgery
• Neuro-Oncologic Surgery
• Pituitary Tumors
• Spinal Surgery
• Neurotrauma

See Dr. DeMattia's publications on PubMed

Dr. Todor is a very experienced and seasoned neurosurgeon who has been in practice in the Bronx for over 2 decades. She is very active nationally on various Trauma and Neurotrauma committees, and serves as Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) instructor. She directs the neurosurgery program at Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx, while serving part-time in the Division of Neurosurgery at SBH Health System.

• Neurotrauma
• Cranial Surgery

See Dr. Todor's publications on PubMed

"I believe patient care is the truest version of living art a person can demonstrate. As I realize the important role I have in improving the lives of others, I've learned that the simplest act of kindness can positively impact someone's day. I want my practice to reflect a genuine concern for every person entrusted to our care and to be a source of hope and encouragement."

Born and raised in New York, Dyanne has always felt this calling to help others in need. She started her medical career as a medical assistant, a job she has fulfilled for years. Through hard work and dedication, her medical career flourished further, as she managed to become a physician assistant in Neurosurgery, a field she finds "marvelous". To Dyanne, the greatest privilege is her ability to leverage her years of medical education and experience so she can help and serve the community. Dyanne is bilingual (English, Spanish) and has been a board-certified physician assistant since March 2023.

• 2020-2022: Master of Science and Physician Assistant Studies - Mercy College, Bronx, NY, USA

"Good medicine begins with compassion. You must first put yourself in the shoes of the patient."

Olivia is a board-certified physician assistant with a passion for Neurosurgery and a desire to help improve healthcare access and quality of care in underserved areas. Olivia first found her passion for Neuroscience during her undergraduate studies, ultimately graduating with a B.S. degree in Neuroscience. She then served as an emergency medical technician for 4 years, covering multiple cities in the state of Massachusetts. She subsequently pursued a Master degree in Physician Assistant Studies at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY before joining our team.

• 2023: Master of Science / Physician Assistant Studies - Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY, USA
• 2019: Neuroscience - Stonehill College, North Easton, MA, USA

"Medical knowledge is only one part of proper patient care; the rest is your desire to help. Provide every patient with the type of treatment and care you would want for your own loved one. Every patient matters."

Mary Rose was born, raised, and spent most of her life in New Jersey. However, it was during her undergraduate studies in Biology and Spanish in Dayton, OH that Mary Rose discovered her passion for the medical field and the opportunity to pursue a career as physician assistant. Her desire to help others in need was further bolstered during her time abroad in a medical mission in Guatemala, where she she helped provide medical services in underserved rural areas. Subsequently, Mary Rose worked for some time as an emergency department scribe, allowing her to gain more appreciation for hands-on medical work in high-acuity settings. Mary Rose ultimately enrolled in the PA graduate program at Midwestern University in Illinois, graduating in 2023 and becoming a board-certified physician assistant.

· 2023: Master of Medical Science in Physician Assistant Studies - Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL, USA

· 2019: Bachelor of Science in Biology - University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, USA

· 2019: Bachelor of Art in Spanish - University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, USA