Dr. Edie Zusman Neurosurgeon,
Piedmont Neuroscience Center Dr. Edie Zusman directed the NorthBay Center for Neuroscience and served as Chief of the Neurosurgery Division at her Mayo Clinic Network Affiliated Northern CA hospital. Dr. Zusman, recognized nationally and internationally as a top brain and spine surgeon, initiated models for multidisciplinary patient centered care emphasizing prevention, mindfulness, health and wellness.  Her innovative “Prehab” program with a telehealth gateway encourages patients to take responsibility and participate in improving their health, avoiding surgery whenever possible and being more fit and prepared in the event surgery is needed.
Starting medical school at age 19 in the Northwestern Honors Medical Program, Dr. Zusman then did her residency at UC Davis, and Neurosurgical Fellowship at UCSF, specializing in awake craniotomies, neuronavigation, brain mapping and molecular medicine research. She was recruited to UC Davis where she held a process patent in photodynamic and laser therapy, won the top junior faculty research award, established the first endowed professorship in the department funding her basic science epilepsy lab and was named physician of the year by the UC Davis nurses and staff.
In 2002, Dr. Zusman was recruited to Sutter Health where she helped lead the Sutter Neuroscience Institute to be recognized among the top 50 in US News and World Report. She was the first female neurosurgeon in the history of the profession to serve on the American Association of Neurological Surgeons Board of Directors, was President of Women In Neurosurgery, Chair of the Epilepsy Foundation of Northern California, Board Member for Food System 6 Accelerator, Head Royce School, and the Foundation Board of NorthBay Medical Center.
Internationally she is an advisor to RISE Clinic, Nigeria where she developed and led the first international standards epilepsy program in Anambra State shifting the treatment of seizures from witchcraft to WHO approved medical management. She returned to Nigeria 5 years later to start the first public private partnership for recognition of TIA’s/warning strokes to prevent the 40% conversion to completed strokes.  In doing so, she laid the groundwork for the first emergency response protocols in rural areas working toward the G4 Alliance goal of 80% of people having access to emergency surgical care by 2030.  Dr. Zusman was honored as a keynote speaker for the Continental Association of African Neurosurgical Societies in 2018.
With an MBA from George Washington emphasizing health policy, Dr. Zusman serves on the editorial board of both Neurosurgery and World Neurosurgery Journals. She is recognized as an expert in healthcare forecasting, vertically integrated health systems, data analytics, clinical decision support, and value-based care. Her team, D4AS’s award winning work with the CDC National Leadership Academy for the Public’s Health inspired going upstream for disease prevention by developing and implementing guidelines to include health elements in the built environment in Sacramento County and informing the California General Plan.
Based on Dr. Zusman’s clinical research, she started the non-profit SafeLivingSpace.org, dedicated to Brain Injury screening and prevention in domestic, intimate partner and family violence.  As a leading voice on injury prevention, Dr. Zusman and her team have been invited to give commentary by members of Congress, consult with the LAPD/LAFD, the Los Angeles City Attorney’s office and with New York City and State Government to advance Brain Injury screening for all who have experienced DV/IPV in homeless and family shelters.