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Brain and Spine Institute | Department of Neurosurgery

Brain and Spine Institute

For Neurological Emergencies Please Call, 866-Go-To-WMC (866.468.6962)

For Office Appointments Please Call, 914.493.2363

Welcome to the Brain and Spine Institute | Department of Neurosurgery

 

Director's Message

It is my privilege to welcome you to the Department of Neurosurgery at Westchester Medical Center/New York Medical College. It is our mission to deliver uncompromised, best possible care for each patient, to train the next generation of compassionate and technical competent neurosurgeons, and to advance neurosurgery through cutting edge research. The faculty, residents and staff of our department apply these mission principles every day within the Westchester Health Network to serve all patients within the Hudson Valley region.

The patient is at the center of our mission. Patient Care, Education and Research are delivered in all neurosurgical subspecialties including: Spine Surgery, Neuro-oncology (brain, spine & spinal cord tumors), Skull Base Surgery, Cerebrovascular Services (Stroke, Aneurysms) including Endovascular Surgery, Functional Neurosurgery (Pain, Parkinson’s, Epilepsy), Peripheral Nerve Surgery, Pediatric Neurosurgery, Neurotrauma and Neurosurgical Critical Care. In each area, we collaborate with world class clinical and research experts from other closely related specialties like Orthopaedics, Otolaryngology, Anesthesia, Radiology, Neurology and Rehabilitation.

Westchester Medical Center is a Level 1 Trauma Center and a Comprehensive Certified Stroke Center, which are staffed by Neurosurgical Traumatologists, dedicated Neurocritical Care Specialists and Endovascular Neurosurgeons. The operating rooms, interventional suites and intensive care units feature the latest and most innovative technologies helping us to take care of the most complex patients.  Our youngest patients receive care by fellowship trained, experienced Pediatric Neurosurgeons at the Maria Fareri Children's Hospital. Thus, there is no case or problem too small, too young or too complicated for our team.

On behalf of our faculty, residents and staff, I invite you to take a “glimpse” at our department. You will see why our program is a recognized leader among the academic neurosurgery community.

Chirag D. Gandhi, MD
Director, Neurosurgery
Westchester Medical Center Health Network
Chair and Professor, Neurosurgery
New York Medical College

 


Our Team

Gandhi, Chirag D., MD
Chirag Gandhi, MD
Chair of Neurosurgery
Endovascular and Cerebrovascular Neurosurgeon
Neurosurgical Oncology
  • Neuroendovascular Surgery
  • Open Cerebralvascular Surgery
  • Neurological Surgery
Al Mufti, Fawaz A., MD
Fawaz Al Mufti, MD
Director of Fellowship, Neuroendovascular Surgery
Neuroendovascular Surgeon
Neurocritical Care
  • Neuroendovascular Surgery
  • Neurointensive Care
  • Neurological Surgery
Benoit, Tamara, FNP, DNP
  • Nurse Practitioner, Family
Dancour, Elie E., MD
Elie Dancour, MD
Neuroendovascular Surgeon
Neurocritical Care
Interventional Neuroradiology

Health Alliance Hospital
  • Neuroendovascular Surgery
  • Neurointensive Care
  • Neurology
Hanft, Simon J., MD
Simon Hanft, MD
Section Chief, Neurosurgical Oncology, Westchester Medical Center
Assistant Professor, Neurosurgery, New York Medical College
  • Neurological Surgery
Kaur, Gurmeen, MBBS
Gurmeen Kaur, MBBS
Neuroendovascular Surgeon
Vascular Neurology Attending Physician, Inpatient
Neurology
Interventional Neuroradiology
  • Neuroendovascular Surgery
  • Vascular Neurology
  • Neurology
Kinon, Merritt D., MD
Merritt Kinon, MD
Section Chief of Spinal Neurosurgery, Westchester Medical Center Health Network
Associate Professor of Neurosurgery and Orthopaedic Surgery, New York Medical College
  • Neurological Surgery
Knox, Nigel, MD
Nigel Knox, MD

