Top Neurosurgeons in West Los Angeles:
Finding the Best Provider for Brain and Spine Health
Who Is the Best Neurosurgeon in West Los Angeles?
How to Select the Best Neurosurgeon in West Los Angeles
- Board Certification: A baseline essential for any neurosurgeon.
- Fellowship Training: Evidence of deep expertise that showcases the surgeon's specialty.
- Patient Outcomes: Patient experience and reviews speak louder than credentials, which is why we weighted this category so strongly. Awards and recognition are good signs, but the true measure of a surgeon's practice is the outcomes for their patients.
- Surgical Specialty: Expertise is never broad; it is specialized.
- Affiliations: Association with institutions is a foundational criterion.
- Recognition: National and international awards or achievements that make them stand out.
Specialties We Examined
- Aneurysms
- Brain tumors
- Spinal disorders
- Functional neurosurgery
- Pediatric neurosurgery
- And more
10 Best Neurosurgeons in Los Angeles
Board Certification:
Dr. Christopher A. Sarkiss is a board-certified neurosurgeon.
Fellowship Training:
Dr. Sarkiss is fellowship-trained with a subspecialty focus in neurosurgical oncology and spine surgery.
Patient Outcomes / Reviews:
Dr. Sarkiss has a perfect 5.0 on Healthgrades from 55 ratings. Patient reviews highlight their sense of trust in his care, his clear and thoughtful explanations, and his patient-centric responsiveness. Additionally, he has a perfect 5 out of 5 stars on U.S. News as well, making him one of only two neurosurgeons in West Los Angeles on this list with a perfect patient score on both of these sites. Reviews show that, in addition to his professionalism and caring attitude, patients express satisfaction with their treatment outcomes.
Surgical Specialty:
- Brain and spine tumors
- Pituitary/skull-base disorders
- Degenerative spine disease
- Herniated discs
- Spinal stenosis
- Awake craniotomy
- Brain mapping
- Advanced robotic surgery
- LITT
- Endoscopic surgery
Affiliations:
- Sarkiss is the founder and chairman of Global Brain & Spine Institute.
- He is affiliated with the prestigious Mount Sinai Hospital.
Recognition:
- Sarkiss’ credentials include FACS, FAANS, and FCNS.
- His work is nationally recognized for complex minimally invasive brain and spine procedures.
- Recognized as a Top Doctor by Top Doctors in America in 2023 and 2024.
- Voted top neurosurgeon for consecutive years while serving as System Medical Director for Advocate Health System in Wisconsin
- Awarded the Kalmon D. Post, MD, Neurosurgery Publication Award for his significant research contributions in the field of neurosurgery.
Board Certification:
Dr. Daniel F. Kelly is a board-certified neurosurgeon.
Fellowship Training:
Dr. Kelly completed his fellowship training at George Washington University Medical Center, developing a strong subspecialty career focus in minimally invasive/keyhole brain, pituitary, and skull-base surgery.
Patient Outcomes / Reviews:
Patient reports on Healthgrades give Dr. Kelly a total of 4.9 from 59 ratings. We also found reviews on Providence in which patients highlight high satisfaction and confidence in his care.
Surgical Specialty:
Dr. Kelly has performed over 4,000 procedures in endonasal pituitary surgery and craniotomy alone, with many more in his other areas of expertise.
- Minimally invasive keyhole surgery (MIKS) for brain tumors
- MIKS for pituitary tumors
- MIKS for skull-base tumors
- Endonasal surgery
- Craniotomy for brain/skull-base tumors
Affiliations:
- Director and co-founder of Pacific Neuroscience Institute
- Director of the Pacific Brain Tumor Center and Pacific Pituitary Disorders Center
- Affiliation with Providence Saint John’s Health Center
Recognition:
- Kelly is internationally recognized in minimally invasive keyhole surgery.
- He has been awarded the Southern California SuperDoctors distinction 16 years in a row, showcasing consistent top-tier performance.
- Kelly has authored over 150 peer-reviewed publications and 40 book chapters, promoting continued advancements in his field.
Board Certification:
Dr. Linda M. Liau has been certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery since 2002.
Fellowship Training:
Dr. Liau completed her fellowship training in neuro-oncology at UCLA.
Patient Outcomes / Reviews:
Dr. Kiau has a solid 4.4 with 15 ratings on Healthgrades, showing overall satisfaction with patient outcomes. However, her U.S. News score is higher, coming in at a perfect 5 stars, with a 4/5 score for patient satisfaction with outcomes.
