Paul J. Camarata Fund
Fund Purpose: To support the University of Kansas neurosurgery research program with funds for resident research, conferences, and visiting professors
Paul Joseph Camarata, MD, FAANS, was born in Orange, California, on June 17, 1960, the oldest of six children. While still young, he moved with his family to Hays, Kansas and spent his formative years there. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences degree in Italian and Biology from Stanford University, having completed a semester at Stanford in Florence, Italy. Dr. Camarata then entered the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Kansas City. During his medical school tenure, he spent time at the Surgical Neurology Branch of the NIH, and research time at the Mayo Clinic Department of Neurosurgery. He graduated AOA from the University of Kansas School of Medicine in 1986, stimulated to pursue a career in neurosurgery by Dr. Charles E. Brackett the KU chair at the time. He entered the residency program at the University of Minnesota under the leadership of Dr. Shelley Chou.
At the University of Minnesota Dr. Camarata trained under the mentorship of Dr. Chou and the next Chair, Roberto Heros. In residency, he was chosen as the 1st Zhao ZiZhen Minnesota Medical Foundation Award in Neurosurgery, and was awarded the 37th American College of Surgeons two-year scholarship. He completed a fellowship in Cerebrovascular and Skull Base Surgery under Dr. Heros and Dr. Stephen Haines, and went on to lead an active cerebrovascular research lab, earning a K08 Clinical Investigator Development Award for the MR spectroscopic characterization of ischemic stroke. While spending his first four years in academic practice as junior faculty at the University of Minnesota, he was chosen one of the first chairs of the Young Neurosurgeons Committee of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS).
After ten winters in Minnesota, he moved back near home to Kansas City, helping develop the Mid America/St. Luke’s Brain and Stroke Institute, and continuing a very active cerebrovascular and skull base practice. Dr. Camarata served as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. During his career, Dr. Camarata has been involved in the training of 50 neurosurgery residents and fellows.
In 1996, he was named to the Executive Committee of the CNS, and spent 10 years on the EC, culminating in his service as Treasurer for three years. He has also served organized neurosurgery as a Counselor and Treasurer of the Neurosurgical Society of America, in addition to a number of other CNS and AANS committee appointments.
Dr. Camarata is a member of the AANS, the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS), the Neurosurgical Society of America (NSA), the American College of Surgeons, the North American Skull Base Society, the Society of University Neurosurgeons, and the Society of Neurological Surgeons (SNS). He is active in his community including many Scouting-related and church activities. He was named a Knight of Magistral Grace in the Sovereign Military order of Malta, and a Knight Commander with Star of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.
Dr. Camarata married Karen Elizabeth Schaefer in 1986, and they have three children – Gina, Christopher, and Laura.
To view a list of all donors to this fund, click here.
To support neurosurgery resident and fellow education in Africa.
To support the maintenance and future development of The Rhoton Collection® .....
To provide grants to international medical students and trainees seeking research, training and educational opportunities in neurosurgery in the U.S.
To provide tuition support for Neurosurgery Chief Residents to take the Goodman Oral Boards Course