Aaron Cohen-Gadol, MD

Aaron Cohen-Gadol, MD, MSc, (Dr. Cohen) is one of the world’s most preeminent neurosurgeons, a professor and the vice chairman of innovation at the Department of Neurological Surgery at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. He specializes in the treatment of complex brain and spine tumors, including meningiomas, pituitary adenomas, gliomas and acoustic neuromas, as well as arteriovenous and cavernous malformations, hemifacial spasm and trigeminal neuralgia. Neurosurgeons and patients both frequently seek his expert second opinion. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a profound commitment and passion for pushing the boundaries of uncompromising excellence for his patients.

Dr. Cohen has performed more than 7400 complex brain surgeries in his career, more than any other performed by a single surgeon in the United States. These 7400 surgeries have been documented in the Neurosurgical Atlas collection, which Dr. Cohen founded and which is considered throughout the world as the “bible of neurosurgery” and used by more than 70,000 physicians for the care of their patients. He has introduced over 40 novel surgical techniques that have inspired thousands of neurosurgeons to achieve technical excellence and peak performance in the operating room.

The Scandinavian Neurosurgical Society awarded Dr. Cohen its prestigious Vilhelm Magnus Medal — referred to as the Nobel Prize in Neurosurgery, and one of only 11 medals ever awarded — for his preeminent contributions in pioneering brain surgeries that have transformed patient outcomes worldwide. These innovations have advanced the field of neurosurgery and the outcome of surgery for many patients. He has published more than 560 peer-reviewed papers in respected journals.

Dr. Cohen’s vast surgical experience and mastery enable him to offer surgical outcomes for his patients that are not possible elsewhere. The thousands of patients’ lives he has transformed have ingrained in him a deep sense of empathy and humility. He instills the courage required for patients, their families and fellow surgeons to prevail during the most challenging moments in surgery and health crises. His surgical philosophy focuses on efficient and minimally invasive surgery; this technique protects normal brain and the patient’s function during surgery. He has developed endoscopic techniques that enable surgeons to remove a brain tumor via the nasal passage without opening the patient’s skull. He also has refined fluorescent technologies that cause brain tumors to “glow,” making it possible for surgeons to remove them more effectively.

Dr. Cohen is dedicated to advanced, cutting-edge surgical techniques and technologies that push the boundaries of care for patients with a brain tumor. He is currently the vice chairman of innovation at the Keck School’s Department of Neurological Surgery. Before returning to USC, he practiced for 20 years at Indiana University where he received the Healthcare Hero of the Year award from the state of Indiana.

Dr. Cohen received his training and medical degree at the Keck School, graduating with the highest distinction. He completed his residency at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. He has been a visiting professor and speaker in Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, South Africa, Morocco, Turkey, Italy, Pakistan, Columbia, China, Brazil, Canada and Mexico and at almost every major neurosurgical institution in the world.

In his philanthropic work, he has served on and directed numerous committees in raising funds for medical research, education and innovation. He sits on the advisory board of many prestigious peer-review journals, including the Journal of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgery, Operative Neurosurgery and World Neurosurgery.

Outside of work, Dr. Cohen enjoys spending time with his family and makes God, family and his community/country his top priorities. As a dog lover, he also volunteers and donates his time to performing therapeutic surgery to treat brain tumors in pet dogs.