Barrow Neurosurgical Associates Ltd.

Robert F. Spetzler, M.D., Director of Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, is a world-renowned neurosurgeon who specializes in cerebrovascular disease and skull base tumors. Dr. Spetzler has been involved in pioneering the technique of hypothermia and cardiac arrest for the treatment of difficult brain lesions. In 1994, Dr. Spetzler was chosen to be the Honored Guest of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. At age 49 he was the youngest recipient of this honor.

Dr. Brian Fitzpatrick currently serves as Barrow Neurological Institute's Chief of Neurosurgery for Scottsdale Healthcare, and is a recognized leader in the field of spine, trauma and tumor surgery; and intra-operative navigational devices. Dr. Fitzpatrick received his Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York and his medical degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine. He received his post-graduate training at the Millard Fillmore Hospital in Buffalo and at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix. Dr. Fitzpatrick is Board Certified with the American Board of Neurological Surgery.

Dr. Shetter is Board Certified by both the American Board of Neurological Surgery and the American Board of Pain Medicine. He completed his residency at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix and obtained his fellowship training at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. He is Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery at the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson, and is Chairman, Section of Functional Stereotactic Neurosurgery at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix. Dr. Shetter also serves as the Co-Director of the Gamma Knife Center at Barrow. He has been involved with stereotactic neurosurgery at Barrow since 1987, and has performed more than 1,000 Gamma Knife procedures. Dr. Shetter is also trained in the use of the CyberKnife.

Dr. Frederick Marciano is the Director of Clinical Neuroanatomy laboratory at Barrow Neurological Institute. His clinical areas of expertise include neurotrauma, general neurosurgery, spinal surgery, and brain and spinal tumor surgery. Dr. Marciano is also Co-Director of the BNA Institute for Movement Disorders. Dr. Marciano received his Bachelor of Science degree with high honors in biology from Hobart College in New York. He received both a Masters of Science and a Doctorate of Philosophy from the Department of Neurobiology of Anatomy, University of Rochester School of Medicine. He obtained his Doctorate of Medicine from Albany Medical College of Union University in Albany, New York.

Dr. Gantwerker will be working this year with Dr. Sonntag on a spine fellowship. He comes to us after completing his residency at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio. His academic interests are the treatment of spinal cord injury, degenerative spinal diseases, endoscopic neurosurgery, epilepsy surgery and hydrocephalus. In his spare time, Dr. Gantwerker enjoys jazz, art, Russian literature, classic cinema, ice hockey and traveling.

Dr. David Fiorella attended medical school at the State University of New York at Buffalo earning both MD and PhD (Neuropharmacology) degrees in five years and graduating summa cum laude. He completed a residency at Duke University Medical Center (Durham, NC) in Radiology where he was named chief resident in Radiology, then completed diagnostic neuroradiology and endovascular neurosurgery fellowships at the Barrow Neurological Institute. For the next four years, Dr. Fiorella was on staff at the Cleveland Clinic as an interventional neuroradiologist, specializing in the treatment of intracranial aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, acute ischemic stroke and intracranial atherosclerosis. He returned to BNA in 2008 to join our Neuroendovascular group and continue his research activities. Fiorella has published 65 papers in peer reviewed journals, 38 since 2004. He has been a pioneer in using new technologies for the treatment of complex cerebrovascular lesions. While at the Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Fiorella performed the first three percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting procedures for intracranial atherosclerosis with the Wingspan system in North America in 2005. He performed the first three aneurysm treatments using the Pipeline Embolization Device in North Amer

Dr. Gonzalez graduated as Chief Resident after seven years of neurosurgery training at Barrow Neurological Institute, and joins us as an endovascular Fellow, working with Dr. McDougall and Dr. Albuquerque. He was a resident in neurosurgery at the Neurologic Institute of Columbia in Bogota, Columbia prior to coming to BNI. Prior to that time, he was a general practitioner in Columbia. Dr. Gonzalez has authored numerous articles and book chapters on neurosurgical procedures. His research interests are cerebral aneurysms and blood flow hemodynamics. Dr Gonzalez is fluent in Spanish and English, and enjoys outdoors activities such as hiking, running and biking.

