James C. Barrese, MD, FAANS NEUROSURGEON I understand the importance of being active. I scuba dive and snowboard whenever I have the chance to get away. At home, I’m an avid gardener. I built an aquaponics garden and cultivate a hybrid grape from which I make my own wine. I also have a four-year-old son who loves to explore the backyard.It’s how I reconnect with myself and my family after working long hours. And while I treat each of my patients as individuals, my prevailing goal is to help people with debilitating brain or spine injuries improve their quality of life.For some, that may mean lessening their pain. For others, it’s restoring their level of activity to what it was prior to their injury.