Advances in minimally invasive surgery, robotics, neuro-oncology, neurotechnology and complex spine care are expanding what is possible in neurosurgery. Neurosurgeons across the country are helping drive that progress while advancing research, refining surgical techniques and training the next generation.
The following 20 neurosurgeons are making an impact on the field through clinical innovation, research 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.
- Hamidreza Aliabadi, MD. Spine & Neurosurgery Associates (Roseville, Calif.): Dr. Aliabadi is a neurosurgeon with expertise in brain tumor and spine surgery. His spine practice includes minimally invasive surgery, spinal tumors, artificial disc replacement, degenerative scoliosis and spinal cord stimulation. He has performed more than 4,000 surgical procedures.
Dr. Aliabadi has authored numerous publications and presentations and has participated in clinical research involving stereotactic radiosurgery for brain metastases. He also serves as clinical faculty at University of California San Francisco and teaches neurological surgery at University of California Davis.
- Zain Allison, MD. Neurosurgery One (Denver): Dr. Allison is a neurosurgeon specializing in both cranial and spine surgery. His spine practice includes minimally invasive surgery, spinal deformity, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis and acute spinal cord injuries, while his cranial expertise includes brain tumors, aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations and neurotrauma.
Dr. Allison also serves as neurotrauma director and neuro-oncology tumor board director at St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood, Colo. His research has spanned neurotrauma, neuro-oncology, scoliosis and neurosurgical care.
- Nduka Amankulor, MD. Penn Medicine (Philadelphia): Dr. Amankulor is chief of neurosurgical oncology and director of the Penn Brain Tumor Center at the University of Pennsylvania. He specializes in brain and spine oncology, with expertise in the surgical treatment of complex tumors of the central nervous system.
Dr. Amankulor is also a physician-scientist whose research focuses on cancer genetics and biology. Before joining Penn Medicine, he served as director of neurosurgical oncology at the University of Pittsburgh, where he led research alongside his clinical practice.
- Michael Bohl, MD. Carolina NeuroSurgery & Spine Associates (Charlotte, N.C.): Dr. Bohl is a neurosurgeon specializing in complex adult and pediatric spine surgery. His expertise includes scoliosis, spinal deformity, degenerative disorders, spinal tumors, trauma and spinal fusion.
Dr. Bohl completed an orthopedic spinal deformity fellowship and is active in national spine organizations, including the Scoliosis Research Society and American Association of Neurological Surgeons. He is also a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served two combat deployments in Iraq.
- Michelle Clarke, MD, PhD. Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minn.): Dr. Clarke is a neurosurgeon and professor of neurosurgery and orthopedic surgery specializing in complex spine surgery, particularly spinal oncology. Her research focuses on spinal column and spinal cord tumors, novel surgical techniques and improving outcomes for patients with rare primary spine tumors.
Dr. Clarke also serves as associate dean for surgery and surgical specialties at Mayo Clinic and leads spine fellowship and education programs. In April, she was elected to the AO North America board of directors as the AO Spine North America representative, following more than a decade of involvement in the organization’s education and governance initiatives.
- Azadeh Farin, MD. FARINeurosurgery (Long Beach, Calif.): Dr. Farin is a neurosurgeon specializing in complex spine surgery, including spinal deformity, spinal tumors and other complex spinal conditions. She completed fellowship training in complex spine surgery and spinal deformity and tumors at UCSF.
Dr. Farin received the Congress of Neurological Surgeons Spine Research Award and has published several dozen manuscripts, articles and book chapters. She also holds a U.S. patent for a spinal device she invented and previously served as a clinical instructor of neurosurgery at the Los Angeles-based University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine.
- Ricardo Fontes, MD, PhD. Rush University Medical Center (Chicago): Dr. Fontes is a neurosurgeon specializing in complex spine surgery, including adult and pediatric spinal deformity, scoliosis, kyphosis and complex revision procedures. His practice incorporates both minimally invasive techniques and open spinal reconstruction for patients with complex conditions.
