BARROW NEUROLOGICAL INSTITUTE - Key Persons
Alan M. Pitt, MD, is a physician in the Neuroradiology Department at Barrow Neurological Institute. Dr. Pitt is board certified by the American Board of Radiology.
Dr. Pitt's expertise includes spine imaging and therapeutics along with medical informatics. He is a member of Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), American Tele-Medicine Association, and the American Society of Neuroradiology, RSNA and ACR. Dr. Pitt was the healthcare representative to the Digital Arizona Council sponsored by the State of Arizona's CIO.
Dr. Pitt did his undergraduate work at Stanford University. He received his medical degree and completed his internship at the University of Arizona. He completed a residency in radiology and postgraduate training in neurology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and completed his fellowship at Barrow Neurological Institute. He did an additional fellowship in molecular biology at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden.
Dr. Pitt's research studies include value-based healthcare as it relates to imaging and policy. He previously won a $100,000 Green Light Award innovation grant from Dignity Health for a novel, cloud-based solution for patient follow up. He has been selected as an Arthur P. Gold fellow for his excellence in patient care as well as educator of the year in neuroradiology.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Chairman, Department of Neuropsychology
- Professor
Alexander Tröster, PhD, is a professor of neuropsychology and chair of the Department of Neuropsychology at Barrow Neurological Institute at Dignity Health St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix. Dr. Tröster is board certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology in the specialty of clinical neuropsychology.
Dr. Tröster's expertise includes movement disorders, especially Parkinson's disease, dementia, amnesia, and neuropsychological assessment in stereotactic and functional neurosurgery. He is a fellow of the American Psychological Association, the National Academy of Neuropsychology, and a member of several other professional societies.
Dr. Tröster received his doctorate from the University of California-San Diego and San Diego State University in California in clinical psychology and completed his internship at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New York.
Dr. Tröster's research studies include the assessment, definition, and neural bases of mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease, and the evaluation and prediction of neurobehavioral outcomes of deep brain stimulation for a variety of neurological and psychiatric conditions.
Andrew K. Metzger, MD, is a neurosurgeon in the Department of Neurosurgery at Barrow Neurological Institute. He is board certified in neurosurgery by the American Board of Neurological Surgery.
Dr. Metzger's expertise includes the use of minimally invasive spine surgery, cervical artificial disc replacement, and robotic spine surgery to treat degenerative spinal disorders. He also specializes in deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery and Gamma Knife radiosurgery. He is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, and the Leksell Gamma Knife Society.
Dr. Metzger earned his medical degree from the University of California-San Francisco School of Medicine, where he also completed his neurosurgery residency. Additionally, he has completed advanced training in Gamma Knife radiosurgery and robotic spine surgery.
Andrew Yang, MD, is a neurosurgeon in the Department of Neurosurgery at Barrow Neurological Institute. He serves as director of the Epilepsy Surgery Program.
Dr. Yang's expertise includes the surgical diagnosis and treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy. He brings a personalized approach to each patient to develop treatment plans focused on quality of life for the patient and their family. In addition, he specializes in surgical management of movement disorders, certain psychiatric disorders, facial pain, and brain tumors, and he remains active in all aspects of general neurosurgery. He is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, the American Epilepsy Society, the American Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.
Dr. Yang earned his medical degree from New York University and his master's degree in biomedical engineering from Duke University. He completed his neurosurgery residency at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, followed by a fellowship in stereotactic, functional, and epilepsy neurosurgery at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.
Dr. Yang also leads an active research laboratory at Barrow, wherein efforts aim to provide translational links between human neurophysiology and clinical neuromodulation to guide rational design of brain-stimulation therapies for epilepsy, as well as for investigative indications in both cognitive and psychiatric disorders.
Job Titles:
- Chief Neurosurgery Resident
Job Titles:
- Interventional Neurologist
Ashutosh Jadhav, MD, PhD, is a vascular and interventional neurologist at Barrow Neurological Institute. He is board certified in neurology and vascular neurology by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He also holds a certification in neurocritical care from the United Council of Neurologic Subspecialties and in neuroendovascular surgery from the Society of Neurological Surgeons Committee on Advanced Subspecialty Training.
Dr. Jadhav's expertise includes the medical and endovascular care of patients who have had a stroke. He is a member of the American Academy of Neurology, the American Stroke Association, the European Stroke Organisation, the Society for Neurointerventional Surgery, the Society of Vascular and Interventional Neurology, and the World Stroke Organization.
Dr. Jadhav earned his PhD in genetics from Harvard University and his medical degree from the Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology in Boston. He completed his neurology residency at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. He completed his fellowship in vascular neurology and interventional neuroradiology at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Dr. Jadhav's research interests include treatment approaches and patient outcomes after a stroke due to large-vessel occlusion, workflow optimization in the acute stroke population, and equipment development.
