Top Neurosurgeons in DC Area

 

Top Neurosurgeons in the Washington, D.C. Metro Area

A referral resource compiled by Dr. Sandra Cremers, MD, FACS — Visionary Eye Doctors, Rockville, MD
Last updated: March 2026. Please verify contact details before referring.

Sometimes we see patients with visual disturbances that are due to brain tumors  

Johns Hopkins Medicine — Bethesda / Suburban Hospital

Neurosurgeon	Subspecialty / Known For	Contact	Recognition & Reviews
Shih-Chun Lin, MD	Chief of Neurosurgery, Suburban Hospital; Division Chief, JHU National Capital Region. Cerebrovascular neurosurgery, spine surgery, pituitary & skull base tumors, traumatic brain injury. Stanford-trained. Published research on optogenetics and TBI management.	JH Neurosurgery: (301) 896-6069 6420 Rockledge Dr, Ste 4920, Bethesda, MD 20817	Michael J. Stanton MD Award (2019); Living the Hopkins Mission Honoree; Best Consulting Physician — JHM. 20+ years experience.

George Washington University Hospital

Neurosurgeon	Subspecialty / Known For	Contact	Recognition & Reviews
Anthony J. Caputy, MD, FACS	Chairman, Dept. of Neurosurgery, GWU. Co-director, Neurologic Institute. Epilepsy surgery, brain tumor resection (with eloquent area mapping), acoustic neuromas, Chiari malformations, vascular neurosurgery, carotid endarterectomy, spinal tumors.	GWU Neurosurgery: (202) 741-2750 2150 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20037	Washingtonian Top Docs; Castle Connolly Top 1% Nationally; U.S. News Top Doctor; Best Doctors in America.
Saleem I. Abdulrauf, MD, FACS	Clinical Professor, GWU; Neurosurgeon-in-Chief, Abdulrauf Institute. World leader in cerebral revascularization & EC-IC bypass surgery (authored the definitive textbook). Pioneered a brain bypass procedure named after him. Visiting professor at 100+ universities. Inaugural Global President, Walter E. Dandy Neurosurgical Society.	(202) 741-2750 2150 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Ste 7, Washington, DC 20037	4.0/5 patient rating; 34+ years experience. Founding Chairman of Neurosurgery at Saint Louis University. Board member of CNS, NASBS, and WFSBS.
Fabio Roberti, MD	Director, Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery, GWU. Professor of Neurological Surgery. Endoscopic skull base surgery, neuro-oncology, minimally invasive cranial & spinal surgery. Director, H. Ammerman Microsurgical Laboratory. Previously Cleveland Clinic Florida.	(202) 741-2750 2150 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20037	Graduated Summa Cum Laude from University of Modena, Italy. Extensive international training.

MedStar Health — Georgetown / Washington Hospital Center

Neurosurgeon	Subspecialty / Known For	Contact	Recognition & Reviews
Edward F. Aulisi, MD, FAANS	Chairman, Dept. of Neurosurgery, MedStar Washington Hospital Center. Medical Director, Neuroscience ICU. Skull base tumors, neurovascular microsurgery, aneurysms, brain neoplasms, disc disorders.	MedStar: (202) 877-3627 110 Irving St NW, Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20010	Three Best Rated (50-Point Inspection); peer-selected top neurosurgeon in DC.
Kevin M. McGrail, MD, FAANS, FACS	Acoustic neuroma, deep brain stimulation (DBS), epilepsy surgery, brain metastases, pituitary tumors, trigeminal neuralgia, movement disorders (Parkinson’s, dystonia, essential tremor), spine surgery.	MedStar Georgetown & MedStar WHC (202) 877-3627	Washingtonian Top Doctor (multiple years). Three Best Rated (50-Point Inspection).
Christopher G. Kalhorn, MD	Director, Epilepsy & Functional Neurosurgery. Deep brain stimulation, epilepsy surgery, movement disorders. Trained under internationally recognized epilepsy expert Dr. Robert Grossman at Baylor.	MedStar Georgetown (202) 444-8525	Three Best Rated; Associate Professor, Georgetown University.
Vinay R. Deshmukh, MD	Cerebrovascular & skull base surgery, minimally invasive spine surgery, spontaneous CSF leaks. Co-Director, MGUH CSF Leak Center. Neurosurgical Director, MedStar Spine Governance Council. Former Lead Neurosurgeon for NASCAR (~10 years).	MedStar Georgetown (202) 444-8525	Washingtonian Top Docs; Northern Virginia Magazine Top Doc; Castle Connolly nationally. Patients praise communication and thoroughness.
J. Craig Watson, MD	Senior professor of Neurosurgery, Georgetown. Leads the Comprehensive Brain Tumor Center at MGUH. Pituitary surgery, cerebrovascular surgery. NIH fellowship trained. Stanford undergrad, UCSD medical school.	MedStar Georgetown (202) 444-8525	Senior faculty with decades of experience in complex brain tumors.
Jean-Marc Voyadzis, MD	Minimally invasive spine (discectomy, decompression, fusion), metastatic spine disease, spinal cord tumors, craniocervical disease, radiosurgery, brain & pituitary tumors. Complex spine fellowship at U of Chicago.	MedStar Georgetown (202) 444-8525	Georgetown-trained; fellowship with Dr. Richard Fessler.
Dimitrios Sigounas, MD	Minimally invasive neurosurgery; stroke, aneurysms, dural arteriovenous fistulae, brain tumors. PI on 5 multi-institutional clinical trials. NIH-funded research on craniotomy surgical site infections.	Reston Hospital Center (703) 689-0022	Patients rate him A++. Extensive clinical research. Lectures nationally and internationally.

