Joseph M. Phillips, MD, PhD

Clinincal Interests & Specialties

• Extracellular microenvironment of the brain, physiology and pathophysiology.
• Ion-sensitive microelectrode technology, and medical applications.
• The sodium/potassium-ATPase (sodium pump) of the mammalian nervous system.
• Immunocytochemical characterization of CNS tumors based on developmental markers.
• Craniocervical junction and Chiari malformations
• Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery
• Bone substitute for spinal fusion surgery
• Neuroendocrine surgery
• Pediatric neurosurgery

Appointments & Affiliations

ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS 

• Associate Professor of Surgery (Neurosurgery)  Dartmouth Medical School Hanover, New Hampshire (1996-2000)
• Assistant Professor of Surgery (Neurosurgery) Dartmouth Medical School Hanover, New Hampshire (1988-1995)

HOSPITAL APPOINTMENTS:

• UVNN Lebanon, NH; Neurosurgery (Present)
• Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital; Neurosurgery (Present)
• Gifford Medical Center; Neurosurgery (Present)
• New London Hospital; Neurosurgery (Present)

Honors & Awards

• Phi Beta Kappa (1974)
• Alpha Omega Alpha (1981)
• Honor Medical Society - AOA Award (Highest (1981)
• Honors, NYU School of Medicine
• Research Fellowship (1985-1987)
• Award of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons
• American Association Neurological Surgeons (1993 - Present)
• New England Neurosurgical Society (1990 - Present)
• American Association of the Study of Headache (1992 - Present)
• American Pain Society (1992 - Present)
• North American Skull Base Society (1994 - Present)

Publications

• Nicholson C, Phillips JM, Gardner-Medwin AR: Diffusion from and iontophoretic point source in the brain: role of tortuosity and volume fraction. Brain Research 169:580-584, (1979)
• Phillips JM, Nicholson C: Anion permeability in spreading depression investigated with ionselective microelectrodes. Brain Research 173:567-571, (1979)
• Nicholson C, Phillips JM: Ion diffusion by tortuosity and volume fraction in the extracellular microenvironment of the rat cerebellum. J Physiol (London) 321:225-257, (1981)
• Nicholson C, Phillips JM: Diffusion in the brain cell microenvironment.Lectures on Mathematics in Life Sciences. Am Math Soc (Providence, Rhode Island) 15:103-122, (1982)
• Sweadner KJ, McGrail KM, Phillips JM: Distribution of Na,K-ATPase or isoforms in the nervous system: histochemical evidence for activity difference. Journal Gen Physiol 96:64, (1990)
• McGrail KM, Phillips JM, Sweadner KJ: Immunofluorescent localization of three Na,KATPase isozymes in the rat central nervous system: both neurons and glia can express more than one NA,K-ATPase. J Neuroscience 11(2):381-291, (1991)
• Yazbak PA, Phillips JM, Ball PA, Rhodes CH: Benign nasal polyposis presenting as an intercranial mass. Surg Neurol 36:380-383, (1991)
• Yazbak PA, Phillips JM, et al.: Intracerebral polyposis or osteoma? J Neurosurg 79(5) 801- 802, (1993)
• Pikus HJ and Phillips JM: Characteristics of patients successfully treated for cervicogenic headache by surgical decompression of the second cervical root. Headache 35(10):621-629, (1995)
• Pikus HJ and Phillips JM: Outcome of surgical decompression of the second cervical root for cervicogenic headache. Neurosurgery 33:63-71, (1996)
• Huraibi H., Phillips JM, et al., Intrathecal Baclofen Pump Implantation Complicated by Epidural Lipomatosis. Anesthesia and Analgesia, (2000)
• Lollis, Weider, Phillips JM, and Roberts. “Ventriculoperitoneal Shunting for the Treatment of Refractory Perilymphatic Fistula.” Submitted to Journal of Neurological Surgery, (2006)

ABSTRACTS: 

