As seen on THV11

If you are ever diagnosed with a brain tumor and need the best surgeon in the world -- your best bet would be to simply head over to Sherwood.

Barrett Hatches is a big fan of Dr. Ali Krisht, director of the CHI St. Vincent Arkansas Neuroscience Institute. Over a month ago, Hatches was diagnosed with a tumor on the pituitary gland pressing on his optic nerve. Affecting his vision, though he felt fine, he needed brain surgery. “And all I could think was wow, they're going to cut my head open and I'm never going to be the same,” Hatches said.

His wife Ann knew of the reputation of Dr. Ali Krisht. “And so when she turned to me and said, we're going to Little Rock to see the best doctor in the world who does this,” Hatches said. “That's why I'm here.” Hatches received care in Sherwood, even though he is CEO of a medical group in Chicago.

Dr. Krisht has performed almost 1,000 surgeries like Hatches’ now. He said there would be no going into Hatches' skull. “We establish the safest entry point,” Dr. Krisht said. “In his case it was through the nose.” But was it successful? “I couldn't see this a month ago,” Hatches said, holding up his hand. Now his vision restored, pituitary tumor free, Hatches openly and enthusiastically shares his life lesson. “The more in control you think you have always been, the harder it is to surrender,” Hatches said. 

By surrendering, divine intervention stepped in, to eventually deliver him to a surgeon whose philosophy is no matter how many surgeries he's done, that if it's the most important day of the patient's life, it's the most important surgery of Dr. Krisht's life. “And if you have that attitude then you going to always want to do better,” Dr. Krisht said. “It's not a miracle,” Hatches said. “It's a message.”

Dr. Krisht has traveled all over the world to perform surgeries and give lectures. May 21, 2019 he travels to Stockholm, Sweden to be presented the Herbert Olivecrona Award. It's considered the Nobel prize of neurosurgery. Click herefor more information on the award. 

CHI St. Vincent marked a milestone in the expansion of its Arkansas Neuroscience Institute with the formal groundbreaking for a $17 million research and education center at CHI St. Vincent North in Sherwood.

The new research and education center at CHI St. Vincent North is part of a destination neuroscience institute that provides advanced neurosurgery care to patients in Arkansas, in the United States and internationally.

Learn more about Dr. Ali KrishtandCHI St. Vincent Arkansas Neuroscience Institute.