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                           JeffNEWS, July 1, 1995
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Jeffersonians Sign Agreement with Mexican Institute
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Several members of the Jefferson Medical College (JMC) faculty witnessed 
the formal signing of an agreement the University has established with the 
Manuel Velasco Suarez National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery in 
Mexico City. The institute is a world leader in endovascular therapy for 
diseased blood vessels in the brain.

Jefferson signatories were Joseph S. Gonnella, MD, senior vice president 
for academic affairs and dean, JMC, and Joseph R. Sherwin, PhD, professor 
of physiology, associate dean of scientific affairs and director, Office of 
Research Administration, JMC.

The agreement involves research collaboration in the fields of neurology, 
neurosurgery and neuroradiology, in particular endovascular therapy. 
Exchange programs to train neuroradiologists will be established in 
endovascular therapy, the treatment of vascular disease from within the 
vessels themselves, using guide wires and various types of catheters.

Further, two resident physicians involved in multiple sclerosis and 
neuropathology research will come to Jefferson.

"This visit helped us get to know our Mexican counterparts and 
familiarize ourselves with their research," said He'ctor V. Ortega, MD, 
research assistant professor of radiology, of the MRI physics laboratory. 

In addition, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital was one of three United 
States institutions participating in the institute's End of the 1995 
Academic Year and International Meeting of Controversies in the 
Neurosciences.

In his welcome to those attending the meeting, the institute's director 
general, Jesu's Rodri'guez Carbajal, acknowledged Dr. Gonnella as "a friend 
of the institute. . . ." Dr. Gonnella also made a presentation during the 
international meeting.

In addition to Dr. Gonnella, JMC faculty who made presentations were:

Neurologists - Guillermo M. Alexander, PhD, associate professor; Rodney 
Bell, MD, professor; Fred D. Lublin, MD, professor and director of the 
division of neuroimmunology and co-director of the Multiple Sclerosis 
Center, and Patricio F. Reyes, MD, professor and director of the division 
of neuropathology

Neurosurgeons -  David W. Andrews, MD associate professor; Bruce E. 
Northrup, MD, clinical associate professor, and Robert H. Rosenwasser, MD, 
chief of cerebrovascular and neuroendovascular surgery

Radiation oncologist -  Walter J. Curran Jr., MD, professor and 
department chairman 

Radiologists - Scott H. Faro, MD, adjunct assistant professor; Carlos 
Gonza'lez, MD, professor and director of the division of neuroradiology, and 
Dr. Ortega.


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