Advances in minimally invasive spine surgery, neuro-oncology, cerebrovascular care, neuromodulation and AI are reshaping neurosurgery. Across the country, a new generation of neurosurgeons is driving those advances by developing new surgical approaches, expanding access to complex care and advancing clinical research.
The following neurosurgeons are emerging leaders in the field through their clinical expertise, scientific contributions, technological innovation and commitment to educating the next generation.
Editor’s note: This is not a comprehensive or ranked list. Becker’s does not endorse any individual featured. To nominate a neurosurgeon for a future list, please contact Sophie Eydis at seydis@beckershealthcare.com.
- Zayed Almadidy, MD. Advocate Lutheran General Hospital (Park Ridge, Ill.): Dr. Almadidy is a neurosurgeon specializing in spine surgery, with expertise in degenerative spine disease, spinal trauma and complex spinal disorders. He combines advanced surgical techniques with a patient-centered approach focused on restoring function and improving quality of life.
Beyond his clinical practice, Dr. Almadidy is dedicated to neurosurgical education and mentorship. Through his educational outreach and active engagement with medical students and trainees, he helps inspire the next generation of neurosurgeons while increasing public understanding of spine health.
- Angela Bohnen, MD. Neurosurgery One (Littleton, Colo.): Dr. Bohnen is a neurosurgeon specializing in complex spine surgery, minimally invasive procedures and neuro-oncology. Her expertise includes awake craniotomy, brain mapping, skull base and pituitary tumors, spinal cord stimulation and the treatment of degenerative spinal conditions.
Dr. Bohnen is among the first neurosurgeons in Colorado to offer GammaTile therapy for brain tumors. She also serves as chief of surgery at AdventHealth Littleton and participates in global medical education initiatives.
- Magalie Cadieux, MD. WashU Medicine (St. Louis): Dr. Cadieux is a neurosurgeon specializing in adult spinal deformity, cervical spine disease, minimally invasive spine surgery and spinal trauma. She provides individualized, evidence-based care for complex spinal conditions, with a focus on restoring function through advanced surgical techniques.
Beyond her clinical practice, Dr. Cadieux is actively advancing neurosurgical education and global spine care. Her academic work focuses on competency-based surgical training, improving spine trauma care and expanding access to innovative neurosurgical technologies in underserved communities worldwide.
- Julie Chan, MD, PhD. University of Florida (Gainesville): Dr. Chan is a neurosurgeon specializing in complex spine surgery, with expertise in minimally invasive techniques, motion preservation and the treatment of degenerative, traumatic and spinal tumor conditions. She combines a strong scientific background with advanced surgical training to deliver evidence-based, patient-centered spine care.
Beyond her clinical practice, Dr. Chan leads spine research focused on surgical outcomes and clinical trials. She also serves as an assistant editor for Neurosurgery and is an active leader within the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, helping advance spine research, education and innovation.
- Joseph DiDomenico, MD. Barrow Neurological Institute (Phoenix): Dr. DiDomenico is a neurosurgeon specializing in adult spinal disorders, including degenerative spine disease, adult spinal deformity and spinal tumors. He combines minimally invasive and open surgical techniques to develop individualized treatment plans for patients with complex spinal conditions.
Beyond his clinical practice, Dr. DiDomenico’s research focuses on decision-making in spine surgery, sports-related spinal injuries and return-to-play protocols. His work aims to refine evidence-based treatment strategies and optimize outcomes for patients with spinal disorders.
- Ibrahim Hussain, MD. Weill Cornell Medicine (New York City): Dr. Hussain is a neurosurgeon specializing in endoscopic, minimally invasive and complex reconstructive spine surgery. His expertise includes revision spine surgery, spinal oncology, peripheral nerve disorders and the use of advanced technologies such as robotics, navigation and augmented reality to improve surgical precision and recovery.
Beyond his clinical practice, Dr. Hussain is a prolific researcher with more than 160 peer-reviewed publications and numerous book chapters. He leads research on disc regeneration, minimally invasive spine surgery and spinal oncology, serves as an independent neurologic consultant for the New York Giants and the NFL, and collaborates on global neurosurgery initiatives and next-generation spine technologies.
- Spyridon Karadimas, MD, PhD. Stanford Health Care (Palo Alto, Calif.): Dr. Karadimas is a cerebrovascular neurosurgeon specializing in complex vascular disorders of the brain, neck and spine, including aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, Moyamoya disease and stroke. He combines advanced microsurgical and endovascular techniques with a personalized approach to treating complex neurovascular disease.
As a physician-scientist, Dr. Karadimas directs a translational neuroscience laboratory focused on stroke recovery, neuroplasticity and brain-computer interfaces. He has published first-author research in Nature, Nature Neuroscience and Science Translational Medicine, helping advance the future of cerebrovascular neurosurgery.
- Justin Anthony Neira, MD. Columbia University Irving Medical Center/NewYork-Presbyterian (New York City): Dr. Neira is a neurosurgeon specializing in spinal oncology, spinal cord tumors, degenerative spine disease and spinal cord injury. He also treats cervical and lumbar disc disease, cervical myelopathy and other complex spinal disorders, with a focus on multidisciplinary, patient-centered care.