•  Kraig RP, Nicholson C, Phillips JM: [K+] o rise [Ca++]o fall during spreading depression. Soc for Neuros Abst 3:57, (1977).
• Kraig RP, Nicholson C, Phillips JM: Sodium and chloride changes during spreading depression and anoxia in the rat cerebellum. Soc. For Neuros Abst 4:66, (1978).
• Phillips JM, Nicholson C: Tetra-alkyl ammonium ions as probes of brain cell microenvironment. Soc. For Neuros Abst 4:236, (1978).
• Nicholson C, Phillips JM: Diffusion of anions and cations in the extracellular microenvironment of the brain. J Physiol 296:90P, (1979).
• Phillips JM, Sweadner KJ: Nodal and paranodal distribution of the Na,K-ATPase. Soc. For Neuros Abst 16: (1986).
• de la Monte SM, Phillips JM: Uniform lineage of Oligodendroglioma. Lab Inv 58(1) A23, (1988).
• Sweadner KJ, McGrail KM, Phillips JM: Isozymes of the Na,K-ATPase localized by immunoflourenscence with isozyme-specific antibodies. Soc for Neuros Abst 18:(1988).
• Holmes BP, Phillips JM, Harbaugh RE: Failure of magnetic resonance angiography to detect clinically significant intercranial developmental aneurysms: report of two cases. Congress of Neurological Surgeons, (1992).
• Cho CH, Haseman D, Pluta D, Phillips JM, Jeffrey RF, Anatomy of the second cervical ganglion. Radiologic Society of North America, (1994).
• Purighalla V., Nguyen K., and Phillips JM, “Outcomes of Surgical Decompression and/or Ganglionectomy of Second Cervical Root for Cervicogenic Headaches. AANS/CNS Sectionn on Pain Newsletter. ( September 2000).
• Weider D.J., Roberts D.W., and Phillips JM. Spinal Fluid perilymph relationships in patients with vertigo, tinnitus, pressure, and hearing loss. Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of ASN, Prague, Czech Republic. (July 6, 2004).

Doctoral Thesis:  “Ion Movement in Cerebellum” University of Michigan Press, (1981)

• Phillips JM, Nicholson C: Microcelectrodes for novel anions and their applications to some neurophysiological problems. In Lubbers PN, et al (ED), Progress in Enzyme and Ion Electrodes, Springer Verlag-Zurich. (1981).
• Nicholson C, Phillips JM, Tobiasz C, Kraig RP: Extracellular potassium, calcium, and volume profiles during spreading depression. In Sykova E (Ed), Ion Sensitive Microelectrodes and Their Use in Excitable Tissue. Plenum-New York, (1981).
• McGrail KM, Phillips JM, Sweadner KJ, Diversity of Na,K-ATPase isoform distribution in the nervous system. In The Sodium Pump: Recent Developments. Rockefeller University Press, (1991).
• Phillips JM: Chiari I malformation and C2 lesions. In Advanced Therapy of Headache by Rappaport, Sheftell and Purdy, Marcel-Decker, page 213-217, (1999).
• Phillips JM, Headache in the Emergency Room: Neurosurgeon’s Perspective. Seminars in Neurology, Marcel-Decker, (2000).
• Ward TN, Levin M, Phillips JM, Evaluation and Management of Headache in the Emergency Department. The Medical Clinics of North America, W.B. Saunders Co., Vol.85, No. 4, pp 971-985. (July 2001).
• Phillips JM, Commentary on “Occipital Neuralgia”. In Surgical Management of Pain by K.J. Burchiel, Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., (2002).
• Phillips JM, “Upper Cervical Root Syndromes” in Head, Neck, and Facial Pain: A Casebased Handbook of Diagnosis, Management, and Prognosis, Eds. Levin, M. and Ward, T.Publisher: Anadem Press, Columbus, Ohio, (2006).

