Neurosurgery is advancing rapidly through innovations in brain tumor surgery, cerebrovascular care, functional neurosurgery, pediatric neurosurgery, neurotrauma and complex spine surgery. Across the U.S., leading neurosurgeons are driving those advances through groundbreaking research, novel surgical techniques, national leadership and the training of future generations of physicians.
The following 15 neurosurgeons are helping shape the future of neurological care through their clinical expertise, scientific contributions and leadership in the field.
Editor’s note: This is not a comprehensive or ranked list. Becker’s does not endorse any individual featured. To nominate a physician for a future list, please contact Sophie Eydis at seydis@beckershealthcare.com.
- Stavropoula Tjoumakaris, MD. Thomas Jefferson University (Philadelphia): Dr. Tjoumakaris is chair of the Department of Neurological Surgery at Thomas Jefferson University, vice chair of operations for the Farber Neuroscience Institute and the nation’s first female dual-trained cerebrovascular neurosurgeon. She directs Jefferson’s nationally recognized Cerebrovascular and Endovascular Fellowship Program and specializes in treating stroke, brain aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations and carotid artery disease using both microsurgical and minimally invasive endovascular techniques.
Dr. Tjoumakaris has authored more than 400 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters, leads major national research trials, and serves in leadership positions within national cerebrovascular and endovascular neurosurgical societies.
- Guy McKhann II, MD. Emory University (Atlanta): Dr. McKhann will become chair of Emory University School of Medicine’s Department of Neurosurgery on Sept. 14, 2026, after serving as vice chair of neurological surgery at New York City-based Columbia University Irving Medical Center and co-chief of its Stereotactic and Functional and Brain Tumor divisions. He is nationally recognized for expertise in brain tumor surgery, epilepsy surgery, awake brain mapping, stereotactic laser ablation and minimally invasive, computer-guided microneurosurgery.
A translational neuroscientist, Dr. McKhann directs Columbia’s Epilepsy Neurophysiology Laboratory and leads National Institutes of Health-funded research focused on epilepsy, brain tumors and neurodegenerative disease. He will oversee Emory’s continued growth in neurosurgical patient care, research and education.
- Owoicho Adogwa, MD. University of Cincinnati: Dr. Adogwa is an assistant professor of neurological surgery at the University of Cincinnati and a nationally recognized spine neurosurgeon who is among the few surgeons in the U.S. cross-trained in both neurosurgery and orthopedic spine surgery. He specializes in adult and pediatric spinal deformity, degenerative spine disease, spinal oncology and minimally invasive spine surgery, and has led multidisciplinary initiatives in enhanced recovery, spine optimization and value-based care.
A prolific researcher, Dr. Adogwa has authored more than 300 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters, serves as deputy editor of The Spine Journal, and conducts research focused on personalized spine care, AI and healthcare innovation. He also holds leadership roles in multiple national spine and neurosurgical organizations.
- Andrew Jea, MD. OU Health (Oklahoma City): Dr. Jea is the Harry Wilkins, MD Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery, chief of pediatric neurosurgery and a tenured professor at the University of Oklahoma in Norman. A dual-trained pediatric neurosurgeon and complex spine surgeon, he specializes in minimally invasive treatment of spinal deformities, scoliosis, spina bifida, tethered cord syndrome and brachial plexus injuries.
He is a fellow of the Scoliosis Research Society and a member of the Society of Neurological Surgeons and the American Academy of Neurological Surgery.
- Aviva Abosch, MD, PhD. Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute: Dr. Abosch is deputy director of Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute, director of epilepsy surgery and co-director of functional neurosurgery. She specializes in epilepsy, movement disorders, brain tumors and psychiatric conditions and holds the Esernia Endowed Chair in Surgical Treatment of Adult Epilepsy & Movement Disorders.
An internationally recognized surgeon-scientist, Dr. Abosch has led NIH- and National Science Foundation-funded research on therapeutic brain modulation and has served as principal investigator on numerous clinical trials in epilepsy and functional neurosurgery. She is secretary of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and a past president of both the American Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery and Women in Neurosurgery.
- Isabelle Germano, MD. Mount Sinai Health System (New York City): Dr. Germano is vice chair for faculty affairs in the Department of Neurosurgery at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, director of the Mount Sinai Comprehensive Brain Tumor Program and co-director of the Radiosurgery Program. She specializes in multidisciplinary, minimally invasive treatment of brain and spine tumors and has pioneered first-in-human applications of computer-assisted, image-guided neurosurgery and gene therapy for recurrent glioblastoma.
An internationally recognized neurosurgeon-scientist and educator, Dr. Germano established Mount Sinai’s multidisciplinary brain tumor program and has led NIH- and National Cancer Institute-funded translational brain tumor research. She has authored more than 150 peer-reviewed publications and six books, including Neurosurgery and Global Health, and has held numerous leadership positions, including chair of the AANS/CNS Cerebrovascular Section on Tumors and chair of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies Education and Training Committee.
- Odette Harris, MD. Stanford (Calif.) Medicine: Dr. Harris is professor of neurosurgery at Stanford School of Medicine, director of the Stanford Brain Injury Program and vice chair of diversity. An internationally recognized leader in neurotrauma, she specializes in traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury and also serves as deputy chief of staff for rehabilitation at the VA Palo Alto (Calif.) Health Care System.
A pioneering neurosurgeon, Dr. Harris has dedicated her career to advancing traumatic brain injury care while addressing healthcare disparities in neurotrauma. In 2025, the Congress of Neurological Surgeons established the Odette Harris Lectureship in her honor, making her one of the few neurosurgeons to have a CNS lectureship named after them. She previously served as the American Association of Neurological Surgeons’ William P. Van Wagenen Lecturer and is recognized as one of the nation’s leading voices in neurotrauma research, education and health equity.
