UVA Department of Neurosurgery
Excellence and Expertise
The University of Virginia Health System's Department 
of Neurosurgery combines innovative technology, world-renowned physicians and a team-based approach to diagnosis and treatment of disorders affecting the nervous system. Our department and the many across UVA that we collaborate with are consistently ranked among the nation's top centers by both Solucient and U.S. News & World Report. The department consists of many subspecialty Centers of Excellence, covering the full range of neurological disorders.
Visit our Centers of Excellence
Referrals and Collaboration
Our doctor teams will review every case presented to us. Our experienced and dedicated nursing and administrative staff is always available to provide around-the-clock care, support and information for patients, families and referring clinicians. We welcome referrals from all geographic areas - one phone call is all it takes.Contact Information
Click here for our physician profiles and contact information.
If you are unsure of who to contact, please call our general number (434) 924-2203 (Charlottesville) or 1-800-362-2203 (Toll free for outside Central Virginia) and our staff will help you.
News
Dr. Edward Oldfield was presented with the 2009 Cushing Medal, the highest honor granted by the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS). He was honored for his many years of outstanding leadership, dedication and contributions to the field of neurosurgery.
Dr. Chris Shaffrey is Chair of the AANS/CNS Joint Section of Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves for 2009-2010.
Dr. Jason Sheehan has shown success in destroying brain tumors in mice using focused ultrasound to convey nanoparticles with tumor-destroying agents to the tumor site. Sheehan has been awarded a prestigious Hartwell Foundation grant to pursue the research and been recognized by AANS as their Young Investigator for 2009. Learn more here.
Dr. Neal Kassell is leading the initiative to open a focused ultrasound facility to treat humans in the fall of 2009, and UVA will be one of the first in the world to open such a center. MRI-guided focused ultrasound could destroy tumors without making any incisions, without harm to other organs, and without radiation. Read about UVA's initiative here and learn more about the exciting technology at www.fusfoundation.org.
UVA neurosurgeon Jason Sheehan is evaluating an FDA-
approved laser-induced thermal ablation treatment for brain metastasis patients. The minimally-invasive technique uses a laser-tipped probe smaller than those used for brain biopsies. Guided by magnetic resonance imaging, the laser heats the targeted tumor tissue to destroy it, while leaving the temperature in adjacent tissues at normal levels, with exquisite accuracy. Please contact Dr. Sheehan's office at 434-924-8129 for more information.
Centers of Excellence
Gamma Knife
Neuro-Oncology
Pediatric Neurosurgery
Pituitary
Spine
Minimally Invasive Spine
Stroke & Cerebrovascular
Epilepsy Neurosurgery
Functional Neurosurgery
Neuro Trauma
Neuropsychology
Peripheral Nerve Surgery
Our neurosurgeons Jeff Elias, John Jane Sr., John Jane Jr., Neal Kassell, Chris Shaffrey and Mark Shaffrey were named to Best Doctors in America by Best Doctors, Inc. They were chosen through a comprehensive peer-review survey that asks: "If you or a loved one needed a doctor in your specialty, to whom would you refer them?" The database represents the top 3 percent of physicians in more than 400 medical subspecialties.