The 20 Best Chiari Malformation Doctors near San Francisco, CA

Line Jacques is a General Surgeon and a Neurosurgery provider in San Francisco, California. Dr. Jacques is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Chiari Malformation. Her top areas of expertise are Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, Schwannoma, Neurofibromatosis, Chiari Malformation Type 2, and Sacral Nerve Stimulation. Dr. Jacques is currently accepting new patients.

Dr. Ronald S. Greenwald's areas of expertise include cervical and lumbar spine and brain surgery in Mountain View and Redwood City. Dr. Greenwald is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Chiari Malformation. His top areas of expertise are Cervical Myelopathy, Cervical Spondylosis, Meningioma, and Sciatica.

Ahmad Alhourani is a Neurosurgery provider in San Francisco, California. Dr. Alhourani is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Chiari Malformation. His top areas of expertise are Chiari Malformation, Chiari Malformation Type 2, Epilepsy, Deep Brain Stimulation, and Spinal Fusion.

Dr. Mitchel S. Berger is a nationally recognized expert in treating brain and spinal cord tumors as well as tumor-related epilepsy in adults and children. He also is a specialist in brain mapping techniques – used to identify and preserve areas of motor, sensory and language function during surgery – and an expert in using the Gamma Knife, a precise, noninvasive tool that applies radiation beams for tumor treatment. He is director of the Brain Tumor Center, director of the Center for Neurological Injury and Repair and co-director of the Adult Brain Tumor Surgery Program. Berger earned his bachelor's degree from Harvard College in 1975 and his medical degree from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in 1979. He completed an internship and a residency at UCSF, and was awarded a clinical fellowship in neuro-oncology by the American Cancer Society and a research fellowship by the Brain Tumor Research Center. He completed further fellowship training in neuro-oncology at UCSF and in pediatric neurosurgery at the Hospital for Sick Children, an affiliate of the University of Toronto. Berger was elected to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons' board of directors and appointed to the American Board of Neurological Surgery. Dr. Berger is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Chiari Malformation. His top areas of expertise are Astrocytoma, Glioma, Glioblastoma, Awake Craniotomy, and Endovascular Embolization.

Dr. Kambiz Nael is a neuroradiologist, a specialist in imaging techniques for diagnosing problems in the head, spine and neck. He cares for patients who need evaluations for strokes, brain aneurysms and other conditions involving the nervous system. Nael's research focuses on using quantitative neuroimaging (computational techniques that can enhance traditional scanning methods for the nervous system) to more precisely diagnose cerebrovascular diseases (conditions that impair blood flow in the brain), such as stroke. Nael earned his medical degree at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in Iran. He completed a residency in diagnostic radiology and a fellowship in neuroradiology at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine. Dr. Nael is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Chiari Malformation. His top areas of expertise are Brain Aneurysm, Meningioma, Radiation Induced Meningioma, Thrombectomy, and Vertebroplasty.

Jerome Barakos is a Neuroradiologist in San Francisco, California. Dr. Barakos is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Chiari Malformation. His top areas of expertise are Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS), Visceromegaly, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, and Stroke.

Derk Purcell is a Neuroradiologist in San Francisco, California. Dr. Purcell is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Chiari Malformation. His top areas of expertise are Stroke, Bronchogenic Cyst, Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS), Melorheostosis, and Thrombectomy.

Alina Uzelac is a Radiologist and a Neuroradiologist in San Francisco, California. Dr. Uzelac is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Chiari Malformation. Her top areas of expertise are Stroke, Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein Antibody-Associated Disease, and Aseptic and Alopecic Nodules of Scalp (AANS). Dr. Uzelac is currently accepting new patients.

Vinil Shah is a Neuroradiologist in San Francisco, California. Dr. Shah is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Chiari Malformation. His top areas of expertise are Lymphangiomatosis, Hereditary Neuralgic Amyotrophy, Tongue Cancer, Vertebroplasty, and Bone Graft.

Dimitrios Giannakidis is a Neurologist in San Francisco, California. Dr. Giannakidis is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Chiari Malformation. His top areas of expertise are Brain Aneurysm, Stroke, Vertebral Artery Dissection, Gallbladder Removal, and Endoscopy.

Lewis Leng is a Neurologist and a Neurosurgery provider in San Francisco, California. Dr. Leng is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Chiari Malformation. His top areas of expertise are Arterial Calcification of Infancy, PHACE Syndrome, Hydrocephalus, Balloon Sinuplasty, and Awake Craniotomy.