Surgical Specialty:
- Brain tumors
- Glioblastoma
- Metastatic brain cancer
- Meningioma
- Glioma
- Astrocytoma
- Advanced brain tumor immunotherapy research
Affiliations:
- Chair of Neurosurgery at UCLA
- Director of the UCLA Brain Tumor Program
- Affiliated with the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center.
Recognitions:
- Liau has been rated a Top Doctor by both U.S. News and Castle Connolly Top Doctor while also being recognized by Super Doctors from 2023 to 2026.
- She was the recipient of the Stanford Medicine Alumni Association J.E. Wallace Sterling Lifetime Achievement Award in Medicine in 2025.
Board Certification:
Dr. Marvin Bergsneider has been certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery since 1998.
Fellowship Training:
We could not find any information specifically about fellowship focus, but his UCLA profile highlights a deep subspecialty leadership in pituitary and skull-base tumor surgery.
Patient Outcomes / Reviews:
Dr. Bergsneider’s Healthgrades profile shows 4.3 from 27 ratings. While most patients report excellent communication and explanations, another notes that their appointment felt rushed. Reviews from other sources show 4.4 (Google Reviews), 4.8 (Yelp), and 5.0 (U.S. News).
Surgical Specialty:
- Pituitary tumors
- Skull-base tumors
- Pituitary adenoma
- Acromegaly
- Endonasal transsphenoidal surgery
- Meningioma
Affiliations:
- Bergsneider serves as a Professor of Neurosurgery at UCLA.
- He is the Director of the UCLA Pituitary and Skullbase Tumor Program
- He is affiliated with the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center.
Recognitions:
- Los Angeles Magazine ranked him among their Top Doctors for 5 years, including 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026.
- Super Doctors Southern California has consistently awarded him their recognition from 2022 to 2026.
Board Certification:
Dr. Garni Barkhoudarian is a board-certified neurosurgeon.
Fellowship Training:
Dr. Barkhoudarian completed his fellowship training in skull-base and minimally invasive endoscopic surgery.
Patient Outcomes / Reviews:
Healthgrades lists Dr. Barkhoudarian with a 4.7 from 24 ratings, with recent reviews on Providence particularly showing high patient satisfaction.
Surgical Specialty:
- Pituitary and parasellar tumors
- Brain tumors
- Skull-base tumors
- Meningiomas
- Craniopharyngiomas
- Chordomas
- Schwannomas
- Hydrocephalus
- Trigeminal neuralgia
- Hemifacial spasm
Affiliations:
- Pacific Neuroscience Institute
- Providence Saint John’s Health Center
- We found co-leadership roles in pituitary, hydrocephalus, facial pain, and radiosurgery programs.
Recognition:
- Barkhoudarian is the director of PNI’s Neuroanatomy Laboratory.
- We found that he also has Clinical Neurosurgical Fellowship leadership with Daniel Kelly.
Board Certification:
Dr. Isaac Yang received board certification by the American Board of Neurological Surgery in 2015.
Fellowship Training:
Dr. Yang completed an NRSA postdoctoral brain tumor fellowship at UCSF Brain Tumor Research Center, highlighting his specialization in this crucial field.
Patient Outcomes / Reviews:
Currently, Dr. Yang only has 9 reviews on Healthgrades, but these aggregate to a strong 4.6 rating. However, he has a patient rating of 5 stars based on 91 reviews on U.S. News, detailing strengths such as:
- Being helpful and informative
- Giving patients confidence in their surgical team
- Being patient and answering any questions
Surgical Specialty:
- Adult brain and spinal cord tumors
- Acoustic neuromas
- Skull-base tumors
- Meningiomas
- Gliomas
- Glioblastoma
- Intraoperative brain mapping
Affiliations:
The strongest points for Dr. Yang come from his affiliation with the UCLA brain tumor program, a prestigious organization focused on brain tumor research and treatments. Additional affiliations include:
- Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
- UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center.
Recognitions:
Dr. Yang is clearly active in his field, with 200+ peer-reviewed publications associated with him. Furthermore, he was rated a Top Doctor by Los Angeles Magazine 2 years in a row (2024–2025). He has also been recognized by Super Doctors Southern California from 2024 to 2026.
