Jawad Shah, M.D., FRCSC, FAANS, FACS

Neurosurgeon

Dr. Jawad Shah studied at McGill University in Montreal and the University of Manitoba prior to completing medical school at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada. He completed subspecialty training in skull base neurosurgery at the University of Arkansas. His areas of specialty include brain stem surgery, vascular neurosurgery, brain tumors, complex spine, and neuromodulation. He currently practices at McLaren, Hurley, and Genesys hospitals.

He is involved in extensive research projects including clinical, patent work, biological/mechanical and electrical product development, industry-sponsoredstudies, and theoretical philosophy. He is a faculty member at the Michigan State University Medical School and the Co-Director of the Center for Cognition and Neuroethics, jointly administered by the University of Michigan and Insight.

Dr. Sunil Manjila

Dr. Sunil Manjila is a neurosurgeon at Insight’s Flint, Dearborn, and Warren facilities, specializing in complex brain and spine medical conditions. Before joining Insight, Dr. Manjila was an attending physician at Agape Pain Management Center in Las Cruces, New Mexico, The Hospital of Central Connecticut, and Hartford hospital in Connecticut. He had also served as Chief of Neurosurgery and Head of Neurosciences at McLaren Bay Region, Michigan.

With special interests in open cerebrovascular procedures, hydrocephalus, neuro-oncology (including awake craniotomy), skull base and pain procedures, transcranial and endonasal endoscopy, Dr. Manjila is enthusiastic about improving his patients’ lives with compassionate, one-on-one care. Dr. Manjila has treated hundreds of cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spinal disorders throughout his career, utilizing advanced techniques and surgical technology. He is also a productive author with over 100 Pubmed-indexed publications and 2000 plus Google citations, apart from a textbook he edited on “ Lumbar Interbody Fusions” ( Elsevier, UK). His special area of research includes surgical robotics and minimally invasive craniospinal procedures.

Link to Pubmed 

Dr. Manjila is available for new patient appointments at Insight in Flint and Insight Surgical Hospital in Warren.

Allison Piatt, ACNP-BC

Nurse Practitioner

Allison Piatt, ACNP-BC, is a board-certified nurse practitioner with a specialty in acute care. She completed her nurse practitioner degree with honors from St. Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri, and her nursing degree at the University of Michigan in Flint.

Allison had six years of experience as a registered nurse taking care of step down and ICU surgical patients at area hospitals before pursuing a career as a nurse practitioner. She also worked in general surgery as a nurse practitioner prior to joining Insight in July 2014.

Dr. Cameron McDougal

Dr. McDougall is originally from rural Saskatchewan and is a University of Saskatchewan Medical School graduate. He completed his residency in neurosurgery at the University of Alberta. During this time, he also participated in a one-year fellowship at the University of California San Francisco. Following his residency, Dr. McDougall completed a three-year combined open cerebrovascular and endovascular fellowship at the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas.

Before joining Insight, Dr. McDougall was an assistant professor of neurosurgery at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. In addition to general neurosurgery, Dr. McDougall has a special interest in vascular diseases of the brain, including stroke, brain aneurysms, and arteriovenous malformations.

Dr. McDougall’s innovative ideas and knowledge in neurosurgery, along with his dedication to ethical and compassionate patient care, will be a welcome addition to the Insight team as we continue to deliver a world-class approach to neurological treatment.

Dr. Roy Torcuator

Dr. Roy Torcuator is a neurosurgeon at Insight Institute of Neurosurgery and Neuroscience with interests in general neurosurgery, spine neurosurgery, and neuro-oncology.

He completed medical school at the University of the East-Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center and neurosurgery residency training at Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center-St. Luke’s Medical Center in the Philippines. He subsequently completed a clinical fellowship in Neuro-Oncology at the Hermelin Brain Tumor Center- Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, MI and an Image-guided Neurosurgery fellowship at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital-Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Torcuator was previously a senior staff attending neuro-oncologist at Henry Ford Hospital. He also headed the Comprehensive Brain Tumor Service at St. Luke’s Medical Center and was the Fellowship Director of the Neuro-Oncology Fellowship program and Training Officer for the Neurosurgery residency program in the same institution. He was also a clinical associate professor IV at the St. Luke’s Medical Center-William Quasha College of Medicine.

He likes to spend time with his family, watch movies and play table tennis during his free time.

