It’s brain surgery
GRAND ISLAND – It’s not rocket science. And it’s not exactly brain surgery to recognize that the Laurel educational system has put out more than a few good grads.
Josh Anderson, a neurosurgeon and a graduate of Laurel-Concord School (Class of 1996), is just one example. He was recently named the CHI Health St. Francis 2022 Physician Excellence Award Winner in Grand Island.
The press release from CHI Health St. Francis reads, “Dr. Anderson has worked hard to build a strong neurosurgical clinic in Grand Island, so patients do not have to travel far for excellent care. In order to better serve our rural communities, he has outreach clinics in Ord and Superior. Dr. Anderson also offers telemedicine visits for patients who are unable to attend face-to-face appointments.”
The award has been given out for a few decades and Anderson had been nominated a few times previously before winning it this spring.
“I have never been motivated by stuff like that, but it is nice,” Anderson said. “Multiple people wrote in and gave reasons why they like the work I’ve done. It’s nice to know that people see that you are trying to make a difference.”
Anderson grew up in Laurel as his parents, Gary and Charlotte, owned and managed Gary’s Food Town. He then attended Northwest Missouri State University.
He moved on to the University of Kansas School of Medicine, graduating in 2005. Anderson did his residency in neurosurgery there, finishing in 2011. At that time, he moved to Grand Island.
“I was really intrigued by the anatomy of the brain, the nervous system, the spinal cord,” he said. “I just have more of a personality that fits with surgery. I enjoy doing surgery and both the operative and diagnostic parts.”
He was always interested in learning more. In fact, Anderson bypassed opportunities for study hall at Laurel-Concord School and enrolled in more science courses instead.
“I just enjoyed science class at Laurel. There were a lot of people who were taught science (by Ed Brogie) there that got higher levels of degree, and it was an interest in the science classes. I took all the science classes I could,” he said.
Anderson said the hardest part of being a neurosurgeon is the difficulty of trying to help families through “catastrophic events,” if someone has a brain injury, a form of paralysis or is dying.
“It’s about helping people through difficult situations,” he said.
He credits his parents for raising him to be an upstanding citizen.
And sometimes he’s able to take care of those from his hometown.
“Sometimes I get consults from Northeast Nebraska and people know I am here,” he said.
Anderson said he’s grateful for the opportunity to build a practice in Grand Island as one of the first neurosurgeons to practice there in quite some time.
The award is indicative of his high-level of service and he hopes to continue providing that to his patients.
