How North County Neurosurgery works.

Our approach

The first job is diagnostic, not surgical. Before anyone talks about rods, screws, or incisions, we want to understand the specific structure driving your symptom. Rods and screws can absolutely be the right answer for the right problem — they should never be the default. When surgery is the right move, the plan is built around the specific pain generator: targeted, minimally invasive when feasible, and sized to the problem.

Not every brain or spine condition can be fully fixed. Many can be understood, managed, and improved; some need a focused surgical plan; some don't. Our role is to help each patient work through that.

What we treat

Brain and spine cases across a broad range: spine trauma, cranial trauma, brain tumors, spine tumors, minimally invasive degenerative spine (herniated discs, stenosis, radiculopathy, spondylolisthesis), and selected spine deformity. Neurosurgical oncology fellowship training supports particular depth in brain and spine tumor work, including awake craniotomy and endonasal pituitary surgery.

What we don't treat

Pediatric neurosurgery, functional neurosurgery (DBS, epilepsy-focused surgery), and endovascular / interventional neurosurgery are outside the scope of this practice. If your condition falls outside the scope, we'll still see you and help identify a reasonable next step — often a referral to the right sub-specialist or coordination with your primary care physician.

Eight hospitals, one county

Admitting and operating privileges at Sharp Grossmont, Sharp Memorial, Scripps Mercy, Scripps La Jolla, Scripps Encinitas, Tri-City Medical Center, Palomar Medical Center, and Paradise Valley Hospital. The clinic sits on the I-5 / Highway 78 corridor on purpose — so care can be coordinated at the facility that best fits your case and insurance.

Specialized services

Two offerings sit alongside standard consultations:

• Second opinions — for patients who have a surgical recommendation from another surgeon and want a careful second read. In person or via telehealth in CA, CO, OR, and KS.
• Patient education library — a curated set of procedure guides, informed consent documents, and post-operative care references in English and Spanish.