Vascular Malformations Team
Gary K. Steinberg, MD, PhD
Co-Director, Stanford Stroke Center
Chair, Department of Neurosurgery
A founding director of the Stanford Stroke Center, Dr. Steinberg has practiced medicine at Stanford for more than 20 years.
He has pioneered stereotactic microsurgical techniques to repair intracranial vascular malformations and certain aneurysms that were previously considered untreatable. He has also refined revascularization techniques for patients with cerebrovascular occlusions, as well as moyamoya disease.
Dr. Steinberg is currently investigating an innovative approach to improve stroke recovery by transplanting neural cells into damaged brain tissue.
John Adler, MD
John Adler, MD is a Professor of Neurosurgery. Dr. Adler is the Director of Radiosurgery and Stereotactic Surgery at Stanford Medical Center.
He earned his MD from Harvard Medical School in 1980, and did residencies in neurosurgery at the Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston, where he was Chief Resident in 1986-1987.
Dr. Adler joined Stanford in 1987 and was promoted to Professor in 1998.
Dr. Adler is a world-renowned expert on stereotactic radiosurgery. His mission has been to develop safer, more effective ways of delivering radiation to brain tumors and tumors throughout the body. The CyberKnife Stereotactic Radiosurgery System, a product of Accuray, Inc., is the result of that mission.
Steven Chang, MD
Dr. Steven Chang is an Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery. Dr. Chang graduated from Stanford University in 1989 with degrees in Biological Sciences and Quantitative Economics. He earned his MD from Stanford in 1993, and remained at Stanford for his internship in General Surgery and residency in Neurosurgery, serving as Chief Resident from 1998-1999 and Fellow in Cerebrovascular Surgery in 1999-2000.
Dr. Chang joined the Neurosurgery Faculty as Assistant Professor in 2001, and is currently the Director of Cyberknife Radiosurgery.
As a board certified neurosurgeon, he specializes in the treatment of vascular disorders and tumors of the brain and spinal cord, and is one of few physicians in the world today specializing in radiosurgery treatment of tumors of the spine.
Michael Marks, MD
Director, Stanford Stroke Center Neuroradiology
As a founding director of the Stanford Stroke Center, Dr. Marks oversees the endovascular treatment program.
Using catheter-based approaches, he has pioneered techniques to effectively cure cerebral aneurysms by inserting platinum coils and using special glues to obliterate arteriovenous malformations.
Dr. Marks has also employed endovascular techniques to treat ischemic cerebrovascular disorders. He has a broad experience with cerebral angioplasty, and he is currently developing a new laser therapy for vaporizing intracranial thrombi.
Huy Do, MD
Dr. Do focuses his efforts on interventional neuroradiologic approaches to treat both ischemic and hemorrhagic cerebrovascular disorders.
He has developed expertise in cerebral angioplasty and intra-arterial thrombolysis,as well as the treatment of aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations and cerebral vasospasm.
Dr. Do's current research focuses on evaluation of neuroprotectants for ischemic strokes, development of novel laser microdevices for emulsification of intracranial clots, stenting of carotid and vertebral arterial stenosis, evaluation of new liquid embolic agents for arteriovenous malformations, neuroimaging of strokes, vascular malformations, aneurysms with advanced MRI techniques, and treatment of painful compression fractures with acrylic cement.
Robert Dodd, MD, PhD
Dr. Dodd received his medical degree from the Stanford University School of Medicine, where he also earned a PhD in Neurosciences from the Department of Neurobiology. His neurosurgery training also took place at Stanford, where he recently completed an endovascular fellowship. His research interests have been in cerebral blood vessel reactivity and stroke. Dr. Dodd's clinical interests include endovascular and microsurgical treatment of intracranial aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations; percutaneous and surgical interventions for both extracranial and intracranial carotid artery occlusive disease; and minimally invasive neurosurgery though the use of neuroendoscopy and keyhole approaches.
