background
background
Dr. Christopher Ames, MD

Dr. Christopher Ames, MD

Neurosurgery*
30+ years of experience

Dr. Christopher Ames, MD is a neurosurgeon in San Francisco, CA and has over 30 years of experience in the medical field. He graduated from University of California, Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine in 1994. He is affiliated with medical facilities UCSF Helen Diller Medical Center at Parnassus Heights and Enloe Medical Center. He is accepting new patients and telehealth appointments.

4.2 Star Rating
Based on 26 reviews 4.2 Star Rating (26 reviews)

Neurosurgery at San Francisco Parnassus

400 Parnassus Ave # 8 San Francisco, CA 94143
Telehealth available

Make an Appointment

(415) 353-7500

Hospital Highlight

Dr. Ames is affiliated with Enloe Medical Center Chico, a highly rated hospital.

Dr. Ames is a Healthgrades Choice provider in Neurosurgery

The Healthgrades Choice designation helps you understand the most important factors to consider when choosing a healthcare professional. This designation is earned based on four set standards.
Read our methodology

  • Above average experience
  • Good hospital quality
  • Good patient ratings
  • No healthcare sanctions
  • Area of Expertise
    Dr. Ames specializes in the area of Neurosurgery. • See board certifications
  • Explains Conditions Well
    Patients said this doctor explains conditions well. • See reviews
  • Offers Telehealth
    This doctor offers telehealth appointments. Call the office to schedule an appointment.
  • Practices at Top Hospital
    Cranial Neurosurgery Excellence Award™ • See hospitals
ADVERTISEMENT
healthgrades-rx

Save money with free prescription discounts

Optum Perks and Healthgrades are subsidiaries of RVO Health.

Experience Check

Search for experience in a specific area

Learn more about experience and why treatment frequency matters

Insurance Check

Search for your insurance carrier and choose your plan type

Dr. Ames' Reviews

Likelihood to recommend Dr. Ames

4.2
26 ratings, 6 with a written review
5 star
77%
77%
4 star
4%
4%
3 star
0%
0%
2 star
0%
0%
1 star
19%
19%

Your trust is our top concern.

We strive to keep reviews honest, trustworthy, and fair.

Doctors can not pay for good reviews, nor can they pay to have negative reviews removed.

We monitor all reviews to ensure they comply with our guidelines and don’t include personal information, profanity, libel, defamation, harassment, obscenity or fraud.

Any reviews that are deemed fraudulent or violate our guidelines will be removed immediately.

All reviews are confirmed and audited before publication, and community members have the ability to flag inappropriate content for further review by our team.

Dr Ames , nurses assistant and staff are amazing.
What went well
  • Listened & answered questions
  • Explained conditions well
What could be improved
No results
Helpful
Jan 26, 2025
×Post a ResponseAre you Dr. Ames?
Professionalism at its best
Dr.Ames was very kind and took his time with me. His P.A. Staff were Al’s amazing! Kindness goes a long way!
What went well
  • I felt respected
  • Appointment scheduling
  • Listened & answered questions
  • Explained conditions well
  • Staff friendliness
  • Appointment wasn't rushed
  • Trusted the provider's decisions
  • Wait times
What could be improved
No results
Helpful
Terri – Jun 25, 2024
×Post a ResponseAre you Dr. Ames?
Too busy. Highly specialized, rude scheduler/assistant may not be directly communicated with prior to appt. Will likely refer you to another unfamiliar staffer. He picks you. I saw him in 2015. He referred me out to my benefit. This time I was unable to communicate with him directly at all because I'm considered a new patient after 3 years. I cancelled and was threatened with not being seen in the future were I to ask.
What went well
No results
What could be improved
  • Office environment
  • Difficult to schedule appointment
  • Didn't listen or answer questions
  • Didn't explain conditions well
  • Staff wasn't friendly
  • Appointment was rushed
  • Didn't trust the provider's decisions
1 other person found this helpful
Helpful
Frank J. – Aug 12, 2019
×Post a ResponseAre you Dr. Ames?
I had surgery 1 month ago. I had a lumbar/sacrum fusion. Mine was a 2 day procedure: 3/13/19 -Anterior fusion from L2-S1; 3/15/19 -Posterior fusion L2-L6 (It may have been L4 or L5, I will clarify @ my 6 wk. post op. appt. next month). I am already feeling great (w/expected post op pain). Dr. Ames did not disappoint - PHENOMENAL skill & SUPERB bedside manner. My 8 days @ UCSF Hospital, also phenomenal. A++++ post op. w/great nurses & quite/private room!!! Tracy L. Nardiello
What went well
No results
What could be improved
No results
7 others found this helpful
Helpful
Apr 09, 2019
×Post a ResponseAre you Dr. Ames?
This man thoroughly reviewed my records on a spinal tumor and immediately referred me to a brain neurosurgeon because of the complexity of this "bloody" procedure. I am so grateful. My surgery at UCSF was 100% successful. Dec. 2015.
What went well
  • Office environment
  • Appointment scheduling
  • Listened & answered questions
  • Explained conditions well
  • Staff friendliness
  • Appointment wasn't rushed
  • Trusted the provider's decisions
  • Wait times
What could be improved
No results
2 others found this helpful
Helpful
Franklin Jasko in Palm Springs, CA. – Mar 21, 2018
×Post a ResponseAre you Dr. Ames?
Simply the best. I was unable to walk more then 20 steps and I am now back to full activity.
What went well
  • Office environment
  • Listened & answered questions
  • Explained conditions well
  • Staff friendliness
  • Appointment wasn't rushed
  • Trusted the provider's decisions
What could be improved
No results
8 others found this helpful
Helpful
Richard Gould – Feb 12, 2018
×Post a ResponseAre you Dr. Ames?

Leave a review

How was your experience with Dr. Ames?

Know Before You Go

About Me

care philosophy

Dr Christopher Ames is a neurosurgeon who specializes in caring for patients with tumors, scoliosis (sideways curvature of the spine) and kyphosis (curvature of the upper back). He is recognized by the Chordoma Foundation for his expertise in chordoma...read more

biography

Dr. Christopher Ames is a neurosurgeon who specializes in caring for patients with tumors, scoliosis (sideways curvature of the spine) and kyphosis (curvature of the upper back). He is recognized by the Chordoma Foundation for his expertise in...read more

  • Neurosurgery

*Healthgrades does not verify qualifications for medical specialties. Please verify your provider's specialty and qualifications directly with your provider and applicable medical board.

  • Barrow Neurol Inst

    Fellowship Hospital

  • University Of California, Los Angeles David Geffen School Of Medicine

    Medical School, 1994
American Board of Medical Specialties®
American Board of Neurological Surgery®
- 
Neurosurgery
For detailed information about any of the below board actions, please search for the provider's records on the linked state licensing board or the Federation of State Medical Boards. To learn more about the difference between these sources, please refer to our FAQs.
Healthgrades has not received any data indicating a board action exists for this provider.

Healthgrades receives board action history for physicians and physician assistants. The information displayed here is sourced from independent information providers, such as state board websites, and may not be the most up-to-date information. Healthgrades makes no representations with respect to the accuracy of any information provided here and assumes no responsibility or liability for such information.

Learn more about medical license public record check

  • English

  • French

Dr. Ames is a Healthgrades Choice provider in Neurosurgery

    Read our methodology

    Focus on Chronic Migraine

    Locations

    Neurosurgery at San Francisco Parnassus

    Neurosurgery at San Francisco Parnassus400 Parnassus Ave # 8 San Francisco, CA 94143
    1

    Spine Center

    Spine Center400 Parnassus Ave Ste A2300 San Francisco, CA 94143
    2

    Affiliated Hospitals

    • Enloe Medical Center

      1531 Esplanade
      Chico, CA 95926
      Recipient of 9
      hospital awards

      America's 250 Best Hospitals Award™ (2024, 2023)

      Top 5% in the nation for consistently delivering clinical quality

      Patient Safety Excellence Award™ (2023)

      Top 5% in the nation for consistently delivering clinical quality

      View all awards

      How patients felt about the care they received at this hospital.

      86%
      Patients said they were given information about recovering at home

      2% higher than the national average

      80%
      Patients would recommend the hospital to friends and family

      15% higher than the national average

      View all patient feedback

    • UCSF Helen Diller Medical Center at Parnassus Heights

      400 Parnassus Ave
      San Francisco, CA 94143
      Recipient of 33
      hospital awards

      America's 250 Best Hospitals Award™ (2025, 2024, 2023)

      Superior clinical outcomes in cranial neurosurgery

      Cranial Neurosurgery Excellence Award™ (2025)

      Superior clinical outcomes in cranial neurosurgery

      View all awards

      How patients felt about the care they received at this hospital.

      88%
      Patients said they were given information about recovering at home

      4% higher than the national average

      81%
      Patients said that doctors always listened to them and explained things well

      5% higher than the national average

      View all patient feedback
    Learn more about how Healthgrades measures Hospital Quality