American Surgical Company endows UConn Health lecture series honoring Dr. Takanori Fukushima, advancing neurosurgical leadership and collaboration
In November 2025, UConn Health and Bulsara (right) hosted Erik Piasio (left) for a fireside chat on leadership with former men's basketball coach Jim Calhoun (center), an opportunity to celebrate American Surgical Company's generosity and highlight the company's leadership (Desiray Green / UConn Foundation Photo).
In November 2025, American Surgical Company endowed a Department of Neurosurgery lecture series honoring neurosurgical pioneer Dr. Takanori Fukushima. First conceived of in 2019 by Fukushima's protégé, Dr. Ketan Bulsara, the program has long benefited from American Surgical Company's annual support. Endowing the lecture series ensures it can extend Fukushima's influence and advance knowledge-sharing for years to come.
Fukushima, a consulting faculty member at UConn Health, forever revolutionized the field of microneurosurgery - a precise, microscope-guided branch of brain and spine surgery - by developing a minimally invasive "keyhole surgery" technique to access affected regions through dime-sized openings; his innovations are credited with transforming care for countless patients.
Fukushima's mentorship helped shape Bulsara, who now serves as UConn Health's chief of neurosurgery. Fukushima also collaborated with American Surgical Company on a novel type of neurosurgical pattie (a surgical sponge) that helped neurosurgeons perform more effectively.
Drawing on their close relationships with Fukushima, these two close partners - American Surgical Company and Bulsara - joined forces in 2019 to launch the Department of Neurosurgery's Takanori Fukushima Technical Excellence in Neurosurgery Lecture, with Fukushima himself as the inaugural lecturer. At the time, this was the only named lecture series to honor this neurosurgical giant.
Bulsara's inspiration to launch this lecture series was twofold: to honor a surgical great and to create an opportunity for medical professionals to stay updated on the latest advancements in the field.
"This lecture series continues Fukushima's legacy because he was endlessly committed to advancing education," says Bulsara. "He truly believed in the concept that every generation that came after him should do better than him. An honored guest lecture series is the best way to bring in national and international neurosurgical leaders who are continuing Dr. Fukushima's vision. The Brain & Spine Institute at UConn Health is a destination center for the treatment of brain and spine disorders, and having it linked with somebody of Dr. Fukushima's stature further enhances our program's reputation and sets an internal standard for technical excellence."
The annual lecture and its accompanying dinner have become a valuable opportunity for UConn Health trainees to engage directly with elite surgeons, exchange ideas, and build relationships.
"Collaboration is key to advancing any academic field," says Erik Piasio, president of American Surgical Company, who has seen the impact of these events firsthand for the past several years. "Bringing intelligent, creative people together in these unique formal and informal environments to exchange information is our way of keeping the neurosurgery community healthy."
Fukushima died in 2024, reigniting Piasio's commitment to pay tribute to his memory.
"It really goes back to preserving Dr. Fukushima's legacy and honoring his revolutionary contributions to the field," says Piasio about endowing the lecture series. "We would not exist as an organization without Fukushima and the ways in which his innovations helped build our company. So, we owe an awful lot to him. I figure this is the least I could do to help Dr. Bulsara preserve Dr. Fukushima's legacy and all he's done for the neurosurgical community - in perpetuity."
The endowment arrived at a moment of growth for UConn Health's neurosurgery program, which became its own department in late 2024 under Bulsara's leadership.
"The recognition of this lecture series around the country and the world has already increased significantly," says Bulsara. "Now, the endowed gift has transformed the lecture series and made us more certain it will continue in perpetuity. I truly consider it an honor that we're able to partner with an innovative company such as American Surgical to strive for the goal to improve the status quo of our patients through education and exceptional care."
The Because of UConn campaign aims to improve the health and well-being of people and the planet. You can strengthen UConn Health's mission to improve lives here in Connecticut and beyond. Learn more about the Fukushima lecture taking place on September 9 or make a gift today.
