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At Desert Spine & Neurosurgical Institute, we specialize in treatment of a variety of brain and spinal disorders including brain tumors, vascular disease, Parkinson's disease, trigeminal neuralgia, acoustic neuroma, degenerative disc disease, osteoarthritis, stenosis, disc herniation, spinal fractures, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, tumors of the skull base and the pituitary gland, tumors of the spinal cord and the vertebrae, spinal deformity, adult scoliosis, failed back syndrome and infectious diseases of the brain and spine.

After a thorough medical and neurological evaluation of each patient, a unique treatment plan is prescribed for the individual patient using a multi-specialty team approach.

Our group includes fellowship-trained neurosurgeons working in collaboration with a team of interventional neuro-radiologists, neuro-otologists, neurologists, endocrinologists, pain management and critical care specialists, medical and radiation oncologists dedicated to provide the desert community with the highest quality of healthcare.

We provide a variety of non-surgical and surgical treatment options. Our spine surgical team specializes in minimally invasive disc surgery and spinal fusion, vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty and major spinal reconstructive surgery.

We use state-of-the-art technology to treat the entire spectrum of spinal and cranial disorders. Desert Spine & Neurosurgical Institute strives to provide the highest quality of care using the latest technological advances available.


 

 

Our Physicians

 

Neurological Surgery / Reconstructive Spine Surgery

  DrEtebar

Shahin Etebar, M.D.

Medical Director
Medical School: University of California, Irvine.
Residency: Neurological Surgery, University of California, Irvine.
Fellowship: Reconstructive Spinal Surgery, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.
Board Certification: American Board of Neurological Surgery.
Special Interests: Spinal reconstruction due to failed surgery, cancer and trauma. Adult Degenerative Scoliosis. Diagnosis and treatment of brain disorders and tumors. Minimally invasive spinal surgery.

   

Professional Memberships: American Association of Neurological Surgeons ;Congress of Neurological Surgeons; California Association of Neurological Surgeons; California Medical Association; American Medical Association; North American Spine Society; American Academy of Pain Medicine.
Hospital Affiliation: Eisenhower Medical Center, JFK Memorial Hospital, Desert Regional Medical Center.

Professional Appointments: Chief, Division of Neurosugery , Eisenhower Medical Center 2002-2007

Medical Director, Desert Spine and Neurosurgical Institute 2002-present.

Additional Information:"Top Doctors in America" 2002, 2003 and 2004, "America's Top Surgeons" 2007, PSL "Top Doctors" 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008

 

 

Neurological Surgery / Reconstructive Spine Surgery

  DrShen

Alfred C. Shen, M.D.


Medical School: University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, TX.
Residency: Neurological Surgery, University of California, Irvine.
Fellowship: Spine Fellowship, Semmes-Murphey Clinic, University of Tennessee, Memphis, TN.
Board Certification: American Board Of Neurological Surgery.
Professional Memberships: American Association of Neurological Surgeons; Congress of Neurological Surgeons; California Medical Association; American Medical Association.

 
   

Professional Appointments: Chief, Division of Neurosugery , Eisenhower Medical Center 2008-present

Hospital Affiliation: Eisenhower Medical Center, Desert Regional Medical Center.

Additional Information: "America's Top Surgeons" 2007. PSL "Top Doctors" 2005.

 

 

Neurological Surgery / Cerebrovascular Surgery

  DrLimonadi

Farhad Limonadi, M.D.


Medical School: Dartmouth Medical School
Residency: Oregon Health and Science University (Neurosurgery)
Fellowship: Oregon Health and Science University (Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery)
Board Eligible: American Board of Neurological Surgery
Special Interest: Brain tumors, Neuroendoscopy, minimally invasive surgery, trigeminal neuralgia and facial pain, aneurysms, deep brain stimulation and complex spine and chronic pain syndrome.

 
   

Professional Memberships: American Association of Neurological Surgeons; Congress of Neurological Surgeons; AANS/CNS Tumor and Steroetactic and Functional Neurosurgery Sections

Hospital Affiliation: Eisenhower Medical Center, Desert Regional Medical Center .
Additional Information: Dr. Limonadi earned his Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from
UCLA and became a senior associate engineer and scientist for IBM Microelectronics Division. He designed
the first Static Random Access Memory Circuit for Power PC Microprocessor in CMOSVX technology.

Listed in "America's Top Surgeons" 2007. Physician of the Year Award Eisenhower Medical Center 2007

   

Neurological Surgery

  DrTahmourisi

Ali Tahmouresie, M.D., F.A.C.S.


Medical School: Tehran University, Iran
Residency: State University of New York

Board Certification: American Board Of Neurological Surgery.

Special Interest: Non-surgical and minimally invasive treatment of back and neck pain
Professional Memberships: American Association of Neurological Surgeons; American College of Surgeons.
Hospital Affiliation:
Eisenhower Medical Center.

   

Professional Memberships: American Association of Neurological Surgeons ;Congress of Neurological Surgeons; California Association of Neurological Surgeons; California Medical Association; American Medical Association; North American Spine Society; American Academy of Pain Medicine.
Hospital Affiliation: Eisenhower Medical Center.


 

Neurotology / Skull Base Surgery

  Dr. Ahsan

Syed F. Ahsan, M.D., F.A.C.S .


Medical School: State University of New York, Brooklyn
Residency: Otolaryngology , Wayne State University,  Detroit, Michigan.
Fellowship:
Otology/Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery, University of Miami.
Board Certification: American Board of Otolaryngology .
Special Interests: medical and surgical management of hearing loss, ,including cochlear implantation, the treatment of dizziness and surgical management of tumors of the ear, temporal bone and the hearing and balance nerves.

