Garrett W. Thrash

About

I am a fourth-year medical student at the UAB Heersink School of Medicine and a PhD student in Neuroengineering at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In Dr. Harrison Walker's lab I work on machine-learning decoding of subthalamic nucleus recordings for adaptive deep brain stimulation and brain-computer interfaces.

My work to date spans neuromodulation for movement and sleep disorders, evidence synthesis and meta-analysis in neurosurgery and neurology, and equitable access to neurological care in low- and middle-income countries. Before medicine I studied chemistry at Birmingham-Southern College, where I also played football, and I grew up working on a potato farm in northeast Alabama. I am also a 2026–2027 Doximity Op-Med Medical Writing Fellow.

Research interests

• Deep brain stimulation
• Adaptive neuromodulation
• Brain-computer interfaces
• Neural decoding & machine learning
• Neuroprosthetics
• Spinal cord stimulation
• Evidence synthesis & meta-analysis
• Global neurosurgery & health equity

• 11
  peer-reviewed publications
• 2
  accepted, in press
• 7
  manuscripts under review
• 12
  conference presentations

Research Experience

• 2026 – present

  Walker Research Lab, UAB Neurology

  Dr. Harrison Walker · Planned dissertation laboratory, Neuroengineering PhD

  • Machine-learning decoding of subthalamic nucleus recordings for adaptive deep brain stimulation and brain-computer interfaces.
• 2024 – present

  Global Neurosurgery Research Group, Mission:Brain Foundation

  Coordinator

  • Coordinate roughly 35 international medical graduates, mainly from low- and middle-income countries, in a multi-project research group advancing equitable access to neurological care.
  • Lead members across many time zones and backgrounds toward shared goals; sharpen scientific writing, study design, and critical review across the group.
• 2023 – present

  Holland Clinical Research Lab, UAB Neurosurgery

  Dr. Marshall Holland

  • Joined as a first-year medical student on a single systematic review; grew into co-leading lab meetings and mentoring younger medical students and undergraduates.
  • Chart review, data collection, study design, and manuscript writing; managed submission and revision for multiple manuscripts and IRB protocols.
  • Designed independent studies and authored original IRB protocols.
• 2022 – 2023

  Immunology Research, UAB

  Dr. Chander Raman

  • Investigated ultraviolet B-induced immune suppression in murine models and cell lines, including vitamin D3 effects on samples from multiple sclerosis and lupus patients.
  • Cell culture, flow cytometry, and confocal microscopy; cryosectioning and staining of lymph node, spleen, and skin tissue.
  • High-dimensional flow cytometry analysis in FlowJo (tSNE, UMAP, TriMap).
  • Oversaw breeding, treatment, and upkeep of multiple transgenic mouse lines.
• 2021 – 2022

  Enzyme Kinetics Research, Birmingham-Southern College

  Dr. Kate Hayden

  • Expressed novel enzymes from vector-transfected plasmids; purified target proteins by SDS-PAGE, centrifugal size exclusion, and His-tag affinity chromatography.
  • Kinetic assays on tvGAPDH, cdGAPDH, and cpPK; Michaelis-Menten and Lineweaver-Burk modelling of K_m and V_max for medicinal-chemistry collaborators.

Publications

Peer-reviewed articles, newest first. A live list is on PubMed.

