College of Osteopathic Medicine
The Young Alumni Award is presented to alumni age 40 or younger who have distinguished themselves through a high level of professional accomplishment early in their career.
He is a skilled neurosurgeon, an accomplished educator and a Spartan.
Brian Fiani is a distinguished neurosurgeon who lives out Spartan values through his academic excellence, innovative discoveries and significant contributions to neuroscience research and education.
Brian earned his D.O. from MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2015. Prior to this, he received his B.S. in Biology at the University of Michigan, where he graduated with honors.Throughout his education, Brian demonstrated exceptional academic prowess, securing the highest score on the Neurosurgery In-Training/In-Service Exam for five consecutive years from 2016 to 2020.
With his osteopathic education as the foundation for his work, Brian began a neurosurgery residency. His educational experiences at MSU helped him not only develop the technical proficiency he needed as a surgeon but shaped his compassionate and empathetic approach to patient care. At the age of 32, Brian became a board-certified neurosurgeon and, just one year later, became Ivy League Fellowship-trained in minimally invasive spinal surgery.
Today, Brian's surgical career spans across Trinity Hospitals, Beaumont Hospitals and Ascension Hospitals. He is noted throughout Southeast Michigan and beyond for his pioneering efforts in integrating technology into life-saving neurosurgical procedures, using robotic guidance technology, neuronavigation and minimally invasive techniques. He also hosted the first virtual reality spinal education symposium in the Metaverse, marking a significant advancement in medical education.
Brian has authored more than 120 peer-reviewed medical journal articles, published a leading textbook on photobiomodulation for medical lasers and has three medical device patents in his name. As an editor and peer reviewer for two dozen neuroscience journals, Brian advances medical knowledge and our understanding of the brain’s complexities.
Following a prestigious one-year fellowship at Weill Cornell Medical Center at New York Presbyterian Hospital, where he also taught neurological surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College, he returned to his alma mater. Brian currently serves as clinical faculty at MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine, holding privileges at three of the College’s base rotation sites within their statewide campus system.
Beyond his clinical and educational duties, Brian has made substantial contributions to the osteopathic profession through boards and leadership roles. From 2022 to 2023, he served as the postdoctoral trainee member on the American Osteopathic Association Board of Trustees, participating in critical initiatives and decisions that impacted the industry at large. He has also held numerous hospital leadership roles and committee appointments, both regionally and nationally.
From his accomplished career as a surgeon to his educational contributions at MSU, Brian represents how a strong commitment to innovation and excellence can lead to life-changing outcomes for countless individuals.
Anna Ludlow“It’s really gratifying to be able to help patients with their spine because that is quality of life at its core – it's being able to do the things you want to do.”