Draft:Lindsey Ross (neurosurgeon)

Lindsey Ross, M.D.
Dr. Lindsey Ross is an American neurosurgeon, health policy expert, and educator known for her contributions to neurological surgery, health equity, and medical innovation. She is currently based at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, where she serves as an Assistant professor in neurosurgery and a clinical leader for the Health Equity Council.

Early life and education
Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Ross pursued her undergraduate studies in biological sciences at Stanford University. Her interest in medicine was influenced by her parents. Her mother was an obstetrician-gynecologist and her father was an internist. She earned her medical degree from the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Originally considering a career in family medicine due to her community involvement, Ross shifted her focus towards neurosurgery following a personal encounter with the field during her medical education.

Medical school at UCLA
In 2008, during her first year at UCLA, Ross was a Denzel and Pauletta Washington Family Gifted Scholar at Cedars-Sinai. She was involved in research at the Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute of Ljubimova. Ross specifically contributed to studies focused on creating a groundbreaking delivery method utilizing a combination of tiny drugs capable of transversing the blood-brain barrier to target difficult-to-reach cancers.

While at medical school, a friend of Ross was struck by a motor vehicle and fell into a coma for two weeks. Despite suffering a fractured spine, the friend defied the odds and emerged from the coma, eventually regaining the ability to walk. . Witnessing the care and dedication of the neurosurgeons attending to her friend, Ross was inspired to pursue a career in neurosurgery alongside the bench neuroscience research she was doing.

Career and research
Ross began her medical journey with a residency in neurosurgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in 2012, where she also completed a fellowship in Complex Spine surgery.

Throughout her training, Dr. Ross was involved in various neurology subspecialties, including trauma surgery and neurocritical care. She has been actively engaged in medical education and quality improvement initiatives at Cedars-Sinai.

In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Ross collaborated with artist Marcus John in 2021 to bring the "Back to Healing" exhibit, featuring portraits of individuals with scoliosis, to the hospital. Dr. Ross advocates for patient care and promoting health equity beyond clinical interventions.

White House Fellows Program
In 2016, Dr. Ross was selected as a White House Fellow, a prestigious position that brought her to Washington, D.C., where she served as a Science and Health Policy Counselor to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. During her fellowship, she played key roles in developing responses to public health crises such as the opioid epidemic and the Zika virus outbreak.

Awards and honors
Dr. Ross has been recognized for her leadership in healthcare. She was awarded the Top 40 under 40 Leaders in Minority Health in 2017 by the Congressional Black Caucus. Other prestigious awards include the North American Spine Society (NASS) Top 20 under 40 and recognition as a Becker’s Hospital Review Rising Star.

In 2022, Dr. Ross completed her Master in Health Delivery Service (MHDS) from Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA.

Personal Life
Dr. Ross met her husband during her time at UCLA. They married during her residency and have two children. Outside of the hospital, she enjoys an active lifestyle and is a big advocate for brain and physical health.