Published

1. Toussaint F, dos Santos Rubio EJ, Agwu C, Thrash GW, et al. A scoping review of non-governmental organizations in global neurosurgery: contributions, gaps, and future directions. Acta Neurochir. 2026. DOI
2. Wang EL, Thrash GW, Razi R, Sun Y, McGregor K, Shirvalkar P, Walker HC, Earley CJ, Holland MT. Spinal cord stimulation effects on restless legs syndrome: a single-center experience. Stereotact Funct Neurosurg. 2026. DOI PMID 42566390
3. Thrash GW, Wang E, Brockington D, Rives C, Sun Y, Roberts AC, Das S, Pilitsis JG, Shirvalkar P, do Campo RV, Walker HC, Earley CJ, Holland MT. Neuromodulation for restless legs syndrome: a systematic review and mechanistic considerations for spinal cord stimulation. Sleep Breath. 2026;30(1):83. DOI PMID 41806217
4. Feldman MJ, Hereford WJ, Gaskin R, Thrash GW, Hill HM, Jaffery S, Hopson B, Rocque BG, Arynchyna-Smith A, Blount JP. Fortify Alabama: corn masa fortification for spina bifida prevention. Pediatrics. 2026;157(2):e2025073306. DOI PMID 41570999
5. Dos Rubio ES, Brice KS, Toussaint F, Colado-Martinez J, Thrash GW, Ahmed AA, Kelbert J, Johnson W. Governance and policy in global neurosurgery: a scoping review of national and international efforts. Neurosurg Rev. 2025;48(1):750. DOI PMID 41171440
6. Kamath A, Thrash GW, Rocque BG, McRae EM. Psychological functioning in children with hydrocephalus: a scoping review. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2025;36(4):404-420. DOI PMID 40680304
7. Holland MT, Mekhail MN, Thrash G, George T, Mugan D, Paul C, Shirvalkar P, Grace W, Deer T, McGregor K, Vazquez do Campo R, Earley CJ, Walker HC. Adaptive spinal cord stimulation improves restless legs syndrome: case report, literature review, and mechanistic hypothesis. Sleep Med. 2025;134:106664. DOI PMID 40652630
8. Thrash GW, Evans RE, Sun Y, Roberts AC, Derryberry C, Hale AT, Das S, Boudreau H, George JA, Atchley TJ, Blount JP, Rocque BG, Johnston JM, Jones JG. Stereotactic radiosurgery treatment of pediatric arteriovenous malformations: a PRISMA systematic review and meta-analysis. Childs Nerv Syst. 2025;41(1):188. DOI PMID 40407914
9. Sun Y, Laskay NMB, Thrash GW, Howell S, Mooney JH, Godzik J. The association of Area Deprivation Index and spine surgery outcomes: a systematic and narrative review. Oper Neurosurg. 2025. DOI PMID 40168531
10. Thrash GW, Wang E, Sun Y, Walker HC, Shirvalkar P, Becker BK, Holland MT. Clinical trials in neuromodulatory treatment of drug-resistant hypertension and the need for spinal cord stimulation trials: a PRISMA systematic review. Bioelectron Med. 2024;10(1):28. DOI PMID 39617923
11. Thrash GW, Hale AT, Feldman MJ, Saccomano BW, Barrett DJ, Malenkia PD, Das S, Tsemo GB, Blount JP, Rocque BG, Rozzelle CJ, Johnston JM, Jones JG. Pediatric non-galenic pial arteriovenous fistula's characteristics and outcomes: a systematic review. Childs Nerv Syst. 2024;40(6):1721-1729. DOI PMID 38506930

Accepted, in press

1. Thrash GW, Stacey GK, Wang E, Townsend C, Razi R, Brockington D, Holland MT. Therapeutic deep brain stimulation for restless legs syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Neuromodulation: Technology at the Neural Interface.
2. Thrash GW, Evans RE, Rocque B, Blount JP, Johnston J, Rozzelle C, Jones J. Surgical versus endovascular treatment of pediatric intracranial aneurysms: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression.

Submitted, under review

1. Thrash GW, Stacey GK, Razi R, Rives C, Massey H, Brockington D, Cho H, Boudreau H, George J, Holland MT. Diverging perceptions between program leadership and applicants on the neurosurgery arms race to research: a single-center survey. Neurosurgical Review.
2. Thrash GW, Stacey GK, Wang E, Massey H, Jones JG. Coronary artery disease as a predictor for resolution of nonacute subdural hematoma after middle meningeal artery embolization: a single-center study. Interventional Neuroradiology.
3. Thrash GW, DeMassie B, Wang E, Jones JG, MESH Consortium. Multi-pedicle versus single-pedicle embolization as a predictor of resolution in nonacute subdural hematoma after middle meningeal artery embolization: a multi-institutional retrospective cohort study. Interventional Neuroradiology.
4. Del Campos I, Thrash GW, et al., Still M. Early predictors of poor outcomes in traumatic brain injury in a resource-limited setting: a retrospective study from Sierra Leone. World Neurosurgery.
5. Azan A, Thrash GW, et al., Still M. Global suturing mission: the role of global surgical workshops for equitable access to surgical education. Journal of Surgical Education.
6. Coracan J, Azan A, Thrash GW, et al., Quiñones-Hinojosa A. International hackathon to build an equitable innovation landscape in global neurosurgery. Neurosurgery.
7. Sun Y, et al., Thrash GW, et al., Riley KO. Neighborhood socioeconomic status, insurance, and race affect presentation and outcomes following endoscopic pituitary adenoma resection. Acta Neurochirurgica.

Additional first- and co-authored manuscripts are in preparation, including work on intra-arterial therapy for glioblastoma, venous sinus stenting, and electrocorticography in executive function.

Editorials and non-peer-reviewed writing

Narrative essays and op-eds in preparation as a Doximity Op-Med Medical Writing Fellow (2026–2027); first pieces forthcoming.