Board Certification:
Dr. Langston T. Holly is board-certified in neurosurgery, receiving his certification from the American Board of Neurological Surgery in 2007.
Fellowship Training:
According to Dr. Holly’s profile on UCLA Health, he completed his fellowship training in complex spine surgery at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in 2002.
Patient Outcomes / Reviews:
Dr. Holly’s rating on Healthgrades shows 4.2 from 71 reviews. However, he has a strong 5-star rating on U.S. News, with signals pointing to his clinical skill, caring attitude, and clear explanations of conditions and treatment options.
Surgical Specialty:
Dr. Holly’s profile highlights his services, including spine care, pediatric neurosurgery, and neurosurgery, with a focus on:
- Tethered spinal cord syndrome
- Syringomyelia
- Spine tumors
- Spinal stenosis
- Arnold-Chiari malformation
- Ankylosing spondylitis
Affiliations:
Most notably, Dr. Holly serves as both Professor and Co-Vice Chair of Clinical Affairs at the UCLA Department of Neurosurgery. He is also affiliated with the UCLA Spine Center in Santa Monica.
Recognition:
In addition to his years-long standing in a senior UCLA spine neurosurgery leadership role, his recognitions include:
- Included in Top Doctors by Los Angeles Magazine in 2021 and from 2023 to 2026.
- Awarded the Super Doctors® Southern California recognition from 2023 to 2025.
Board Certification:
Dr. Ausaf A. Bari has certification from the American Board of Neurological Surgery since 2020.
Fellowship Training:
We found that Dr. Bari specialized in functional neurosurgery for his fellowship at Toronto Western Hospital.
Patient Outcomes / Reviews:
While public review volume is less visible than some of the other surgeons here, he has a good record so far. He has 5 stars on Google Reviews, though with only 3 current reviews. On Yelp, he has 16 reviews that come out to 4.8/5. Likewise, Healthgrades reviews put him at 4.9 stars, but with only 9 reviews. He may be earlier in his career, but his efforts so far highlight his skill and subspecialty expertise.
Surgical Specialty:
- Deep brain stimulation
- Movement disorders
- Epilepsy surgery
- Functional neurosurgery
- Peripheral nerve disorders, pain
- Brain tumors
Affiliations:
We found that Dr. Bari is associated with several institutes, including:
- UCLA Neurology Specialty Care
- Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
- UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center
- UCLA West Valley Medical Center
Recognition:
- Bari was named among Los Angeles Magazine’s Top Doctors in 2021, 2023, 2024, and 2025.
- He has been awarded the Super Doctors Southern California recognition two years in a row (2025–2026).
- He is a Van Wagenen Fellowship recipient.
Board Certification:
Dr. Nestor R. Gonzalez is board certified in neurological surgery by the American Board of Neurological Surgery.
Fellowship Training:
Dr. Gonzalez completed his fellowship training in vascular/endovascular neurosurgery at UCLA, lending him a unique and highly specialized training background.
Patient Outcomes:
Healthgrades lists him at 5.0 stars from 46 reviews, and his score on U.S. News Health is also a perfect 5 stars. Reviews commend his clarity, thorough approach, and positive, attentive attitude.
Surgical Specialty:
A veteran neurosurgeon in West LA, Dr. Gonzalez has 30+ years of experience in specialties like:
- Cerebrovascular neurosurgery
- Endovascular neurosurgery
- Interventional neuroradiology
- Stroke-related vascular disease
- Intracranial stenosis
- Cerebral angiography
- Vascular malformations
- Complex brain blood-vessel disorders
Affiliations:
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
- Cedars-Sinai Neurosurgery–Los Angeles
Recognition:
- Professor of Neurosurgery at Cedars-Sinai
- Program director for Cedars-Sinai’s CAST-certified endovascular neurosurgery fellowship
FACS and FAHA credentials
Board Certification:
Dr. Jeremiah Johnson is board-certified in neurological surgery by the American Board of Neurological Surgery, receiving his certification in 2019.
Fellowship Training:
Dr. Johnson is unique in that he completed fellowship training in endovascular neurological surgery at the University of Miami in 2012 AND completed an additional postgraduate fellowship year in cerebrovascular microsurgery at Stanford University under Dr. Gary Steinberg.
