Duke Nerve Course 2026

Foundations & Frontiers in Brachial Plexus and Peripheral Nerve Surgery

The Duke Nerve Center invites you to the 3rd Annual Duke Nerve Course, an immersive, hands-on cadaver-based program focused on advancing surgical expertise in peripheral nerve and brachial plexus reconstruction.

This two-day course is designed for residents, fellows, early-career surgeons, and teaching faculty in orthopaedic surgery, plastic surgery, and neurosurgery. Participants will engage in targeted didactics and intensive cadaver lab sessions emphasizing surgical exposure, operative strategy, and technical precision.

A parallel occupational and physical therapy track offers specialized education in the management of peripheral nerve and brachial plexus injuries, with integrated cadaver lab experiences that provide insight into surgical anatomy and intraoperative decision-making—strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration and continuity of care.

Join colleagues from across the southeastern United States for a focused educational experience that combines technical training, multidisciplinary learning, and clinical relevance.

Course Details

• Dates: Friday-Saturday, September 11–12, 2026
• Location: Duke University
  Duke Human Fresh Tissue Laboratory
• Format: Cadaver-based | Intensive hands-on labs
• Target Audience
  • Surgical Track
    • Fellows in Hand & Peripheral Nerve Surgery
    • Early-career surgeons
    • Senior residents in Orthopaedic, Plastic, & Neurosurgery
  • Therapy / Rehabilitation Track
    • Certified hand, occupational & physical therapists focused on peripheral nerve injury and rehabilitation
• Registration fee:  $250
  Course Registration
   
• Contact: For questions, please contact dyj3@duke.edu

Course Objectives / Methodology

This course emphasizes hands-on learning, with participants carrying out cadaver dissections and ultrasound skills firsthand, supported by diverse faculty who move throughout the room offering live coaching, individual perspectives, and practical pearls tailored to each topic.

• Peripheral nerve ultrasound skills lab (surgical track)
• Nerve injury rehabilitation (therapist track)
• Surgical anatomy of the upper extremity
• Brachial plexus exploration & reconstruction
• Upper-extremity reanimation w/ distal nerve transfers & free functional muscle transfer
• Nerve decompressions of the upper extremity
• Spasticity of the upper extremity

Course Faculty

Organizers: Nelli Li, MD (Duke) | Eliana Saltzman, MD (Duke) | Daniel Joh, MD (University of Mississippi)

Peripheral Nerve Surgery: Michael Aversano, MD (OrthoCarolina) | Mark Attiah, MD (UNC) | Chris Dibble, MD (Wake Forest); Joaquim Casañas Sintes, MD, PhD (Centro Medico Teknon) | Dane Daley, MD (MUSC) | Warren Hammert, MD (Duke) | John Li, MD (Wake Forest) | Orlando Merced-O'Neill, RN (Axogen) | Suhail Mithani, MD (Duke) | Ash Patel, MBChB (Duke) | Megan Patterson, MD (UNC) | Brandon Smith, MD (Cone Health) | Kevin Taylor, MD (ECU) | TJ Wilson, MD (Stanford)

Nerve Ultrasound: Jeff Gadsden, MD (Duke) | Natalia Gonzalez, MD (Duke)

Therapy / Rehabilitation:  Theresa Hallenen, DHSc OTR/L CHT (Duke) | Megan Vrooman, MOT OTR/L CHT (Duke) | Christina Pyle, MS OTR/L (Duke)

Program & Dissections (times and instructors TBD)

Friday, September 11

Saturday, September 12

Networking Events 

Thursday, September 10
Pre-Course Welcome Social
Optional welcome gathering the evening before the course, location TBD.

Friday, September 11
Course Dinner & Networking
21c Museum Hotel, Durham
An evening among colleagues and faculty with an honorary lecture by Joaquim Casañas Sintes.

Lodging Options