Name: Sunil Manjila MD
Position: Neurosurgeon
Q: What does your job entail?
A: I do surgery on the brain, spinal column, and spinal cord with varied pathologies ranging from vascular lesions, tumors, and degenerative processes.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: Just like helping your own family, my job gives me the opportunity to help other people or even save a life. The difference I make and the thank you cards I receive for it make my day and are the reason I do what I do.
Q: What are the best career lessons you have learned?
A: Two things: Number one is never to give up. On the path to where I am today, after two neurosurgical residencies (India and USA), I encountered multiple hurdles and hard times, yet it’s only in those moments you learn who you are and what you’re genuinely passionate about. Secondly, it’s not a one-man job, it requires the right team to realize your vision, indeed a whole collaborative team where you are immersed selflessly. Remember there is no alphabet I in the word TEAM.
Q: What is one thing people would be surprised to learn about your job?
A: The amount of work that happens outside the OR. Neurosurgical procedures are already immensely complex, requiring a team of surgical nurses and technologists. But, before we even enter the operating room, countless more people have to work together to diagnose and plan the procedure. The care extends even after surgery, especially in the neurointensive care unit- it really is a team effort that often goes unrecognized.
Q: What interested you in working at Insight?
A: Insight is an excellent medical center providing care to their many patients just as you would for your family, and I jumped on the opportunity to be a part of their work (and be working in Michigan again!) as their mission and goals aligned well with mine. I have already worked in Mid Michigan for three years in the recent past, and this return is a huge bonus and benefit. Insight’s community of patients and clinicians have been a joy and honor to work with.
Q: What three words best describe you?
A: Meticulous | Energetic | Tenacious.
Q: What do you do when you aren’t working?
A: Neurosurgery is never far from my mind. When I’m not in the OR, I like to keep up with scientific developments in the field, perform research, or work on a manuscript. And, when I need a break from that, you can find me spending time with my wife Simi, sons Nihal and Rehan, traveling, watching movies, and engaging in outdoorsy hobbies like hunting and fishing.
Education:
After medical school in India, I did a neurosurgery residency in India at the prestigious Christian Medical College Vellore, a premier neurosurgery center in South India. I did a clinical fellowship at Fujita Health University, Japan, and then did a seven-year neurosurgery residency at University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio.