NEUROSURGICAL MEDICAL CLINIC - Key Persons
Dr. Sethi received his bachelor's degree from McGill University. He subsequently received his MD and his MBA from Tufts University School of Medicine where he graduated with AOA recognition. He then completed his neurosurgical training at the University of Colorado where he served as Chief Resident in Neurosurgery as well as completing a Minimally Invasive, Complex Spine and Deformity fellowship.
Dr. Sethi's goal is to find the intersection between patient symptoms and the ideal surgical treatment if surgery is warranted. His special interests lie in minimally invasive spine surgery as well as a more comprehensive approach to scoliosis and spinal deformity.
Dr. Sethi is board eligible through the American Board of Neurological Surgeons.
In his free time Dr. Sethi enjoys playing golf, finding the best Italian restaurant in town, reading historical fiction novels and spending time with his family.
Job Titles:
- Practice Manager for Dr. Kureshi / Surgery Scheduler
- Surgery Manager for Dr. Kureshi
Job Titles:
- Chief Medical Officer of TBI Virtual
- Member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons
Dr. Kureshi is a board-certified neurosurgeon who has practiced neurosurgery for more than thirty years in San Diego, joining NMC in 2000 following his residency At Duke University. Dr. Kureshi received his bachelor's degree from the University of California, San Diego, and his medical degree from the University of Southern California (USC) School of Medicine. He completed a general surgery internship and a neurosurgery residency at Duke University Medical Center, where he served as chief neurosurgical resident.
Dr. Kureshi is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, and the San Diego Medical Society.
Dr. Kureshi strives to make a difference every day and to deliver compassionate, personalized health care. He believes in working with his patients to provide the best treatment options and care possible for every patient.
Dr. Kureshi has written articles for several peer-reviewed publications, including Neurosurgery, Skull Base Surgery and Conference Proceedings from the International Functional Electrical Stimulation Society. He has co-authored chapters for the books Techniques in Neurosurgery and Neurosurgical Operative Atlas, Volume 6.
Dr. Kureshi's personal interests include spending his free time with family and friends, traveling, surfing, and racing. Dr. Kureshi continues to compete in wheel-to-wheel race car driving.
Dr. Kureshi is the Chief Medical Officer of TBI Virtual. Their mission is to provide timely, expert concussion care with the convenience of telemedicine. They are committed to bringing you the most up-to-date and cutting-edge clinical care for concussions available. For more information on the TBI Virtual Clinic please visit their website at https://tbivirtual.
Job Titles:
- Practice Manager for Dr. Ostrup
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer
- Management
Job Titles:
- Practice Manager for Dr. Chavakula
Job Titles:
- Practice Manager for Dr. Sethi
Job Titles:
- Emeritus
- Chief of the Divisions of Neurosurgery
- Home Our Providers Physicians Emeritus
Dr. Ott practiced neurosurgery for 43 years in San Diego, joining NMC following his residency at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston in 1976. Prior to residency he attended Yale University and U.C. San Francisco School of Medicine.
Dr. Ott has been the Chief of the Divisions of Neurosurgery at Scripps Mercy Hospital and Scripps Memorial Hospital, La Jolla. He developed the Gamma Knife Radiosurgery program at Scripps Memorial Hospital, La Jolla in 1994 and a movement disorders surgery program in 1999. Dr. Ott has been the Medical Director of the San Diego Gamma Knife Center, the Chief of Neurosurgery at Scripps Memorial Hospital, and the President of the California Association of Neurological Surgeons.
Dr. Ott's areas of special interest were minimally invasive forms of neurosurgery such as outpatient microlumbar discectomy and anterior cervical discectomy; Gamma Knife Radiosurgery, as well as Cyberknife and Brainlab Novalis radiosurgery. He had much interest in image-guided and frame-based stereotactic surgery; functional neurosurgery for Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders; endoscopic sympathectomy for hyperhydrosis as well as pituitary surgery; brain tumor surgery was a significant portion of his practice.
Dr. Ott retired from NMC in December 2019. We thank you for your service and dedication during your working years at NMC.
Job Titles:
- Emeritus
- Home Our Providers Physicians Emeritus
Dr. Altenau joined NMC in 1980 after his service at Balboa Naval Hospital, San Diego, where he served as a Lieutenant Commander. He had a wide range of neurosurgical interests. He became board certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgeons in 1983. He trained under Dr. Richard Schneider at the University of Michigan, completing medical school at the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Altenau's areas of special interest were complex spinal disorders and brain tumors. Dr. Altenau was on staff at numerous hospitals through San Diego and had numerous articles accepted for publication.
Dr. Altenau retired in June 2019. We thank you for your service, dedication, and always keeping us laughing with your humor during your working years at NMC.
Job Titles:
- Practice Manager for Dr. Zachariah
Job Titles:
- Emeritus
- Home Our Providers Physicians Emeritus
Dr. Assam founded Neurosurgical Medical Clinic in 1968, establishing himself on the staff of every hospital in town. Dr. Assam felt a particular drive to assure that quality care was available throughout the county, especially at hospitals that were underserved. Additionally, as Chief of Neurosurgery at Mercy Hospital he developed specialized training for nursing staff that would give them the specific skills needed for spine and brain trauma, surgery, and treatment.
In 1980 Dr. Assam moved his family to his hometown of Sioux Falls, where he practiced medicine at various hospitals. He was the first professor of Neurosurgery at the University of South Dakota Medical School.
In 1984, Dr. Assam returned with his family to San Diego to resume his primary practice. Above all however, Dr. Assam was a beloved, respected, and skilled neurosurgeon of the old school, who always did his very best for his patients and their families.
Dr. Assam passed away at Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls, on Wednesday, January 28, 2015, with his wife and family at his side, as a result of advanced dementia and pneumonia. He was 84.
Suzanne, better known around the office as "Zahn" is a board-certified Physician Assistant specializing in neurosurgery. She received her Bachelor's degree from Northwestern University in Chicago and her Physician Assistant degree from Arcadia University in Philadelphia.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Practice Manager for Dr. Kureshi / Patient Coordinator
- Practice Manager for Dr. Kureshi