Attending, Pain Management
Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology, New York Medical College
  • Anesthesiology, Pain Medicine
Lehrer, Rachel, PA
  • Neurological Surgery
Lent, Tara R., PA
  • Neurological Surgery
Li, Jin, MD
Jin Li, MD
Chief, Neuromuscular Section
Medical Director, Headache Service
  • Neurology
  • Neurology
Mayer, Stephan A., MD
Stephan Mayer, MD
Director, Neurocritical Care, Emergency Neurological Services,
Professor, Neurology and Neurosurgery
  • Neurology
Melathe, Lisha, PA
Lisha Melathe, PA
Physician Assistant
Neurovascular Program Manager
Neurosurgery
  • Neurological Surgery
Mohan, Avinash L., MD
Avinash Mohan, MD
Pediatric Neurosurgeon
  • Pediatrics, Pediatric Neurosurgery
  • Neurological Surgery
Muh, Carrie R., MD
Carrie Muh, MD
Division Chief, Pediatric Neurosurgery,
Surgical Director of Pediatric Epilepsy Program,
Surgical Director of Pediatric Neuro-vascular Program,
Surgical Co-Director of Craniofacial Program
  • Pediatrics, Pediatric Neurosurgery
Okafo, Uchenna N., MBBS
Uchenna Okafo, MBBS
Attending Endovascular Neurosurgeon
  • Neurological Surgery
Pisapia, Jared M., MD
Jared Pisapia, MD
Attending Pediatric Neurosurgeon,
Surgical Director of Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Program,
Surgical Director of Peripheral Nerve Surgery Program,
Surgical Co-Director of Craniofacial Program
  • Pediatrics, Pediatric Neurosurgery
Raimo, Michelle L., FNP
  • Neurological Surgery
Ramakrishnan, Pankajavalli, MD, PhD
Pankajavalli Ramakrishnan, MD, PhD
Associate Director of Neurointerventional Surgery, Northern Region
Associate Director of Neurology, Health Alliance Hospital
  • Neuroendovascular Surgery
  • Vascular Neurology
  • Neurology
Reyes-Pastorella, Evangeline T., FNP, DNP
  • Nurse Practitioner, Family
Santarelli, Justin G., MD
Justin Santarelli, MD
Director of Neurosurgical Quality
Endovascular and Cerebrovascular Neurosurgeon
  • Neuroendovascular Surgery
  • Open Cerebralvascular Surgery
  • Neurological Surgery
Sekhri, Nitin K., MD
Nitin Sekhri, MD
Medical Director, Pain Management
  • Anesthesiology, Pain Medicine
Sukul, Vishad V., MD
Vishad Sukul, MD
Section Chief of Functional Neurosurgery and Epilepsy Surgery
Department of Neurosurgery | Brain and Spine Institute
Associate Professor of Neurosurgery and Neurology, New York Medical College
  • Neurological Surgery
Tyagi, Rachana, MD
Rachana Tyagi, MD
Associate Director of Neurosurgery, Northern Region, Westchester Medical Center Health Network
Associate Professor of Neurosurgery, New York Medical College
  • Pediatrics, Pediatric Neurosurgery
  • Neurological Surgery
Varghese, Sherine G., ANP
  • Neurological Surgery
Wainwright, John V., MD
John Wainwright, MD
Attending Neurosurgeon, Spine Division
Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery and Orthopaedic Surgery, New York Medical College
  • Neurological Surgery

Research

Neurosurgeons, Neurologists and other physicians at Westchester Medical Center are actively involved in numerous research studies, frequently publishing in many leading journals in the U.S. and around the world.

Explore the links below to read some of our published contributions to the fields of neurology and neurosurgery.

Chairman, Residency and Fellowship Program Director

Chirag D. Gandhi, MD

Cerebrovascular and Endovascular Neurosurgery

Fawaz Al-Mufti, MD

Chirag D. Gandhi, MD

Justin G. Santarelli, MD

Gurmeen Kaur, MD

Functional and Epilepsy Neurosurgery

Vishad Sukul, MD

Neurosurgical Oncology (Brain and Spine Tumors)

Simon Hanft, MD

Neurocritical Care

Fawaz Al-Mufti, MD

Stephan Mayer, MD

Pediatric Neurosurgery

Carrie R. Muh, MD

Jared M. Pisapia, MD

General Neurosurgery

Merritt Kinon, MD

Rachana Tyagi, MD

Spine Surgery

Merritt Kinon, MD

Pain Management

Nitin Sekhri, MD

Nigel Knox, MD


Success Stories

WMCHealth Surgeons Save Patient from Permanent Damage After Bike Accident

mountain bike

Medical Mystery Solved After 2-Year Struggle

“The Back Pain Was Like a ‘Lightning Bolt.’ Now, the Pain is Gone!”

No Time to Lose

Seeing Brain Tumors In a New Light

Retired Police Sergeant Saved by Two WMCHealth Hospitals 


Media

As Seen in Good Housekeeping and Woman's Day (September 2021)

New York State Designates Westchester Medical Center as a Comprehensive Stroke Center


Contact Us

Office Appointments

Westchester Medical Center, Ambulatory Care Pavilion
100 Woods Road, 4th floor
Valhalla, NY 10595

Phone: 914.493.2363
Fax: 914.493.2505

Administrative and Academic

Westchester Medical Center
100 Woods Road
Macy Pavilion
Valhalla, NY 10595

Phone: 914.493.5216
Fax: 914.493.2424 

Residency Program and Medical Students

Christine Loscri
Westchester Medical Center
100 Woods Road
Macy Pavilion
Valhalla, NY 10595

Phone: 914.493.8795
Fax: 914.493.2424
Email: Christine.Loscri@wmchealth.org