Dr. Umphrey was drawn to medicine as an athlete who became used to being injured in gymnastics and other sports. He believes in the rehabilitation and eventual wellness of the "whole person", and not in just treating injuries. A top goal of his is to restore his patients to good lifestyles. He and Dr. Singh are committed to maintaining a program at BNA that will benefit people of all ages for their entire lives. To relax, Dr. Umphrey enjoys mountain biking, computers, and coaching gymnastics. He was two times an all American in gymnastics and holds 8 State and 7 Regional Gymnastics all-around titles. He was the stunt double for Whoopie Goldberg in the former ABC television show "Muppets Tonight" and performed in a Kodak camera gymnastics commercial for the 1996 Summer Olympics. He enjoys outdoor activities with his wife, a neuro-oncologist, and is the proud father of a newborn baby boy.

Dr. Toledo comes to us from San Juan, Puerto Rico. She completed her residency at the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, and is just finishing a two year fellowship in endovascular neurosurgery. She is currently the only female neurosurgeon in Puerto Rico. Dr. Toledo will be working with Dr. Spetzler as a cerebrovascular/skull base Fellow. Her academic interests are the treatment of aneurysms, AVMs, AV fistulae, cervical and cerebral atherosclerotic disease, brain tumors and acute stroke management. Dr. Toledo enjoys surfing with her family, snorkeling, practicing yoga, snow skiing, and going to the movies. She has a four year old daughter.

Until he came to BNA, Dr. Hebb was a resident in neurosurgery at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He will work with Dr. Spetzler as a a cerebrovascular/skull base Fellow for the next year. His clinical interests include medical and surgical management of complex cranial and skull base lesions, surgical management of movement disorders and neurological monitoring and critical care. In his spare time, Dr. Hebb enjoys cycling, running, weight training and travel.

Dr. Peter Nakaji is a general practice neurosurgeon who specializes in the treatment of complicated diseases of the brain and spine. Dr. Nakaji's vascular practice includes the treatment of aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, cavernous malformations, carotid artery disease, and brain and spinal tumors. He also maintains an active interest in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia and chiari malformation, among other conditions. Dr. Nakaji completed his residency at the University of California, San Diego, Division of Neurological Surgery. He received additional fellowship training in endoscopic neurosurgery at the Centre for Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery in Sydney, Australia, under the Direction of Dr. Charles Teo. Dr. Nakaji completed a second fellowship in cerebrovascular and skull base surgery at the Barrow Neurological Institute under Dr. Robert Spetzler, before joining the staff as an attending neurosurgeon. Dr. Nakaji advocates an approach to neurosurgery that is both balanced and aggressive. He is a strong proponent of the "minimally invasive" surgical philosophy, meaning that his surgical incisions are often smaller, less traumatic, and allow for quicker recoveries, with the least possible discomfort to the patient. His practice style is collaborative, and he strongly believes that incorporation of patients, their families, and the medical staff as members of his team offers patients the best possible outcome and satisfaction.

As the Medical Director for both the BNA Diagnostic and Treatment Center and the Rehabilitation Institute of Scottsdale, Dr. Singh is well acquainted with the power of rehabilitative medicine and is considered to be a preeminent specialist in the field of spinal medicine. He has practiced in the valley since 1981, and is the former Medical Director of the Outpatient Rehabilitation and Spine Program at BNI. Dr. Singh also serves as the neurology/rehabilitation consulting physician for the Arizona Diamondbacks team physicians. Dr. Singh is a strong believer in developing a partnership with his patients to enhance the treatment process. This team approach is applied to help patients to quickly move in the right direction.

Dr. Bristol joined Barrow Neurosurgical Associates in September of 2008. Prior to Dr. Bristol's arrival, sub-specialty care within the group has focused on adult neurological problems. With her addition, BNA is now able to provide the same excellence in care to the pediatric population. Dr. Bristol specializes in all areas of pediatric neurosurgery, including brain and spine tumors, spinal developmental anomalies (tethered cord, myelomeningocele, trauma, plagiocephaly, craniosynostosis, epilepsy, hydrocephalus, macro and microcephaly, dermoid cysts, muscle and nerve biopsies.