Goodman Campbell is honored to share Dr. Troy D. Payner’s 30th work anniversary!
Neurosurgeon, Dr. Troy Payner of Goodman Campbell Brain and Spine, is celebrating 30 remarkable years with the organization this year! Dr. Payner’s focus is cranial surgery including benign and malignant brain tumors, cerebrovascular disorders such as aneurysms, trigeminal neuralgia, and skull base neurosurgery. He came to Indianapolis to fulfill his passion for cranial neurosurgery and has performed nearly 10,000 brain operations throughout his career.
When asked about his career highlights, he shared…
“Having the privilege of working with and learning from Dr. Julius Goodman is an unequivocal highlight of my career. I have also enjoyed working with so many likeminded neurosurgeons who truly have a passion for neurosurgery. I have trained neurosurgical fellows in cerebrovascular and skull based neurosurgery for 21 consecutive years. It has been a tremendous honor to serve in this role and it is incredibly rewarding to see the success these fellows have had treating neurosurgical patients all over the United States.”
“My greatest accomplishment outside of clinical care is the privilege of serving as the president of Goodman Campbell for 10 years and being instrumental in creating and transitioning from Indianapolis Neurosurgical Group to Goodman Campbell Brain and Spine in 2010.”
One of the aspects Dr. Payner enjoys most about working at Goodman Campbell is its culture. He states, “The culture of Goodman Campbell is unique among medical practices. I attribute this to Dr. Julius Goodman. Everyone is respected and everyone’s opinion is valued. The success of the group is put ahead of the success of individuals. Two fundamental principles of the culture are a sense of fairness and transparency. This culture has become so ingrained that it has been sustained even 16 years after the death of Dr. Goodman.”
Dr. Payner has had many mentors throughout his education and career. Two that standout are Dr. John Tew and Dr. Julius Goodman. Dr. Tew was the chairman of the department of neurosurgery at the University of Cincinnati where he completed his residency program. Dr. Payner stated, “He is responsible for exposing me to cranial neurosurgery and enabled me to find my true passion in life. He was a role model as a result of his masterful neurosurgical technique, his unparalleled leadership skills and his unwavering sense of calm even in the most stressful circumstances. I still see him as a great mentor even though we have transitioned to a great friendship that we maintain to this day.”
Regarding Dr. Goodman, “There are no words to sufficiently describe the man who was Dr. Julius Goodman. He relentlessly pursued the best treatment for every single patient he encountered. He studied neurosurgical journals to remain current even in areas of neurosurgery that he did not practice. He was completely selfless. He only wanted what was best for his patients and what was best for the future of neurosurgery. The formation of Goodman Campbell was his dream. His commitment to neurosurgical education is unmatched. He created a neurosurgery board review course in preparation for the oral board examination and facilitated the education of future neurosurgeons. The American Association of Neurological Surgeons has renamed this course “The Goodman Oral Board Review Course”. To this day, it is the only course offered by the organization with a neurosurgeon’s name on it. I am extremely grateful that I had the opportunity to work on a daily basis with Dr. Goodman for the first 14 years of my career. Few mentors can live up to the standard that he exemplified.”
After 30 years of practice Dr. Payner reflected on the future of neurosurgery. “When I was in my residency training my chairman told me that he did not do anything today the way he learned to do it as a resident. I now completely understand what he was saying. There are new technologies, treatment options, and surgical techniques that are continuously changing. I believe the key to my success is to always be looking for the next best treatment for my patients and discerning which innovations truly benefit them.”
“I am extremely excited about the opportunity Goodman Campbell has through its new residency training program. A residency training program takes our commitment to education to the next level. This will be a part of the “glue” that binds Goodman Campbell together with a common vision that will hopefully sustain us long into the future. Education is the ultimate means to give back to the next generation. I know we will meet this obligation wholeheartedly.”
Thank you for your thirty years of service and dedication to patients!