Dr. Fontes is also an associate professor of neurosurgery and program director of Rush’s neurosurgery residency program. He is actively involved in training neurosurgery residents while caring for patients with challenging spine conditions, including those who have previously been told they are not surgical candidates.
- Juanita Garces, MD. Texas Neuro Spine (San Antonio): Dr. Garces is a neurosurgeon specializing in minimally invasive and complex spine surgery, including adult spinal deformity, degenerative scoliosis, revision surgery and disc arthroplasty. Her research has addressed adult spinal deformity, spinopelvic fixation and minimally invasive spine techniques.
Dr. Garces has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and book chapters spanning spine and neurological surgery. In 2023, she was named to the North American Spine Society’s 20 Under 40 list.
- Kristen Jones, MD. Duke Health (Durham, N.C.): Dr. Jones is a neurosurgeon specializing in complex adult and pediatric spinal deformity, including scoliosis, kyphosis, flatback syndrome and revision spine surgery. She also treats collegiate and professional athletes with spinal injuries and surgical spine conditions.
Dr. Jones’ research focuses on improving safety and reducing complications in complex spine surgery, particularly through advances in spinopelvic fixation. She holds leadership roles with several national and international spine organizations, including the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons Spine Section, Scoliosis Research Society and AO Spine.
- Ilya Laufer, MD. NYU Langone Health (New York City): Dr. Laufer is a neurosurgeon, co-director of the NYU Spine Center and director of the Spine Tumor Program at Perlmutter Cancer Center. He specializes in minimally invasive neurosurgical techniques and the treatment of complex spinal tumors, including metastatic disease, primary bone tumors and tumors of the spinal cord and nerves.
Dr. Laufer’s research focuses on improving spine tumor outcomes and advancing minimally invasive approaches to spinal oncology. He is co-principal investigator of the international Metastatic Tumor Research and Outcomes Network and serves on the steering committee of the AO Spine Knowledge Forum Tumor.
- Jorge González-Martínez, MD, PhD. University of Pittsburgh Medical Center: Dr. González-Martínez is vice chair of neurological surgery and director of the Epilepsy and Movement Disorders Program at the University of Pittsburgh. He specializes in adult and pediatric epilepsy and functional neurosurgery, with expertise in stereoelectroencephalography, neuromodulation and robotic surgery.
Dr. González-Martínez helped develop and implement stereoelectroencephalography in North America and has performed more than 3,000 procedures, including more than 1,000 using robotic techniques. He has published more than 230 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters focused on epilepsy surgery, brain mapping and movement disorders.
- Robert Masson, MD. Masson Spine Institute (Orlando, Fla.): Dr. Masson is a neurosurgeon specializing in minimally invasive spine surgery and sports spine medicine, with particular expertise in lumbar reconstruction and cervical disc arthroplasty. He has performed more than 13,000 procedures and trained more than 1,000 surgeons worldwide.
Dr. Masson holds more than a dozen patents and has developed spine implants and surgical techniques, including the iMAS 360 lumbar reconstruction platform. He also founded eXpanded eXistence, a mixed-reality technology company focused on surgical performance and optimization.
- Randall Porter, MD. Barrow Neurological Institute (Phoenix): Dr. Porter is a neurosurgeon and director of Barrow’s Acoustic Neuroma Program. He specializes in acoustic neuromas and other skull base tumors, degenerative spine disorders and spinal trauma and serves as team neurosurgeon for the Arizona Cardinals.
Dr. Porter has performed more than 10,000 procedures and authored more than 100 peer-reviewed articles and 40 book chapters. He also serves on the board of directors of the Acoustic Neuroma Association and has presented at more than 100 professional meetings nationwide.
