Neurosurgery

Dr. Emerson is an Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery who specializes in brain tumors of all types, including skull base tumors, gliomas and metastases. He works closely with colleagues in Otolaryngology, Plastic Surgery, Neuro-oncology and Radiation Oncology to provide multidisciplinary care to brain tumor patients. Dr. Emerson received his MD and PhD at the University of Washington, and subsequently completed two fellowships at Harvard’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital: one in Skull Base Neurosurgery and one in Neuro-oncology and Clinical Trials.

Richard G. Ellenbogen, MD, FACS is Professor and Theodore S. Roberts Endowed Chair of the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Washington. He is an attending surgeon at Harborview Medical Center, Seattle Children’s Hospital and University of Washington Medical Center. He is also Director of the UW Medicine Neurosciences Institute. In addition, he is Director of the Neurological Surgery Residency Program and Founding Co-Director of the Seattle Sports Concussion Program, a joint program sponsored by Seattle Children’s Hospital and UW Medicine.

Anubhav Amin, MD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Washington. He is a neurosurgeon specializing in spine surgery with a focus on spinal oncology.

Dr. Steege grew up in Palo Alto, CA graduating from Stanford University School of Medicine in 1979.  Upon graduation from the Neurological Surgery Residency Program at the University of Washington in 1986, he performed military service in Germany for 2 years followed by a fellowship in pediatric neurosurgery at the University of Utah. After a year at the former Group Health Cooperative, Dr. Steege moved to Swedish Medical Center where he practiced pediatric and adult neurosurgery for 31 years. He joined the faculty at UW in August, 2020.

Marc R. Mayberg, M.D., is Clinical Professor in the Department of Neurological Surgery. He is a graduate of Harvard University and the Mayo Medical School, and completed his residency in neurosurgery at Massachusetts General Hospital. After completing a Van Wagenen fellowship at Queen Square and the National Hospital for Nervous Diseases in London in 1985, Dr. Mayberg joined the faculty of the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Washington, where he was Professor and Chief of the UWMC service.

Dr. Silbergeld is the Arthur A. Ward Jr. professor of neurological surgery and is based at the UW Medical Center. He is also an adjunct professor of pathology. He specializes in tumors of the central nervous system, pituitary tumors, epilepsy surgery and radiosurgery with the Gamma Knife. He is board certified in neurological surgery. 

His research program focuses on gliomas, a type of brain tumor, and on methods to break the blood/brain barrier to deliver chemotherapy to malignant brain tumors.

Dr. Sekhar is known around the world for his expertise in treating complex neurosurgical problems, particularly skull base tumors, such as acoustic neuromas, meningiomas, chordomas and complex brain tumors. He is also an expert in the treatment of brain aneurysms, arteriovenous malformation, and the performance of brain bypasses. 

Dr. Ravanpay practices general neurosurgery covering brain tumors, spine disorders and peripheral neuropathies at the Seattle Veterans Affairs Hospital and Harborview Medical Center.

Dr. Ravanpay earned his Bachelor’s degree from University of California, Berkeley (Dual major in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Near Eastern Studies). He completed the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) at University of Washington, earning dual M.D. and Ph.D. degrees. He completed his neurological surgery internship and residency at University of Washington.

Dr. Ojemann is Vice-Chair for Discovery and Professor in the UW Department of Neurological Surgery. He earned his MD and completed a residency in neurosurgery as well as a fellowship in pediatric neurosurgery at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. He also served as epilepsy surgery fellow at the University of Washington. Dr. Ojemann’s clinical focus is on the surgical treatment of epilepsy and tumors near the eloquent cortex along with general pediatric neurosurgery.  

Michael Levitt, M.D. is a professor of neurological surgery and radiology and an adjunct professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Washington. Dr. Levitt graduated summa cum laude from Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine, completed his neurological surgery residency at the University of Washington and completed additional fellowship training in endovascular neurosurgery at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix. Dr.