My Story
Cierra Harper is a Georgia native and graduate from Howard University College of Medicine pursuing a career in academic neurosurgery.
Prior to medical school, Dr. Harper earned dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology and Psychology: Neuroscience from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and has since been named the 2022 Mario and Edith Campagna Scholar in Neurological Surgery at Oregon Health and Science University.
Dr. Harper is a student member of multiple medical associations, including the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS), and the American Society of Black Neurosurgeons (ASBN). She has taken the lead on several initiatives within organized neurosurgery. She is a proud founding member and inaugural Events Chair of the Women in Neurosurgery (WINS) Medical Student Committee, now known as the WINS Medical Student Subcommittee. She is a founding member of the AANS Student Chapter at Howard University College of Medicine, and continues to offer support as President Emeritus. Dr. Harper has also had the honor of serving in the first cohort of Student Ambassadors for ASBN. She now serves as an active member on both the Research and the Resident and Education Committees.
In addition to her roles in leadership, Dr. Harper has demonstrated great promise in her research endeavors. She first presented the work that inspired the creation of Cranial Inroad at the ASBN “25 and Counting” Symposium and Dinner as the keynote speaker under the mentorship of Drs. William Ashley Jr. and Sonia Eden. She also received the 2022 Joan F. Giambalvo Fund for the Advancement of Women Award under the mentorship of Drs. Kavitha Ranganathan and Timothy Smith at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
Dr. Harper has a wonderful support system and is a proud fiancée, daughter, and sister. She fosters her lifelong love for animals in parenting a Belgian Malinois and Bengal cat.
