Aria Fallah MD MSc, FRCSC, FAAP, FAANS

Epilepsy Surgery, Pediatric Neurosurgery

Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery, UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital; Associate Professor of Neurosurgery, Pediatrics & Health Policy and Management, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and UCLA Fielding School of Public Health

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300 Stein Plaza, Suite 420Los Angeles, CA 90095
Phone+1 310-825-7961
Fax+1 310-825-7961

Clinical Expertise

Epilepsy surgery, Primary brain tumors, Hydrocephalus, Arnold-Chiari malformation, Neural tube defects, Spinal dysraphism, Spina bifida occulta, Spina Bifida Cystic, Craniofacial surgery, Craniosynostosis, Arachnoid cyst, Traumatic Brain Hemorrhage, Nervous System Trauma, Spinal cord neoplasms, Moyamoya disease, Skull Base, Spasticity, Selective dorsal rhizotomy, Pediatric neurosurgery

Education & Training

UCLA Anderson School of ManagementMBA, Executive MBA, 2023 - 2025
Nicklaus Children's HospitalFellowship, Pediatric Neurosurgery, 2014 - 2015
University of TorontoFRCSC, Neurosurgery Residency, 2008 - 2014
McMaster UniversityMSc, Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, 2011 - 2013
Michael G. DeGroote School of MedicineClass of 2008, MD
Western UniversityB.Sc., Biology, 2005

Certifications & Licensure

CA State Medical License 2015 - 2027
NV State Medical License 2017 - 2023
OH State Medical License 2011 - 2013

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

Fellow, Pediatric Neurosurgery University of Miami, Miami Children's Hospital and Holtz Children's Hospital, 2015
Outstanding Resident Surgeon and Investigator Award in Honour of Shafie S. Fazel, Department of Surgery University of Toronto, 2014
Top Clinical Research Poster, Section on Pediatric Neurological Surgery AANS/ CNS, 2014
William J. Horsey Prize Competition, First Prize, Division of Neurosurgery University of Toronto, 2012
William J. Horsey Prize Competition, Second Prize (Co-author), Division of Neurosurgery University of Toronto, 2012
First prize - Department of Surgery Resident Research Day, Department of Surgery Annual Research Day McMaster University, 2012
First prize - Neurosciences: Neurosurgery and Adult/Pediatric Neurology, Department of Surgery Annual Research Day McMaster University, 2012
Patient Relations Department Star for Recognition Award Toronto Western Hospital, 2009, 2013
Canada Millenium Scholarship 2005
Sydenham Hall - Jean Dunlop Residence Award 2004
Student Award Parents’ Fund Ontario, 2004
Scholar’s Elective Scholarship 2003
Scholar Award University of Western Ontario, 2003
Scholarship of Distinction University of Western Ontario, 2002
Queen Elizabeth II Aiming for the Top Scholarship 2002
Dean’s Honour List University of Western Ontario, 2002
Scholar’s Elective Program University of Western Ontario, 2002
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Publications & Presentations

PubMed

Epilepsy surgery outcomes in children with tuberous sclerosis complex: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Andrew T Hale, Cody Savage, Dagoberto Estevez-Ordonez, Tucker Oliver, Alexander Hedaya
Journal of Neurosurgery. Pediatrics. 2025-04-11
Evidence of thalamocortical network activation during epileptic spasms: A thalamic stereotactic EEG study.
Atsuro Daida, Saarang Panchavati, Shingo Oana, Sotaro Kanai, Yipeng Zhang
Epilepsia. 2025-03-07
Mini-Seizures: Novel Interictal iEEG Biomarker Capturing Synchronization Network Dynamics at the Epileptogenic Zone.
Tonmoy Monsoor, Sotaro Kanai, Atsuro Daida, Naoto Kuroda, Prateik Sinha
Medrxiv. 2025-02-02

