PNI Receives Nation’s Highest Ranking Doctor Awards

Pacific Neuroscience Institute Named Among Top Neurosurgery Facilities in US

This year, 1 in 2 of PNI’s physicians and affiliates received a Super Doctor or Rising Star award. This achievement makes PNI one of the highest-ranking care facilities for neurosurgery and neurology in the United States. 

What is a Super Doctor Award?

Super Doctor Awards recognize 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, 17 PNI experts were named on the 2021 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. Natalie Diaz, Dr. Barbara S. Giesser, Dr. Chester F. Griffiths, Dr. Keith Heinzerling, Dr. Kian Karimi, Dr. Daniel F. Kelly, Dr. Santosh Kesari, Dr. Howard R. Krauss, Dr. Jean Philippe-Langevin, 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 physicians received the prestigious Rising Stars award. Congratulations Dr. Abbas Anwar, Dr. Jian Guan, Dr. Amit Kochhar, Dr. Omid Mehdizadeh, Dr. Melita Petrossian, Dr. Akanksha Sharma, Dr. Walavan Sivakumar, Dr. Jason Tarpley, Dr. Courtney Voelker, and Dr. Evan S. Walgama! And congratulations to all at Pacific Neuroscience Institute who have helped make it one of the top neurosurgery facilities in the US.

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

Natalie Diaz, MD

Neurology

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

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

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

Walavan Sivakumar, MD

Neurosurgery

Akanksha Sharma, MD

Neuro-Oncology

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