Floyd, John Robert IISchool of Medicine |
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In 1995, at the age of 22, I suffered a stroke secondary to an arterial gas embolism while SCUBA diving off the coast of Panama City. I drowned. CPR saved my life. After a year of therapy, I was normal again. You can see my story online at, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSOv3b_m_rk. This experience ignited my interest and subsequent pursuit of a career in neurological surgery. My specialty training is in Neurosurgical-Oncology and Skull Base Surgery, with an expertise in the surgical management of complex cases such as clival chordomas, chondrosarcomas, osteosarcomas, meningiomas, schwannomas, pituitary tumors, orbital tumors, sinonasal carcinomas as well as intrinsic brain tumors. I sought employment in the Department of Neurological Surgery here at UT Health San Antonio in 2008. I met with the Dean, Dr. Henrich (at the time), and witnessed first-hand visionary plans for the campus and knew this was the right place for me to launch my career. One of my focus points has been to become involved in residency training. You?ll see from my CV that I became Associate Program Director in 2012, and subsequently Program Director in 2016. Our training program has expanded from seven to seventeen residents during this time, with expansion to additional sites of training at SAMMC and Baptist Health System. My second focus point, service, is evidenced through my CV as well. My unique experience of having a stroke allows me to pursue patient care and program development with a passion rarely seen. I have partnered with the CTRC to create the only multi-disciplinary Neuro-oncology Clinic in Southwest Texas. My interest in research and improving outcomes has allowed me to develop a robust research program, bringing our first human clinical trials to our patients. My skull base training has allowed me to build partnerships with other surgical specialties such as ENT and Ophthalmology to bring multi-disciplinary care to our patients. With my active participation, we created the first Stroke Network in San Antonio in 2009 with our partnership with Baptist Hospital. Subsequently, our department now supports two Comprehensive Stroke Centers, UHS and Baptist, and well as Level I Trauma at UHS. More recently, I have assumed the position of Interim Chair. My personal position has been to act as a Chair, and not to be subdued by Interim status. I have an all-in mentality in this regard, and garnered the support of my faculty. My CV will reflect actions taken while fulfilling the role. I look forward to continuing to serve my patients, department, institution and community; to educate the next generation of neurosurgeons, and to bring innovative research to improve the lives of my patients. |
6/2018 - Present | Associate Professor with Tenure and Department Chair | UT Health San Antonio, Neurosurgery, San Antonio, TX |
12/2017 - Present | Associate Professor and Cross Appointment | UT Health San Antonio, Otolaryngology |
11/2017 - Present | Associate Professor of Otolaryngology and Faculty Physician | UT Health San Antonio, Oto-Hns, San Antionio, TX |
4/2016 - Present | Director of Residency Program and Residency Director | University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Neurosurgery, San Antonio, TX |
4/2013 - Present | Carl Raba Family Chair in Neuro-Oncology, Endowed Chair | University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Neurosurgery, San Antonio, TX |
Year | Degree | Discipline | Institution |
2008 | Clinical Fellowship | Neurosurgical Oncology and Skull Base Surgery | University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston , TX |
2007 | Residency | Neurological Surgery | Vanderbilt University Medical Center Nashville , TN |
2005 | Postdoctoral Fellowship | Research Proteomics and Intrinsic Brain Tumors | Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Center for Molecular Neuroscience Nashville , TN |
2001 | Internship | General Surgery | Vanderbilt University Medical Center Nashville , TN |
2000 | MD | Medicine (Early Medical School Acceptance program, Magna Cum Laude, Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, Alabama Merit Scholar, Madison County Merit Scholar) | University of Alabama School of Medicine Birmingham , AL |
