Neurosurgery continues to evolve as surgeons advance minimally invasive techniques, adopt new technologies and develop treatments for increasingly complex brain and spine conditions.
The following 15 neurosurgeons are advancing the specialty through clinical innovation, research, education and leadership.
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.
- Amin Amini, MD. Center for Brain & Spine (Silver Spring, Md.): Dr. Amini is a clinical professor of neurosurgery at the Baltimore-based University of Maryland and medical director of neurosurgery at Largo, Md.-based Capital Region Medical Center. He specializes in complex spine surgery and the treatment of primary and metastatic brain and spinal tumors, with expertise in robotic-assisted and minimally invasive techniques.
Dr. Amini has held leadership roles in developing neuroscience programs at multiple hospitals. He is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Congress of Neurological Surgeons and Washington Academy of Neurosurgery. He has been recognized as a Washingtonian Top Doctor since 2012.
- Arianne Boylan, MD. Mount Sinai Health System (New York City): Dr. Boylan is an assistant professor of neurosurgery at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and a faculty member of the health system’s Complex Spine and Spine Oncology programs. She specializes in spinal tumors, deformities, trauma and degenerative conditions, with expertise in minimally invasive, robotic-assisted and revision spine surgery.
Dr. Boylan has authored research papers and book chapters and presented at national conferences on spinal disorders. She is involved in medical student and resident education and has mentored aspiring physicians. Her clinical approach emphasizes multidisciplinary care and nonsurgical treatment options before considering surgery.
- Bledi Brahimaj, MD. Baylor Scott & White Health (Dallas): Dr. Brahimaj specializes in brain and skull base tumors, pituitary disorders, epilepsy and complex neurological conditions. His surgical expertise includes minimally invasive keyhole brain surgery, endoscopic endonasal procedures and complex skull base surgery. He also treats spinal conditions and other disorders affecting the nervous system.
Dr. Brahimaj is part of the multidisciplinary team at Baylor Scott & White Brain Tumor Center in Dallas. He has contributed to peer-reviewed research and presented at national scientific meetings, with a focus on brain tumors and complex neurosurgical conditions. He also received the American Association of Neurological Surgeons/Congress of Neurological Surgeons Joint Section on Tumors and Skull Base Surgery Award for his research contributions.
- Aria Fallah, MD. UCLA Health: Dr. Fallah is director of epilepsy surgery at UCLA, holder of the Dr. Alfonsina Q. Davies Endowed Chair in Epilepsy Research and an associate professor of neurosurgery and pediatrics. He specializes in pediatric and adult epilepsy surgery and has performed more than 1,000 procedures. His expertise includes hemispherectomy, minimally invasive epilepsy surgery and neuromodulation techniques.
Dr. Fallah was the first neurosurgeon in the U.S. to implant thalamic responsive neurostimulation electrodes for epilepsy and has authored more than 170 peer-reviewed publications. He has also helped establish epilepsy surgery programs in India and China and contributed to advances in surgical treatment for children with severe epilepsy.
- Yusef Imani, MD. NSPC Brain and Spine Surgery (Rockville Centre, N.Y.): Dr. Imani specializes in minimally invasive spine surgery and complex spinal deformity correction in adults and children. His expertise includes pediatric scoliosis, spinal tumors, spinal instability and degenerative spine conditions. He also treats spinal cord injuries and complex cases involving previous spine surgery.
Dr. Imani is involved in international neurosurgical education and outreach, having lectured at hospitals in China and Tanzania. He also participates in annual medical missions to Black Lion Hospital in Ethiopia, where he works alongside other neurosurgeons to provide care.
- John Keller, MD. Great Lakes Neurosurgical Associates (Grand Rapids, Mich.): Dr. Keller specializes in the surgical treatment of brain and spine disorders, with expertise in complex spine surgery, robotic-assisted procedures and minimally invasive techniques. His clinical interests include artificial disc replacement and motion-preserving spine surgery.
Dr. Keller serves as an adjunct professor at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine in East Lansing and practices across several healthcare systems in western Michigan. He is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Congress of Neurological Surgeons and Michigan Association of Neurological Surgeons.
- Edward Kerr, MD. Baylor Scott & White Health (Dallas): Dr. Kerr specializes in brain and skull base tumors, complex spine disorders and other neurological conditions. His expertise includes minimally invasive skull base surgery, endoscopic endonasal procedures, pituitary tumor surgery and complex cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine surgery. He is part of the multidisciplinary team at Baylor Scott & White Brain Tumor Center in Dallas.
Dr. Kerr has authored peer-reviewed research, book chapters and scientific presentations and served as associate faculty for advanced endoscopic skull base surgery courses. He received the Excellence in Clinical Research Resident Award from the University of California, Davis, Department of Neurosurgery and has been recognized as a D Magazine Best Doctor.