Journal Articles

Desmoplastic Infantile Ganglioglioma/Astrocytoma (DIG/DIA) Are Distinct Entities with Frequent BRAFV600 Mutations
Aria Fallah, Chibawanye Ene, Jeffrey G Ojemann, Anthony C Wang, Amy Lee, Clinical Cancer Research
Do Social Media Metrics Correlate with Bibliometric Profiles of Neurosurgical Departments and Journals?
Alotaibi N, Guha D, Fallah A, Aldakkan A, Nassiri F, Badhiwala JH, Ibrahim GM, Shamji MF, Macdonald RL, Lozano AM, World Neurosurg, 1/1/2016
Evaluating the Epilepsy and Oncological Outcomes of Pediatric Brain Tumors Causing Seizures
Wang S, Fallah A, Transl Pediatr, 1/1/2016
Predictors of Outcome in Cerebral Aqueductoplasty: An Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis
Fallah A, Wang A, Weil AG, Ibrahim GM, Mansouri A, Bhatia S, Neurosurgery, 1/1/2015
Resective Epilepsy Surgery for Tuberous Sclerosis (REST): An International Multi-Center Retrospective Observational Study
Fallah A, Rodgers SD, Weil AG, Vadera S, Mansouri A, Connolly MB, Major P, Ma T, Devinsky O, Weiner HL, Gonzalez-Martinez JA, Bingaman WE, Najm I, Gupta A, Ragheb J, B..., Neurosurgery, 1/1/2015
Epilepsy surgery for Pediatric Brain Tumors: Miami Children's Hospital experience
Fallah A, Weil, AG, Bhatia S, Ragheb J, J Neurosurg Pediatr, 1/1/2015
Pediatric Neurosurgery in the Developing World: The Haiti Experience
Weil AG, Fallah A, Bhatia S, Ragheb J, J Craniofacial Surgery, 1/1/2015
The 'SAAFE' neurosurgical sign-out
Fallah A, Ibrahim GM, Bernstein, M, World Neurosurg, 1/1/2014
Neurocognitive and seizure outcomes of selective amygdalohippocampectomy versus anterior temporal lobe resection for mesial temporal lobe epilepsy
Mansouri A, Fallah A, Mayor D, Cohn M, McAndrews MP, Andrade D, Carlen PL, del Campo J, Tai P, Wennberg RA, Valiante TA, Epilepsy Res Treat, 1/1/2014
Time-to-‘Rethink postoperative seizure outcomes’ for curative resective epilepsy surgery
Fallah A, Epilepsy Behav, 1/1/2014
A Partial Least-Squares Analysis of Seizure Outcomes Following Resective Surgery for Tuberous Sclerosis Complex in Children with Intractable Epilepsy
Ibrahim G, Morgan B, Fallah A, Childs Nerv Syst, 1/1/2014
Predictors of seizure outcomes in children with tuberous sclerosis and intractable epilepsy undergoing resective epilepsy surgery: An individual participant data meta-...
Fallah A, Guyatt GH, Snead OC, Ebrahim S, Ibrahim GM, Mansouri A, Reddy D, Walter SD, Kulkarni AV, Bhandari M, Banfield L, Bhatnagar N, Liang S, Teutonico F, Liao J, R..., PLoS One, 1/1/2013
Wearable video display allowing freedom in head positioning during language mapping
Fallah A, Raghavan LV, Valiante TA, Can J Neurol Sci, 1/1/2013
Identifying predictors of resective epilepsy surgery in 414 patients admitted to the epilepsy monitoring unit
Mansouri A, Fallah A, Ibrahim GM, Valiante TA, Can J Neurol Sci, 1/1/2013
Hemispherectomy: When half is better than the whole Tuberous Sclerosis Complex
Fallah A, Ibrahim GM, Rutka JT, J Clin Neurosci, 1/1/2013
Clinical, laboratory and radiographic predictors of the occurrence of seizures following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage
Ibrahim GM, Fallah A, Macdonald RL, J Neurosurg, 1/1/2013
Surgical treatment of spontaneous intracranial hypotension secondary to degenerative cervical spine pathology: A case report and literature review
Witiw CD, Fallah A, Muller PJ, Ginsberg H, Eur Spine J, 1/1/2012
Methodological limitations of a meta-analysis comparing the outcomes of cervical arthroplasty and anterior cervical fusion
Fallah A, Ebrahim S, Spine (Phila PA), 1/1/2012
The use of high frequency oscillations to guide neocortical resections in children with medically-intractable epilepsy: How do we ethically apply surgical innovations ...
Ibrahim GM, Fallah A, Snead OC, Drake JM, Rutka JT, Bernstein M, Seizure, 1/1/2012
Anterior cervical discectomy with arthroplasty versus arthrodesis for single-level cervical spondylosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Fallah A, Akl EA, Ebrahim S, Ibrahim GM, Mansouri A, Foote CJ, Zhang Y, Fehlings MG, PLoS One, 1/1/2012
Inequities in access to pediatric epilepsy surgery: a bioethical framework
Ibrahim GM, Barry BW, Fallah A, Snead OC, Drake J, Rutka JT, Bernstein M, Neurosurg Focus, 1/1/2012
Editorial: Cervical arthroplasty
Fehlings MG, Fallah A, J Neurosurg Spine, 1/1/2012
Primary intracranial glioblastoma with symptomatic spinal metastases: Systematic review of literature and report of 2 cases
Shahideh M, Fallah A, Munoz DG, Macdonald RL, J Clin Neurosci, 1/1/2012
Primary Ewing's sarcoma affecting the central nervous system: a review and proposed prognostic considerations
Ibrahim GM, Fallah A, Shahideh M, Tabori U, Rutka JT, J Clin Neurosci, 1/1/2012
Determining surgical candidacy for temporal lobe epilepsy
Mansouri A, Fallah A, Valiante TA, Epilepsy research and treatment, 1/1/2012
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Books/Book Chapters

