Our BTC Director Welcomes Dr. Amin Kassam:

For over two years, the Brain Tumor Center (BTC) has provided comprehensive care and minimally invasive surgery for patients with brain, pituitary and skull base tumors. From this foundation, we are now expanding our program.

It is with great pride that I announce the arrival of my new partner Dr. Amin Kassam who is Medical Director of the new Saint John’s Neuroscience Institute (NSI). Prior to his arrival at Saint John’s, Dr. Kassam served as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Neurological Surgery and Director of the Minimally Invasive endoNeurosurgery Center at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC).  There he directed one of the world’s leading neurosurgical centers, consistently ranked as one of America’s best neuroscience facilities by U.S. News & World Report.

With Dr. Kassam’s arrival and the formation of the NSI, we will expand our expertise and services to include the full spectrum of neurological disorders including cranial nerve problems such as trigeminal neuralgia and hemifacial spasm, and cerebrovascular disorders such as intracranial aneurysms.

Dr. Kassam’s accomplishments in the field of minimally invasive neurosurgery are truly remarkable in both scope and depth. He has been a key force in a paradigm shift within neurosurgery regarding endoscopic endonasal surgery (through a nostril). He has been the leading innovator world-wide in developing and refining the expanded endonasal approach (EEA) for removal of brain, pituitary and skull base tumors. Over the last 12 years, he and his team at UPMC performed over 1000 endonasal endoscopic procedures. Dr. Kassam’s accomplishments and expertise however go well beyond endonasal skull base surgery. He has one of the largest series world-wide for the treatment of patients with trigeminal neuralgia and hemifacial spasm by microvascular decompression. He has extensive experience in the treatment of complex skull base tumors and vascular disorders such as aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations. He has also lead the development of treating deeply situated brain tumors using a surgical tube called a “brain cannula.” Combined with detailed fiber tract mapping of the brain (MRI tractography), this evolving technique will allow maximal and safe endoscopic removal of gliomas and metastatic brain tumors.

Our partnership we hope will have significant benefits for patients with brain, pituitary and skull base disorders. Collectively, Dr. Kassam and I have a combined series of over 2000 patients treated with endonasal surgery and we provide over two decades of experience in minimally invasive neurosurgery. We look forward to providing our expertise in endonasal and keyhole surgical approaches for patients world-wide and will continue to play a major role in neurosurgical education in minimally invasive surgery. The timing of Dr. Kassam’s arrival is also ideal as we move into the new John Wayne Cancer Institute Clinics and the New Saint John’s Keck Center which is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and operating suites.

In summary, it is an incredible opportunity to have Dr. Kassam join our team here at Saint John’s.  I could not have asked for a more experienced, innovative and committed partner to advance and expand our ongoing efforts in minimally invasive neurosurgery, neuro-oncology and the neurosciences. We welcome him and look forward to a long and fruitful partnership.

Daniel F. Kelly, M.D.
Medical Director, Brain Tumor Center
John Wayne Cancer Institute at Saint John's Health Center

Learn more about our Medical Directors, Dr. Daniel Kelly (BTC) and Dr. Amin Kassam (NSI)