Patient Outcomes:
With a strong 4.9 on Healthgrades, Dr. Johnson has excellent patient satisfaction signals across 36 reviews. He only has 21 reviews across Yelp and Google Reviews combined, but these add up to a perfect 5-star rating. Like many other surgeons on this list, his reviews showcase his communication skills and patient-centric approach.
Surgical Specialty:
Dr. Johnson is a rare, dual-trained neurosurgeon offering both endovascular and microsurgical options. His key specialty lies in treatment for cerebrovascular brain-vessel disorders, including expertise in:
- Brain aneurysms
- AVMs
- Dural arteriovenous fistulas
- Cavernous malformations
- Spinal vascular malformations
- Carotid stenosis
- Intracranial stenosis
- Moyamoya disease
- Intracranial bypass surgery
Affiliations:
- Associate Professor of Neurosurgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
- Practices at UCLA Westwood Neurosurgery
- Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
- UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center
- UCLA West Valley Medical Center
Recognitions:
- Former elected national chair of the Young Neurosurgeons Committee of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons
- 100+ publications/editorials/book chapters
- Super Doctors Southern California 2022–2026
- Joe Niekro Brain Aneurysm and AVM Foundation Patient Choice Award
- Rosomoff Research Award.
How to Choose the Right Neurosurgeon for You
Personal Assessment
Dedication to Their Field
Get All the Information
A worthy neurosurgeon will provide clear information and be ready to patiently answer all of your questions. Your very well-being is on the line, so they must also show commitment to YOU. Your surgeon should provide details such as:
- Their experience in performing your specified surgery
- What the rates are for success, complications, and recurrence
- How they will navigate your care or coordinate with other physicians
- Realistic outlines of what you can expect from the results
- Details of the approach they plan to use
In Conclusion: Selecting Your Top Neurosurgeon
It is no understatement to conclude that West Los Angeles is a hub for top neurosurgeons from around the world. There is a reason people travel from across the U.S. for surgeons based in this area. However, finding the right one for you will depend on personal factors, their specialty, and more. Dr. Christopher A. Sarkiss has positioned himself as a leader in his areas of expertise, including brain and spine tumors, spinal disease, brain mapping, endoscopic surgery, and more. From second opinions to world-class surgical care, he is prepared to play whatever role is best suited for your positive long-term outcome.
Neurosurgery FAQs
What is the best hospital for a neurosurgeon?
A good place to start when searching for a neurosurgeon in West LA is to look at medical centers and hospitals. Some of the top options to look at for patients in West Los Angeles include:
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
- Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
- Keck Medicine of USC
- Providence St. John’s Health Center
- UCLA Santa Monica Health Center
Who really is the best neurosurgeon in West Los Angeles?
The truth is that there is no single neurosurgeon who is objectively the best. Our goal with this guide is to provide you with the tools and mindset to find the right one for you. Looking for 5-star reviews is a great place to start, but a surgeon’s specialty is also essential. A 5-star-rated neurosurgeon in a different specialty might not be as ideal as a lower-rated surgeon whose entire career is built around the procedure you need.
Dr. Sarkiss has built his reputation precisely by delivering 5-star care in his areas of expertise. His patient outcomes speak for themselves, with routine patient satisfaction in treatment areas like:
- Cancer of cerebral meninges
- Cerebral edema
- Hypothalamus cancer
- Brain injury (traumatic and nontraumatic)
- Brain surgery
- Chiari malformation
- And more
Book Your Consultation With a Top West LA Neurosurgeon
You can book your consultation by phone, email, or using the online form at the Global Brain & Spine Institute website.
Phone (Los Angeles): (310) 593.9833
Phone (Burbank): (818) 847-6049
Online Booking: Fill out the online form at https://globalbrainspine.com/contact/ to schedule your appointment.
Email: drsarkiss@globalbrainspine.com
Where is Dr. Sarkiss' clinic?
Dr. Sarkiss has two offices, one in Los Angeles and the other in Burbank. He accepts consultations at both locations, making it convenient for patients across LA to visit.
The LA office is located at:
1125 S. Beverly Dr, Suite 111
Los Angeles, CA 90035
Finding the Office: Located just north of the intersection between W. Pico Blvd and S. Beverly Dr, right next to the Beverly Hills Medical Tower.
The Burbank office is located at:
501 S Buena Vista St, 1st Floor, North Tower
Burbank, CA 91505
Finding the Office: Located next to the intersection of W. Alameda Ave and S. Buena Vista St, right next to the Providence St. Joseph Medical Center.