Shows
Think Neuro1: A Tiny Tunnel to the Brain & Pituitary: Minimally Invasive Brain Surgery and The Origins of our Institute with Dr. Daniel Kelly – Flashback EpisodeIn this podcast, Dr. Kelly talks about how he was drawn to neurosurgery, his fascination with the pituitary gland, the nuances of minimally invasive pituitary and brain tumor surgery, as well as a brief history of PNI, its focus on innovation and clinical trials and its 8 centers of excellence. For more information:pacificneuro.org | pacificbraintumor.org | (310) 829-8265
2025-02-1937 min
Think NeuroThink Neuro Mini: Treating Neurodegenerative Disease with Precision Brain Health with Dr. Dale BredesenApril 2024 | Dale Bredesen, MD, is an internationally recognized neurologist with specialty expertise in the mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases. He is the senior director of Precision Brain Health at Pacific Neuroscience Institute®. His expertise in neurodegenerative diseases drives groundbreaking advancements in personalized treatment for Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. From decoding unique biomarkers to cognitive testing, Dr. Bredesen's work provides hope in tackling diseases of cognitive decline.pacificneuro.org/precision
2024-04-2402 min
Think NeuroThink Neuro Mini: Meet Dr. Amit KochharDr. Amit Kochhar, MD, is double board-certified in Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery and Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. He is the director of the Facial Nerve Disorders Program at Pacific Eye, Ear & Skull Base Center, Pacific Neuroscience Institute, Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica. Dr. Kochhar specializes in facial nerve disorders, complex reconstruction of the head and neck, disorders of the nose and sinuses, endoscopic nasal-sinus surgery and facial plastic surgery. https://www.pacificneuroscienceinstitute.org/people/amit-kochhar/ https://www.pacificneuro.org/facialnerve 310-477-5558
2022-11-0901 min
Think NeuroThinkNeuro Mini: What Are Meningiomas? with Dr. Nouhzan SehatiThinkNeuro Mini: What Are Meningiomas? with Dr. Nouhzan SehatiDr. Sehati is a board-certified neurosurgeon who specializes the treatment of a wide variety of brain, spine and spinal cord disorders at Pacific Neuroscience Institute. His expertise is in surgical and nonsurgical management of degenerative, traumatic and neoplastic (tumor) diseases of the brain and spine with a focus on minimally invasive techniques. Dr. Sehati believes in clinical excellence and comprehensive care for all of his patients. His compassionate approach involves working as a partner with his patients, honoring patient individuality and dignity, understanding the patient’s needs and pr...
2022-10-2604 min
Think NeuroThink Neuro Mini: Meet Dr. Omid MehdizadehDr. Omid B. Mehdizadeh, MD, is an Otolaryngology, and Head & Neck (ENT) surgeon. Working with colleagues in the Pacific Eye, Ear & Skull Base Center at Pacific Neuroscience Institute, his particular expertise is in voice, swallowing and throat conditions (laryngology). Visit Dr. Mehdizadeh's profile: https://www.pacificneuroscienceinstitute.org/people/omid-mehdizadeh/PacificNeuro.org310-582-7450
2022-09-1401 min
Think NeuroThink Neuro Mini: Meet Dr. Jose CarrilloJose Carrillo, MD, is a board-certified neurologist and neuro-oncologist specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of primary and secondary brain tumors, including glioblastoma multiforme, primary CNS lymphoma, meningioma, and brain metastases, as well as the neurologic complications of cancer. In addition, Dr. Carrillo is involved in the enrollment of patients into several clinical trials.
Dedicated to advancing medicine, Dr. Carrillo is a strong proponent of leading-edge research in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of all types of CNS tumors, including metastatic brain and spine tumors, primary malignant brain and spinal cord tumors, primary benign or low‐grade brain or spine tu...
2022-06-2901 min
Think NeuroThink Neuro Mini: Welcome to the Brain Tumor CenterWe provide comprehensive care for patients with all types of brain tumors including benign and malignant brain tumors, skull base tumors, and metastatic brain tumors that arise from cancers elsewhere in the body.