- Alex Valadka, MD. UT Southwestern Medical Center (Dallas): Dr. Valadka is a professor of neurological surgery at UT Southwestern Medical Center and chief of neurological surgery for Parkland Health & Hospital System. He focuses on neurotrauma and critical care, with research aimed at improving the diagnosis and management of patients with traumatic brain injury.
A nationally recognized leader in neurosurgery, Dr. Valadka is a past president of the AANS and has served as a director of the American Board of Neurological Surgery, chair of the American College of Surgeons’ Neurosurgical Specialty Group on Trauma and chair of the Defense Health Board’s Neurological/Behavioral Health Subcommittee.
- Julie Pilitsis, MD, PhD. University of Arizona (Tucson): Dr. Pilitsis is chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Arizona, physician executive for functional neurosurgery for Phoenix-based Banner Health and director of the institution’s stereotactic and functional neurosurgery fellowship. A nationally recognized functional neurosurgeon, she specializes in neuromodulation and the surgical treatment of movement disorders, chronic pain and other neurologic conditions.
An internationally recognized researcher, Dr. Pilitsis leads an NIH-funded research program focused on optimizing neuromodulation devices and has authored more than 250 peer-reviewed publications, five textbooks and numerous book chapters. She is president of the American Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery and previously served as president of the North American Neuromodulation Society and chair of the AANS/CNS Sections on Women in Neurosurgery and Pain.
- Stephen Tatter, MD, PhD. Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist (Winston-Salem, N.C.): Dr. Tatter is medical director of neurosurgical oncology and co-director of the Gamma Knife Center at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist. He specializes in brain tumors and movement disorders, with expertise in Gamma Knife radiosurgery, deep brain stimulation, laser interstitial thermal therapy and advanced image-guided neurosurgery.
An internationally recognized leader in neurosurgical oncology and functional neurosurgery, Dr. Tatter founded Wake Forest’s deep brain stimulation program and has pioneered advanced radiation technologies for brain tumors. He has authored hundreds of scientific publications while leading research focused on minimally invasive brain tumor treatment and targeted drug delivery to the brain.
- Daniel Lubelski, MD. Johns Hopkins Medicine (Baltimore): Dr. Lubelski is director of spine tumor surgery, assistant director of the neurosurgery residency program and program director of the Neurosurgery Spine Fellowship at Johns Hopkins. A fellowship-trained neurosurgeon, he specializes in complex and robotic spine surgery, spinal oncology and peripheral nerve surgery, treating patients with spinal deformities, spine and nerve tumors and brachial plexus injuries.
A prolific researcher, Dr. Lubelski has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed publications and numerous textbook chapters. His research focuses on patient-reported outcomes, quality of life and using big data to develop individualized prediction models that personalize treatment for patients with complex spinal and peripheral nerve disorders.
- Ricardo Hanel, MD, PhD. Baptist Health/Lyerly Neurosurgery (Jacksonville, Fla.): Dr. Hanel is co-medical director of the Baptist Stroke & Cerebrovascular Center and co-medical director of the Cerebral Cavernous Malformations Program at Baptist Health. He specializes in acute stroke intervention, brain aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, skull base surgery and minimally invasive endovascular treatment of complex cerebrovascular disease.
A leader in neurovascular innovation, Dr. Hanel combines advanced endovascular techniques with active neurosurgical research to expand treatment options for patients with stroke and other complex cerebrovascular disorders. He is widely recognized for advancing catheter-based therapies that improve outcomes while reducing the need for open surgery.
- Ellen Air, MD. Henry Ford Health (Detroit): Dr. Air is neurosurgery residency program director, co-director of functional neurosurgery and interim division head of movement disorders at Henry Ford Health. She specializes in deep brain stimulation, epilepsy surgery, movement disorders, essential tremor, trigeminal neuralgia and normal pressure hydrocephalus.
A nationally recognized leader in functional neurosurgery, Dr. Air serves on the executive board of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, is chair-elect of the AANS/CNS Joint Section on Women in Neurosurgery and serves on the board of directors for the American Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery. She is also widely recognized for her leadership in neurosurgical education and residency training.
- Kimberly Hoang, MD. Emory University: Dr. Hoang is an associate professor of neurosurgery at Emory University School of Medicine and a neurosurgical oncologist specializing in brain and spinal tumors. She has expertise in awake brain tumor surgery, functional brain mapping and minimally invasive neurosurgical techniques.
A leader in neurosurgical innovation, Dr. Hoang’s research focuses on surgical robotics and novel device development for brain tumor diagnosis and treatment, including microrobotic and meso-robotic technologies. She is a member of the Discovery and Developmental Therapeutics Research Program at Winship Cancer Institute and is advancing next-generation technologies for neurosurgical oncology.
- Ammar Hawasli, MD, PhD. NKC Health Neurosurgery (North Kansas City, Mo.): Dr. Hawasli is a neurosurgeon specializing in brain and spine tumors, cervical spine disorders, complex spine surgery and general neurosurgery. Dual trained in neurosurgery and orthopedic spine surgery at Washington University in St. Louis, he brings academic expertise in complex spinal reconstruction and neurosurgical oncology to patients across the Kansas City region.
Dr. Hawasli earned both his MD and PhD in neuroscience and previously served on the faculty at Washington University, where he led a functional spine surgery laboratory, secured multiple research grants and contributed to major studies and patents. He remains active in surgical education, training the next generation of orthopedic spine surgeons through a clinical partnership with Kansas City University.
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