Nina Smith

Chief Experience Officer

Nina Smith is the Chief Experience Officer (CXO) at INSIGHT and is responsible for ensuring every experience between our team and our patients is positive. Nina is incredibly passionate about people and dedicated to going above and beyond to ensure the needs, wants, and desires of everyone associated with INSIGHT are met. From a young age, Nina has been taking care of people and her family and always loved knowing that one small gesture can make an impact in ways we never fully understand. Nina graduated with honors from the University of Michigan-Flint, earning a bachelor of arts degree in human biology. Outside of work, Nina enjoys spending time with her family, traveling to warm destinations and outdoor summer activities.

Idara J. Edem, MD, MSc, FRCSC

Neurosurgeon

Dr. Idara Edem is a Canadian-trained neurosurgeon, board-certified in Neurosurgery (2019), by the Royal College of Physicians and
Surgeons of Canada. During her residency, she also earned an MSc in Global Health and Global Surgery from King’s College London, UK while performing research in South Africa.

Dr. Edem is passionate about providing excellent patient-centered care to relieve suffering and prolong survival. Dr. Edem will have privileges in all hospitals in the city of Flint and the Insight Surgical Hospital in Warren, where she will be performing cranial, spinal and peripheral nerve neurosurgical procedures. She will serve as Director of Skull base and Neurosurgical Oncology at the Insight Institute of Neurosurgery and Neuroscience.

Expertise: General Neurosurgery, Skull Base Neurosurgery, Complex Spine, Primary and metastatic brain, spine and peripheral nerve tumors, Endoscopic endonasal approaches, Pituitary tumors and Radiosurgery

Kris Swanson

Chief Operating Officer

Kris Swanson earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Alma College in May 2001 and later earned his master’s in business administration from Central Michigan University in May 2002. Since then he has been a manager at INSIGHT since 2012 and has played a crucial role in developing INSIGHT Pain Management when it opened in 2012.

Monica Culver, AGACNP-BC

Nurse Practitioner

Monica Culver is board-certified as an adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner. She completed bachelor’s degrees in nursing and biology as well as a Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Michigan-Flint.  She was born, raised, and currently resides in the Flint area.

Her previous experience includes working as an ICU RN as well as an interventional pain management and interventional radiology nurse practitioner. She has volunteered abroad on medical missions to Kenya and Cambodia with plans to pursue such endeavors throughout her career.

Dali Yin, M.D., Ph.D.

Neurosurgeon

Dr. Dali Yin was an assistant professor in neurosurgery at the University of Illinois at Chicago and attending neurosurgeon at Mt. Sinai Hospital at Chicago before joining Insight. He earned his M.D. in China and Ph.D. in Japan.

He completed neurosurgery residency training in China. He also finished a spine surgery fellowship in neurosurgery at UIC and functional neurosurgery fellowship at UIC and University of Colorado in Denver. He focuses on functional neurosurgery, spine surgery, and general neurosurgery.

Sudesh Ebenezer, M.D., Ed.M., FRCSC, FAANS

Neurosurgeon

Dr. Sudesh Ebenezer is an adult and pediatric neurosurgeon and the director of Pediatric Surgery at Insight. He also performs spine surgery and epilepsy surgery. Originally from British Columbia, Canada, he obtained his medical degree and neurosurgery training while in Canada. During his studies, Dr. Ebenezer obtained a Harvard University Scholarship, and went on to obtain a master’s degree from Harvard University. He wrote editorials for various Harvard University School newspapers, including the John F. Kennedy School of Government, and has been a guest lecturer at Harvard Medical School. He received a Congratulatory Certificate from the Government of Canada for his work at Harvard University.

He then completed his pediatric neurosurgery training at Seattle Children’s Hospital – University of Washington. Dr. Ebenezer also served as an Attending Physician at Seattle Children’s Hospital, and was voted to the Staff Honor Role. While in Washington State, Dr. Ebenezer received the Patient’s Choice Award three years in a row for being one of Washington’s Favorite Physicians. He also served as a consulting and treating neurosurgeon for active duty U.S. military stationed in Washington.

Dr. Ebenezer has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as having Extraordinary Ability in Science and Education. He now serves as an advisor for Harvard University’s Alumni Affairs & Development. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada and the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. He is also an active member of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.

Dr. Ebenezer is also committed to humanitarian medical service, and he has volunteered his time in various countries, from medical clinics in rural Peru to military hospitals in the Ukraine.