Contact us:
Pacific Brain Tumor Center, Pacific Neuroscience Institute, Santa Monica, CA
310-582-7450 | pacificbraintumor.org | pacificneuro.org
2022-05-2503 min
Think NeuroThink Neuro Mini: Meet Dr. William BuxtonDr. William Buxton is Director, Neuromuscular & Neurodiagnostic Medicine, and Fall Prevention, Brain Health Center; Adult Neurology. He is a board-certified in Adult Neurology with Subspecialty Certification in Clinical Neurophysiology through the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology with additional certification in Electrodiagnostic Medicine through the American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine.
For more information, contact the clinic at 310-582-7641.
pacificbrianhealth.org | pacificneuro.org
Visit Dr. Buxton's profile: pacificneuro.org/buxton
2022-03-0901 min
Think NeuroThink Neuro Mini: Meet Dr. Daniel F. KellyDr. Daniel Kelly, a board certified neurosurgeon, is Director of the Pacific Neuroscience Institute and Professor of Neurosurgery at the John Wayne Cancer Institute. Considered to be one of the best neurosurgeons in the US and multiple recipients of the Patients' Choice Award, Dr. Kelly is internationally recognized in the field of minimally invasive keyhole surgery for brain, pituitary, and skull base tumors. He has one of the world's largest series in endonasal surgery with over 2000 procedures performed including over 800 endonasal endoscopic surgeries, and over 2000 craniotomies for brain and skull base tumors. His current surgical practice encompasses the full spectrum...
2022-01-0502 min
Think NeuroThink Neuro Mini: Meet Dr. Amit KochharDr. Amit Kochhar, MD, is double board-certified in Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery and Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. He is the director of the Facial Nerve Disorders Program at Pacific Eye, Ear & Skull Base Center, Pacific Neuroscience Institute, Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica. Dr. Kochhar specializes in facial nerve disorders, complex reconstruction of the head and neck, disorders of the nose and sinuses, endoscopic nasal-sinus surgery and facial plastic surgery.
https://www.pacificneuroscienceinstitute.org/people/amit-kochhar/
https://www.pacificneuro.org/facialnerve
310-477-5558
2021-11-1001 min
Think Neuro21. The Mystery of Migraines and How to Treat Them | Dr. Dorothy DadaIf you’ve never had a migraine headache, you are lucky. Sufferers say the pain alone is wretched, and there are a host of other awful symptoms. A migraine can garble a person’s speech, paralyze parts of the body, cause the sensation of a room spinning, and make any motion feel like moving through molasses.
Dr. Dorothy Dada, a neurologist at Providence Saint John's Medical Center, a hospital partner of the Pacific Neuroscience Institute, specializes in migraines and in helping people get relief from them. Migraines are among the top five causes of disability in women, who are more pron...
2021-10-2057 min
Think NeuroThink Neuro Mini: The Gut-Brain Connection with Dr. PetrossianYou're probably hearing a lot more about the "human microbiome" these days. It's the collection of bacteria, fungi, and viruses that lives alongside us, inside and out. Some of these organisms are beneficial, and some are harmful. There is growing evidence that bad actors in our digestive tract may produce toxins that travel along the vagus nerve to the brain, where they clump and cause Parkinson's disease. Listen to this PNI Minute to understand this unexpected connection between gut health and the brain.
To learn more visit
pacificneuro.org
310-582-7450
2021-09-2211 min
Think Neuro20. On COVID-19, Brain Surgery, and Never Wasting a Crisis | Dr. Daniel KellyWhen Dr. Daniel Kelly and his three colleagues founded the Pacific Neuroscience Institute in 2015, they knew it would be much more than a medical practice. It would be an institute in the true sense of the word, with a mission to heal patients, do research, and educate new doctors. Dr. Kelly and his team didn’t let up on that three-pronged mission during the pandemic. To the contrary, they doubled down, publishing 8 big papers in top-flight medical journals, all of them centered on the minimally-invasive brain surgery that PNI specializes in. One paper focused on complication avoidance analyzed the ten-year tr...
