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Alexander Khalessi, MD, Neurosurgery, La Jolla, CA, Jennifer Moreno Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center

AlexanderAKhalessiMDMBA

Neurosurgery • La Jolla, CA

Brain & Spinal Tumor, Cerebrovascular Neurosurgery, Interventional Neuroradiology, Neurotrauma

Professor and Chair of Neurological Surgery at UC San Diego | Don and Karen Cohn Chancellor’s Endowed Chair in Neurosurgery | President-Elect of CNS

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Summary

  • Alexander Khalessi, MD, MBA, is the chair of the Department of Neurological Surgery, professor of neurological surgery, radiology and neurosciences at UC San Diego and the inaugural Don and Karen Cohn Chancellor’s Endowed Chair in Neurosurgery. He is the current president of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS), the leading academic society for neurosurgical professionals worldwide. A board-certified neurosurgeon, he specializes in complex cranial surgery, endovascular neurosurgery, stroke care, and neurological oncology. Under Dr. Khalessi’s leadership the Department of Neurological Surgery has experienced significant growth. The Department performs an average of 4,000 major cases annually and is one of few health systems in the nation to have two comprehensive stroke centers. The program is consistently ranked in the top 25 best neurology and neurosurgery services in the nation by U.S. News and World Report and—combined with its sister Department of Neurosciences—is perennially ranked #1 nationally in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding. In addition to his role as president of the CNS, Dr. Khalessi champions neurosurgical innovation through several national leadership roles. Dr. Khalessi is in his fourth term on the AANS/CNS’ Washington Committee and sits on the Board of Governors for the American College of Surgeons (ACS). He is a founding member of the Medical Device Innovation Consortium (MDIC) and advises the FDA on early clinical feasibility for emerging neurovascular devices. He further served as a charter member of the NIH Interventional Advisory Panel for StrokeNet, which provides scientific oversight for federally funded research in neurovascular disease. Dr. Khalessi has been selected by his UC peer to serve as ascending vice chair of the UC Health Stroke and Cerebrovascular Consortium which unites experts across all six UC campuses.

    • UC San Diego Neurosurgery Chair Named President of Congress of Neurological Surg

    Marking a historic first for the University of California, Alexander Khalessi, MD, MBA, chair of neurological surgery, has assumed the presidency of the CNS

    Brain Tumor Survivor Raises Awareness of Care Through Padres Experience

    UC San Diego Health joins the San Diego Padres in recognizing Andrew Dower and bringing awareness to his brain tumor experience.

    UC San Diego Health Ranks No. 1 in San Diego, Makes National Honor Roll

    UC San Diego Health ranked #21 in the nation for best neurosurgery & neurology care by U.S. News & World Report

    UC San Diego Health Awarded Advanced Certification in Spine Surgery

    The certification is granted to organizations that meet or exceed the highest level of national performance standards.

    Alexander Khalessi Named President-Elect of Congress of Neurological Surgeons

    Neurosurgical Innovation in the Academic Ecosystem

    Neurosurgical Innovation in the Academic Ecosystem - Alexander A. Khalessi, MD

    History of San Diego Neurosurgery

    Presented by Alexander Khalessi, MD, FAANS at the 2019 AANS Annual Scientific Meeting in San Diego.

    High-Tech Surgical Suites Let Doctors Scan Patients without Either Leaving the O

    Inside Jacobs Medical Center at UC San Diego Health in La Jolla resides the only intra-operative magnetic resonance imaging surgical suites in Southern Californ

    Stefan Reish Saved by UC San Diego Health's Stroke Center

    A young father of two suffers from a stroke while driving, but due to a multidisciplinary team at UC San Diego Medical Center's comprehensive stroke center, he

    Boy With Rare Vein Malformation Given Lifesaving Surgery

    Moses Hernandez was born with a rare malformation of his veins. When he would lose teeth, he had massive bleeding that in one instance threatened his life. Dr.

    Dr. Alexander Khalessi saves Julie Voigt's life

    Julie Voigt went to a chiropractor who unknowingly damaged her carotid artery. The first doctors she saw failed to realize the severity of the problem. A few da

Clinical Expertise

  • Interventional neuroradiology / Endovascular neurosurgery, Cerebrovascular disease, Neurosurgical trauma and critical care, Skull base surgery, Extracranial Carotid Disease Management, Intracranial aneurysms, Neurotrama, Mechanical Thrombectomy for Ischemic Stroke, Cerebral angiography, Endovascular procedures, Thrombectomy, Neurosurgical oncology, Cerebral aneurysm clipping, Endovascular coiling

Education & Training

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyMaster of Business Administration (MBA), 2019
  • University of Southern California/LAC+USC Medical Center
    University of Southern California/LAC+USC Medical CenterResidency, Neurological Surgery, 2004 - 2011
  • University of Southern California/LACUSC Medical Center
    University of Southern California/LACUSC Medical CenterFellowship, Diagnostic Angiography, Dept of Neurological Surgery, 2004 - 2011
  • University at Buffalo School of Medicine
    University at Buffalo School of MedicineFellowship, Endovascular Surgical Neuroradiology (Neurological Surgery), 2009 - 2010
  • Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
    Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineClass of 2004
  • Stanford University School of Medicine
    Stanford University School of Medicine Master of Science in Health Services Research, 1999 - 2000
  • Stanford University
    Stanford University Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy conferred with Departmental Honors, 1995 - 1999

Certifications & Licensure

  • CA State Medical License
    CA State Medical License 2006 - 2026
  • American Board of Neurological Surgery Neurological Surgery

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

  • San Diego "Top Doc" San Diego Magazine, 2019, 2022-2023
  • CMS Meaningful Use Stage 1 Certification EpicCare Ambulatory EMR, Epic Systems Corporation, 2012-2013

Clinical Trials

Publications & Presentations

PubMed

Authored Content

  • Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations: Essentials for Patients and PractitionersJune 2023

Press Mentions

  • Lasers, Robots, and Tiny Electrodes Are Transforming Treatment of Severe Epilepsy
    Lasers, Robots, and Tiny Electrodes Are Transforming Treatment of Severe EpilepsyFebruary 26th, 2023
  • Lasers, Robots, and Tiny Electrodes Are Transforming Treatment of Severe Epilepsy
    Lasers, Robots, and Tiny Electrodes Are Transforming Treatment of Severe EpilepsyFebruary 14th, 2023
  • New Tech Gives Hope for a Million People with Epilepsy
    New Tech Gives Hope for a Million People with EpilepsyJanuary 20th, 2023
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Professional Memberships

Other Languages

  • Spanish, Farsi

Hospital Affiliations

External Links

Dr. Alexander Khalessi, Dr. Alexander Khalessi, MD, Dr. A Khalessi, Dr. Alexander A Khalessi