Principles of Neurological Surgery.
Chapter: Posterior fossa and brainstem tumours in children. Chapter 10
Page 169 - 186Weeks A, Fallah A, Rutka JTEditors: Ellenbogen RG and Abdulrauf SI.Edition 3rd,
The essentials of spinal cord injury: Basic research to clinical practice.
Chapter: Rehabilitation of the spinal cord injury patient. Chapter 21
Fallah A, Dance D, Burns AEditors: Fehlings MG, Vaccaro A, Boakye M, Rossignol S, DiTunno JF and Burns AS.

Abstracts/Posters

Functional hemispherectomy: Can EEG and MRI Tests Predict Outcome?
Weil AG, Fallah A, Miller I, Jayakar P, Ragheb J, Morrison G, Bhatia S, J Neurosurg Pediatr, 1/1/2014
Predictors of Survival in Embryonal Tumor with Abundant Neurophil and True Rosettes: Case series and literature review.
Garcia DM, Fallah A, Weil AG, Bhatia S, Ragheb J, Khatib Z, Niazi TN, J Neurosurg Pediatr, 1/1/2014
Emerging techniques for non-invasive VIM Thalamotomy.
Fallah A, Ibrahim GM, Chen DQ, Hodaie M, Lexell Gamma Knife Society 16th annual meeting, Sydney, Australia, 1/25/2012
Prophylactic magnesium sulfate for cerebral vasospasm in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Reddy D, Fallah A, Farrokhyar F, Petropoulos J, Macdonald RL, Jichici D, McMaster University Annual Research Day, 1/2/2012
Identifying predictors of epilepsy surgery in 414 patients admitted to the EMU.
Mansouri A, Fallah A, Ibrahim GM, Valiante TA, Neurosurgery, 1/1/2012
Vasospasm post pituitary surgery: 3 cases and a systematic review of the literature.
Mansouri A, Fallah A, Cusimano M, Das S, Neurosurgery, 1/1/2012
Changing global trends in seizure outcomes following resective surgery for tuberous sclerosis in children with intractable epilepsy.
Ibrahim GM, Fallah A, Snead OC, Rutka JT, J Neurosurg Pediatr, 1/1/2012
Identifying predictors of surgery in patients undergoing intracranial EEG: A study of 71 patients.
Mansouri A, Fallah A, Ibrahim GM, Valiante TA, Can J Neurol Sci, 1/1/2012
Vasospasm post pituitary surgery: 3 cases and a systematic review of the literature.
Mansouri A, Fallah A, Cusimano M, Das S, Can J Neurol Sci, 1/1/2012
Primary intracranial glioblastoma with symptomatic spinal metastases: a systematic review and metaanalysis.
Fallah A, Shahideh M, Macdonald RL, Primary intracranial glioblastoma with symptomatic spinal metastases: a systematic review and metaanalysis., 1/1/2011
To what extent is variability in the criteria for neurological determination of death an extension of a historical fear of the misdiagnosis of death.
Ibrahim G, Fallah A, J Neurosurg, 1/1/2011
Surgical activity of first year Canadian neurosurgical trainees: A cohort study.
Haji F, Ebrahim S, Fallah A, Can J Neurol Sci; Congress of the Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, 1/1/2010
Where do we make the lesion? A review of targeting techniques for Gamma Knife Thalamotomy.
Fallah A, Ibrahim G, Hodaie M, Neurosurgery, 1/1/2010
Hair clipping in Sikh patients undergoing craniotomy: An ethical analysis.
Ebrahim S, Bance S, Fallah A, Can J Neurol Sci, 1/1/2009
Competitiveness of gaining admission to a neurosurgical residency program: the discrepancy between Canada and USA.
Fallah A, Streiner D, Ebrahim S, Can J Neurol Sci, 1/1/2009
Primary extra-axial medulloblastoma: A case report.
Fallah A, Banglawala S, Jha NK, Can J Neurol Sci, 1/1/2009
Do subspecialized neurosurgeons experience higher complication rates for non-subspecialty emergency surgery?
Fallah A, Ebrahim S, Englesakis M, Bernstein M, Can J Neurol Sci; Congress of the Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, 1/1/2009
Admission and in-hospital complication rate for patients undergoing outpatient lumbar microdiscectomy: comparing non-spine to spine surgeons.
Fallah A, Massicotte EM, Fehlings MG, Lewis SJ, Rampersaud YR, Ebrahim S, Bernstein M, Can J Neurol Sci; Congress of the Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, 1/1/2009
Pin-site epidural hematoma in chronic hydrocephalus.
Jha NK, Ebrahim S, Fallah A, Cenic A, DeVilliers RA, Can J Neurol Sci, 1/1/2008
Pontine Glioblastoma Multiforme in a Young Adult.
Kassim Y, Fallah A, Family Medicine Forum, 1/1/2007
Glioblastoma Multiforme of the Thalamus: Case Series.
Fallah A, Family Medicine Forum, 1/1/2007
Antiepileptic drug induced electroclinical worsening in benign epilepsy of childhood with centro-temporal spikes.
Ramachandrannair R, Raut A, Fallah A, Ronen GM, Meaney BF, Epilepsia, 1/1/2007
Photoparoxysmal response in children represents provoked seizure: Evidence from simultaneous motor task during EEG.
Fallah A, Ramachandrannair R, Epilepsia, 1/1/2007
Cerebellar Liponeurocytoma: A case report and review of the literature.
Patel N, Fallah A, Provias J, Jha NK, Can J Neurol Sci, 1/1/2007
Intraneural nodular fasciitis.
Lu J, Fallah A, Grochmal J, DiFrancesco LM, Khalil M, Midha R, Clark AW, Can J Neurol Sci, 1/1/2007
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Lectures