2021-09-151h 09
Think NeuroThink Neuro Mini: What are AVMs with Dr. Neil MartinExperienced neurosurgeon Dr. Neil A. Martin talks about Arteriovenous Malformations (AVM) in the brain and how they are treated.
pacificneuro.org
310-582-7450
2021-09-0802 min
Think NeuroThink Neuro Mini: Meet Dr. Howard KraussHoward R. Krauss, MD, is a co-founder of the Pacific Neuroscience Institute.
He is an ophthalmologist and a surgical neuro-ophthalmologist at the Pacific Eye, Ear, and Skull Base Center at PNI. He fiercely pursues the best treatments and outcomes for his patients. Dr. Krauss and his PNI colleagues have been innovators; developing, practicing, and teaching dramatic new surgeries, including eye- and vision-preserving techniques for the treatment of orbital cancer.
They have pioneered Transnasal Image-Guided Endoscopic Orbital Tumor Surgery for safer, less invasive, and more effective management of orbital apex tumors and Transorbital Craniotomy for brain tumors.
Dr. Krauss is a...
2021-08-0402 min
Think NeuroThink Neuro Mini: Essential Tremors with Dr. Natalie DiazEssential tremor is the most common movement disorder in humans, and its causes are among the most mysterious. It’s a neurological condition that causes involuntary shaking. It can begin in one’s 20s or 30s, or much later in life. Dr. Natalie Diaz treats essential tremors. Its origins may be unknown, but there are treatments. The first step is to talk to your doctor to rule out other forms of tremor because there are many.
pacificneuro.org
310-582-7450
2021-07-2805 min
Think Neuro18. Preventing Fall and Tragedies that Come with Them with Dr. William Buxton“I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up.” That line is the source of countless jokes on late night television, but in real life, it’s anything but funny. One in three people over 65 fall each year. Those falls often lead to broken hips, and a quarter of elderly people who suffer a hip fracture die within a year, says Dr. William Buxton, a neurologist at PNI who specializes in preventing falls in people who are prone to them. There are many causes. Sedating medications have been linked to falls. Damage to nerves in the legs and feet from diabetes o...
2021-07-2130 min
Think NeuroThink Neuro Mini: Meet Dr. Omid MehdizadehDr. Omid B. Mehdizadeh, MD, is an Otolaryngology, and Head & Neck (ENT) surgeon. Working with colleagues in the Pacific Eye, Ear & Skull Base Center at Pacific Neuroscience Institute, his particular expertise is in voice, swallowing and throat conditions (laryngology).
Visit Dr. Mehdizadeh's profile https://www.pacificneuroscienceinstitute.org/people/omid-mehdizadeh/
pacificneuro.org
310-582-7450
2021-07-1401 min
Think NeuroThink Neuro Mini: Meet Dr. Shanthi GowrinathanDr. Gowrinathan is the director of Psycho-oncology at the Pacific Brain Health Center, Pacific Neuroscience Institute. She is an accomplished inpatient and outpatient psychiatrist, specializing in both Women’s Psychiatry and Psycho-oncology (Cancer Psychiatry) who works collaboratively in the care of her patients.
Visit Dr. Gowrinathan's profile: pacificneuro.org/gowrinathan
pacifichydrocephalus.org
310-582-7450
2021-07-0701 min
Think Neuro17. Staying Cool and Living Well with Multiple Sclerosis | Dr. Barbara S. GiesserMultiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that arises when white blood cells make their way into the central nervous system and attack the fatty covering that protects neurons, which disrupts their ability to effectively conduct electrical and chemical signals. Many people with MS report that their symptoms get temporarily worse in the heat. This is because neurons, especially damaged ones, conduct electricity less efficiently at higher temperatures. Decades ago, before the advent of magnetic resonance imaging, doctors would diagnose multiple sclerosis by putting patients in a hot bath. If their neurologic symptoms worsened, it was taken as evidence that they...
