Maria Bederson
Maria was born and raised in New York City. She studied Molecular Engineering and Chemistry at the University of Chicago, and Biophysics at Georgetown. Then she attended the Edinburgh Atelier of Fine Art for one year, studying traditional oil painting and drawing under master artists. She graduated with honors from Carle Illinois College of Medicine, the nation’s first engineering-based medical school. During her training, she developed an interest in skull base and tumor neurosurgery. She joined Dr. Michael Lim’s immunotherapy lab as an NREF Medical Student Fellow. Maria is inspired by the art of excellent neurosurgical technique and looks forward to learning from skilled mentors in the operating room while contributing to innovation through collaborative, patient-centered design. Outside of neurosurgery, Maria loves being outdoors hiking, backpacking, skiing, and snowboarding.
Education:
2025 – Present
Stanford University – Palo Alto, CA
Department of Neurosurgery
Resident Physician
2021-2025
Carle Illinois College of Medicine, University of Illinois – Urbana, Illinois
MD
2020-2021
Edinburgh Atelier of Fine Art - Edinburgh, Scotland
Certificate, not a degree program
2019-2020
Georgetown University – Washington, DC
MS, Biophysics and Physiology
2015-2019
The University of Chicago – Chicago, Illinois
BS Molecular Engineering, BA Chemistry
Honors & Awards:
- Phi Kappa Phi
- Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation (NREF) Medical Student Summer Research Fellowship 2023
- NASA Illinois Space Grant Consortium
- Academic Honors
- Academic Affairs Service Award
- Inclusive Physician Innovator Award
- Innovation Pathway Grant
- Hoveida Family Foundation Entrepreneurship Commitment Prize
- AWARE Prize, to launch and accelerate ideas to products
Publications web link: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3790-5271
Preferred contact email: bederson@stanford.edu