Actually, It Is Brain Surgery

Brain surgery: Two words that no one ever wants to hear.

Lauren Costa, BSBA ’24, hears them every day.

As a patient services coordinator in the Department of Neurosurgery at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Costa is a central figure in one of the nation’s leading neurosurgery centers, which treats up to 90 patients a day and performs more than 3,600 neurosurgical procedures every year.

“The most rewarding aspect of my job,” she says, “is helping patients receive life-changing, or even life-saving, procedures.”

Learning that you need brain surgery understandably triggers a wide range of emotions for people, no matter their age or background. It’s Costa’s job to talk with patients before and after surgery, providing clear information, reassurance, and guidance.

“Many patients and their families are anxious, so being able to explain timelines, answer their questions, and help them navigate their care plan builds trust and connection with Mass General,” says the North Kingstown, Rhode Island native. “Watching their progress can be incredibly fulfilling.”

As part of her responsibilities, Costa manages pituitary patients in MGH’s Neurosurgery Ambulatory Clinic, which provides an array of services for patients with neurological conditions. In an average month, she coordinates appointments for more than 100 patients, manages 15 or more surgical cases, and tracks over 50 referrals, ensuring that patients’ insurance information is verified.

Costa’s strong organizational skills and attention to detail are proving essential in an extremely busy practice with high demand, says Dunia Salgado, operations supervisor in the Neurosurgery Department. So are her soft skills. “Lauren has a friendly disposition and knows how to make people feel comfortable and at ease,” Salgado says, “which is important when dealing with patients who are nervous either before or after surgery.”

Costa—whose twin sister, Lizzie, BA ’24, and father, Michael, JD ’97, are also Suffolk alums—credits her experiences at the Sawyer Business School with preparing her for her current role. She also cherishes the support and encouragement from her family, especially her mother, Jean.

“I was very introverted in high school,” Costa admits. “But once I came to Suffolk, I started getting involved around campus, which really improved my people skills. Suffolk gave me my wings, and the ability to open up and be mindful of my own potential.”

A marketing and management major, Costa was involved with everything from the student-run marketing agency, Suffolk in the Hub—where she worked with two local businesses, R-Yolo (a company that produces washable yoga mats founded by Donna Lee, MPA ’23) and Beantown Bites (a popular Boston restaurant with a podcast that explores the Boston food scene), in their marketing efforts—to the Suffolk Jazz Band, where she played both violin and piano.

She also was a teaching assistant for SBS first-year students, helping with their transition to college life. “My approach was to share my own experiences and get to know students on a one-on-one basis,” she says.

“Lauren was highly motivated and energetic in everything she did,” says Dennis Harkins, BSBA ’15, MPA ’17, assistant dean of student affairs for operations and an adjunct faculty member, who had Costa as a TA for three years. “What I appreciated most was that she had a real interest in facilitating the class, in addition to doing her administrative duties. She was a real asset to me and the students.”

During the spring of her senior year, Costa interned with the Boston Children’s Hospital Trust, where she helped coordinate fund-raising events. Her internship was underwritten with support from Suffolk’s Phillips Family Internship Fund, which provides stipends for students with unpaid or low-paying internships.

Costa is thankful for all the resources that Suffolk had to offer. Today, she goes to work each day knowing she is doing her part in helping others.

“Whether it’s a patient who regains their eyesight, has their seizures controlled, or simply expresses gratitude,” she says, “those moments remind me how important what I do can be.”