2021-06-1639 min
Think Neuro16. Exercise Your Body to Keep Your Brain Strong | Dr. Sarah McEwenDr. Sarah McEwen has wanted to be a brain scientist since she was a kid. At an early age, she realized that exercise made her feel good. Later, she learned why: Physical activity can change the brain because of something called neuroplasticity. The brain isn’t static. It changes and adapts. And that’s one of the most amazing things about an already amazing organ. Strangely enough, doing a Zumba class may strengthen your brain more than six hours of Sudoku. Not only does exercise create new neurons, it also creates new blood vessels to feed them, and it washes away...
2021-05-1955 min
Think Neuro15. A Delicate Surgery That Cures Debilitating Facial Spasms | Dr. Neil A. MartinImagine a twitch that won’t go away. Worse yet, imagine that twitch is in your face. That’s what sufferers of hemifacial spasms experience, day in and day out. The spasms originate deep in the brain, where it connects with the spinal cord. In this crowded channel, the nerves that control facial muscles ride close by blood vessels. As those vessels age, they can sag and come into contact with one of the facial nerves. The pulsing of blood compresses the nerve, 70 times a minute, 24-hours a day, eventually wearing down the insulation on the nerve, causing it to misf...
2021-04-2132 min
Think Neuro14. Treating the Effects of Cancer on Mind and Spirit | Dr. Shanthi GowrinathanTreating cancer involves more than treating the body. The disease takes a toll on the mind, too, no matter what organ system it affects. Cancer and treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy come with mental costs as well. Depression, anxiety, cognitive symptoms, and insomnia are common after cancer treatment. There is also a syndrome that patients call “chemo brain” and doctors call “frontal lobe dysfunction.” It’s not an official diagnosis, but patients who suffer from it say they are more irritable, they can’t tolerate loud noises or crowded spaces. Dr. Shanthi Gowrinathan has seen all of these things. She’s the Di...
2021-03-1742 min
Think Neuro13. New Hope on Vanquishing Glioblastoma | Dr. Santosh KesariUnfortunately, a brain cancer called glioblastoma has a very poor prognosis but there is still a lot that can be done.
Unlike other cancers that often develop as lumps with defined margins in the breast, say, glioblastomas not only present with a central mass but also send out microscopic tendrils into the brain, making them difficult to remove completely without damaging our most critical organ. There are powerful cancer drugs available but it can be challenging to get a full dose past the blood-brain barrier to attack glioblastoma.
Dr. Santosh Kesari, MD, Ph.D., is more optimistic now about treating...
2021-02-1751 min
Think NeuroThink Neuro Mini: The Future of Brain Tumor Care with Dr. Garni BarkhoudarianDr. Garni Barkhoudarian, Neurosurgeon at Pacific Neuroscience Institute and Assistant Professor of Neuroscience & Neurosurgery at the John Wayne Cancer Institute, discusses his perspectives of the future of brain tumor surgery in this brief video.
For more information:
pacificneuro.org | (310) 582-7640
2021-01-2702 min
Think Neuro12. Alzheimer’s: Too Common, and So Mysterious | Dr. Verna PorterOne in ten Americans who are 65 and older suffer from Alzheimer’s dementia. It’s the 6th leading cause of death in the country, and it is a scourge worldwide. But little is known about what causes Alzheimer’s, and cures have been elusive. Dr. Verna Porter specializes in treating people with Alzheimer’s, and she remains optimistic. Until we have a remedy, she advises people to eat well and get plenty of sleep. Patients with Alzheimer’s often have abnormal levels of a gummy plaque called amyloid protein crowded around the neurons of the brain. No one knows for sure what...
2021-01-201h 00
Think NeuroThink Neuro Mini: Movement Disorders with Dr. Jean-Philippe LangevinJean-Philippe Langevin, MD, is a board-certified and fellowship-trained neurosurgeon with a special interest in the surgical treatment of complex spine conditions and movement disorders. Selected as a multiple year recipient of the SuperDoctor Rising Stars Edition, he has extensive experience using advanced surgical techniques to treat his patients with compassion and care. He practices at PNI-South Bay / Spine Institute at Little Company of Mary in Torrance, California.
For more information:
pacificneuro.org | (310) 582-7640
2020-11-2502 min
Think NeuroThink Neuro Mini: Keyhole Brain Surgery with Dr. Daniel F. KellyDr. Daniel F. Kelly, neurosurgeon, director, and founder at Pacific Neuroscience Institute explains the concept of keyhole surgery for the treatment of brain, skull base, and pituitary tumors.