Washington Neurosurgical Associates — Sibley Memorial Hospital

Neurosurgeon	Subspecialty / Known For	Contact	Recognition & Reviews
Joshua M. Ammerman, MD	Third-generation DC neurosurgeon. Cranial surgery, brain tumors, minimally invasive spine surgery. NIH NINDS fellowship (Surgical Neurology Branch). GWU trained.	(202) 877-3627 5215 Loughboro Rd NW, Ste 510, Washington, DC 20016	Washingtonian Top Docs (multiple consecutive years). Family legacy — 50+ years of neurosurgical practice in DC.
Matthew Ammerman, MD	Minimally invasive spine surgery (degenerative conditions, spinal trauma, spinal oncology). Traumatic brain injury & post-concussive disorder. Fellowship with Dr. Kevin Foley at U of Tennessee. Academic appointments at GWU and Johns Hopkins.	(202) 877-3627 5215 Loughboro Rd NW, Ste 510, Washington, DC 20016	Washingtonian Top Docs (multiple consecutive years). Emory University — Highest Honors graduate.

Inova Health System — Fairfax, Northern Virginia

Neurosurgeon	Subspecialty / Known For	Contact	Recognition & Reviews
Nilesh Vyas, MD	Section Chief, Inova Neurosurgery; Chairman, Dept. of Neurosurgery, Inova Fairfax Hospital; Chief of Neurosurgery for entire Inova system. Complex neurosurgical cases. Georgetown-trained. Personalized surgical planning.	Inova Neurosurgery: (703) 776-4700 Inova Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church, VA 22042	Washingtonian Top Doctor (2015–present); Northern Virginia Magazine Top Doctor (2015–present).
Sidhartha Chandela, MD	Dual-trained: endovascular AND open neurosurgery for cerebrovascular disease (aneurysms, AVMs, brain bleeds). Minimally invasive spine surgery with navigation technology. First in NoVA to offer both microsurgical and endovascular options for cerebrovascular disease. Team neurosurgeon for D.C. United.	Inova Neurosurgery: (703) 776-4700 Falls Church, VA	20+ years experience. Multiple research awards. Published extensively in peer-reviewed journals.
Andrew A. Fanous, MD	Brain cancer/tumors, brain injury, functional neurosurgery (deep brain stimulation), spine surgery.	Inova Neurosurgery: (703) 776-4700	Board-certified; fellowship-trained subspecialist.
Leon E. Moores, MD	Pediatric neurosurgery, children’s brain tumors, craniofacial deformities.	Inova Neurosurgery: (703) 776-4700	Board-certified; one of the region’s go-to pediatric neurosurgeons.

Virginia Neurosurgeons — Arlington, VA

Neurosurgeon	Subspecialty / Known For	Contact	Recognition & Reviews
Virginia Neurosurgeons Group Practice	Academic-oriented community practice founded 2001. Meningiomas, vestibular schwannoma, pituitary adenoma, endoscopic resection, Chiari decompression, intra-operative neuronavigation. All surgeons are GWU faculty and ABNS board-certified. Over 30,000 patients treated.	(703) 848-1455 1635 N. George Mason Dr, Ste 310, Arlington, VA 22205	Leader in mid-Atlantic neurosurgery for 20+ years. Multiple Yelp Top 10 ranked surgeons.

 Quick-Reference Phone Numbers

Johns Hopkins Neurosurgery (Bethesda)	(301) 896-6069
GWU Neurosurgery	(202) 741-2750
MedStar Georgetown Neurosurgery	(202) 444-8525
MedStar Washington Hospital Center	(202) 877-3627
Washington Neurosurgical Associates (Sibley)	(202) 877-3627
Inova Neurosurgery (NoVA)	(703) 776-4700
Virginia Neurosurgeons (Arlington)	(703) 848-1455

Disclaimer: This list is provided for informational and referral purposes only. It does not constitute an endorsement. Patients should verify insurance acceptance, current availability, and credentials independently. Information sourced from U.S. News & World Report, Healthgrades, Washingtonian, institutional websites, and Zocdoc (March 2026).