- Deven Khosla, MD. Achieve Brain & Spine (Santa Monica, Calif.): Dr. Khosla is the founder and president of Achieve Brain & Spine and chief of spine surgery at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica. He specializes in minimally invasive and complex spine surgery, including artificial disc replacement, adult spinal deformity correction and spinal tumor surgery. He has practiced neurosurgery since 2001.
Dr. Khosla previously served as president of Sierra Neurosurgery Group in Reno, Nev., where he helped establish spine surgery programs and expand neurosurgical access in rural communities. He also trains medical students and neurosurgery residents in advanced spine techniques and leads the Southern California chapter of ThinkFirst, a brain and spinal cord injury prevention program.
- Michaux Kilpatrick, MD. Novant Health (Winston-Salem, N.C.): Dr. Kilpatrick specializes in the surgical treatment of brain, spine and peripheral nerve disorders in adults. She also serves as an adjunct faculty member at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine’s Charlotte campus.
Dr. Kilpatrick has served on the North Carolina Medical Board since 2017, including on its executive committee. She joined the American Board of Medical Specialties Committee on Continuing Certification in 2024 and became co-chair of the North Carolina Medical Society Foundation’s Advanced Healthcare Leadership program in 2025. She was recognized in 2022 as one of 33 Black female neurosurgeons in the U.S.
- Darryl Lau, MD. NYU Langone Health (New York City): Dr. Lau is director of complex spine and adult spinal deformity, director of spinal neurosurgery research and an associate professor of neurosurgery at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. He specializes in complex spinal deformities, revision surgery, spinal tumors and reconstruction in adults and children. His expertise includes robotic-assisted surgery, minimally invasive techniques and pediatric vertebral body tethering.
Dr. Lau has published more than 100 peer-reviewed studies focused on spinal tumors, complex spine surgery and deformity correction. He is involved in multicenter research and has received the Charlie Kuntz Scholar Award three times, along with the Stryker Neuro-Oncology Award.
- Vincent Rossi, MD. Carolina NeuroSurgery & Spine Associates (Charlotte, N.C.): Dr. Rossi specializes in minimally invasive and outpatient spine surgery, with expertise in endoscopic procedures, robotic-assisted surgery and motion preservation. His clinical interests include cervical foraminotomy, artificial disc replacement and lumbar facet replacement.
Dr. Rossi has completed specialized training in robotic and endoscopic spine surgery and cervical and lumbar arthroplasty in Australia. He speaks at national and international conferences on minimally invasive spine techniques and serves on the American Association of Neurological Surgeons’ Diversity and Practice Management committees.
- Daniel Sciubba, MD. Northwell Health (New Hyde Park, N.Y.): Dr. Sciubba is chair of neurosurgery at North Shore University Hospital, Long Island Jewish Medical Center and the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. He also serves as co-director of Northwell’s Institute for Neurology and Neurosurgery. He specializes in complex spine surgery and spinal oncology, including rare spinal tumors and en bloc tumor resections.
Dr. Sciubba has authored more than 600 peer-reviewed publications and books on spinal tumors, including “Spinal Tumor Surgery: A Case-Based Approach” and “Chordoma of the Spine: A Comprehensive Review”. He has been ranked among the world’s top five experts in spine surgery and spinal oncology by Expertscape and has received multiple Castle Connolly Top Doctor recognitions.
- Ahilan Sivaganesan, MD. Penn Medicine (Philadelphia): Dr. Sivaganesan is director of minimally invasive spine surgery and an associate professor of clinical neurosurgery at Penn Medicine. He specializes in outpatient spine surgery, including endoscopic, motion-preserving and robotic-assisted procedures, with an emphasis on avoiding unnecessary surgery and spinal fusion.
Dr. Sivaganesan lectures internationally on advanced spine techniques and leads research focused on improving treatment decisions for spine patients. He is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Congress of Neurological Surgeons and Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery.
- Timothy Witham, MD. UChicago Medicine: Dr. Witham is chief of spine surgery, director of the Neurosurgery Spinal Fusion Laboratory and a professor of neurological surgery at the University of Chicago. He specializes in complex spine surgery and spinal oncology and was the first surgeon in the U.S. to perform spine surgery using augmented reality guidance.
Dr. Witham has published more than 325 peer-reviewed manuscripts, with research focused on improving spinal fusion outcomes and developing bone graft technologies. He previously spent more than 20 years at Johns Hopkins, where he held several leadership positions. He also serves on the editorial board of Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine.
- Corinna Zygourakis, MD. Stanford Medicine (Palo Alto, Calif.): Dr. Zygourakis is an associate professor of neurosurgery specializing in complex spinal deformities, revision surgery and spinal tumors. She uses minimally invasive, motion-preserving and robotic-assisted techniques and has published more than 120 scientific articles and book chapters.
Dr. Zygourakis researches disparities in spine surgery access and outcomes, as well as wearable technology for tracking postoperative recovery. She serves as Stanford’s neurosurgery physician improvement lead, sits on the editorial boards of Neurosurgery and Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine and holds national leadership roles in organized neurosurgery.
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