For more information:
pacificneuro.org | (310) 582-7640
2020-11-1102 min
Think Neuro8. Treating the “Suicide Disease” with a Light Touch | Dr. Garni BarkhoudarianEver heard of a disease called Trigeminal Neuralgia? It's called the "Suicide Disease" because it causes unbearable pain in the face and temples. It's often triggered by everyday things like brushing teeth, shaving, or putting on makeup. In many cases, the culprit is an out-of-place blood vessel that rubs against the trigeminal nerve in the side of the face. Other causes include tumors, infections, inflammatory conditions, or traumatic injury. Whatever the reason, the nerve short-circuits, bringing on stabbing, searing pain. Dr. Barkhoudarian and the Pacific Facial Pain Center team offer a comprehensive approach to treatment. They try medication first and...
2020-10-2132 min
Think NeuroThink Neuro Mini: Treating Dystonia with BotoxDystonia is a mysterious condition that causes muscles to contract involuntarily. It can strike many parts of the body, making the head turn, the eyelids close, or the hand twist. We don’t know what causes dystonia. It can arise after head trauma or a stroke, and it often appears in conjunction with Parkinson’s disease. There is no cure, but experts like Dr. Natalie Diaz, a neurologist at PNI, can ease the symptoms with medication. A treatment you may not expect: Botox. A natural toxin, Botox prevents the release of a neurotransmitter that causes the muscles to contract. After an i...
2020-09-2303 min
Think Neuro7. Embracing Aging: Helping Our Loved Ones, Helping Ourselves | Dr. Scott KaiserDr. Scott Kaiser is a rare breed, and he shouldn’t be. He’s a geriatrician. There are only 7,000 of them in the U.S., even though 10,000 Americans are turning 65 every day. Part of the reason: Gerontology typically doesn’t pay as well as other specialties, so it often attracts people who are purely committed to the practice, like Dr. Kaiser. He loves his work because there is so much he can do for his patients, and so much they can do for themselves. Want to remain healthy in brain and body for years to come? Here are the truly magic...
2020-09-161h 09
Think NeuroThink Neuro Mini: The Importance of Sleep Hygiene with Dr. Natalie DiazIn 1993, the rock band Bon Jovi recorded a song called I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead. We’ve learned a lot since then, namely, that sleep is just as important as food and water. Sleep is like a shower for the brain, according to PNI neurologist Dr. Natalie Diaz. It washes away toxic compounds, some of which may be associated with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. It also helps us preserve important memories and purge the neural connections we don’t need. In this Think Neuro Mini, Dr. Diaz tells us how to sleep like rockstars, but not like Bon Jov...
2020-08-2602 min
Think Neuro6. Meet Minimally Invasive Brain Surgery’s Pathfinder | Dr. Chester GriffithsWhen patients ask him what he does in brain and pituitary surgeries, Dr. Chester Griffiths tells them that he “opens the curtains for the main event.” Dr. Griffiths is a head and neck surgeon, and it’s his job to get brain surgeons where they need to go. For the minimally invasive brain and pituitary surgery done at PNI, that means creating the pathway through the nose and sinuses and into the base of the brain, so his colleagues can remove tumors without making large holes in the skull. Thanks to Dr. Griffiths’ surgical expertise, many patients are out of the hosp...
2020-08-1952 min
Think NeuroThink Neuro Mini: Cushing's Disease with Dr. Katherine AraqueDr. Katherine Araque is a board-certified endocrinologist at Pacific Pituitary Disorders Center. As Director of Endocrinology at Pacific Neuroscience Institute, she oversees clinical trials and the clinical care of patients with endocrine conditions. Dr. Araque provides special expertise in clinical and research projects in the diagnosis and treatment of pituitary hormone deficiency in adults, Cushing’s disease, prolactinomas, acromegaly, sellar masses and other pituitary tumors. She is a member of the pituitary and endocrinology society.
