My name is Maryam Rahman, MD, and I hold the title of associate professor in the department of neurosurgery at the University of Florida College of Medicine. I received my bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Johns Hopkins University before attending medical school and completing a neurosurgical residency at UF. During my training, I completed a two-year, neuro-oncology fellowship under the direction of world-renowned scientist Brent Reynolds, PhD, studying tumor stem cells and their role in developing novel therapies for brain tumors. Following residency, I completed a surgical neuro-oncology fellowship at Johns Hopkins University.

As a brain cancer specialist, I am dedicated to finding a cure for brain tumors. My laboratory focuses on identifying novel immunotherapy approaches to overcome resistance in patients with brain cancer. My current projects include the development of vaccines for the treatment of brain tumors and combining immunotherapy with MRI-guided laser ablation. I am proud to have my work supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, the Preston A. Wells Jr. endowment and private foundations. Additionally, my translational research is actively being tested in human clinical trials. I have published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles in addition to multiple book chapters and have been invited to speak at various national conferences and events.

I was the first female president of the Florida Neurosurgical Society and served on the executive committee of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. I also served on the Executive Committee of Women in Neurosurgery.