Amjad Nasr Anaizi, MD
Assistant Professor, Department of Neurosurgery
Dr. Anaizi received his degree in biomedical engineering at the University of Rochester. He then received a medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine. He completed his neurosurgical training at Georgetown University where he did specialized training in minimally invasive spine surgery. Dr. Anaizi subsequently completed a complex and minimally invasive skull base surgery fellowship at the University of Cincinnati/ The Mayfield Clinic under the instruction of Dr. Theodosopoulos in 2013. Dr. Anaizi's interests include expanded endoscopic approaches to the skull base, supraorbital keyhole craniotomies, vestibular schwannomas, neuro-oncology, cerebrovascular surgery, radiosurgery, and minimally invasive spinal decompressions and fusions.
Rocco Armonda, MD
Assistant Professor, Department of Neurosurgery
Dr. Armonda is focused on cerebrovascular and traumatic insults of the nervous system. His unique background includes cerebrovascular surgery, interventional neuroradiology and neurocritical care. He applied his skills to the care of combat casualties during his 27-year career in the U.S. military from which he has recently retired. He completed an undergraduate degree in chemistry in 1986 at the United States Military Academy at West Point. He graduated from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences at Bethesda, MD in 1990, where he was inspired to pursue neurosurgery by Prof. Malcolm B. Carpenter, MD, his professor of neuroanatomy. He completed a seven-year neurosurgery residency at Walter Reed Army MEDCEN from 1990-1997 under the direction of LTC (ret) Richard G. Ellenbogen, MD. He then completed a two-year fellowship in Cerebrovascular Surgery, Interventional Neuroradiology and Neurocritical Care at Thomas Jefferson University under the tutelage of Dr. Robert H. Rosenwasser. His clinical focus remains on the most critical of neurosurgical patients with aneurysmal SAH, cerebrovascular ischemia/infarction, cerebral and spinal AVMs, and traumatic lesions of the brain. His interests also include the application of multi-modal monitoring of the brain, controlled hypothermia for cerebral protection, reconstructive post-traumatic craniofacial surgery, and traumatic neurovascular lesions of the brain and spinal cord.
Edward Fiore Aulisi, MD
Department of Neurosurgery
Chairman of Neurosurgery at MedStar Washington Hospital Center
Dr. Aulisi serves as Medical Director of the MedStar Neuroscience Intermediate Care Unit and of the MedStar Pituitary Center with decades of experience in pituitary surgery using both open and endoscopic surgical approaches. He is a nationally known expert in spine surgery, and in addition has advanced training in tumors of the skull base, neurovascular microsurgery, neurotrauma, and computer-assisted neurosurgery. He is one of only two neurosurgeons in the national capital region to perform Gamma Knife radiosurgery.
Vinay Deshmukh, MD
Vinay Deshmukh, MD, FACS joins the Department of Neurosurgery as Associate Professor and Neurosurgical Director of the MedStar Spine Governance Council. Dr. Deshmukh brings a distinguished 18-year career from Carolina Neurosurgery and Spine Associates in Charlotte, North Carolina, the largest independent neurosurgery practice in the nation. He served on the Board of Directors for CNSA, was Vice-Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery and Division Chief of Spine at Atrium Health. Among his many honors, Dr. Deshmukh was recognized by his colleagues as “Top Doc” for multiple consecutive years in Charlotte Magazine, and has been named a Castle Connelly “Top Doc.” He also had the privilege of being the Lead Neurosurgeon for NASCAR for nearly ten years.
Daniel Felbaum, MD
Daniel Felbaum, MD, is an endovascular neurosurgeon and member of the American Academy of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), the North American Skull Base Society (NASBS), and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS).
Dr. Felbaum is specialty trained and highly experienced in cerebrovascular, neuroendovascular, and general neurosurgery using both minimally invasive (percutaneous) methods and traditionally invasive operations for neurovascular diseases. As part of a team of neurosurgeons at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, he is dedicated to creating individualized treatment plans for each patient that are delivered with collaborative care.
Christopher G. Kalhorn, MD
Associate Professor, Department of Neurosurgery
Director, Epilepsy & Functional Neurosurgery
Dr. Kalhorn received his medical degree from Loyola Stritch School of Medicine, completed his neurosurgical training at the Baylor College of Medicine under Dr. Robert Grossman, an internationally recognized expert in epilepsy and functional neurosurgery. Dr. Kalhorn’s focus of interest is functional neurosurgery, including surgical management of epilepsy and surgery for movement disorders such as essential tremor, Parkinson’s disease, and dystonia.
John Lynes, MD
A dual fellowship-trained physician, Dr. Lynes’ compassionate, patient-centered philosophy informs every aspect of his practice. He is a member of the American Medical Association, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Society for Neuro-Oncology, and Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer. Dr. Lynes has published over 25 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and presentations at national professional conferences on various topics within neurosurgery.
Jeffrey Mai, MD
Assistant Professor, Department of Neurosurgery
Dr. Mai received his undergraduate degree from Brown University. He then received a medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He completed his neurosurgical training at the University of Washington. Dr. Mai’s interests include cerebrovascular, neuroendovascular, and skull base surgeries.
R. Bryan Mason, MD
Assistant Professor, Department of Neurosurgery
Dr. Mason received his medical degree from Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. He completed Neurosurgical training at National Naval Medical Center and University of Maryland. Dr. Mason’s focus of interest is general neurosurgery including complex spine, lumbar and cervical fusion, cervical artificial disc replacement, brain tumors, and pituitary disorders.
Kevin M. McGrail, MD
Professor and Chair, Department of Neurosurgery
Dr. McGrail received his medical degree from Tufts University and completed his neurosurgical training at the Massachusetts General Hospital. In addition, Dr. McGrail completed a year fellowship of training in cerebrovascular neurosurgery at the Mayo Clinic under the direction of the late Dr. Thoralf M. Sundt. Dr. McGrail’s focus of interest is cerebrovascular disorders, including carotid artery disease, aneurysms, and arteriovenous malformations.
Nathan Nair, MD
Associate Professor, Department of Neurosurgery
Program Director
Dr. Nair joined the Department of Neurosurgery after completing neurosurgery residency and a complex spine fellowship at the University of Washington Medical Center. Board certified, Dr. Nair received his medical and public health degrees from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York. He then completed an internship and residency in neurosurgery, followed by a Gates Foundation-funded fellowship in health outcomes with a focus on functional health results in Seattle, WA. Dr. Nair’s interests include spinal degenerative disease and spinal tumors; brain and pituitary tumors; and traumatic brain and spine injury.
Vikram V. Nayar, MD
Associate Professor, Department of Neurosurgery
Director of Cerebrovascular Surgery
Dr. Nayar received his medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and completed neurosurgical training at Baylor College of Medicine. He then completed a cerebrovascular and skull base surgery fellowship at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, under the direction of Dr. Arthur Day. Dr. Nayar’s special interests include cerebrovascular disorders, skull base tumors, and spine surgery.
Faheem Sandhu, MD, PhD
Professor, Department of Neurosurgery
Director of Spine Surgery
Dr. Sandhu received his medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine. He completed neurosurgical training at Georgetown University. Dr. Sandhu completed a Complex and Minimally Invasive Spine fellowship with Dr. Richard Fessler in 2003 at The University of Chicago. Dr. Sandhu's focus of interest is minimally invasive discectomy and spinal decompression, minimally invasive spine infusions, endoscopic spinal and brain surgery, along with kyphoplasty.
Samir Sur, MD
Samir Sur, MD, is a fellowship-trained neurosurgeon primarily based at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. Dr. Sur’s areas of clinical interest include microsurgical and endovascular approaches for the treatment of brain aneurysms and cerebrovascular disease, resection of primary brain tumors and complex lesions of the skull base, and neurosurgical management of epilepsy and pain syndromes. He utilizes a number of minimally invasive strategies including the transradial approach for neuroendovascular surgery and minimally invasive craniotomies for treatment of brain tumors and aneurysms.
Rizwan Tahir, MD
Rizwan Tahir, MD, joins MedStar Health as a neurosurgeon for the department of Neurosurgery. Dr. Tahir is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. His research interests include cerebral vascular and endovascular neurosurgery, specifically as it pertains to stroke and vascular malformations and aneurysms.
Jean-Marc Voyadzis, MD
Associate Professor, Department of Neurosurgery
Dr. Voyadzis received his medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine. He also completed his neurosurgical training at Georgetown University. Dr. Voyadzis completed a Complex and Minimally Invasive Spine fellowship in 2007 at The University of Chicago. Dr. Voyadzis' focus of interest is minimally invasive discectomy and spinal decompression and fusion, metastatic spine disease and spinal cord tumors, craniocervical disease, radiosurgery, and brain and pituitary tumors.
Joseph Watson, MD
A senior neurosurgeon and professor of Neurosurgery at Georgetown University, Dr. Watson leads the Comprehensive Brain Tumor Center at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Dr. Watson earned his Bachelor of Science at Stanford University and his medical degree at the University of California, San Diego. He completed his neurosurgical residency at the Medical College of Virginia (now V.C.U.) in Richmond. Dr. Watson was fellowship trained at the National Institutes of Health in pituitary surgery and cerebrovascular research/surgery. He brings the wisdom of “those pioneers in neurosurgery from both coasts who instructed me” to bear on his patients here at MGUH.
Affiliate Faculty - Children’s National Medical Center
Robert Keating, MD - Division Chief
John Myseros, MD - Vice Chief
Chima Oluigbo, MD
Hasan Syed, MD - Director, Pediatric Neurosurgery Fellowship
Daniel Donoho, MD