Presentations

Oral presentations

1. Thrash GW, Holland MT. Restless legs syndrome and spinal cord stimulation. UAB Neurosurgery Teaching Conference, Birmingham, AL, June 2026.
2. Thrash GW, Boudreau H*, Stacey GK, Razi R, Rives C, Massey H, Brockington D, Cho H, George J, Holland MT. Diverging perceptions between program leadership and applicants on the neurosurgery arms race to research: a single-center survey. Galbraith Neurosurgery Research Symposium, Birmingham, AL. *Presented by second author.
3. Thrash GW. UAB Mission:Brain chapter pledge. Boston Declaration of Global Neurosurgery, Kennedy Center, Boston, MA, April 24, 2025.
4. Thrash GW, Sun Y, Del Bene V, Bentley N. Intracranial recordings toward brain mapping of executive function: a systematic review. NeuroGateways Consortium of Neuroengineering and Brain-Computer Interfaces, Birmingham, AL, Spring 2024.
5. Thrash GW, Mier-Aguilar C, Xu H, Raman C. UVB induction of senescent cells. Senior thesis, Birmingham-Southern College Department of Chemistry, Birmingham, AL, May 2023.

Abstracts and posters

1. Thrash GW, Stacey GK, Wang E, Massie H, Maleknia P, Jones JG. Coronary artery disease, illicit drug use, and age as predictors of radiographic resolution of chronic subdural hematoma after middle meningeal artery embolization: a single-center experience. Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA, July 2026.
2. Thrash GW, Wang E, Essibayi MA, Jones JG. Multi-pedicle versus single-pedicle middle meningeal artery embolization for nonacute subdural hematoma. Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA, July 2026.
3. Wang E*, Thrash GW, Sun Y, Holland MT. Spinal cord stimulation effects on restless legs syndrome: a single-center experience. Congress of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting, Los Angeles, CA, October 2025. *Presented by first author.
4. Uppalappati SC*, Thrash GW, Bowers C, Holland MT. Subdural empyema and concomitant SARS-CoV-2 infection: a PRISMA systematic review. Congress of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting, Los Angeles, CA, October 2025. *Presented by first author.
5. Thrash GW, Wang E, Roberts AC, Sun Y, Walker HC, Shirvalkar P, Holland MT. SCS of RLS: a single-center retrospective survey. Neural Interfaces, Washington, DC, June 2025.
6. Thrash GW, Wang E, Roberts AC, Sun Y, Walker HC, Shirvalkar P, Holland MT. Neuromodulation of restless legs syndrome. Neural Interfaces, Washington, DC, June 2025.
7. Thrash GW, Wang E, Sun Y, Walker HC, Shirvalkar P, Becker BK, Holland MT. Neuromodulation of the autonomic nervous system: a systematic review. NeuroGateways Consortium of Neuroengineering and Brain-Computer Interfaces, Birmingham, AL, Spring 2024.

Invited lectures

• Invited Speaker, Social Determinants of Health Grand Rounds: Rural Health, UAB Heersink School of MedicineJuly 2024
• Invited Speaker, Systematic Review Methodology, Project:RISE Research Equity Lecture2024

Honors, Awards & Fellowships

Fellowships

• 2026 – 2027

  Doximity Op-Med Medical Writing Fellowship

  Selected through a competitive national application open to attendings, residents, and medical students for one of 40 fellowship positions. Write narrative essays and op-eds on a range of medical topics for Op-Med, Doximity's physician-facing publication.

Honors and awards

• Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Medical Society2026 – present
• Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS)2025 – present
• Health Equity Scholar, UAB Heersink School of Medicine2024 – present
• Comer Memorial Scholarship, UAB Heersink School of Medicine2023 – present
• Clyde Stanton Outstanding Senior in Chemistry Award, Birmingham-Southern College2023
• Magna Cum Laude, B.S. Chemistry, Birmingham-Southern College2023
• Mortar Board Honor Society2022 – present
• American Chemical Society2022 – 2023
• Alpha Epsilon Delta Honor Society2022 – 2023
• Kappa Mu Epsilon Honor Society2022 – 2023
• Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society2022 – 2023
• Birmingham-Southern Presidential Scholarship2020 – 2023
• Birmingham-Southern Football SAA Honor Roll2020 – 2023
• ALFA Insurance Scholarship2020 – 2023
• Shirley Dalton Memorial Medical Scholarship2020 – 2023
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity2020 – present

Chapter honors, Mission:Brain

• 1st place, Global Hackathon (rural stroke care)2025
• Top 10, Global Hackathon2024
• North America Service and Compassion Award

Leadership & Service

• 2023 – present

  Mission:Brain Foundation

  UAB Chapter President · Regional Chair of Outreach · Coordinator, Global Neurosurgery Research Group