1996 | DPL | Graduate Diploma of Public Health (Gradutaed with Distinction; Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholarship) | University of Adelaide Adelaide , South Australia |
1995 | BS | Biology (Summa Cum Laude, Oustanding Undergraduate Student in Biology, ODK National Leadership Honour Society, Golden Key International Honour Society) | University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham , AL |
Neuro-Oncology- Translational research for malignant brain tumors |
Neurosurgical Oncology- Interest include the surgical treamtent of benign and malignant tumors affecting the brain, spine and peripheral nerves. |
Skull Base Surgery- Interests in the surgical management of complex skull base tumors. |
Date | Description | Institution | # Students |
7/2018 - 6/2025 | Individual Instruction | UTHSCSA-Department of Neurosurgery | |
7/2018 - 6/2025 | Individual Instruction | UTHSCSA-Department of Neurosurgery | |
7/2018 - 6/2025 | Individual Instruction | UTHSCSA-Department of Neurosurgery | |
11/2017 - 6/2021 | Individual Instruction | ||
7/2017 - 6/2024 | Individual Instruction | UTHSCSA-Department of Neurosurgery | |
7/2017 - 6/2024 | Individual Instruction | UTHSCSA-Department of Neurosurgery | |
7/2017 - 6/2024 | Individual Instruction | UTHSCSA-Department of Neurosurgery | |
7/2016 - 6/2023 | Individual Instruction | UTHSCSA-Department of Neurosurgery | |
7/2016 - 6/2023 | Individual Instruction | UTHSCSA-Department of Neurosurgery | |
9/2015 - 6/2020 | Individual Instruction | UTHSCSA-Department of Neurosurgery | |
7/2015 - 6/2022 | Individual Instruction | UTHSCSA-Department of Neurosurgery | |
7/2015 - 6/2022 | Individual Instruction | UTHSCSA-Department of Neurosurgery | |
7/2014 - 6/2021 | Individual Instruction | UTHSCSA-Department of Neurosurgery | |
7/2014 - 6/2021 | Individual Instruction | UTHSCSA-Department of Neurosurgery | |
7/2013 - 6/2020 | Individual Instruction | UTHSCSA-Department of Neurosurgery | |
7/2012 - 6/2019 | Individual Instruction | UTHSCSA-Department of Neurosurgery | |
7/2012 - 6/2019 | Individual Instruction | UTHSCSA-Department of Neurosurgery | |
7/2012 - 6/2019 | Individual Instruction | UTHSCSA-Department of Neurosurgery | |
6/2011 - Present | Surgical Anatomy and Approaches, Cadaveric Lab | University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio | 9 students |
The mastery of surgical skills is a stepwise process of seven years of training. Incorporated into the educational process is cadaveric dissections which enhance the learners knowledge of complex brain and skull base anatomy. This course is an 18 month course, which repeats upon completion. It includes module of 6 cranial anatomy and surgical approaches, module of 4 spinal anatomy and approaches, and 2 peripheral nerve anatomy and approaches. I conduct the 6 cranial courses: sub frontal anatomy and approach; orbit-zygomatic approaches, middle fossa approaches, far lateral approaches, sub occipital approaches, and approaches to pineal region and third ventricle. Each module includes 1 hour of didactic lecture followed by 2 hours of laboratory dissection. Modules are on second Friday of the month. Preparation time for each module including prosections is about 6 hours. | |||
8/2009 - Present | Endocrine Pituitary Conference | University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio | 8 students |
This conference is led by myself, Br. Bazan, and Dr. Bruder. This is an educational conference for neurosurgical residents as well and endocrine fellows. Up to ten cases are selected 1-3 weeks in advance. Attendees are expected to have greater knowledge of the imaging characteristics of pituitary pathologies, and well as the complex medical and surgical management options. This teaching conference occurs first Thursday of the months from 4:30 until 5:30 pm. | |||
8/2008 - Present | Quality Assurance Conference | University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio | 20 students |
This conference is the departmental morbidity and mortality conference.It is a monthly conference, lasting one hour. During the conference near misses, complications and deaths are critically reviewed. The goal is to modify behavior and judgment based on previous experiences, and to prevent repetition of errors leading to complications, focusing on the goal of improved patient care | |||
