Associate Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery; Associate Director, Neuroendovascular & Stroke Fellowships | UPMC Stroke Institute; Director, Pediatric Neuroendovascular Surgery; Co-Director, Neurovascular Center of Excellence — UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine
Proud to have represented SVIN globally and nationally through Mission Thrombectomy and Brain Attack Coalition initiatives, co-chaired the SVIN Registry, and expanded our participating sites and publications. Grateful for your support for a second term to sustain our momentum and keep SVIN the leading voice in cerebrovascular care worldwide.
Fawaz Al-Mufti, MD (Incumbent)
Director of SVIN's Mission Thrombectomy & Director of the Neurointerventional fellowship Westchester Medical Center
From SVIN Mission Thrombectomy on the Hill to the UN, from Tele-Observerships to new symposia—SVIN VEINS and SVIN-MT WIN—I’ve shown SVIN can dream big and deliver bigger. As Treasurer, I grew assets +$600K and helped build sustainable programs like Stroke Interventional Lab Certification (SILC). I finish what I start. As At-Large Director, I’ll bring advocacy, innovation, and financial firepower to keep SVIN moving with purpose.
Alexandra Czap, MD, FSVIN (Incumbent)
Associate Professor of Neurology University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
It is an honor and privilege to be nominated for the SVIN Board of Directors. I am dual fellowship trained in vascular neurology and neuro-oncology, with research interests focused on innovative endovascular applications both within and beyond the field of stroke. My work includes advancing mobile stroke unit capabilities and exploring adjuvant intra-arterial chemotherapy for malignancy management.
I have been an active member of SVIN since my residency and fellowship training and now as an Associate Professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Over the years, I have greatly benefited from SVIN’s resources and mentorship, which has strengthened my commitment to supporting and advancing the society. I have served on the SVIN Board of Directors for the past four years, chaired the SVIN 2024 Annual Meeting in San Diego, and served as vice chair for the 2023 Annual Meeting in Miami. Additionally, I have had the honor of chairing the SVIN Research Committee for the past two years.
As a vascular neurologist, I am deeply committed to the continued growth of our field and organization. A key strength of my candidacy lies in representing and amplifying the perspective of non-interventional neurologists within SVIN. If elected, I will work to expand SVIN’s presence in the broader neurology community and among non-interventional specialties. My experience with the AHA International Stroke Conference and PRESTO (Pre-Hospital Stroke Treatment Organization) will serve as valuable assets to SVIN. Beyond strengthening stroke representation, I aim to build a bridge to neuro-oncology, leveraging my dual specialties and extensive networks to foster diversity, creativity, and innovation within the society. Furthermore, I am passionate about enhancing SVIN’s mentorship and educational initiatives for vascular and endovascular trainees as well as junior faculty, ensuring robust support for the next generation of leaders in our field.
Mohammad El-Ghanem, MD (Incumbent)
Neuroendovascular Surgery — Northwest Medical Center, Houston; Interventional Neurologist, Vascular Neurology —
As a second-term SVIN Board Member, I’ve spearheaded social media growth to over 10,000 followers, chaired the Social Media Committee, contributed to the Education and Wellness Committees, supported key initiatives such as the Fellows Course and MT global efforts, and will chair the 2027 Annual Meeting. I aim to advance SVIN’s mission and global collaboration, advocating to all vascular and interventional neurologists nationally and internationally.
Mikayel Grigoryan, MD, FSVIN
Regional Medical Director, Neurointervention Adventist Health Southern California
Dedicated to advancing SVIN’s mission, I’ve served on SVIN’s Research, GAPS, and Wellness Committees. This is my third time running—third time’s a charm! Thanks for your vote.
Cynthia Kenmuir, MD, PhD, FSVIN, FAHA (Incumbent)
Interventional Neurologist, Vascular Neurologist University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
It has been an honor to serve on the SVIN BOD and I would like to continue that service with your support! I have been an active member of the Board and serve as the Chair of WIN, on the guideline writing and research committees, was the Chair of the Multisocietal WINN group and served as the Abstract Chair.