Brian Fitzpatrick, MD, is a leader in the field of spine, trauma, and tumor surgery, and intraoperative navigational devices.
Dr. Fitzpatrick received his bachelor of science degree from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, and his medical degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine. He received his post-graduate training at the Millard Fillmore Hospital in Buffalo and at Barrow Neurological Institute at Dignity Health St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix.
Dr. Fitzpatrick is board certified with the American Board of Neurological Surgery.
Bryan Lee, MD, is a neurosurgeon in the Department of Neurosurgery at Barrow Neurological Institute. He is board certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery.
Dr. Lee specializes in minimally invasive spine surgery and complex spinal deformity correction. He treats spinal degenerative diseases, spinal deformities requiring complex revisions and reconstructions, spinal tumors, and cranial and spinal trauma. He is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), AOSpine North America, the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS), the AANS/CNS Joint Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves, and the North American Spine Society.
Dr. Lee earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and his medical degree from the Loma Linda University School of Medicine in California. He completed his residency in neurosurgery and a fellowship in spine surgery at Cleveland Clinic.
Dr. Lee's research interests include comparative analyses of clinical outcome data to optimize health-related quality of life in patients and clinical and biomechanical studies of the latest technology to treat complex spinal diseases. In addition, Dr. Lee is actively involved in multi-institutional clinical data collection to improve treatment options. He also serves an ad-hoc reviewer for several prominent national and international neurosurgical and spinal journals.
Christi Endicott was out for a run when she learned she had…
Danielle Eagan, PhD, is a neuropsychologist at Barrow Neurological Institute.
Dr. Eagan's expertise includes the neuropsychological evaluation of adults and geriatric adults with neurological disorders. She is a member of the National Association of Neuropsychology, American Psychological Association, and International Neuropsychological Society.
Dr. Eagan earned her master's degree in linguistics from Temple University and her doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Texas at Austin. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship in inpatient and outpatient neuropsychological and psychodiagnostic assessment at McLean Hospital, a psychiatric affiliate of Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Eagan's research interests include the effects of chronic system inflammation on the development and presentation of neurological or psychiatric diseases, particularly in older adults.
David Fusco, MD, graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of arts in chemistry from Harvard University, Boston, in 2000. He received his doctor of medicine from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City in 2007. While at Columbia, he completed the Doris Duke Clinical Research Fellowship. During his residency at Barrow Neurological Institute, Dr. Fusco completed infolded fellowships in complex spinal surgery, minimally invasive spinal surgery, pediatric deformity and scoliosis surgery, endoscopic and skull base surgery, and stereotactic radiosurgery. Dr. Fusco currently serves as the director of inpatient neurosurgical care at Chandler Regional Hospital. He is board certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery.
Dr. Fusco has published more than 25 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and presented at several neurosurgical conferences at the state and national levels. He has received multiple awards for research presentations and was honored on several occasions for his dedication to resident education.
Dr. Fusco treats patients with complex and simple cranial and spinal disorders, utilizing the latest in surgical techniques and instrumentation. He often employs minimally invasive approaches. He strongly believes that patients who have a thorough understanding of their medical condition are able to make the best possible decision in collaboration with their healthcare provider.
Dr. Fusco was born and raised in the New York City area. His hobbies include tennis, downhill skiing, hiking, cycling, and traveling.
David Wilson, MD, is a neurosurgeon at Barrow Neurological Institute. He is board certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery.
Dr. Wilson's expertise includes the treatment of cranial tumors using minimally invasive cranial techniques. He also specializes in the treatment of spinal tumors and degenerative spinal disorders, including disc herniation, myelopathy, and stenosis. He is a fellow of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and a member of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.
Dr. Wilson earned his medical degree from the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. He completed his neurosurgery residency at Barrow Neurological Institute and a fellowship in endoscopic and skull base neurosurgery at the Centre for Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery at Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney, Australia.
Dr. Wilson's primary research interests include international neurosurgery and the role of neurosurgery in the developing world.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Research Fellowship, Columbia University, 2005
- Clinical Research Fellowship, Columbia University, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, 2005
Job Titles:
- Resident Research Award, San Francisco Neurological Society, 1997
Job Titles:
- Barrow Neurosurgery Residency Director
- Chief of Stereotactic and Functional
- Chief, Functional Neurosurgery
Francisco Ponce, MD, is the Chief of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery at Barrow Neurological Institute. He also serves as director of the Neurosurgery Residency Program at Barrow. He is board certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery.
