Neurosurgery

OUR EXPERT TEAM

Neurological disorders present patients with complex challenges involving not just their health
but also the emotional and social dimensions of their lives.

At the Los Angeles Neurosurgical Institute, we bring together a team of experts from diverse
specialties to provide patients with thorough assessment of their condition and consideration of
the full range of medical and surgical options available to treat their condition.

Under the direction of Michel Lévesque, MD, these experts include:

Neurosurgeons
Skull Base Surgeons
Spine Surgeons
Neurologists
Neurophysiologists

This team is an established group of well-rounded, patient-centered experts in the area of
neurological and neurosurgical disorders.

The Expert Team at the Los Angeles Neurosurgical Institute

Michel F. Lévesque, MD , FRCS(C), FAC S

Director

Michel Lévesque, MD, FRCS, FACS is a world-renowned neuroscientist and

neurosurgeon based at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He is an Associate

Clinical Professor of Neurosurgery at the UCLA School of Medicine and member of the

UCLA Brain Research Institute. He is the Chairman of the Foundation for Neural Repair,

a not-for-profit foundation, sponsoring translational research to accelerate human trials

using neural stem cells. He has authored over 100 articles in professional journals,

contributed chapters to many leading neurosurgery treatises and over 200 scientific

abstracts.

Lévesque received his medical degree at University of Montreal

in 1979

and underwent

post-graduate studies in Neurosciences on central nervous system regeneration and

transplantation at the Montreal General Hospital and McGill University. He completed

his neurosurgical training at the Montreal Neurological Institute and a fellowship in

functional and spinal neurosurgery

in 1986

. Board certified by the American Board of

Neurological Surgery and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, Dr

Levesque has been in practice for over 20 years in Los Angeles. He is the recipient of the

prestigious "America

Top Surgeon" award and other numerous awards related to his

groundbr

aking work in Neuroregeneration. Dr Levesque is the Director of the Los

Angeles Neurosurgical Institute. He is a member of several professional organizations,

including the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, American College of

Surgeons and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

David M. Alessi, MD, FACS

Dr. Alessi has established a world-class practice over the past 17 years. Specializing

in skull base surgery, facial plastic surgery and head and neck disorders, he is board

certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology/ Head and Neck Surgery. He is an

internationally recognized expert in voice disorders with extensive publications and

presentations.

With his unique expertise, he has developed a facial plastic system to maximize cosmesis

and to maximize the function of the nose and face after the surgery. He spent 4 years as

chief of the division at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and is as a clinical assistant professor

at UCLA and Cal State LA. A recognized innovator, he is owner of 2 patents, and is still

involved in research.For more information :

www. facialinstitute.com

Babak Larian, MD, FACS

Dr. Larian specializes in the treatment of diseases of the head and neck region, including:

head and neck cancer and reconstruction; thyroid and parathyroid pathologies; and ear,

nose & throat disorders. He completed a residency in Head & Neck Surgery at UCLA

Medical Center and is Board Certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head

and Neck Surgery.

As the Associate Director of Cedars-Sinai Head and Neck Cancer Center, Dr. Larian is at

the forefront of the field, presenting his clinical and research experience at both national

and international meetings. An Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery at UCLA School

of Medicine, he is involved in teaching residents and medical student the art and science

of head and neck surgery. His focus is on safe innovative treatment options including

minimally invasive surgery that allows for preservation of form and function with

minimal morbidity.For more information:

www.advancedonc.com

Babak Azizzadeh, MD

Dr. Azizzadeh is a Facial Plastic Surgeon who specializes exclusively in the

reconstructive surgery of the face, eyes and nose. He is the Director of The Center for

Facial and Nasal Plastic Surgery and board-certified by the American Board of Facial

Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery as well as the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head

& Neck Surgery.

After graduating from the UCLA School of Medicine with highest honors, Dr. Azizzadeh

completed a six-year residency program in Head and Neck Surgery/Facial Plastic Surgery

at UCLA Medical Center. He then completed a sub-specialized fellowship in Facial

Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery at Harvard Medical School. An Assistant Clinical

Professor at UCLA, Dr. Azizzadeh has been actively engaged in clinical and basic

science research helping to advance the field of facial plastic surgery. He has published

numerous articles, as well as, presented at the national and international meetings. For

more information:

www.facialparalysisinstitute.com

Michael Rezak, MD,Ph.D.

onsultant,

Neurology

Brian Betz, PhD

Clinical Neuropsychologist

Toomas Neuman, PhD

Director, Neurobiology Research

The Los Angeles
Neurosurgical Institute