Priyank Khandelwal
Associate Professor, Endovascular Neurological Surgery & Neurology Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey — Newark, NJ, 07101-6750
NeuroEndovascular Therapy and Cerebrovascular Diseases; Associate Professor of Neurology, Neurological Surgery, Radiology and Imaging Sciences; Chair, Endovascular and Interventional Section — American Academy of Neurology Indiana University School of Medicine
I got interested in care of stroke patients from a personal inspiration--my grandfather! I saw what difference it makes with difficulties in triage and treatment, especially in developing countries. Inspired by my grandfather’s post stroke struggle, I decided to train as vascular and interventional neurologist.
I have a busy endovascular practice at IU that encompasses hyperacute and elective endovascular service. I have authored and co-authored more than 75 peer-reviewed scientific publications (journal articles and book chapters) that have been published in some of highest impact factor journals in the field on Cerebrovascular Diseases. I also serve on editorial board of multiple high impact journals like International Journal of Stroke and Interventional Neuroradiology. I have been invited as a panelist, moderator and speaker for local, national, and international meetings and presented my work at these meetings.
In addition to running a busy service and research I enjoy teaching. My teaching skills have been well appreciated by medical students, residents and fellows at various medical schools that I have had the good fortune to be associated with. I have been awarded multiple teaching awards as a resident and staff including the prestigious “A.B. Baker Teacher Recognition Award” by the American Academy of Neurology.
I currently serve as Chair of Endovascular and Interventional Neurology Section of AAN and would like to foster close working relationship between AAN and SVIN. I have served multiple committees at SVIN including social media, SVIN GAPS and Mission Thrombectomy for past many years and will continue to contribute wherever I can!
Hesham E. Masoud, MD, MSc., RPNI, CHSE, FSVIN
Associate Professor of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Radiology; Interventional Neurologist, Vascular Neurology SUNY Upstate Medical University
It is an honor to be nominated to the SVIN Board. I view SVIN as uniquely representative of my professional identity in vascular and interventional neurology. I recall the first time I attended a SVIN conference when access to clinical mentorship and guidance in the field was limited for neurology residents. It is an experience that left a lasting impression and continues to shape my commitment to the society.
Since then, I have remained an active and focused member, now serving as Chair of the Membership Committee. My efforts have centered on expanding SVIN’s reach and relevance, particularly among vascular neurologists and junior trainees. I believe the strength of SVIN lies in its ability to unify procedural and medical expertise, and I see continued growth in that space as critical to our future.
My previous contributions include initiating the Best Practice Update for the SVIN Guidelines Committee and serving on the Mission Thrombectomy Executive Committee. I hope to build on that work and contribute to a strategic vision for SVIN that prioritizes mentorship, education, and inclusive representation. I am deeply committed to ensuring that our society remains the central platform for advancing the future of interventional neurology.
Pankajavalli Ramakrishnan, MD, PhD
Associate Director of Stroke and Neurointerventional Surgery - Northern Region; Chief of Neurology - Health Alliance Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Westchester Medical Center Health Network
As a long-standing SVIN member, I bring dedication, leadership, and collaboration. I co-chaired the 2024 World Thrombectomy Day highlighting global advocacy, and co-led Mission Thrombectomy’s inaugural 2025 Day on the Hill to standardize EMS stroke education for meaningful patient outcomes.
Wondwossen Gebreamanuel Tekle, MD, FSVIN
Associate Professor of Neurology, University of Texas RGV, Texas, USA; Associate Professor of Neurology (Adjunct), Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia; CEO & Co-founder, Axon Stroke and Spine Center, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Founder, Ethiopia Stroke Initiative (USA); Ethiopia Stroke Foundation (Ethiopia) —
I am very honored to be nominated by my peers to serve as director at-large. I am more than happy to help you in advancing SVIN’s mission while learning from you all. I believe my reasonably long membership with SVIN since I was a senior resident in 2009 which continued as a more dedicated member when I became an attending in 2013, will become handy when I join you all as director at-large. I am a recipient of the 2022 SVIN’s prestigious “Neuro-Interventional Pioneering Award” and have become a fellow of SVIN (FSVIN) since 2024.
My current practice across two continents (North America and Africa - Ethiopia) has given me a wider perspective to the global disparities in stroke and neurointerventional care, and helped me put some actionable plans to work and bridge some gaps. This was achieved through the establishment of the first comprehensive stroke center in Ethiopia and two non-for-profit organizations (one each in the USA and Ethiopia) which helped me train multiple stroke and neuroendovascular fellows and engage in stroke research and stroke awareness campaigns in Ethiopia over the last 4 years.
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