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.

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.

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.

Mahesh Karandikar, M.D., Ph.D.

Neurosurgeon

Dr. Karandikar is board certified in neurological surgery and finished medical school at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, TX. He also completed his Ph.D. at UT Southwestern in Dallas, TX. He completed his residency at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle. He then spent one year in a pediatric neurosurgery fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh and six months in a spine fellowship at Johns Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore. He has been practicing neurosurgery for over 6 years.

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.

Joe Danko, AGACNP-BC

Nurse Practitioner

Joe Danko, AGACNP-BC, is a board-certified nurse practitioner with a specialty in acute care gerontology. He finished his bachelor’s degree as a registered nurse at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. He went on to complete his master’s degree at Madonna University in Livonia, Michigan.

Joe worked in the medical ICU, pre-op, and recovery room at St. John Hospital in Detroit for 11 years before joining Insight in February 2016.

Lavonne Alexander, FNP-BC

Nurse Practitioner

Lavonne Alexander is the director of the Insight Healing Center. A board-certified nurse practitioner, she obtained her Doctorate in Nursing Practice through Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan.

Much of her past experience concentrated on acute pain service at William Beaumont Hospital, where she worked in the Orthopedic Joint Unit, Neurosurgery and Medical Surgical Units, and Mother-Baby Units. While there, she also assisted in the pain clinic utilizing various pain medicine delivery systems such as epidural injections, anesthetic blocks, indwelling epidural catheters, and implanted pain pumps.

Lavonne has also spent time as a case manager working with traumatic brain injured patients, coordinating care to assist them through their recovery period. Lavonne joined the Insight Team in June 2018.

Kris Swanson

Corporate Director of Outpatient Services

Kris Swanson earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Alma College in May 2001 and master’s degree in business administration from Central Michigan University in May 2002. Since then he has been a manager for 13 years and has been a part of Insight Pain Management since it began in January 2012.

Nina Smith

Corporate Director of Patient Experience and Care Management

Nina Smith earned her bachelor’s degree in human biology from the University of Michigan-Flint. She joined Insight in 2009 and works with all neuroscience and neurosurgery departments.

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 sponsored studies, 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.