8/2008 - Present | Pre-Operative Neurosurgical Conference | University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio | 20 students |
This educational conference is attending by neurosurgical residents, medical students, and rotating students. The design of this conference is to critically review upcoming neurosurgical cases for the next week. The neuro-radiology, pathology and planned surgical approach is reviewed critically with the residents. this conference is a one hour conference that occurs weekly on Fridays. | |||
8/2008 - Present | Multidisciplinary Neuro Tumor Board Conference | The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio | 30 students |
I lead the discussion of complicated neuro-oncology cases/patients to include diagnosis, procedures and plan to follow each patient. Cases are selected a week ahead of time, history, pathology and radiology reviewed. Neurosurgical residents, radiation oncology residents, and medical oncology fellows attend this conference. Critical decision making is expected of each learner, with assembly of clinical and pathological information with resultant plans for either : observation, radiation, chemotherapy, surgery, combination therapy, clinical trial or additional diagnostic investigation. At the end of conference, learners are expected to have better understanding of the management of patients with complex brain tumors. This is a specialized conference that takes place from 9:30 until 10:45 every other Friday of the month. |
Journal Article |
1st Author - Wyatt Weinheimer 2nd Author - Justin Rowley 3rd Author - Philip Chen 4th Author - Randal A. Otto 5th Author - John Floyd. Oropharyngeal CSF Leak Secondary to Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion Case Reports in Otolaryngology 2018 Jul;2018. |
Andrew Brenner Richard Zuniga Jessica D Sun John Floyd Charles P Hart Stew Kroll Lisa Fichtel David Cavazos Laura Caflisch Aleksandra Gruslova Shiliang Huang Yichu Liu Alessia Lodi Stefano Tiziani. Hypoxia Activated Evofosfamide for Treatment of Recurrent Bevacizumab-Refractory Glioblastoma: A phase I surgical study Neuro-Oncology 2018 Feb;20(9):1231-1239. |
Wallace DJ McGinity MJ Floyd JR. Bone flap salvage in acute surgical site infection after craniotomy for tumor resection Neurosurgical Review 2018 Feb;. |
McGinity MJ Michalek JE Rodriguez JS Floyd JR. Surgical evacuation of acute subdural hematoma in octogenarian: A ten-year experience from a single trauma center British Journal of Neurosurgery 2017 Dec;31(6):714-717. |
Floyd JR, McGinnity, M, McGinnity, J, Zhang, F. Implant Compositions for the Unidirectional Delivery of Anticancer Compounds to the Brain Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy 2017 Sep;43(9):1421-1429. |
Fountzilas C, Chang K, Hernandez B, Michalek J, Crownover R, Floyd J, Mahalingam D. Clinical characteristics and tratment outcomes of patients with colorectal cancer who develop brain metastasis: a single institution experience J Gastrointest Oncol 2017 Feb;8(1):55-63. |
Narayanasamy G, Stathakis S, Gutierrez AN, Pappas E, Crownover R, Floyd JR, Papanikolaou N. A Systematic Analysis of 2 Monoisocentric Techniques for the Treatment of Multiple Brain Metastases Technol Cancer Res Treat 2016 Sep;:1-6. |
Brown AF, Fan H, Floyd JR, Henry JM, Higgins RA. Primary Central Nervous System Histiocytic Sarcoma Arising After Precursor B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2015 Dec;74(12):1120-1126. |
Gruslova A, , Miller JR, Cavazos DA, Breirbart E, Bangio L, Yakov N, Soundararajan,Floyd JR,Brenner AJ. VB-111 : a novel anti-vascular therapeutic for glioblastoma multiforme Journal of Neuro-Oncology 2015 Sep;124(3):365-372. |
Son C, Samples D, Brenner AJ, Floyd JR. Osteolytic calvarial lesions as initial presentation of latent neurosyphilis J Clin Neurosci 2015 May;22(5):909-910. |
Funding Agency | Carl Raba Family |
Title | Carl Raba Family Chair in Neuro-Oncology |
Status | Active |
Period | 9/2013 - Present |
Role | Co-Investigator |
Grant Detail | Endowmant Holder, Institution 2nd only Donor director Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery |
Funding Agency | |
Title | Neurology-Oncology Research Trail |
Status | Active |
Period | 5/2013 - Present |
Role | Co-Principal Investigator |
Grant Detail | DC VAX |