Find a Top Neurosurgeon Near Me in Santa Monica, CA – Book an Appointment Instantly

Board-certified neurosurgeon Brian R. Gantwerker, MD, specializes in the treatment of spinal and neurological conditions. He is fellowship-trained in complex spinal surgery and has been practicing for well over a decade.

At The Craniospinal Center of Los Angeles, patients benefit from his extensive experience treating complex brain and spine problems with minimally invasive techniques, and traditional surgery.  Working with new techniques such as neuro navigation, spinal endoscopy, and also providing direct patient care with a physician, Dr. Gantwerker makes the patient paramount.

Well-respected in his field, Dr. Gantwerker has authored several book chapters and peer-reviewed journal articles. He has also appeared on podcasts, television, and radio interviews and has instructed undergraduates, medical students, and residents in various neurosurgical topics.

A Chicago native, Dr. Gantwerker earned a degree with honors in psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. He went on to receive his medical degree from Rush Medical College in Chicago, where he focused on peripheral nerve regeneration research.

After completing his neurosurgical residency at University Hospitals of Cleveland / Case Western, Dr. Gantwerker studied spinal cord regeneration with stem cells at Case Western School of Medicine. He completed a complex spine fellowship at the world-renowned Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona.

Dr. Gantwerker is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa and Golden Key honor societies. He is an active member of key esteemed professional organizations, including the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS),  and the North American Spine Society (NASS).  He’s also a board member of the California Association of Neurological Surgeons (CANS). Dr. Gantwerker is a board-certified diplomate of the American Board of Neurological Surgeons (ABNS). 

Board-certified neurosurgeon Ali H. Mesiwala, MD, FAANS, takes a solution-based approach to determine anatomic and functional abnormalities and then treats them with leading-edge technologies and integrative medicine.

At his four offices in Newport Beach, Marina del Rey, and Rancho Cucamonga, California, he focuses on helping all of their patients return to their normal lives, getting back into motion as quickly as possible.

The team treats a vast array of neurological conditions. After intensive neurological exams and diagnostic testing, they recommend the best nonsurgical treatments for each person's unique health care needs. They recommend surgery when symptoms are severe or persist despite conservative care.

Patients seek Dr. Mesiwala for his expertise in brain and spine surgery, as well as peripheral nerve surgery and artificial disc replacement surgery. 

He's an expert in complex brain and skull base surgeries, and he has the most experience in artificial disc replacements on the West Coast, including multi-level operations and all types of spinal decompressions.

Dr. Mesiwala is a leader in the field of minimally invasive sacroiliac (SI) joint surgery and has performed endoscopic cranial and spinal surgery since 2004. No matter where pain originates, patients get relief after he performs neuromodulation surgery.

After earning a Bachelor of Science in biomedical engineering and electrical engineering from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, Dr. Mesiwala received his Doctor of Medicine from the University of California, San Francisco. 

Then he finished his neurological surgery residency at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington.

He completed his skull base and cerebrovascular fellowships at the University of Washington, International Neuroscience Institute in Hannover, Germany, and the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

As a respected researcher specializing in the development of novel technologies and minimally invasive techniques for brain and spine surgery, Dr. Mesiwala holds multiple patents for medical devices used in spinal surgery. 

In addition to his private practice, Dr. Mesiwala is the faculty surgeon for various artificial disc operations and spinal fusion operations with innovative techniques. He's a fellow of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (FAANS).

.

Michael Kim, MD, is a fellowship-trained neurosurgeon and volunteer Assistant Clinical Professor of Neurological Surgery at the UC Irvine School of Medicine. At Coast Neurosurgical Associates in Long Beach, California, he specializes in cerebrovascular, minimally invasive, and open skull base surgery. His clinical interests include brain tumors, neuro-oncology, and complex cranial surgery. His training allows him to offer the most up-to-date and advanced care to his patients.

Hooshang Pak, MD, FACS, is a board-certified neurosurgeon at Coast Neurosurgical Associates in Long Beach, California. 

A graduate of Tehran University, Dr. Pak began his postgraduate training in New York City, where he completed his surgical internship at Saint Vincent Medical Center of Staten Island. He then moved to Michigan and undertook a neurosurgery residency at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. He also completed a year of fellowship training in microneurosurgery of cerebral vascular diseases under the supervision of James Ausman, MD, PhD.

Dr. Pak has been a diplomat of the American Board of Neurological Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He has published numerous scientific papers in neurosurgical journals and textbooks and presented papers and scientific exhibits at national and international medical meetings. Dr. Pak has also been a member of the editorial board of the international neurosurgical journal, Surgical Neurology.

Dr. Pak has been selected by his peers since 1996 as one of The Best Doctors in America, a list that contains the top five percent of the American doctors.

Ramin Javahery, MD, FAANS, is a board-certified neurosurgeon at Coast Neurosurgical Associates in Long Beach, California. His education began at UCLA where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in English Literature.

