Mark J Kubala, MD, FAANS, FACS, is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Texas. He did his neurosurgical training at Baylor University, Houston, and the Mayo Clinic. Since 1966 he has been a private practitioner of neurological surgery in Beaumont, Texas. Dr. Kubala was president of the Texas Medical Association (TMA) in 1995 and was later awarded its Distinguished Physician Service Award. He has served twice as president of the TMA Foundation. He is past president of the Texas Association of Neurological Surgeons and was named Neurosurgeon of the Year for the state of Texas in 2008. He served on the executive committee of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons and on the board of directors of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, who honored him with its Distinguished Service Award. He was a founding member of the National Head and Spinal Cord Injury Prevention Program. For twenty years, Dr. Kubala represented Neurological Surgery in the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates. In 2012, he received the Medal of Valor for distinguished service to the field of medicine, the highest award given by the AMA. He has authored several scientific papers.