Yunjia Ni, MD

Neuroscience PhD candidate, researching on neuroimaging and skull base surgery @BarrowNeuro @richarddortch lab @asu

[Michael T. Lawton, MD @mtlawton]

Small acoustic neuromas are instructive because nerve bundles are visualized proximally & distally, the course of facial nerve is clear, & the nerve can be meticulously dissected from tumor. Notes: identify facial nerve early; preserve AICA + branches; look for nervus intermedius…

[Michael T. Lawton, MD @mtlawton]

The Seven Series Trilogy has officially become a Tetralogy. The other books had intraoperative photos; this one has almost all artwork. I want to shout out to my amazing illustrators who created the breath-taking artwork in #SevenCavernomas. You can put this one on your coffee table…

[BarrowNeurological @BarrowNeuro]

The highly anticipated “Seven Cavernomas” textbook has finally hit the shelves, but Barrow President and CEO @mtlawton, MD, says you might want to keep it on your coffee table.

“Seven Cavernomas” is the fourth textbook in Dr. Lawton’s “#SevenSeries" and currently holds the No. 1 spot for neurosurgery textbooks on the @amazon Best Sellers list. Like its predecessors, the book is solo authored and provides anatomical and surgical insights from a world-renowned #vascularneurosurgeon. However, it has a distinct difference from the original trilogy.

“The other books had intraoperative photos; this one has almost all artwork,” Dr. Lawton said. “I want to shout out my amazing illustrators who created the breathtaking artwork.”

The certified medical illustrators who worked on the book are part of the #BarrowNeurologicalInstitute Neuroscience Publications department, and they met with Dr. Lawton nearly every week for more than five years to bring his vision to life.

#Neuroscience Publications Manager @kristenlarson Keil and Senior #MedicalIllustrator @PeterMLawrence1 developed illustration guides and color palettes, for everything from tissue color to the various taxonomy classifications, to maintain a cohesive look throughout the 452-page tome.

“Dr. Lawton enjoyed being part of the creative process, offering valuable surgical insights about the specific color or textures of anatomical structures,” Peter said.

Senior Medical Modeler/Animator Dani VanBrabant used these color guides to ensure consistency across the 2D and 3D animations but also worked independently with Dr. Lawton and #neurosurgery residents on illustrations featuring functional networks of the brain.

Dr. Lawton’s creative approach is apparent in the original trilogy with his use of metaphors: dance choreography for aneurysm clipping, battle plans for resecting arteriovenous malformations, and architectural blueprints for cerebral bypass surgery. He continues this approach with “Seven Cavernomas,” using a central theme of cartography. This allowed the illustrators to imagine different ways to visualize “neurosurgical roadmaps.”

"It was a very collaborative process,” Kristen said. “Dr. Lawton wanted a lot of detail and accuracy, which really shows up in the final images. It was an incredibly rewarding project to work on.”

[Yunjia Ni, MD @Fauxvector]

@RahmaniRedi @UofLHealth @q_apel @Rapid__Medical @UofLNeurosurg @uofl Amazing achievement! Congratulations!!

[Samer Al Hadidi, MD,MS,FACP @HadidiSamer]

Check our viewpoint published @JAMA_current #MedEd

Abstract Factory—Research Culture Harming Medical Education

The "abstract factory" is destroying medical education. Trainees and junior faculty compete with abstract counts instead of meaningful research. Result: inflated CVs, diluted conferences. We shouldn't celebrate this—you don't need publications to be a great doctor.

➡️https://t.co/IMBhy45L1K

@utswcancer @rajshekharucms @HiraSMian @ManniMD1 @HemOncFellows @ASCOTECAG

[OpenAI @OpenAI]

We’re also testing our models on real world lab experience.

We worked with Red Queen Bio to test models to optimize protocols in the lab.

GPT-5 proposed, ran (via a controlled framework), and iterated on experiments — increasing a standard molecular cloning protocol's efficiency by 79x with a variety of techniques, including a new enzyme-based approach.
https://t.co/YtKFpYODnn

[Yunjia Ni, MD @Fauxvector]

@mtlawton Thank you for your leadership, teaching and support in this, Dr. Lawton!

[Yunjia Ni, MD @Fauxvector]

@PeterMLawrence1 @mtlawton @ZEISSmeditec @ThiemeIntl @CNS_Update Congratulations Peter!! This is GREAT achievement!!

[Yunjia Ni, MD @Fauxvector]

Appreciate all the help from my great collaborators in this project @drkivancyangi @neurosurg_taku

[Yunjia Ni, MD @Fauxvector]

Introducing the Barrow Vestibular Schwannoma Grading System — the first of its kind that quantifies rate limiting steps during tumor resection. It’ll pave the way for the next exciting step—quantitative MRI @mtlawton @RichardDortch @BarrowNeuro @CNS_Update #cns2025 #neurosurgery

[Yunjia Ni, MD @Fauxvector]

@mtlawton Congratulations Dr. Lawton!!

[Peter M. Lawrence @PeterMLawrence1]

Hundreds of illustrations and five years in the making, it was surreal to finally hold a copy of Dr. @mtlawton 's Seven Cavernomas. Thank you to everyone who came to the book signing and to @ZEISSmeditec and @ThiemeIntl for hosting the event at @CNS_Update #neurosurgery #cns2025 @CNSResidents @BarrowNeuro

[Michael T. Lawton, MD @mtlawton]

Cystic acoustic neuromas (vestibular schwannomas) are rare & curious: they grow faster, larger, displace facial nerve in atypical ways. After removal, they give spectacular views of the cranial nerves, arteries, and posterior fossa landscape. Wait for the anterior spinal artery…

[Michael T. Lawton, MD @mtlawton]

Skip today’s article, go straight to the premier of Barrow Base Camp–Season 4: “Traits of Greatness.” This season we cover less nuts & bolts of neurosurgery and instead more on the mindset & traits the make neurosurgeons succeed. Catch our 1st episode: “On Humility”
https://t.co/N1huPCyRGB

[Yunjia Ni, MD @Fauxvector]

@BarrowNeuro @neurosurg_taku @BAFOUND @mtlawton Congratulations Takuma! @neurosurg_taku

[NASA Mars @NASAMars]

After a year of scientific scrutiny, a rock sample collected by the Perseverance rover has been confirmed to contain a potential biosignature. The sample is the best candidate so far to provide evidence of ancient microbial life on Mars. https://t.co/0BAO1dhMG8

[Michael T. Lawton, MD @mtlawton]

I need to take a moment to acknowledge with gratitude the amazing philanthropic support given to @BarrowNeuro and @SupportBarrow by the generous, altruistic, high-minded community here in Phoenix and beyond. These numbers are truly inspiring...

[Yunjia Ni, MD @Fauxvector]

@WuyangYang1 Welcome to Arizona!

[BarrowNeurological @BarrowNeuro]

In June, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs signed Senate Bill 1741 into law. This bill allows adults with AHCCCS to receive #cochlearimplants and outpatient #speechtherapy services, which were not previously covered by Medicaid.

We're proud to share that Barrow #Neurotology Program Director and #ENTsurgeon Shawn Stevens, MD, and #speechlanguagepathologist Carolyn Abraham were among the champions of this bill—alongside the Arizona Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ArSHA) and other clinicians around the state.

Carolyn attended the public signing ceremony on July 1, and we had our own celebration at #BarrowNeurologicalInstitute a couple of days later.

Thank you, Dr. Stevens and Carolyn, for your dedication to expanding access to cochlear implants and speech therapy—both here at Barrow and across the state of #Arizona!