Richard Jaffe, MD, PhD
Chief, Neurosurgical Anesthesia
Dr. Jaffe's research interests include the development and characterization of electrophysiologic monitoring techniques for the early detection of intraoperative cerebral ischemia.
Using these techniques he is also able to study the effects of anesthetics and related drugs on the brain's sensitivity to transient ischemic events.
The results of these studies can be used to improve the anesthetic management of patients undergoing a wide variety of neurosurgical procedures.
Jaime Lopez, MD
Dr. Lopez completed his residency in Neurology and fellowship in Clinical Neurophysiology and Neuromuscular Diseases at Stanford.
In 1994, Dr. Lopez established the Intraoperative Neurophysiologic Monitoring Program at Stanford. The program has expanded to more than 500 cases annually.
Dr. Lopez continues to research the use of innovative techniques for monitoring different regions of the nervous system during a variety of neurovascular surgical procedures, endovascular embolizations, and spinal cord and orthopedic surgeries.
Charlie Cho, MD
Dr. Cho recently joined the Intraoperative Monitoring Service at Stanford, transferring from the Massachusetts General hospital at the Harvard Medical School.
His interests are in the neurophysiology and electrical functions of the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves.
He is currently involved in recognizing reversible ischemia and preventing strokes during surgical and interventional neuroradiology procedures.
Christine Wijman, MD, PhD
Dr. Wijman, an expert in both stroke management and neuro critical care, joined the Stanford Stroke Center in 2001. Dr. Wijman oversees the care of critically ill patients with cerebrovascular disorders.
Her research interests include evaluating the causes and optimal treatment of brain hemorrhages, the use of hypothermia for the treatment of stroke, and the role of hemicraniectomy for treatment of malignant middle cerebral artery infarction.
Dr.Wijman serves as the Stanford principal investigator for a clinical trial of a new medication designed to stop brain hemorrhages shortly after they occur.
Carol A. Barch, MN CRNP
Her work in stroke began as clinical coordinator for the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke t-PA stroke study. Since then she has worked as an advanced practice nurse and traveled throughout the United States as a consultant for the National Stroke Association.
Her work also includes various publications on topics related to acute stroke and is an expert on stroke prevention.
She received her bachelor's degree in nursing from Wayne State University in Detroit, and a master and post -master's nursing degree from Emory University in Atlanta. She has received national certification in critical care nursing, neuroscience nursing and as a family nurse practitioner.
Teresa Bell-Stephens, RN, CNRN
Teresa Bell-Stephens, RN, CNRN came to Stanford from the East Coast in 1988. She worked in critical care for many years before joining the Department of Neurosurgery in 1990. She has coordinated programs in cerebrovascular surgery since then.
Teresa is an excellent resource for information on vascular malformations, aneurysms and moyamoya disease, and is available to guide care for patients and families before, during and after their treatment at Stanford Hospital & Clinics. Teresa has been involved in clinical research trials that have studied various methods of neuroprotection, including mild hypothermia, in patients with stroke and head injury. She regularly lectures in the Bay Area, nationally and internationally.
Publications
Mary Marcellus, RN
Mary has been the Interventional Neuroradiology nurse coordinator since 1993. She has been at Stanford since 1980 first as a staff nurse and then as an assistant nurse manager. Her current position allows her the opportunity to assist patients through the process of learning about their disease and treatment options, as well as coordinating their care and follow-up.
Joli Vavao, NP, CNRN
Joli joined the Neurosurgical Team in 2004. She has worked as a nurse for over 10 years specializing in neurosurgery and stroke neurology. She plays an active role coordinating the care of moyamoya patients in both an inpatient and outpatient setting.
Michael Thomas, MSW
Michael has worked with the moyamoya group for seven years to provide social service support based on the individual needs of the patient and their families.
Kelly McGinnis, MSW, MPH
Kelly has been a social worker specializing in trauma and critical care for more than 8 years, and has been with Stanford since 2002. She provides supportive counseling for patients and families about end-of-life issues, new diagnoses or sudden changes in health status, ethical issues, and education about helpful hospital, government, and community resources.