Daniel F. Kelly, MD
President & CEO, Pacific Neuroscience Institute Foundation
Awards and Accomplishments
Overview | Location and Contact | Accepted Insurance | Frequently Asked Questions
About Dr. Daniel Kelly
Dr. Daniel Kelly, a board-certified neurosurgeon, is the Director and one of the founders of the Pacific Neuroscience Institute, Director of the Pacific Brain Tumor Center and Pacific Pituitary Disorders Center, and is Professor of Neurosurgery at Saint John’s Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John’s Health Center.
Considered to be one of the top neurosurgeons in the US, he has been awarded the Southern California SuperDoctors distinction 15 years in a row. A multiple recipient of the Patients’ Choice Award, Dr. Kelly is internationally recognized in the field of minimally invasive keyhole surgery for brain, pituitary and skull base tumors. In practice for over 25 years, he has one of the world’s largest series in endonasal surgery with over 2,000 procedures performed including over 900 endoscopic endonasal surgeries, and almost 2,000 craniotomies for brain and skull base tumors.
His current surgical practice encompasses the full spectrum of brain and skull base tumors, both benign and malignant, treated with minimally invasive and conventional approaches.
Career Highlights
Daniel F. Kelly, MD is Director and Founder of Pacific Neuroscience Institute at Providence Saint John’s Health Center and Professor of Neurosurgery at Saint John’s Cancer Institute. In practice for over 25 years, Dr. Kelly is internationally recognized for his accomplishments in advancing minimally invasive surgery for brain, skull base and pituitary tumors. Considered one of the top neurosurgeons in the US, he has been awarded the Southern California SuperDoctors distinction 15 years in a row (2007-2021).
He has one of the world’s largest series in endonasal surgery with over 2000 procedures performed including over 900 endoscopic endonasal surgeries, and almost 2000 craniotomies for brain and skull base tumors. His current surgical practice encompasses the full spectrum of brain and skull base tumors, both benign and malignant.
Dr. Kelly has authored over 130 peer-reviewed publications and 40 book chapters, a majority of which focus on surgical outcomes and techniques, patient satisfaction and complication avoidance for a wide range of brain tumors including meningiomas, pituitary adenomas, craniopharyngiomas, Rathke’s cleft cysts, chordomas, sinonasal carcinomas and olfactory neuroblastomas. His current tumor-related research interests include refining endoscopic keyhole surgical approaches, enhancing post-operative quality of life, pituitary hormonal function, and identifying targetable biomarkers and other novel tumor treatments.
Dr. Kelly is an active member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, the International Society of Pituitary Surgeons, the Pituitary Society, and the North American Skull Base Society, and a member of the editorial board of the journal Neurosurgery and World Neurosurgery. He has a long-standing commitment to continuing medical education, fellowship training and patient education, and lectures frequently at national and international meetings.
Dr. Kelly is a graduate of Claremont McKenna College, Georgetown University School of Medicine and completed neurosurgical residency training in 1993 at George Washington University Medical Center. He was Professor of Neurosurgery and Vice-Chief of Clinical Affairs for the UCLA Division of Neurosurgery until 2007 when he joined JWCI and Providence Saint John’s Health Center, where he currently serves on the Saint John’s Board of Directors and is Chief of Neurosurgery.
As Director of Pacific Neuroscience Institute, Dr. Kelly and his PNI Co-Founders Chester Griffiths, Howard Krauss and Santosh Kesari, have assembled a world-class multi-specialty group of over 30 physicians including neurosurgeons, neuro-oncologists, neurologists, neuro-ophthalmologists, interventional neuroradiologists, endocrinologists, otolaryngologists (ENT), psychiatrists, geriatricians and addiction specialists.
Dr. Kelly continues to focus his efforts on advancing personalized innovative treatments for patients with all types of brain tumors, conducting fellowship training in minimally invasive neurosurgery, clinical trials, and providing patient education and support.
He also plays a major role in expanding clinical services and research avenues in the Pacific Brain Health Center (led by Dr. David Merrill) which opened in 2018, and has been a creative force for the new Pacific Treatment & Research in Psychedelics program, (led by Dr. Keith Heinzerling), focused on finding more effective and lasting treatments for depression, anxiety and addiction. Dr. Kelly is certified as a psychedelic guide receiving the Certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies and Research from California Institute of Integral Studies and is a co-investigator in psychedelic-assisted therapy clinical trials at PNI TRIP.
Medical Specialties
- Neurosurgery
- Minimally Invasive Keyhole Surgery
Clinic Location
Pacific Neuroscience Institute
2125 Arizona Ave
Santa Monica, CA 90404
Accepted Insurance
Medicare, medicaid and most insurance plans are accepted. Please contact us to confirm coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, he is accepting new patients at this time.
Dr. Kelly’s clinical focus is neurosurgery specializing in minimally invasive brain tumor surgeries.
Dr. Kelly speaks English.
Yes, Dr. Kelly is taking telehealth appointments.
Dr. Kelly’s office is located at 2125 Arizona Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90404.
Neurosurgery Articles by Dr. Daniel Kelly
Additional Publications
View Dr. Kelly’s publications on ResearchGate.
Useful Links
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Medical Degree
Neurosurgery -
Residency
Georgetown University School of Medicine -
Fellowship
George Washington University Medical Center -
Certifications
American Association of Neurological Surgeons
Congress of Neurological Surgeons
Pituitary Society
Editorial board of the journal Neurosurgery