Mark R. McLaughlin, MD

03/30/2026

March is the in America

As the month winds down, I would like to share the story of Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman in America to receive an MD degree.

Turned away by more than 10 medical schools, she was ultimately accepted into the small Geneva Medical College in western New York. Her acceptance was not a story of forward thinking by the school. Rather, the male students were asked their opinion on the matter, and voted to admit her, thinking the whole thing a huge prank. After receiving her MD, she later traveled to Europe to train, and ultimately returned to New York.

In 1857, she opened the New York Infirmary for Indigent Women and Children. The infirmary still exists as the New York University Downtown Hospital.

What truly boggles my mind is that the history of women in medicine and so many other fields is filled with generations of fathers telling their daughters...

"No. You're not capable of that."

It is the courage and persistence of those daughters that we celebrate this month.

Read Dr. Blackwell's story on the NIH website.
https://circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov/2021/03/11/elizabeth-blackwell-that-girl-there-is-doctor-in-medicine-part-i/

03/27/2026

Performance doesn’t happen in the moment of activity that we celebrate—it’s built long before it.

At West Point, I described “left-brain thinking” as the discipline of preparation: structure, repetition, and attention to detail. The decisive act; whether in surgery, sport, or leadership, is often simple. What matters is everything that precedes it.

We tend to overvalue peak moments and undervalue the habits that make them possible. But performance is best understood as potential minus interference.

The work, over time, becomes quieter. Less dramatic. More inevitable.

When pressure comes, you don’t rise to the occasion—you rely on what you’ve built.



https://www.markmclaughlinmd.com/articles/left-brain-thinking

03/25/2026

It was my great good fortune to train with Dr. Jannetta. Here's a snapshot of who he was.
https://www.markmclaughlinmd.com/articles/passing-doctor-peter-jannetta

We're honored to welcome Fred Barker, MD, Professor of Neurosurgery at Harvard Medical School and Visiting Neurosurgeon at MGB Neurosurgery, as the 2026 Peter J. Jannetta Lecturer.

Dr. Barker will present on generative AI in neurosurgical research and skull base oncology during a full day of programming on Wednesday, April 1.

Named in honor of former department chair Dr. Peter Jannetta, world-renowned for his development of microvascular decompression surgery, the annual lectureship celebrates innovation in neurosurgery.

Read more: neurosurgery.pitt.edu/news/2026-peter-jannetta-lectureship

03/23/2026

March is .

If you have not already, please consider this my personal invitation to unlock your "inner reader." It will change your life!

As I was about to start my own practice as a neurosurgeon, I experienced a transformative moment. It didn’t happen in the OR during a challenging surgery.

03/20/2026

On World Head Injury Awareness Day I'd like to remind you

The National Sports Brain Bank deserves your support. This is a project with the potential to generate significant advances.

Were you:
Professional Athlete?
Former DIV I athlete?
Contact Sports?

Consider the donation of your brain to this important research. I've already completed the paperwork. You can too.

https://www.neuro.pathology.pitt.edu/national-sports-brain-bank

The National Sports Brain Bank (NSBB) is a long-term observational study and brain donation registry for former contact sport participants.

03/20/2026

As a neurosurgeon, a coach, and a former NCAA wrestler, I’m here to tell you: there’s no such thing as a 'minor' head hit. It’s a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) If you're a coach or parent, you are the first line of defense. Take action, follow protocols, and don't let a 'ding' turn into a lifelong struggle.

Today is World Head Injury Awareness Day, a global reminder of the importance of education, prevention, and research when it comes to brain injuries.

At the Chuck Noll Foundation, raising awareness is at the heart of our mission, supporting the groundbreaking research that leads to better understanding, treatment, and outcomes for those impacted by traumatic brain injury.

We’re proud to continue the conversation and bring leaders in science, medicine, and sport together to advance brain injury research.

Together, we can drive awareness, fuel discovery, and create a safer future.

03/16/2026

February 27 was another opportunity to speak with first responders about burnout, managing fear, and "being there" for your peers.

It's a very personal and important subject to me, and it truly is a privilege to be able to contribute in a small way. Thank you for having me Bergen County Police Academy.

Dr. McLaughlin recently had the opportunity to speak at the Peer Support Certification Program at the Bergen County Police Academy, sharing insights on trauma awareness and supporting those who serve our communities.

First responders regularly face situations that most people will never experience. Programs like this help provide the tools and understanding needed to support both personal well-being and peer support within departments.

Dr. McLaughlin is honored to contribute to these important conversations and frequently participates in educational programs like this to support the health and resilience of our law enforcement community.

Thank you to the Bergen County Police Academy for hosting this impactful program.

03/13/2026

In the heat of the game, it’s easy to dismiss a hard hit as a 'brain scrambler' or just 'getting your bell rung.'

As a neurosurgeon, a coach, and former NCAA wrestler, I’m here to tell you: there’s no such thing as a 'minor' head hit. It’s a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

If you're a coach or parent, you are the first line of defense. Take action, follow protocol, and don't let a 'ding' turn into a lifelong struggle.

Learn the symptoms of TBI at my website.
https://www.markmclaughlinmd.com/patients/symptoms-traumatic-brain-injuries

March is

Dr. Mark McLaughlin discusses what you need to know about Traumatic Brain Injuries. Learn the Symptoms.

03/11/2026

We are nothing without our mentors, and we have an obligation to "pay it forward" to future generations. How do you honor your mentors and contribute to the future? We would love to see your strategies in the comments.

Thank you Dr. Welch

03/05/2026

Left brain. Right brain. Structure and instinct.

A few weeks ago I returned to the United States Military Academy at West Point to speak with cadets about performance through those two perspectives.

One viewpoint examines creativity, instinct, pattern recognition, and the ability to adapt under pressure. The other focuses on discipline, preparation, and the deliberate architecture of decisions.

Elite performance is never one or the other. It comes from integration. Instinct guided by structure. Creativity supported by discipline.

But visiting West Point is never just about the lecture.

What stays with you is the feeling of the place. And the deep respect you feel for the institution, the traditions, and the generations of leaders who began their journeys there.

The academy sits high above the Hudson River, surrounded by history. As you walk the grounds you are reminded that the youth of America has stood in those same places for more than two centuries, preparing themselves to serve in ways most of us will never be asked to.

What always stands out to me is the seriousness of purpose among the cadets.

They are not preparing for leadership in theory.

They are preparing for moments where clarity, judgment, and character will matter when the stakes are extraordinarily high.

What I wanted to share today is that feeling.

I hope this short video captures a bit of the atmosphere of West Point and the privilege of spending time with the next generation of leaders.