Efficacy and safety of endoscopic third ventriculostomy and choroid pleus cauterization for hydrocephalus: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Kobe, Japan - 1/23/2016
Survival in pediatric medulloblastoma: A population-based observational study to improve prognostication.
Kobe, Japan - 1/23/2016
Economics of Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery
Prague, Czech Republic - 1/17/2016
Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery and Moving Towards Evidence Based Medicine
Los Angeles, CA - 1/4/2016
Modern and Comprehensive Approach to Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery
UCLA, Los Angeles, CA - 1/1/2016
Progress Towards Evidence Based Pediatric Neurosurgery
Alberta Children's Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada - 1/19/2015
Management of Pediatric Hydrocephalus
Miami Children’s Hospital, Miami, FL - 1/15/2015
Ablation laser guide par Resonance Magnetique dans le traitement de l'epilepsie refractaire: Est-ce la fin de la craniotomie en chirurgie de l'epilepsie?
Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada - 1/6/2015
Resultats fonctionnels des malformations arterio-veineuse cerebrales pediatrriques rompues en grade avance.
Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada - 1/6/2015
Progress Towards Evidence Based Neurosurgery
Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, FL - 1/6/2015
Predictors of Outcome in Cerebral Aqueductoplasty: An Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis.
Izmir, Turkey - 1/6/2015
Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery
Anaheim, CA - 1/4/2015
For Children with Rare Genetic Disorder, More Extensive Epilepsy Surgery Yields Better Seizure Control
1/1/2015
Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy/choroid plexus cauterization (ETV/CPC) for infantile hydrocephalus: The Miami Children’s Experience.
Preston Robb Montreal Children’s Hospital - 1/10/2014
Resective Epilepsy Surgery for Tuberous Sclerosis (REST): A multi-center international retrospective observational study.
Amelia Island, FL - 1/4/2014
Epilepsy surgery in pediatric tumors: Miami Children's Hospital Experience.
Amelia Island, FL - 1/3/2014
Catastrophic Epilepsy in Infants: The Miami Experience.
Amelia Island, FL - 1/3/2014
Endoscopic third ventriculostomy/Choroid plexus cauterization (ETV/CPC) for infantile hydrocephalus: The Miami Children's Hospital Experience.
Amelia Island, FL - 1/3/2014
Anterior temporal lobectomy vs. selective amygdalohippocampectomy for mesial temporal lobe epilepsy
Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada - 1/30/2013
The Toronto experience with regards to neurocognitive and seizure outcomes of selective amygdalohippocampectomy versus anterior temporal lobe resection for mesial temp...
Montreal, Quebec, Canada - 1/25/2013
Common compression neuropathies
Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada - 1/17/2013
Predictors of seizure outcomes in children with tuberous sclerosis complex and intractable epilepsy undergoing resective epilepsy surgery: An individual participant da...
Montreal, Quebec, Canada - 1/13/2013
Early predictors of a prolonged stay in a critical care unit following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Honolulu, HI - 1/7/2013
Neuropathology – Autopsy presentation
Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada - 1/29/2012
Seizure outcomes following stereoelectroencephalography-guided resective epilepsy surgery in children: A longitudinal analysis.
St. Louis, MO - 1/28/2012
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Other

Considering patient values and preferences in healthcare decision-making
Fallah A, Atlas of Science
http://atlasofscience.org/considering-patient-values/
1/1/2015
Carbamazepine/oxcarbazepine: Exacerbation of seizures in children 5 case reports.
Ramachandrannair R, Raut A, Fallah A, Meaney BF, Reactions Weekly
1/1/2008