Dr. Swathy Chandrashekhar is a neurologist who provides comprehensive, compassionate care for patients with complex neuromuscular disorders. She is particularly interested in myositis (conditions in which the immune system attacks the muscles); autoimmune neuropathies (conditions in which the immune system attacks the nerves), such as chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy; motor neuron diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); myasthenic syndromes (conditions in which muscles become weak and easily fatigued), such as myasthenia gravis; and genetic diseases, such as muscular dystrophies (in which there is progressive loss of muscle mass) and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (a condition that damages peripheral nerves, leading to muscle weakness). She performs electromyography and nerve conduction studies to diagnose nerve and muscle disorders, and she has advanced training in conducting and analyzing muscle biopsies. Chandrashekhar has published and presented research on ALS as well as on genetic and immune-related neuropathy. She has been an investigator on clinical trials to evaluate promising treatments for various neuromuscular disorders. She also has a keen interest in medical education and is passionate about training the next generation of neurologists and neuromuscular specialists. She received several awards for teaching excellence during her training. Before joining UCSF, she served as associate fellowship director for the University of Kansas. Chandrashekhar earned her medical degree at Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences. She completed a residency in neurology at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and a fellowship in neuromuscular medicine at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Dr. Chandrashekhar is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Chiari Malformation. Her top areas of expertise are Foot Drop, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease), Inclusion Body Myositis, Peripheral Neuropathy, and Gastrostomy.

Dr. Nalin Gupta, chief of pediatric neurological surgery at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital, is an expert in the evaluation and surgical management of neurological disorders in children, including epilepsy, brain tumors, hydrocephalus, and cranial and spinal birth defects. Gupta's primary research focuses on the role of inflammation in brain tumor progression. He is a principal investigator of the Brain Tumor Research Center at UCSF. He also is involved in national clinical studies of brain tumors and the effectiveness of fetal surgery for spina bifida. Gupta earned his medical degree and completed residency training in neurological surgery at the University of Toronto. He completed fellowship training in pediatric neurosurgery at the Hospital for Sick Children. He also has a doctorate in biophysics from UCSF. He served as an attending neurosurgeon at the University of Chicago before coming to UCSF. Dr. Gupta is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Chiari Malformation. His top areas of expertise are Gliomatosis Cerebri, Glioma, Brain Tumor, Osteotomy, and Craniectomy.

Dr. Philip Theodosopoulos is director of the Skull Base Tumor Program and vice chair of neurological surgery at UCSF. Before joining UCSF, he served as director of skull base surgery at the University of Cincinnati for 10 years. Theodosopoulos cares primarily for patients with skull base lesions, particularly malignancies and acoustic neuromas – noncancerous tumors that grow on nerves near the ear. His expertise includes endoscopic treatment of pituitary adenomas and chordomas as well as minimally invasive approaches to the skull base. Theodosopoulos has been a pioneer in the development of new surgical approaches to the skull base. He served as co-principal investigator for the largest prospective multicenter trial of surgical treatment for acoustic neuromas, and he currently serves on the Acoustic Neuroma Association's medical advisory board. He also has extensive expertise in research on patient outcomes. As a resident at UCSF, he completed the full curriculum for outcomes research and clinical epidemiology, and he continues to be involved in outcomes research at both the local and national levels. Theodosopoulos earned his undergraduate degree at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and completed medical school at Stanford University. He completed his neurosurgical training at UCSF, followed by a fellowship in cerebrovascular and skull base surgery at the Brigham and Women's Hospital, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School. Theodosopoulos has been on the faculty for more than 50 national and international surgical courses. He serves on the education committee for the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. He serves as residency program director for neurological surgery at UCSF. Dr. Theodosopoulos is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Chiari Malformation. His top areas of expertise are Schwannoma, Acoustic Neuroma, Meningioma, Endoscopic Transnasal Transsphenoidal Surgery, and Balloon Sinuplasty.

Dr. Ethan Winkler is a neurosurgeon who cares for both adult and pediatric patients. He treats conditions involving the brain, neck or spine, including brain aneurysms (weak, bulging spots on brain arteries), arteriovenous malformations and arteriovenous fistulas (irregular connections between arteries and veins), cavernous malformations (abnormal clusters of small blood vessels that may leak), moyamoya disease (in which progressively narrowing carotid arteries limit blood flow to the brain), stroke and carotid artery disease (in which fatty deposits narrow the vessels bringing blood to the brain). He performs both open microsurgery (techniques using high magnification and very fine instruments) and minimally invasive procedures. In research, Winkler focuses on understanding the mechanisms that result in stroke, such as blood vessel malformations and aneurysms. He directs the UCSF Vascular Anomalies & Stroke Computation Laboratory, which brings together genetic, stem cell and bioengineering technologies to understand how these conditions occur and to design better therapies. To improve patient care, he also seeks to develop safer ways to operate on the brain's blood vessels. Winkler earned his medical degree and a doctorate in neurobiology from the University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry. He completed a residency in neurological surgery at UCSF, followed by a fellowship in endovascular neurosurgery and a fellowship in cerebrovascular and skull base neurosurgery at Barrow Neurological Institute. Dr. Winkler is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Chiari Malformation. His top areas of expertise are Arteriovenous Malformation, Traumatic Brain Injury, Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformation, Extracranial-Intracranial Bypass Surgery, and Endovascular Embolization.