Visit Dr. Araque's profile: https://www.pacificneuroscienceinstitute.org/people/katherine-araque/
For more information:
pacificneuro.org | pacificbraintumor.org | (310) 829-8265
2020-07-2202 min
Think Neuro5. Keep Your Brain Fit with Pickleball, Ping Pong & Dance | Ryan GlattExercise doesn’t just give you bigger muscles. It gives you a bigger brain. Scientists have measured brain volume in people who exercise and those who don’t. The exercisers had more. Why? Because movement challenges our minds. It keeps us sharp, especially as we age. And different activities strengthen different parts of our grey matter. Just like a healthy diet, a healthy exercise regimen is varied: some strength training, some resistance training, some aerobics. Don’t worry, you don’t have to work a Sudoku puzzle on an exercise bike to get the maximum benefit. Ryan Glatt, PNI’s Brain Heal...
2020-07-1557 min
Think NeuroThink Neuro Mini: Meet Dr. Daniel F. KellyDr. Daniel Kelly, a board certified neurosurgeon, is Director of the Pacific Neuroscience Institute and Professor of Neurosurgery at the John Wayne Cancer Institute. Considered to be one of the best neurosurgeons in the US and a multiple recipients of the Patients' Choice Award, Dr. Kelly is internationally recognized in the field of minimally invasive keyhole surgery for brain, pituitary, and skull base tumors. He has one of the world's largest series in endonasal surgery with over 2000 procedures performed including over 800 endonasal endoscopic surgeries, and over 2000 craniotomies for brain and skull base tumors. His current surgical practice encompasses the full...
2020-07-0803 min
Think Neuro4: With Stroke Victims, Speed Saves Lives | Dr. Jason TarpleyFor Dr. Jason Tarpley, speed is everything. He’s the director of Pacific Neuroscience Institute’s Stroke & Neurovascular Center, and when it comes to stroke—a blockage in an artery that feeds the brain—time is a killer. For every minute that a section of brain matter doesn’t get blood flow, 1.9 million neurons suffocate to death, taking brain function with them. Dr. Tarpley’s message to his team? No matter how fast you’re going, you should be going faster. What that means in vascular neurology is threading a tube the size of a phone-charging cord into an artery in the leg, th...
2020-06-2441 min
Think Neuro3: Eye See, In Orbit With | Dr. Howard KraussBefore he became a surgeon in Santa Monica, Dr. Howard Krauss worked as an aerospace engineer for Hughes Aircraft Company in Long Beach, California. In making the switch, he traded one kind of orbit for another. He came out of earth’s orbit and into the human ones: the two sockets in the skull that hold the eyes and all their accompanying structures. He is one of a few surgical neuro-ophthalmologists on the planet who specializes in surgery within the orbit. He and his colleagues at PNI have pioneered minimally invasive techniques for treating diseases that threaten vision, and for us...
2020-05-2051 min
Think Neuro2. Taking On Parkinson’s Disease With Boxing Gloves | Dr. Melita PetrossianA diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease today doesn’t mean the same as it did even just a few years ago. There have been nine new medications for Parkinson’s disease and its related symptoms in the past five years, and we are understanding the importance of lifestyle now more than ever. People with Parkinson’s disease can make lifestyle changes that can slow the disease, and even improve their condition. Chief among them is exercise. Not just hitting the treadmill but doing new things that challenge both the brain and body at the same time. Movement disorders specialist Dr. Melita P...
2020-04-251h 07
Think NeuroThink Neuro TrailerFor more information:
pacificneuro.org | pacificbraintumor.org | (310) 829-8265
2020-03-2500 minThink Neuro1: A Tiny Tunnel to the Brain & Pituitary: Minimally Invasive Brain Surgery and The Origins of our Institute | Dr. Daniel KellyIn this podcast, Dr. Kelly talks about how he was drawn to neurosurgery, his fascination with the pituitary gland, the nuances of minimally invasive pituitary and brain tumor surgery, as well as a brief history of PNI, its focus on innovation and clinical trials and its 8 centers of excellence.
For more information:
pacificneuro.org | pacificbraintumor.org | (310) 829-8265
2020-03-2437 min