PNI Receives Nation’s Highest Doctor Awards 2023

A total of 31 Pacific Neuroscience Institute® doctors, that’s more than 3 out of 4 PNI Medical Group physicians and PNI affiliated physicians, received a Super Doctor or Rising Star award.

What is a Super Doctor Award?

Super Doctor Awards recognize top healthcare providers for outstanding excellence in their area of focus. These awards are the highest-ranking doctor awards in the nation. Less than 5% of doctors in a state or region make the list annually. 

The evaluation involves an extensive review of a physician’s years of experience, fellowships, board certifications, publications, lectures, honors, awards, academic achievements, and hospital appointments. Only the highest-scoring doctors are included in the Super Doctors list.

Since its founding, PNI physicians have regularly received Super Doctor Awards. This year, 21 PNI medical group experts and affiliates were named on the 2023 Super Doctor list. Congratulations Dr. Garni Barkhoudarian, Dr. David M. Butler, Dr. William G. Buxton, Dr. Jose Carrillo, Dr. Lisa Chaiken, Dr. Marisa Chang, Dr. Pejman Cohan, Dr. Natalie Diaz, Dr. Barbara S. Giesser, Dr. Chester F. Griffiths, Dr. Keith Heinzerling, Dr. Sheldon Jordan, Dr. Kian Karimi, Dr. Daniel F. Kelly, Dr. Santosh Kesari, Dr. Brian F. King, Dr. Howard R. Krauss, Dr. Jean Philippe-Langevin, Dr. Melita Petrossian, Dr. Verna R. Porter, and Dr. Naveed Wagle.

What is a Rising Stars Award?

The Rising Stars Award is a similar selection process to the Super Doctors Award, except that the title is only awarded to candidates who have been active and fully licensed for less than 10 years. No more than 2.5% of doctors in a state or region are named to the Rising Stars list annually.

This year, 10 PNI medical group physicians and affiliates received the prestigious Rising Stars award. Congratulations Dr. Abbas Anwar, Dr. Simon Gabriel, Dr. Jian Guan, Dr. Amit Kochhar, Dr. Omid Mehdizadeh, Dr. Akanksha Sharma, Dr. Walavan Sivakumar, Dr. Jason Tarpley, Dr. Courtney Voelker, and Dr. Evan S. Walgama!

Congratulations to all our doctors!

Abbas A. Anwar, MD

ENT Surgery

Garni Barkhoudarian, MD

Neurosurgery

David M. Butler, MD

ENT Surgery Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

William G. Buxton, MD

Adult Neurology

Jose Carrillo, MD

Neuro-Oncology

Lisa Chaiken, MD

Radiation Oncology

Marisa Chang, MD

Neurology

Pejman Cohan, MD

Endocrinology

Natalie Diaz, MD

Neurology

Simon Gabriel, MD

Radiology

Barbara Giesser, MD

Multiple Sclerosis Neurology

Chester F. Griffiths, MD

ENT Surgery PNI Founder

Jian Guan, MD

Spine Neurosurgery

Keith Heinzerling, MD

Addiction Medicine, Treatment & Research In Psychedelics

Sheldon Jordan, MD

Neurology

Kian Karimi, MD

ENT Surgery Nose Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

Daniel F. Kelly, MD

Neurosurgery PNI Director & Founder

Santosh Kesari, MD, PhD

Neuro-Oncology PNI Founder

Brian F. King, MD

Neuro-Pain Management

Amit Kochhar, MD

ENT Surgery Facial Nerve Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

Howard R. Krauss, MD

Eye Neuro-ophthalmology PNI Founder

Jean-Philippe Langevin, MD

Neurosurgery

Omid Mehdizadeh, MD

ENT Surgery Voice & Swallowing

Melita Petrossian, MD

Neurology

Verna R. Porter, MD

Adult Neurology

Akanksha Sharma, MD

Neuro-Oncology

Walavan Sivakumar, MD

Neurosurgery

Jason Tarpley, MD, PhD

Neurointerventional Surgery

Courtney Voelker, MD, PhD (DPhil Oxon)

Ear ENT Surgery

Naveed Wagle, MD

Neuro-Oncology

Evan S. Walgama, MD

Head & Neck Surgical Oncology

More information: 310-582-7640

Useful Links:

• PNI’s Centers of Excellence