Neurosurgical Doctors

Mr Kismet Hossain-Ibrahim 
Mr Hossain-Ibrahim qualified from University College London, UK, where he also completed a PhD studying spinal cord regeneration. He completed his neurosurgical training in Birmingham, UK and undertook a neuro-oncology fellowship at King’s College Hospital in London prior to working as a locum consultant neurosurgeon in Newcastle Upon Tyne. Mr Hossain-Ibrahim then undertook a neuro-oncology fellowship studying immunotherapy and skull base surgery at Duke University Medical Center, USA prior to starting in Dundee in 2014. His primary interests are neuro-oncology, including translational research in this field and skull base surgery.

Mr David Bennett
Mr Bennett graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 2006. He subsequently completed his neurosurgical training at the Institute of Neurological Sciences in Glasgow. He went on to complete a specialist fellowship in endoscopic skull base surgery in Salford, Manchester and was appointed as a consultant in Dundee in 2018. His primary interests are skull base and neurovascular surgery and surgery for facial pain.

Ms Heinke Pulhorn
Ms Pulhorn is a Consultant Neurosurgeon. Along with her general neurosurgical input she has a special interest in complex spine management as well as Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus.

Ms Anna Solth
Ms Solth became a Neurosurgery Consultant at Ninewells, Dundee back in January 2020.  Prior to this post she completed a Royal College of Surgeons of England Neuro-oncology Fellowship in Southampton 2018/19 as well as Neurosurgical Training in the Northern Deanery (Newcastle upon Tyne and Middlesbrough) Entry in the specialist register Neurosurgery 2018.  After graduation from Medical School in Hamburg 2005, Ms Solth began her medical career as an Assistant doctor in Neurosurgery in Hamburg 2005 -2008.

Professional interests include: neuro-oncology, day case surgery, paediatric neurosurgery, hydrocephalus, governance.

Mr Mohamed Okasha
Mr Okashsa has been a UK Consultant Neurosurgeon since 2021.  He is dual trained after qualifying in Egypt, practicing for 9 years before moving to Newcastle for further surgical training for 6 years.
His training as encompassed a Royal College of Surgeons skull base Fellowship in Kings College Hospital London and he has a special interest in endoscopic pituitary and anterior skull base surgery as well as spine surgery.

There are four neurosurgery registrars in Dundee. Neurosurgical training starts at specialty trainee one (ST1) level and continues for eight years until ST8 level. There is usually one trainee on rotation from the West of Scotland neurosurgery training programme. In addition, there are locum appointments for training (LAT/FTSTA) or service (LAS) at ST1-5 levels, as well as Clinical Fellow posts. The trainees support the consultants in outpatient clinics, theatre sessions, and caring for inpatients, as well as being the first point of call for the 24 hour a day on call service. National recruitment to UK neurosurgical training is co-ordinated annually by the Yorkshire and the Humber Deanery. Local vacancies often arise in August, but may be advertised throughout the year on the NHS Scotland Recruitment website.

There are two Foundation Year 1 (FY1) doctors and one Foundation Year 2 (FY2) doctor at any one time in the Department of Neurosurgery. These doctors are in their first or second year post qualification and rotate through Neurosurgery for four months as part of their two year Foundation training within the East of Scotland Deanery. The Foundation doctors participate fully in providing inpatient and outpatient care for neurosurgical patients. Outside normal working hours, foundation doctors from other specialties also help to provide inpatient care. Recruitment to the Foundation Programme is co-ordinated nationally, although local locum vacancies may also be advertised by NHS Scotland Recruitment.

Ninewells Hospital is a teaching hospital for the University of Dundee and there are usually fourth and fifth year medical students on placement at the Department of Neurosurgery. The medical students are encouraged to take a full and active role in patient care within the department. There may also be students from the UK or abroad undertaking elective placements or special study modules (SSMs).