Chairman's Welcome

It is truly a privilege and pleasure to serve as the Chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery at The Warren Alpert Medical School and Brown University Health. Our department is united by a shared
mission: to deliver exceptional, compassionate patient care, to conduct research to pioneer innovative
therapies, to educate the next generation of neurosurgical leaders, and to enhance the neurological
health of our communities.

Our team of highly skilled neurosurgeons and staff operate at the forefront of medicine. Rhode Island Hospital, a Level I Trauma Center and a cornerstone of Brown University Health, stands as a beacon of excellence with one of the nation’s largest emergency departments and an advanced, multidisciplinary care network. This network includes Hasbro Children’s Hospital, The Miriam Hospital, Newport Hospital, Bradley Hospital, Brown University Health Cancer Institute, as well as other vital facilities.

The Department of Neurosurgery offers world-class expertise across all major subspecialties, including cerebrovascular and skull base surgery, brain and pituitary tumors, epilepsy, spinal and peripheral nerve surgery, functional neurosurgery, stereotactic radiosurgery, pediatric neurosurgery, minimally invasive techniques, and treatments for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) disorders.  These services are integrated into world-class centers such as the Comprehensive Stroke Center, Norman Prince Spine Institute, Comprehensive Brain Tumor Center, and Comprehensive Movement Disorders Center. Center. Our facilities include a dedicated Neuroscience Floor with an 18-bed Neuro-Intensive Care Unit and specialized Neuroscience as well as Spine Floors, ensuring comprehensive, patient-centered care.

As part of the Norman Prince Neuroscience Institute (NPNI), founded through the generosity of the Prince Family, we work collaboratively with the Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry, the Brown University Carney Institute for Brain Science, and other institutions, across Rhode Island and nationally, to advance neuroscience research and to translate fundamental insights and breakthroughs into clinical practice. The NPNI is a hub of innovation, striving to alleviate the burden of neurological disorders and elevate the basic and applied neurosciences.

As Chairman, my vision is clear: to establish our department as a model of excellence in patient care, groundbreaking research, transformative education, and biomedical innovation. Together, we are committed to redefining what is possible in neurosurgery and neuroscience for the benefit of our patients, learners, and the global community. 

Ziya L. Gokaslan, MD, FAANS, FACS
Julius Stoll, MD Professor and Chair, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
Neurosurgeon-in-Chief, Brown University Health
Clinical Director, Norman Prince Neurosciences Institute
President, Brown Neurosurgery Foundation