Best Neurosurgeons and Brain Surgeons in Washington, DC

Dr. Richard D. Murray, MD, a board-certified, fellowship trained neurosurgeon, excels in microsurgical and minimally invasive treatments for diverse brain and spine conditions. He specializes in complex brain and skull base tumors, meningiomas, vestibular schwannomas, pituitary adenomas, and spine tumors. Dr. Murray also offers general spine surgeries such as decompressive laminectomies, microdiscectomies, spine fusions, and artificial cervical disc replacements. He emphasizes personalized care, using state-of-the-art technologies for customized treatment plans. Frequently collaborating with a multispecialty team, Dr. Murray brings together experts from different specialties to manage complex cases.

My goal in care is to ensure that each patient is fully educated about the nature of their condition and all available treatment options that may be appropriate for them. Being specialty trained both in open microsurgical cerebrovascular approaches and minimally invasive endovascular techniques affords me a unique perspective. I am able to provide my patients a balanced opinion regarding the relative advantages and disadvantages of each modality, enabling me to individualize treatment for each of them.

Dr. Nikhil Nayak, MD, FAANS is a board-certified, fellowship-trained neurological surgeon with advanced training in spinal disorders. He specializes in minimally invasive, complex, and image-guided spinal surgery for degenerative, traumatic and oncologic conditions including cervical myelopathy, cervical and lumbar radiculopathy, spinal stenosis, spine fractures, primary and metastatic spinal tumors, adult degenerative scoliosis, and revision spinal surgery. He performs general cranial neurosurgery for brain tumors, intracranial hemorrhage, hydrocephalus, and related conditions, and participates in emergency call for brain and spine trauma. Dr. Nayak's versatility in spinal surgery affords him the ability to offer patients the full spectrum of available options for their spinal conditions, and he is frequently called upon to provide second opinions once surgery has been recommended. He is an early adopter of technological advances in neurosurgery and has specific expertise in artificial disc replacement, minimally invasive robotic spinal fusion, and non-fusion alternatives such as laminoplasty and ultrasonic-assisted spinal decompression. Dr. Nayak earned his MD and MHS degrees from Yale University and is a magna cum laude graduate of Georgetown University. He completed neurosurgery residency at the University of Pennsylvania and a clinical spine fellowship at Wellington Hospital in New Zealand. Dr. Nayak is Vice Chairman of Neurosurgery at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, VA and Clinical Instructor of both Neurology and Medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine. He has co-authored over 25 peer-reviewed publications and has a special interest in tracking functional outcomes following spinal surgery. He is a Fellow of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and regularly voted ``Top Doctor`` by DC-area publications.

Edward F. Aulisi, MD, FAANS, FACS, is the chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and serves as medical director of the MedStar Neuroscience Intermediate Care Unit. He is also the medical director of the MedStar Pituitary Center with decades of experience in pituitary surgery using both open and endoscopic surgical approaches. Dr. Aulisi is a nationally known expert in spine surgery. In addition to spine treatments, his patients also have onsite access to specialists in rehabilitation medicine with the renowned MedStar National Rehabilitation Network. Dr. Aulisi is deeply committed to providing expert and compassionate care to patients. He takes the time to ensure each patient understands their diagnosis and the best treatment options to meet their individual needs. His approach to care has led to excellent patient outcomes. Dr. Aulisi highlights:Board certified neurosurgeon with advanced training in tumors of the skull base, neurovascular microsurgery, complicated spinal surgery, neurotrauma and computer-assisted neurosurgery.Advanced training in complex spinal surgery, minimally invasive spine surgery and surgery for tumors at the base of the skull, including pituitary tumors.One of only two neurosurgeons in the national capital region to perform Gamma Knife radiosurgery.Named one of Washingtonian Magazine's Top Doctors.Princeton University graduate.Licensed in the District of Columbia, Virginia and Maryland.Neurosurgery professor at Georgetown University.Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the American Association of Neurological Surgeons.

Dr. Nikhil Nayak, MD, FAANS is a board-certified, fellowship-trained neurological surgeon with advanced training in spinal disorders. He specializes in minimally invasive, complex, and image-guided spinal surgery for degenerative, traumatic and oncologic conditions including cervical myelopathy, cervical and lumbar radiculopathy, spinal stenosis, spine fractures, primary and metastatic spinal tumors, adult degenerative scoliosis, and revision spinal surgery. He performs general cranial neurosurgery for brain tumors, intracranial hemorrhage, hydrocephalus, and related conditions, and participates in emergency call for brain and spine trauma. Dr. Nayak's versatility in spinal surgery affords him the ability to offer patients the full spectrum of available options for their spinal conditions, and he is frequently called upon to provide second opinions once surgery has been recommended. He is an early adopter of technological advances in neurosurgery and has specific expertise in artificial disc replacement, minimally invasive robotic spinal fusion, and non-fusion alternatives such as laminoplasty and ultrasonic-assisted spinal decompression. Dr. Nayak earned his MD and MHS degrees from Yale University and is a magna cum laude graduate of Georgetown University. He completed neurosurgery residency at the University of Pennsylvania and a clinical spine fellowship at Wellington Hospital in New Zealand. Dr. Nayak is Vice Chairman of Neurosurgery at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, VA and Clinical Instructor of both Neurology and Medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine. He has co-authored over 25 peer-reviewed publications and has a special interest in tracking functional outcomes following spinal surgery. He is a Fellow of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and regularly voted ``Top Doctor`` by DC-area publications.

Dr. Richard D. Murray, MD, a board-certified, fellowship trained neurosurgeon, excels in microsurgical and minimally invasive treatments for diverse brain and spine conditions. He specializes in complex brain and skull base tumors, meningiomas, vestibular schwannomas, pituitary adenomas, and spine tumors. Dr. Murray also offers general spine surgeries such as decompressive laminectomies, microdiscectomies, spine fusions, and artificial cervical disc replacements. He emphasizes personalized care, using state-of-the-art technologies for customized treatment plans. Frequently collaborating with a multispecialty team, Dr. Murray brings together experts from different specialties to manage complex cases.

My goal in care is to ensure that each patient is fully educated about the nature of their condition and all available treatment options that may be appropriate for them. Being specialty trained both in open microsurgical cerebrovascular approaches and minimally invasive endovascular techniques affords me a unique perspective. I am able to provide my patients a balanced opinion regarding the relative advantages and disadvantages of each modality, enabling me to individualize treatment for each of them.