Lectures

• Zervas, N: Radiofrequency enhancement of microadenomectomy. Presented at the Winter Meeting, New England Neurosurgical Society. Woodstock, Vermont. (February 6, 1987).
• Ion movement in the brain cell microenvironment. Neurology Grand Rounds, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. Lebanon, New Hampshire. (June 26, 1987).
• Developmental antigens in mixed glial tumors. Neurology Grand Rounds, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. Lebanon, New Hampshire. (August 19, 1988).
• Surgery of occipital neuralgia. Presented at Meeting of New Hampshire Medical Society, North Conway, New Hampshire. (1989).
• Surgery of the XIVth cranial nerve. Presented at winter meeting of the New England Neurosurgical Society. Woodstock, Vermont. (February 2, 1990).
• Intraseller chondroma: case report and review of literature. Presented at winter meeting of the New England Neurosurgical Society. Woodstock, Vermont. (February 2, 1990).
• Surgery for post-traumatic C2 neuralgia. Presented at Grand Rounds. Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts. (March, 1990).
• Algorithms for treatment of pituitary adenoma. Presented at meeting of the New Hampshire Medical Society, Portsmouth, New Hampshire. (1991).
• Anterior cervical discectomy and hydroxylapetite block fusion. Presented at the Society of University Neurosurgeons. Lebanon, New Hampshire. (June 1992).
• Advances in treatment of aging discs. Presented at meeting of the NewHampshire Medical Society. Portsmouth, New Hampshire. (September 1992).
• The Chiari 0 malformation. Neurology Grand Rounds, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. Lebanon, New Hampshire. (August 6, 1993).
• The mild Chiari I malformation, symptoms and treatment. Presented at meeting of the New Hampshire Medical Society, Newport, Rhode Island. (September 1993).
• Occipital encephalocele. Neurology Grand Rounds, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. Lebanon, New Hampshire. (December 3, 1993).
• Symptomatic cerebellar tonsillar impaction at the foramen magnum with minimal herniation (Chiari 0 Malformation): associated symptoms and results of surgical treatment. Presented at meeting of the North American Skull Base Society. Orlando, Florida. (February 1994).
• Surgical treatment of headaches. Presented at meeting of the Headache Consortium of New England. Stowe, Vermont. (March 5, 1994).
• Active secretion from the ependymal lining of the central canal in the pathogenesis of syringomyelia with Chiari malformation: some supporting evidence and a simple model. Presented at meeting of the New England Neurosurgical Society. Boston, Massachusetts. (June 3, 1994).
• Multiple pituitary adenoma in one patient: case report. Presented at winter meeting of the New England Neurosurgical Society. Stockbridge, Massachusetts. (February 24, 1995).
• Lymphocytic hypophysitis in the male. Seventh case report, MRI and immunohistochemical findings. Presented at fall meeting of the New England Neurosurgical Society. Newport, Rhode Island. (September 29, 1995).
• Neck injury, headaches and women. Neurology Grand Rounds, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. Lebanon, New Hampshire. (February 3, 1995).
• Syndrome of the third cervical root. Presented at fall meeting of the New England Neurosurgical Society. Manchester Village, Vermont. (September 20, 1996).
• Headache arising from neck injury. Headache Consortium of New England. Stowe, Vermont. (March 1996).
• Neuro ablative procedures for intractable pain. Neurology Grand Rounds, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. Lebanon, New Hampshire. (April 25, 1997).
• Cervicogenic Headache and Its Treatment. CME Course: Managing Headache in Primary Care. Dartmouth Medical School. (December 1999).
• Dorsal Column Stimulation for Headache of Spinal Origin. New England Neurosurgical Society, Winter Meeting, Killington, Vermont. (February 2002).
• Cervicogenic Headache and Its Treatment. CME Course: Managing Headache in Primary Care. Dartmouth Medical School. (January 2003).
• Cervicogenic Headache. American Academy of Pain Medicine, Annual Meeting, San Juan, Puerto Rico. (March 2004).
• Cervicogenic Headache and Its Treatment. CME Course: Managing Headache in Primary Care. Dartmouth Medical School. (February 2005).

Laboratory Research

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