
Overview
I was drawn to neurosurgery during medical school when I first witnessed the unusually direct and positive impacts it could make for patients. At Duke Health, I now provide surgical treatments to people affected by epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, and dystonia. My background as a surgeon certainly shapes my interactions with my patients, yet I identify them and also myself more as somebody's sibling, friend, neighbor, and daughter or son. I strive to emphasize our shared perspectives because I believe they lead to the foundations of good care: empathy, respect, clear communication, and a strong focus on patient well-being and safety.
Dr. Southwell is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Neurofibromatosis. His top areas of expertise are Seizures, Epilepsy, Absence Seizure, Deep Brain Stimulation, and Awake Craniotomy.
His clinical research consists of co-authoring 38 peer reviewed articles and participating in 1 clinical trial. MediFind looks at clinical research from the past 15 years. In particular, he has co-authored 1 article in the study of Neurofibromatosis.
Insurance
Accepted insurance can change. Please verify directly with the provider.
Accepted insurance plans:
- EPO
- HMO
- POS
- PPO
- EPO
- HMO
- PPO
- EPO
- HMO
- POS
- PPO
- EPO
- HMO
- PPO
- EPO
- POS
- HMO
- INDEMNITY
- POS
- PPO
- EPO
- POS
- PPO
- OTHER MEDICAID
- STATE MEDICAID
- INSURANCE PLAN
- MANAGED MEDICAID PLAN
- MEDICARE MAPD
- MEDICARE PDP
- MEDICARE SNP
- MEDICARE-MEDICAID PLAN
- OTHER MEDICARE PART D
- HMO
- POS
- EPO
- HMO
- POS
- PPO
- EPO
- HMO
- INSURANCE PLAN
- MANAGED MEDICAID PLAN
- MEDICARE MAPD
- MEDICARE PDP
- MEDICARE SNP
- MEDICARE-MEDICAID PLAN
- OTHER MEDICARE
- OTHER MEDICARE PART D
Locations
40 Duke Medicine Cir, Durham, NC 27710
Additional Areas of Focus
Dr. Southwell has provided the following conditions as areas of focus. Please note that we may not have enough data to validate their experience in some of these conditions.
Clinical Research
Clinical research consists of overseeing clinical studies of patients undergoing new treatments and therapies, and publishing articles in peer reviewed medical journals. Providers who actively participate in clinical research are generally at the forefront of the fields and aware of the most up-to-date advances in treatments for their patients.
Duke Cancer Center Brain Tumor Clinic
What we specialize in at The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center is compassionate care – we take care of our patients. It’s complete care. The patients don’t have to go out and find a radiologist. We have the radiation oncologist, the chemotherapy, the surgery, the radiology, we have all kinds of nursing people as well as help getting physical therapy and getting in-the-home assistance. Patients also can expect cutting-edge care because we run such a terrific science program here. I really like working with the patients. No question about it. It’s not that I’m doing some trivial procedure six times a day. When someone comes in with a brain tumor, there’s usually some bonding, and instead of running away from that, I really enjoy it. Dr. Friedman is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Neurofibromatosis. His top areas of expertise are Glioma, Astrocytoma, Glioblastoma, Awake Craniotomy, and Laminectomy.
Duke Cancer Center Brain Tumor Clinic
Although I enjoy all facets of neurosurgery, my practice is devoted to caring for patients with spinal-based pathologies ranging from degenerative disease, trauma, and deformity but centered on patients with spinal tumors. I aim to provide a comprehensive patient experience through collaborations with a multi-disciplinary team to deliver the best overall but personalized patient care. I have undergone additional training learning specialized techniques from spine oncology experts around the world in order to bring these potential treatments and strategies to my patients. Dr. Goodwin is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Neurofibromatosis. His top areas of expertise are Pituitary Tumor, Spinal Stenosis, Hemangioblastoma, Laminectomy, and Vertebroplasty.
Rex Hospital Inc
Sivakumar Jaikumar is a Neurosurgery provider in Raleigh, North Carolina. Dr. Jaikumar is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Neurofibromatosis. His top areas of expertise are Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor (PNET), Posterior Fossa Tumor, Embryonal Tumor with Multilayered Rosettes, Awake Craniotomy, and Gastrostomy. Dr. Jaikumar is currently accepting new patients.
Areas of Expertise
MediFind evaluates expertise by pulling from factors such as number of articles a doctor has published in medical journals, participation in clinical trials, speaking at industry conferences, prescribing and referral patterns, and strength of connections with other experts in their field.
Learn more about MediFind’s expert tiers
- Advanced
- Deep Brain StimulationDr. Southwell isAdvanced. Learn about Deep Brain Stimulation.
- SeizuresDr. Southwell isAdvanced. Learn about Seizures.
- Experienced
- Absence SeizureDr. Southwell isExperienced. Learn about Absence Seizure.
- Awake CraniotomyDr. Southwell isExperienced. Learn about Awake Craniotomy.
- Brain TumorDr. Southwell isExperienced. Learn about Brain Tumor.
- Chronic Subdural HematomaDr. Southwell isExperienced. Learn about Chronic Subdural Hematoma.
- DeliriumDr. Southwell isExperienced. Learn about Delirium.
- EpilepsyDr. Southwell isExperienced. Learn about Epilepsy.