 
   

Professional Memberships: American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery and an Associate Fellow of the American College of Surgeons

Hospital Affiliation: Eisenhower Medical Center, JFK Memorial Hospital, Desert Regional Medical Center.

 

Interventional Radiology

  Mehran K. Elly, M.D., Ph.D.

Mehran K. Elly, M.D., Ph.D.


Medical School: University of California, Irvine.
Residency: Diagnostic Radiology, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center .
Fellowship: Interventional and Cardiovascular Radiology
University of California, Los Angeles
Board Certification: American Board of Radiology.
Special Interests: cerebral re-vascularization

Additional Information: Medical Scientist Fellowship (M.D., Ph.D.), University of California, Irvine

 
   

Professional Memberships: Society of Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology, Radiological Society of North America
American Chemical Society, Analytical Chemistry Division of American Chemical Society
Hospital Affiliation: Eisenhower Medical Center

Professional Appointments : President, Eisenhower Radiology Medical Group, Inc.

 

   

Endovascular Surgery

  Brian K. Herman, M.D.

Brian K. Herman, M.D.


Medical School: University of California, Los Angeles.
Residency: Diagnostic Radiology , University of California, Irvine.
Fellowship: Neuroradiology; Interventional and Neuro-interventional Radiology
Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Board Certification: American Board of Radiology.
Special Interests: Endovascular surgery, cerebral re-vascularization

 
   

Professional Memberships: Senior Member of the American Society of Neuroradiology, Society for Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology, Los Angeles Neuroradiologic Society, Orange County Neuroradiologic Society, American Medical Association, Member for the American Board of Radiology, American Association of Academic Chief Residents in Radiology
Radiological Society of North America
Hospital Affiliation: Eisenhower Medical Center

Professional Appointments : Chairman, Eisenhower Medical Center Department of Radiology

Medical Director, Eisenhower Imaging Center

 

   

Interventional Radiology

  Jerry Y. Chang, M.D.

Jerry y. Chang , M.D.


Medical School: University of Southern California, School of Medicine
Residency: Diagnostic Radiology, University of California, Los Angeles
Fellowship: Interventional and Cardiovascular Radiology
University of California, Los Angeles
Board Certification: American Board of Radiology.
Special Interests:
Vascular/Interventional Radiology, Vertebral Augmentation

 
   

Professional Memberships: Society of Interventional Radiology, Los Angeles Radiological Society, American College of Radiology, American Roentgen Ray Society, Radiological Society of North America
Hospital Affiliation: Eisenhower Medical Center

 

   

Critical Care Medicine

 

Shahriyar Tavakoli , M.D., F.C.C.P.


Medical School: University Central Del Caribe Escuela De Medicina, Puerto Rico  
Residency: Internal Medicine, University of Southern California, School of Medicine
Fellowship: Critical Care,
Naional Institute of Health, Pulmonary, George Washington University
Board Certification: Diplomate, American Board of Internal Medicine, Pulmonary/Critical Care.
Special Interests:
Neuro-critical Care, Adult critical care, Interventional Pulmonolgy, Sleep disorders

 
   

Professional Memberships: Fellow, American College of Physicians, Fellow, American College of Chest Physicians.

Professional Appointments: Director, Critical Care Services, Eisehower Medical Center,

Section Chief, Pulmonary Diseases, Eisenhower Medical Center

Additional Information:Physician of the month 1/08 Eisenhower Medical Center, PSL "Top Doctors" 2005, 2006.
Hospital Affiliation: Eisenhower Medical Center

 

   

 

Clinic Administrator

   

Marites Solitaria, MBA

Education: University of Phoenix, Arizona – Masters of Business Administration and Human Resources; Ursuline College, Ohio – Bachelors of Health Care Administration; Cuyahoga Community College, Ohio – Associate in Applied Science Degree in Respiratory Therapy

Board Certification: Registered Respiratory Therapist
Professional Membership: American Association of Respiratory Care, California Society of Respiratory Care, American Society of Electroneurodiagnostic

 

 

Professional Staff

Neurological Surgery

  BethVawter

Beth A. Vawter, F.N.P.-C.

Education: Arizona State University - Bachelor of Science in Nursing; Azusa Pacific University – Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner
Board Certifications: Earned FNP Certification through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
Awards: Azusa Pacific University Leadership in Excellence Award; 2nd Year Outstanding Graduate Student and Overall Outstanding Graduate Standing Awards
Professional Memberships: American Academy of Nurse Practitioners; California Academy of Nurse Practitioners; Sigma Theta Tau and Iota Tau Nursing Society.

 

Neurophysiology

 

Rebecca J. Hubbs, B. S., R. EEG. T.

Education: Orange Coast Collage, Neurodiagnostic Technology.  University of California, Riverside, Bachelor of Science; BiochemistryUniversity of Southern California, Master of Science: Neurophysiology -in progress.

Board Certification: Registered Electroencephalography Technologist, C.N.I.M boaord eligible
Professional Membership: American Society of Electroneurodiagnostic Technology, Western Society of Electroneurodiagnostic Technology

 

Surgical Team

 

Susan Goeble, RN

Mick Griswold, CRNFA

Samuel Lopez, CST

Cera Salamone, RN

Rebecca Hubbs, REEGT

 
   
 

Danielle Chavez, CST

 


 

 

 
   

 

 

                                                                             

                                                                    

 


 

 

39000 Bob Hope Drive • Wright Building, Suite 410 • Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 • Tel: (760) 346-8058 • Fax: (760) 340-5172
©2005-06 Desert Spine and Neurosurgical Institute • Legal Notice