- Rafael De la Garza Ramos, MD. Montefiore Einstein (New York City): Dr. De la Garza Ramos is a neurosurgeon and director of spine research at Montefiore Einstein. He specializes in complex spine surgery, including primary and metastatic spinal tumors, spinal deformity and salvage procedures.
Dr. De la Garza Ramos’ research focuses on spine oncology, surgical outcomes, frailty, spinal reconstruction biomechanics and cancer disparities. He has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed publications and received the AANS/CNS Spine Summit’s Charles Kuntz Scholar Award in 2023.
- Wilson Zachary Ray, MD. Washington University School of Medicine (St. Louis): Dr. Ray is chief of spine surgery and vice chair of neurosurgery at Washington University. He specializes in complex spine and peripheral nerve surgery, including minimally invasive and motion-preserving procedures, spinal oncology and nerve transfers for spinal cord injury.
Dr. Ray’s research focuses on spinal cord injury, nerve regeneration and technologies to improve functional recovery. He is principal investigator of multiple clinical trials involving acute spinal cord injury and cervical myelopathy and co-director of the Center for Spinal Cord Injury.
- Krishna Satyan, MD. Dallas Neurosurgical & Spine (Plano, Texas): Dr. Satyan is a neurosurgeon and director of skull base surgery at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Plano. He specializes in degenerative spine disease, traumatic spine injuries, metastatic disease and the resection of primary spinal cord tumors.
Dr. Satyan has practiced neurosurgery for more than a decade and also specializes in open and endoscopic skull base surgery, brain tumors, vascular disorders and peripheral nerve conditions. He is a member of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.
- Michael Steinmetz, MD. Cleveland Clinic: Dr. Steinmetz is chair of Cleveland Clinic’s Department of Neurosurgery and specializes in complex spine surgery, minimally invasive surgery, spine trauma and spinal cord injury.
Dr. Steinmetz has published more than 145 articles and contributed more than 60 book chapters on spine and neurosurgical care. He is co-editor of Benzel’s Spine Surgery and holds editorial leadership roles with World Neurosurgery, Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine and The Spine Journal. He is also active in leadership with the AANS/CNS Spine Section and North American Spine Society.
- Kunal Vakharia, MD. Tampa (Fla.) General Hospital: Dr. Vakharia is a neurosurgeon and director of AI and computational neurosurgery at the Tampa-based University of South Florida and Tampa General Hospital. He specializes in cerebrovascular, endovascular and skull base neurosurgery, with a particular focus on integrating AI into neurosurgical care.
Dr. Vakharia leads translational and clinical research spanning AI, stroke, aneurysms and neurovascular care and has served as an investigator on numerous multicenter trials. His research has appeared in journals including The New England Journal of Medicine and The Lancet, and he holds several national leadership and editorial roles in neurosurgery.
- Theresa Williamson, MD. Brown University Health (Providence, R.I.): Dr. Williamson is a neurosurgeon and bioethicist specializing in spine disorders and brain and spinal trauma. She directs the Center for Minimally Invasive and Endoscopic Spinal Surgery and specializes in complex, minimally invasive and endoscopic spine procedures.
Dr. Williamson also directs the Center for Innovative Neurotechnology for Neural Repair, where she leads efforts to develop technologies aimed at restoring function after spinal cord injury. Her research also explores surgical ethics and decision-making in neurosurgical care, and she serves on the AANS/CNS Spine Section executive committee.
- Isaac Yang, MD. UCLA Health (Los Angeles): Dr. Yang is a neurosurgeon specializing in brain tumors and skull base disorders, including glioblastoma, meningioma and vestibular schwannoma. He also serves as director of medical student education for UCLA’s Department of Neurosurgery and a principal investigator in the UCLA Brain Tumor Laboratory.
Dr. Yang has authored more than 250 peer-reviewed publications, with research focused on tumor immunology, biomarkers, radiosurgery and novel brain tumor therapies. In 2015, he became the first neurosurgeon to receive the American Medical Student Association’s National Golden Apple Award for medical education and mentorship.
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