  • Launched Project:RISE (annual lecture on research equity for international medical graduates in low- and middle-income countries), NeuroCamp (a year-long neuroscience curriculum for Birmingham middle school students), and a spina bifida prevention campaign promoting corn masa folate fortification.
  • As Outreach Chair, direct fundraising, inventory, and equipment logistics supporting Sierra Leone's first publicly accessible neurosurgical service, in coordination with the WFNS and the Ministry of Health.
  • Coordinate the roughly 35-member Global Neurosurgery Research Group; oversee a manuscript bundle mapping global neurosurgery stakeholders in line with the Boston Declaration, with additional manuscripts in preparation across the Global Stroke Outcomes Study (University of Utah), Sierra Leone, Hackathon, and Peer Mentorship committees.
• 2024 – present

  Alabama House Bill 384: Corn Masa Folic Acid Fortification

  Health policy and advocacy

  Worked with the Children's of Alabama pediatric neurosurgery team to support passage of state legislation establishing folic acid fortification of corn masa, addressing the elevated prevalence of spina bifida in Hispanic communities.

• 2023 – present

  Biomedical Engineering Interest Group

  Chair of Events

  Organized speaker events connecting medical students with UAB biomedical engineering faculty and neurotechnology research.

• 2023 – present

  Community service

  • Medical Students Ask and Advise: Smoking Cessation, Co-Director. Co-led bi-monthly smoking cessation sessions at The Foundry, a residential recovery program serving men at risk of drug-related re-offense.
  • Students Helping At-Risk Patients (SHARP), Program Member. Multidisciplinary work helping at-risk patients gain better access to healthcare.
  • Lions Free Mobile Eye Clinic, Volunteer. Vision screenings and intake for uninsured patients across rural Alabama.
  • Talladega Superspeedway EMS, EMT Volunteer. EMS coverage for race events, delivering acute care for spectators and staff in a high-volume setting.
  • Health Equity Scholar, Recipient and Volunteer. Service-learning projects for each organ module, semester seminars, monthly social determinants of health grand rounds, and health equity research; on track for the MD with Distinction in Health Equity.
  • Pulmonary Module, Course Representative. Liaison between students and course faculty.

Teaching & Mentoring

• 2023 – present

  Research and career mentorship

  UAB Heersink School of Medicine and UAB undergraduates

  Mentor medical students (Riyaz Razi, Grayson Stacey) and undergraduates (Elijah Wang, Rohma Syed) in study design, scientific writing, residency and medical school applications, and career planning. Mentees' work with the group has produced 5 publications in print, 4 submitted manuscripts, and 4 conference abstracts, including an oral presentation at the 2025 Congress of Neurological Surgeons.

• 2024 – 2025

  Multidisciplinary Research Stewardship

  Neurosurgery Chair

  Hosted office hours and presentations on research fundamentals for medical students; connected students interested in neurosurgery with career mentors.

• 2021 – 2023

  Chemistry Tutor, Academic Resource Center

  Birmingham-Southern College

  Tutored undergraduate peers in analytical chemistry, organic chemistry, and biochemistry.

• 2021

  Teaching Assistant, Cell and Molecular Biology

  Birmingham-Southern College

  Led the laboratory sections, grading, and course organization.

Education & Training

• 2027 – 2032

  Ph.D., Neuroengineering (expected)

  University of Alabama at Birmingham · Walker Lab
• 2023 – 2027

  M.D., Distinction in Health Equity (expected)

  UAB Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL
• 2020 – 2023

  B.S., Chemistry, magna cum laude

  Birmingham-Southern College, Birmingham, AL

Licensure and certification

• Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT)2024 – present
• Advanced Life Support (ALS)2024 – present
• Basic Life Support (BLS)2023 – present
• FEMA IS-100.c, IS-230.e, IS-700.b Emergency Management2024

Professional memberships

• Medical Student Committee, Congress of Neurological Surgeons2023 – present
• Student Member, American Association of Neurological Surgeons2023 – present
• Student Member, North American Neuromodulation Society2023 – present
• Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery2025 – present

Work experience

• Supervisor and mechanic, Hall Farms, Fyffe, AL. Began as a laborer at 14; oversaw 30–40 workers and all machine and tractor maintenance across 1,000+ acres of potatoes, cotton, pumpkins, and watermelons.2014 – 2023
• Interim CEO, GBR Lawncare LLC. Ran a family lawncare business during a parent's health issues while completing pre-clinical coursework.2024
• Medical Assistant, Family First Medicine, Rainsville, AL2020 – 2023
• Fullback, Tight End, and Offensive Lineman, Birmingham-Southern College Football. Starting fullback, fall 2021 and 2022.2020 – 2023

Outside the lab: classic literature, fiction, theology, and history; providing for my family through gardening, hunting, fishing, and farming; Southern comfort and Cajun cooking; powerlifting and running; DIY mechanic and housework; conservation and wildlife habitat improvement; travel; and time with my wife and son.