Mark R. McLaughlin, MD

02/16/2026

It's President's Day 2026.

Seems like a good time to remember a President and one of his most revealing quotes.

02/13/2026

I’m heading back to United States Military Academy today to deliver two lectures on performance.

One on right-brain thinking (creativity, instinct, pattern recognition, adaptability under pressure.)
The other on left-brain thinking (structure, discipline, decision architecture, deliberate preparation.)

I’ve spoken at West Point many times. You might think it would start to feel routine.

You would be wrong.

Every time I arrive on those grounds overlooking the Hudson, I’m reminded of the weight of the place; and the leaders who once walked there as young cadets.

Grant, Eisenhower, Patton, MacArthur, and Schwarzkopf Jr.

History is not abstract at the Point. It feels present.

And then I think about other heroes whose names many Americans may not immediately recognize... but should.

Henry H. Arnold, James M. Gavin, Harold K. Johnson

Men who demonstrated courage and character. Men who represent something larger than themselves.

When I speak about performance at West Point, I’m not speaking about optimization in the abstract.

I’m speaking about clarity under stress.
Decisiveness when lives are on the line.
Humility in leadership.
Cognitive dominance when chaos tries to take over.

Right brain.
Left brain.

Instinct and structure.
Creativity and discipline.

Elite performance is never one or the other. It’s the integration.

Every time I stand before those cadets, I feel the same thing:

Gratitude.

Because the young men and women in those seats are preparing to shoulder responsibilities most of us will never fully understand.

I’m humbled by the invitation.
I’m honored by the trust.

And I promise to give them my very best... just as they commit to giving their very best for all of us.

02/11/2026

Today is International Day of Women and Girls in Science
What boggles the mind is that generations of parents said to their daughters...

"No. You're not capable of that."
Marie Curie was the first to earn 2 Nobel Prizes in science.

02/11/2026

We are nothing without our mentors, and our obligation is to "pay it forward" to future generations. How do you honor your mentors?

Thank you Dr. Peter Jannetta

02/10/2026

In some ways, fear drives me..., though probably not in the way you imagine. Fear spawned my book "Cognitive Dominance : A Brain Surgeon's Quest to Out-Think Fear", and continued research into the manifestations of fear continues to guide a number of projects.

Fear is a part of life. It's an evolutionary tool that shows up in the most unexpected places. It manifests in wrestling, in coaching, public speaking, and in the practice of neurosurgery. Fear is a constant companion, yet I truly believe we can attain a "state of grace"... a state of "unburnoutability" if you will, where we understand and use fear.

Unexamined, fear corrodes judgment. Examined, it sharpens it. Pressure will always be there. The decisions will always carry weight. But fear, properly understood, becomes both safeguard and catalyst — a signal to focus, a reminder of responsibility, and ultimately a tool that helps transform high consequence into high performance.

Check out my conversation with Sophie Eydis at Becker's Spine Review. Please let me know what you think.

Every spine surgeon eventually confronts the same moment: a decision that cannot be deferred, delegated or softened by consensus. Operate or don’t. Decompress or fuse. Act now or wait, knowing the consequences of waiting may be irreversible. Mark McLaughlin, MD, has spent decades making those call...

02/09/2026

Congratulations Ethan! You dug deep and you did it!

Wrestler of the Week 🏆

Shoutout to Ethan Ingram from Foundation Academy for an incredible performance on the mat! After battling through a tough match, Ethan showed true resilience and courage in overtime,digging deep and earning the win. That’s the heart of a competitor right there. 💪🔥

Proud to see that fight, focus, and determination. Keep building, Ethan!

02/08/2026

My vocation medicine.
My avocation coaching.

02/06/2026

One of the most important lessons I try to emphasize—whether in sport, business, or life—is this: focus on the process, not the outcome.

Results are important, but they don’t define you. What defines you is your commitment to improvement, your discipline in the daily work, and your willingness to show up and get a little better every single day.

When you stay grounded in the process, the results tend to follow.

I appreciate organizations like Wrestlers in Business Network that reinforce this mindset by helping athletes translate the habits built through wrestling into long-term professional success.

If you’re interested in leadership, career development, and the power of process-driven growth, I encourage you to follow the WIBN National Wrestlers in Business Network page here on Facebook.

02/04/2026

Today!

A reminder that a mentor of mine Gail Rosseau, MD will present this year's Dorothy Klenke Nash lecture at University of Pittsburgh Neurosurgery.
"Jane Goodall, Primatology and Neurosurgery"

There is no one better suited to deliver the lecture than Dr. Rosseau. For many years, she has been a notable global neurosurgery leader.

Special lecture focusing on women in the field of neurosurgery, honoring the memory of Dorothy Klenke Nash, the first female to practice neurosurgery in the United States. Peter J. Jannetta innovative former chairman of the University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurosurgery,

02/03/2026

We are nothing without our mentors, and our obligation is to "pay it forward" to future generations.

Tomorrow, Gail Rosseau, MD will present the 2026 Dorothy Klenke Nash Lecture at University of Pittsburgh Neurosurgery

I can think of no one more appropriate.
Thank you Dr. Rosseau.

02/02/2026

NeuroRounds

Make this the year you turned serious!

Join us LIVE tomorrow February 3rd at 7:00 AM

NeuroRounds is designed for serious learners— , , , and all healthcare professionals looking to sharpen their skills and build their resume.


https://markmclaughlinmd.com/neurorounds

01/30/2026

𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟑, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄
Please share this!

The Boston Declaration, launched at the 2025 American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) meeting in Boston, is a global initiative and pledge by neurosurgical societies (like the AANS) and individuals to improve access to equitable, safe, and affordable neurosurgical care worldwide, addressing disparities and promoting global health through concrete actions, advocacy, and collaborative efforts.

NeuroRounds took the podium twice to make commitments to how we would be a part of improving neurosurgical education and care worldwide.

When a med school or medical organization sees NeuroRounds in your CV, they know that it means you share that commitment. Let's make 2026 the year you got serious.

Whether you’re premed, a med student, resident, or a healthcare professional from any specialty...

NeuroRounds is were you’ll see how information becomes diagnosis, how options become decisions, and how teams communicate under pressure. You’ll practice the habits that matter: structured thinking, crisp presentation, and evidence-based reasoning—so the child who wanted to be a doctor becomes the clinician you’re becoming.

Share this with a friend. Register now. Attend free.

Start the New Year Right! Make 2026, the year that you join us in NeuroRounds and resolve that you choose to learn how information becomes diagnosis, how options become decisions, and how teams communicate under pressure.