Welcome to Our New Interns!

Vera Ong first started doing neurosurgical research in high school, conducting a literature review on treating glioblastoma with nanotechnology. Upon starting her undergraduate studies at UCLA, she found one of the labs mentioned in her review—Dr. Isaac Yang’s neurosurgical tumor research lab and has been involved in Dr. Yang’s lab for over 7 years. In 2020, she graduated summa cum laude with a BS in Psychobiology and was one of ten out-of-state students accepted into the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaiʻi. She was awarded the Hiromu Matsumoto Scholarship upon acceptance. She received the Carolyn Kuckein AΩA Research Fellowship, evaluating EMP2 as a biomarker and therapeutic agent for meningiomas, and was elected president of the Gold Humanism Honor Society for her class cohort. 

She also spent some time at Dr. Manish Aghi’s lab in UCSF, studying the relationship between neutrophils and glioblastoma growth, CRISPERi and GBM cell invasion, and drug-mediated T-cell attraction for medulloblastoma treatment. She has over 30 peer-reviewed neurosurgical publications with topics ranging from tumor, vascular, functional, and spine. 

Even though her schedule may get busy, she strives to make time for her family and friends, volleyball open gyms, karaoke nights, running, and journaling. 
 

What do you enjoy most about neurosurgery as a career? 

From seeing loved ones who have required neurosurgery and observed patient experiences, I have seen that this specialty requires a high caliber of surgical ability, mental/physical stamina, and emotional awareness. I am drawn to the challenges that neurosurgery carries and the impact of its interventions. I am very grateful to begin my training and look forward to all the opportunities that will propel me to grow in these ways.

What led you to do your training at Stanford? 

I really loved my sub-internship at Stanford and was drawn by the strong surgical and research opportunities. I saw how well faculty members supported/mentored residents and how the residents genuinely enjoyed working with each other. I also grew up in the Bay Area and am very happy to be back home. Definitely a dream come true to have matched here at Stanford Neurosurgery!

What is something that others may not know about you? 

I love to play guitar and sing! I learned how to play the guitar when studying for the MCAT. I also learned how to play the ukelele while quarantining during the COVID pandemic right before starting medical school in Hawaii. As a proud Filipino, I’ve taken voice lessons and have been doing karaoke ever since I was in elementary school. Combining my love for medicine and music, I have provided music therapy for hospital patients since high school and during my medical school clinical rotations.

Originally from Southern California, Jamasb pursued his undergraduate studies at Harvard College, where he concentrated in Human Developmental and Regenerative Biology with a secondary in Neurobiology. At Harvard, he was designated a John Harvard Scholar and member of the Phi Beta Kappa Senior 48 Honor Society. After graduating, he conducted clinical research on Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease at Harvard Medical School’s Beth Israel Deaconess Center. Jamasb then pursued his medical training at Stanford University School of Medicine. Motivated to one day develop new technologies for patients, he simultaneously pursued an MBA through the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where he was mentored by leaders in entrepreneurship and biomedical device design. Jamasb was inspired to pursue neurosurgery after seeing his parents each undergo brain surgery at different stages of his life. Now a resident at Stanford, he strives to become a neurosurgeon who can provide the highest quality care to his patients while staying in touch with the reasons he entered the field.

In addition to medicine, Jamasb is a lifelong guitarist who has played in several blues and rock groups. He also enjoys playing tennis and was a member of the Harvard and Stanford Club Tennis Teams.

What do you enjoy most about neurosurgery as a career? 

After witnessing both of my parents undergo brain surgery at different stages of my life, I knew there were few careers that would give me as much fulfillment as neurosurgery. In this field, we are able to help patients through some of the most challenging moments of their lives. After training at Stanford, I aspire to be a neurosurgeon who can provide high quality care to my patients while staying in touch with the reasons I entered this field.

What led you to do your training at Stanford?

I am thrilled to join the Stanford Neurosurgery Residency Program because of the amazing support I received from the faculty here while I was a medical student at Stanford. The program has a great balance of operative experience as well as opportunities for research and innovation that I look forward to making the most of during my time in residency.

What is something that others may not know about you?

Prior to residency, I played the electric guitar in several bands. My band in college, Black Tie Affair, was a winner of Harvard’s annual Battle of the Bands, giving us the opportunity to open for Jessie J at our annual concert festival, Yardfest. In addition to music, I enjoy playing tennis and competed on the Harvard and Stanford club tennis teams.