Neurosurgeon, Writer, Educator, and Speaker

Gary R. Simonds is a highly experienced neurosurgeon, and former head of an academic neurosurgery program at Virginia Tech/Carilion Clinic. He is a Professor, and teaches regularly at the Virginia Tech School of Neuroscience and the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine.

A biochemistry major at Dartmouth College, Gary then went on to medical school at Rutgers, with his Neurosurgery residency and medical research fellowship at Walter Reed. He also holds a master’s degree in Health Care Delivery Science from Dartmouth.

Gary has written and spoken widely on the subjects of neuroscience, medical school admissions, humanism, medical socioeconomics, medical ethics, burnout, personal wellness, spirituality, death and dying, and the interface between science and religion. Known for his compassion and sense of humor, he also writes fiction and is an accomplished and entertaining storyteller.

Born in New Jersey, Gary has lived in New Jersey; England; Washington D.C.; Denver; Danville, Pennsylvania; and Roanoke, Virginia. He currently lives in the beautiful town of Black Mountain, North Carolina. And yes, that is his house on the homepage.

My Books

Building Neurosurgery in Neurosurgery Residents

The Thriving Physician

Thriving in Healthcare

Death’s Pale Flag (2023)

One Happy Accident (in revision)

So, You Want to Go to Medical School (writing)

How to Build a Kick-ass Residency (writing)

Speaking Topics

Writing Fiction
Burnout and Wellness
Clinical Neurosciences
Medical School Admissions
Medical Ethics
Compassionate Care
Life in Medicine
Facing Personal Illness
Death and Dying
Gratitude and Humor in Life
Facing Mayhem and Tragedy
Critical Thinking
Science and Religion
Spirituality
Breaking Bad News
Communicating with Patients and their Families
Living For Today
Living Simply and Sustainably
Why Kindness Matters