Dr. Ponce's expertise includes deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery for Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, and dystonia, as well as focused ultrasound for essential tremor and tremor-dominant Parkinson's. He is also active in the operative management of cranial and spinal trauma.
Dr. Ponce earned his medical degree from the Pritzker School of Medicine at the University of Chicago in Illinois and an undergraduate degree in physics at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He completed his neurosurgery residency at Barrow and a fellowship in stereotactic and functional neurosurgery at the University of Toronto in Ontario, Canada.
Dr. Ponce has published extensively on DBS and other neurosurgical procedures in peer-reviewed journals. He presents regularly at national and international conferences.
Job Titles:
- Chief Neurosurgery Resident
Job Titles:
- Chairman, Department of Radiation Oncology
- Director / Chief, Stereotactic Radiosurgery
Job Titles:
- Barrow Aneurysm and AVM Research Center
- Head & Neck Cancer Program
Job Titles:
- Chief Neurosurgery Resident
Job Titles:
- Rehabilitation Psychologist
Job Titles:
- Chairman, Department of Neuroradiology
- Member of the Radiology Society of North America
John P. Karis, MD, is director of MRI and brain imaging for the Department of Neuroradiology at Barrow Neurological Institute, Dignity Health St. Joseph's Hospital and MedicalCenter. Dr. Karis is board certified by the American Board of Radiology.
Dr. Karis is a member of the Radiology Society of North America, the American Society of Neuroradiology, the American College of Radiology, and the International Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
Dr. Karis received his medical degree from Duke University in Durham, N.C. and completed his internship from North Carolina Memorial Hospital. He completed his residency at Duke University where he became Chief Resident and completed his fellowship at Barrow Neurological Institute.
Job Titles:
- Director / Chief, Spinal Disorders
Job Titles:
- Director / President and CEO / Professor and Chair, Neurosurgery
- President and CEO / Professor and Chair, Neurosurgery / Chief, Neurovascular Surgery
- President and CEO of Barrow Neurological Institute, Robert
Michael T. Lawton, MD, is the President and CEO of Barrow Neurological Institute, Robert F. Spetzler Endowed Chair in Neurosciences, and Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery. He is board certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery.
Dr. Lawton's neurosurgical expertise includes cerebrovascular disorders (aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, cavernous malformations, and stroke) and skull base tumors. He has experience in treating more than 5,250 brain aneurysms, 1,200 arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), and 1,200 cavernous malformations, including more than 400 in the brainstem and other highly delicate areas of the brain. He is a member of the the American Academy of Neurological Surgery, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, the Society of Neurological Surgeons, and the World Academy of Neurological Surgery.
Dr. Lawton received his medical degree from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland and an undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. He completed his neurosurgery residency at Barrow, where he also completed a fellowship in cerebrovascular and skull base surgery. After joining the faculty at the University of California, San Francisco, he later completed a fellowship in endovascular surgery there.
Dr. Lawton's research studies the formation, underlying genetics, and rupture of brain AVMs, as well as the hemodynamics, rupture, and computational modeling of brain aneurysms. His clinical research studies the anatomy of microsurgical approaches and clinical outcomes of microsurgery for aneurysms, AVMs, and bypass surgery. He is the principal investigator for the Brain Vascular Malformation Consortium, a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded multicenter group studying the genetics and clinical course of rare vascular diseases of the brain. He has published more than 900 peer-reviewed articles, eight single-author textbooks, and more than 120 book chapters.
Knowing neurosurgical education must continue during the pandemic, Dr. Lawton launched Seven Series, a collection of narrated case studies with histories, imaging studies, and illustrations from the Barrow Neuroscience Publications animation studio. He also initiated Barrow Neurosurgery Base Camp, a series of videos capturing resident teaching rounds to help neurosurgeons sharpen their skills. These efforts have helped to make him the one of the most prominent and influential neurosurgeons on X, formerly known as Twitter. Dr. Lawton also co-founded Mission: BRAIN, a teaching mission to raise the level of neurosurgery practiced in developing countries. The organization conducts annual missions in Mexico and Asia.
Job Titles:
- Chief, Neurosurgical Oncology / Director, Ivy Brain Tumor Center
Job Titles:
- Neurosurgery Resident / PGY - 2
Job Titles:
- Fellow, American Australian Association, 2012
Job Titles:
- Emeritus Professor / Neurosurgery
Job Titles:
- Rehabilitation Psychologist
Job Titles:
- Chief Neurosurgery Resident
Job Titles:
- Emeritus Professor / Neurosurgery
- Emeritus Professor of Neurosurgery at Barrow Neurological
Job Titles:
- Scholarship, Columbia University, 2006
Job Titles:
- Emeritus Professor / Neurosurgery