Dr. Shawn Hervey-Jumper is a neurosurgeon specializing in the treatment of patients with brain tumors, including low- and high-grade gliomas, meningiomas, brain metastases and neurocutaneous syndromes. Hervey-Jumper's research investigates how brain tumors violate important areas of the brain that affect how we move, speak and think. He also explores strategies to promote brain recovery and repair. In addition, he researches ways to map the human brain during surgery with the goal of limiting injury to key functional areas. Hervey-Jumper received his medical degree from the Ohio State University College of Medicine. He completed both a residency in neurosurgery and a fellowship in neuro-oncology at the University of Michigan. He then completed a clinical fellowship in neuro-oncology at UCSF. Hervey-Jumper is a member of the Society for Neuro-Oncology, American Association for Cancer Research, North American Skull Base Society, American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS). He is also a member of the joint section on tumors for the latter organizations. He is an associate professor in residence of neurological surgery at UCSF. Dr. Hervey is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Chiari Malformation. His top areas of expertise are Glioma, Brain Tumor, Astrocytoma, Awake Craniotomy, and Gamma Knife Radiosurgery.

Dr. Ralph Gonzales is an internal medicine specialist who provides urgent care. He is associate director of the UCSF Clinical and Translational Science Institute's career development program and associate chair of ambulatory care and clinical innovation in the UCSF Department of Medicine. Gonzales has many research interests, including management of respiratory tract infections, antibiotic use, diagnostic tests and clinical prediction rules, enhancing patient self-care, community-based health care interventions, common symptom evaluation and unexplained symptoms. Gonzales earned his medical degree and completed a residency in internal medicine at UCSF. Dr. Gonzales is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Chiari Malformation. His top areas of expertise are Bronchitis, Pneumonia, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), and Spinal Fusion.

Dr. Edward Chang is a neurosurgeon who treats adults with difficult-to-control epilepsy, brain tumors, trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm and movement disorders. He specializes in advanced brain mapping methods to preserve crucial areas for speech and motor functions in the brain. He also has extensive experience with implantable devices that stimulate specific nerves to relieve seizure, movement, pain and other disorders. He is the chair of the Department of Neurological Surgery. Chang's research focuses on the brain mechanisms for speech, movement and learning. He co-directs the Center for Neural Engineering and Prostheses, a collaborative enterprise of UCSF and the University of California, Berkeley. The center brings together experts in engineering, neurology and neurosurgery to develop state-of-the-art biomedical technology to restore function for patients with neurological disabilities such as paralysis and speech disorders. Chang earned his medical degree at UCSF, where he also completed a residency in neurosurgery. He was honored with the Blavatnik National Laureate for Life Sciences in 2015. In 2020, he was elected to the National Academy of Medicine, an honor that recognizes outstanding achievements and service in the fields of medical sciences, health care and public health. Dr. Chang is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Chiari Malformation. His top areas of expertise are Seizures, Epilepsy, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Deep Brain Stimulation, and Microvascular Decompression.

Dr. Manish Aghi is a neurosurgeon specializing in brain tumors at UCSF Medical Center. He cares for adult patients with a wide range of conditions, including astrocytomas and anaplastic astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas, glioblastomas, meningiomas and pituitary adenomas. As principal investigator at the UCSF Brain Tumor Research Center, his interests include glioblastoma angiogenesis, mechanisms of glioblastoma resistance to anti-angiogenic therapy and experimental glioblastoma therapies such as cancer-killing viruses. Aghi earned his medical degree and a doctoral degree in neurosciences from Harvard Medical School. He completed a residency in neurosurgery at Massachusetts General Hospital. He is a member of the Society for Neuro-Oncology, American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Congress of Neurological Surgeons and Pituitary Network Association. Among his honors are the Preuss and Mahaley awards from the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, and the Ronald L. Bittner Award, Synthes Skull Base Award and Integra Foundation Award from the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. Dr. Aghi is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Chiari Malformation. His top areas of expertise are Pituitary Tumor, Hypothalamic Tumor, Prolactinoma, Balloon Sinuplasty, and Awake Craniotomy.

Dr. Catherine Lau is a hospitalist, a specialist in managing the care of hospitalized patients. She is the director of quality and patient safety in the UCSF Division of Hospital Medicine as well as director of Caring Wisely, a program to support providers in removing unnecessary costs and improving the quality of health care delivery. In both roles, she focuses on redesigning and innovating systems of care to improve quality, safety, value and the patient experience. Lau earned her medical degree at NYU School of Medicine. She completed a residency in internal medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Lau is also a coach in the UCSF School of Medicine Bridges Curriculum where she provides medical students career advice and teaches them skills in systems improvement, clinical reasoning, performing patient interviews and conducting hypothesis-driven physical exams. Dr. Lau is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Chiari Malformation. Her top areas of expertise are Delirium, Syphilitic Aseptic Meningitis, Sepsis, and Chiari Malformation.