During his undergraduate years, Dr. Javahery also engaged in research in the field of molecular biology, publishing and presenting on theories in gene transcription. He then went on to medical school at USC and became editor in chief of the USC Journal of Medicine. He continued to engage in research activities, with a focus on glutathione transport mechanisms.

Beyond Dr. Javahery’s academic pursuits, he was also interested in humanitarian activities and organized the USC-Rwanda Relief Fund to send money to the victims of Rwandan genocide.

After graduating from medical school, Dr. Javahery remained at USC for his Internship in General Surgery. From there, he spent 6 years at the University of Miami, completing both a Neurosurgery residency and a fellowship in Spine Surgery. He then began to focus his research activities on neurosurgery & published papers on Chiari Malformations and wrote chapters in textbooks on Spine Surgery.

After completing his final year in Miami as Chief Resident, he returned to Los Angeles to do a second fellowship in Pediatric Neurosurgery at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Today he is the Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Miller Children’s Hospital, where he practices both adult and pediatric neurosurgery, as well as spine Surgery. This year he will also become the Chief of Adult Neurosurgery.

Dr. Javahery’s interest in patients extends beyond curing their diseases. He is passionate about caring for patients and is a member of the ethics committee at Long Beach Memorial. This committee is responsible for evaluating ethically complicated situations in the hospital. Dr. Javahery is also a member of American Association of Neurological Surgeons, the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, and the Children’s Oncology Group.

Dr. Ramin Javahery, is married to Dr. Jill Javahery, who also practices medicine in Long Beach. Together, they have three sons and enjoy being a part of the Long Beach medical community.

Sheri Palejwala, MD, FAANS, is a board-certified neurosurgeon at Coast Neurosurgical Associates in Long Beach, California. 

Born and raised in Los Angeles County, Dr. Palejwala completed her undergraduate studies at the University of California, Los Angeles, with degrees in neuroscience and biology. She obtained her medical degree at St. Louis University in Missouri, and completed her neurosurgical training at the University of Arizona in Tucson. There, she spent her last years serving as Chief Resident of Neurosurgery followed by a fellowship at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona, focusing on translational and clinical research. Dr. Palejwala has published over 30 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and has presented her findings at meetings worldwide.

Dr. Palejwala then completed an additional fellowship in endoscopic, minimally-invasive surgical neuro-oncology at the John Wayne Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, California. There, she focused on minimally-invasive microsurgical and endoscopic approaches and incorporating innovative technology and techniques into her practice.  Her clinical interests include endoscopic, keyhole, and other minimally-invasive approaches to tumors of the pituitary and skull base. 

She is a fellow of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and an active member of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS), the joint tumor section of the AANS/CNS, and the North American Skull Base Society. Outside of neurosurgery, Dr. Palejwala dedicates her time to her family, including her husband and twin daughters, and large extended family.

Dr. Palejwala looks forward to welcoming new and returning patients to Coast Neurosurgical Associates. 

Abraham Rayhaun, MD, FACS, is a board-certified neurosurgeon and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He is a proud member of Coast Neurosurgical Associates, a neurosurgery practice in Long Beach, California. He treats a broad spectrum of neurological disorders utilizing the latest technical modalities including neuronavigational tools, stereotaxis, and microneurosurgery.

He is particularly interested in treating patients with cerebrovascular disease and brain tumors using conservative approaches with a combination of stereotactic radiosurgery and cyberknife as well as open microsurgical techniques when necessary. Dr. Rayhaun is also specialty trained in treating complex spinal conditions with minimally invasive approaches or with instrumented fusion when required.

His undergraduate studies began at the University of California, Davis (UCD) where he conducted clinical research on aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhages of the brain. He then attended medical school at the Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons in New York, where he was awarded a full scholarship and researched the molecular biology of the articular cartilage. He graduated from medical school with honors and was recognized for high educational achievements by Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.  From there he moved to Michigan to start his neurosurgical residency under the mentorship of Dr. James Ausman and Dr. Mark Rosenblum at Henry Ford Hospital, where he focused on neurovascular disorders, brain tumors, and stereotactic procedures. After completing his chief residency year, Dr. Rayhaun spent a year focusing his attention on specialty training in complex disorders of the spine and was involved with clinical research related to treating cervical disc disease.

Dr. Rayhaun is a member of the Physicians Excellence Committee at Long Beach Memorial medical center and a member of the Peer Review Committee at Los Alamitos Medical Center. These committees oversee issues related to quality of patient care at the respective hospitals. Dr. Rayhaun has served as the director of Neurosurgery at Fountain Valley Hospital, and as the chief of the Department of Neurosurgery at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center.  He is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, as well as a member of the brain tumor section.

While priding himself in being at the cutting edge of neurosurgery, his greatest interest remains treating the individual patient with empathy, expertise and professionalism.