Dr. Neira helped establish Columbia’s cross-campus spinal oncology program, bringing together neurosurgery, oncology and radiation oncology to streamline care for patients with spinal tumors. His research focuses on improving outcomes after spinal cord injury, advancing spinal tumor surgery and developing restorative therapies through nerve transfer and neuromodulation.
- Lauren Ostling, MD. Mayfield Brain & Spine (Cincinnati): Dr. Ostling is a neurosurgeon specializing in minimally invasive spine surgery with additional fellowship training in pediatric neurosurgery. She treats a wide range of spinal disorders and has a particular interest in caring for adolescents and young adults transitioning from pediatric to adult neurosurgical care.
Beyond her clinical practice, Dr. Ostling is committed to improving access to specialized spine care across all stages of life. Her combined expertise in pediatric and adult neurosurgery allows her to bridge a critical gap in care for patients with complex neurological and spinal conditions.
- Matthew Pease, MD. Indiana University Health (Indianapolis): Dr. Pease is a neurosurgical oncologist specializing in brain tumors, neurotrauma and minimally invasive brain surgery. He uses advanced functional mapping and image-guided techniques to maximize tumor removal while preserving neurological function and promoting faster recovery.
Alongside his clinical practice, Dr. Pease develops AI tools to improve cancer diagnosis, treatment planning and patient outcomes. His research has been published in leading journals, including PNAS, Neurology, Annals of Neurology and Neuro-Oncology.
- Lindsey Ross, MD. Achieve Brain & Spine (Santa Monica, Calif.): Dr. Ross is a spine neurosurgeon and health services researcher specializing in complex spinal disorders and the use of digital health technologies to improve patient outcomes. Her clinical practice is complemented by a strong focus on health equity, healthcare delivery and innovation in spine care.
Dr. Ross has received National Institutes of Health funding to study virtual reality, digital health and disparities in spine and stroke care. A former White House Fellow and recipient of the North American Spine Society’s Top 20 Under 40 award, she is recognized for advancing equitable access to neurosurgical research and technology.
- Nir Shimony, MD. Semmes Murphy Clinic (Memphis, Tenn.): Dr. Shimony is a pediatric neurosurgeon specializing in epilepsy surgery, pediatric brain and spinal cord tumors, complex brainstem disorders and minimally invasive neurosurgery. His expertise includes advanced endoscopic and keyhole techniques, intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring and the surgical treatment of medically refractory epilepsy.
In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Shimony is an active researcher, educator and textbook editor with numerous peer-reviewed publications in pediatric neurosurgery and neuro-oncology. His work focuses on advancing surgical techniques and improving outcomes for children with complex neurological disorders.
- Nanthiya Sujijantarat, MD. Yale School of Medicine (New Haven, Conn.): Dr. Sujijantarat is a cerebrovascular neurosurgeon specializing in the treatment of stroke, intracranial aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations and other complex vascular disorders of the brain and spine. Her expertise includes advanced neuroendovascular procedures, carotid revascularization and minimally invasive treatments for cerebrovascular disease.
Beyond her clinical practice, Dr. Sujijantarat is an active researcher and educator with numerous peer-reviewed publications on cerebrovascular disease and neurointervention. She also serves as associate editor for media at the Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery, helping advance education and innovation in endovascular neurosurgery.
- Joseph Withrow, MD. Carolina NeuroSurgery & Spine Associates (Charlotte, N.C.): Dr. Withrow is a neurosurgeon specializing in complex spine surgery, including degenerative spine disease, adult spinal deformity and primary and metastatic spine tumors. His expertise includes minimally invasive spine surgery, robotic-assisted procedures, spinal navigation and the treatment of traumatic spinal injuries.
Dr. Withrow is committed to delivering individualized, patient-centered spine care through advanced surgical techniques and collaborative decision-making. His focus on innovation and complex spine reconstruction helps expand treatment options for patients with challenging spinal conditions.
- Jacky Yeung, MD. Yale Medicine (New Haven, Conn.): Dr. Yeung is a neurosurgeon specializing in minimally invasive keyhole brain surgery, endoscopic spine surgery and the surgical treatment of brain and spinal tumors. His work focuses on maximizing tumor removal while preserving neurological function and reducing recovery time. He is one of a small number of neurosurgeons with advanced endoscopic expertise in treating both cranial and spinal conditions. Dr. Yeung’s research spans tumor immunology, machine learning and personalized brain mapping.
He received a Doris Duke Clinical Research Fellowship and an American Association of Neurological Surgeons Tumor Section Research Award, and his work has appeared in publications including Science Immunology, Clinical Cancer Research and Neuro-Oncology. He is also an author of Connectomic Medicine, a textbook examining the clinical applications of brain-connectivity research. On Aug. 15, he will join Hartford (Conn.) HealthCare’s Ayer Neuroscience Institute as neurosurgical oncology director for the Fairfield region, where he will help develop a multidisciplinary neuro-oncology program.
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