Professional Profile

Medical Director of Neuroscience

I knew I wanted to be a doctor when I was 8 years old. I was fascinated by learning, memory and personalities and I thought the best way to learn more would be to become a doctor who specializes in the brain. 

I began that training at the age of 19 and through the years, I studied dyslexia in special education, stroke, and traumatic brain injury. Eventually, I came to realize that one of the best ways to study the brain was through neurosurgery. I underwent specialty training in awake craniotomy and brain mapping and have been involved in the basic science research to help understand epilepsy and how the brain works. I have been recognized for that work in epilepsy and brain tumors. 

So it has been a journey and each step on that journey has taken me deeper and deeper into understanding the brain and how it works. 

I see patients of all ages and I always try to think of the person first and the disease, or neurosurgery second. Often, the right answer from a text book isn’t the right answer for the patient or family in your office. So I am also very committed to education. I want the patient to understand their choices and I will respect their choices as long as I am able to give them the information they need to help them choose the right course for themselves. 

I am also very passionate about providing cutting edge care and incorporating new technologies and advanced imaging and surgery so that patients are able to do better and live productive lives. Nothing makes me happier. 

As NorthBay’s medical director of neurosurgery and medical director for the center for neuroscience, I am working to bring national caliber care to NorthBay Medical Center and the community. I do this by bringing together experts in neuroscience and work collaboratively in the care of our patients. 

Together we are working to establish the first regional concussion and traumatic brain injury clinic in Solano County, bringing top level care to NorthBay.

Education:

Northwestern University Medical School, Honors program in Medical Education 

Northwestern University, medical Science – Physical Chemistry, Masters Course Work – Neuropsychology/LD 

MBA Health Care and Health Policy, George Washington University 

Clinical Instructor/Neurosurgical Fellow, Brain Tumors/Cerebrovascular/Mapping. Charles B. Wilson, MD Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco 

Molecular Medicine Research Fellow, Department of Physiology. University of California, San Francisco 

Clinical Instructor/Epilepsy Fellow, Nicholas Barbaro, MD Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco 

Chief Resident in Neurological Surgery, University of California, Davis Medical Center 

Resident in Neurological Surgery, University of California, Davis Medical Center 

Internship – Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Unit 

Intern in General Surgery, University of California, Davis Medical Center

Certifications:

Board Certified in Neurological Surgery

Professional Memberships:

• American Association of Neurological Surgeons
• Congress of Neurological Surgeons
• Council of State Neurosurgical Societies
• American College of Surgeons
• California Association of Neurological Surgeons
• Women in Neurological Surgery
• American Epilepsy Society
• Northwestern University Alumni Association
• California Medical Association
• American Medical Association
• Epilepsy Foundation of Northern California

Languages Spoken:

English

Hospital Affiliations: