Find a Top Neurosurgeon Near Me in Santa Monica, CA – Book an Appointment Instantly

As a leading neurosurgeon in Orange County, California, Christopher Duma, MD, FACS, offers the most comprehensive care for brain tumors, brain diseases, and movement disorders. At his Newport Beach neurosurgical practice, he specializes in minimally invasive surgeries using state-of-the-art technology.

Dr. Duma is board-certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Duma also serves as the medical director of the brain tumor program at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian, a highly ranked academic hospital in Newport Beach, California.

Dr. Duma stays up to date on the latest neurosurgical treatments and technologies. He has even patented an immunotherapy treatment for glioblastomas, and his gene therapy and other research are an integral part of the fight against malignant brain tumors. His Newport Beach office is fully equipped with the latest computer-assisted neurosurgical technologies, radiosurgery tools, like Gamma Knife® and CyberKnife®, and the world-renowned StealthStation™ navigational surgical system.

After earning his medical degree from Stony Brook University School of Medicine in Stony Brook, New York, Dr. Duma completed his residency in neurological surgery at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC. He went on to complete a one-year fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh, Presbyterian Hospital in Gamma Knife radiosurgery and stereotactic neurosurgery. This hospital was the first in the nation to install Gamma Knife technology, and since 1990, Dr. Duma has been performing Gamma Knife radiosurgery, making him an expert in this field.

At his Newport Beach neurosurgical practice, Dr. Duma offers a variety of surgical services to address brain disease and tumors, as well as neurological conditions like Parkinson’s disease. He is also skilled in regenerative treatments, like stem cell therapy, to restore patient function and improve overall health.

For a personal consultation with Dr. Duma, call the office or request a consultation online today.

Dr. Benjamin Ball grew up in a smaller town within the New York Tri-State area. As a young adult, he moved to Charlottesville, Virginia where he completed a double major in chemistry and biology at the University of Virginia, graduating with high honors. He remained at UVA for medical school, where his pre-clerkship GPA was top five in his class. He then completed his neurosurgical residency at the University of California, Irvine, where he spent a year completing an enfolded skull-base surgery fellowship. His surgical interests include tumors, spine, and trauma. In his free time, he enjoys watching movies, reading science fiction books, attending local comedy shows, and watching UVA Men’s Basketball dominate.

Ramin AmirNovin, MD, FAANS, FCNS (“Dr. A”) is an accomplished neurosurgeon and spinal surgeon at Inland Neurosurgery Institute (INI) in Pomona, California. Dr. AmirNovin has wanted to be a neurological surgeon since the age of thirteen. While volunteering at the Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, California, he witnessed a life-saving craniotomy (brain surgery) on a trauma patient, and this inspired him immensely. He double-majored in chemistry and biochemistry and graduated with the highest distinction of summa cum laude from the University of California, San Diego, where he was part of the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society.

He continued his education in New York City, where he obtained his medical degree with the highest honors (Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society and Lucien Rubinstein Award) from New York University Medical School. He completed his general surgery and neurological surgery training at the prestigious Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). He also completed a two-year fellowship program for specialty training in functional/stereotactic neurosurgery at MGH.

Dr. AmirNovin has written several book chapters, numerous articles for peer-reviewed publications, and performed cutting-edge research on brain tumors, movement disorders, pain syndromes, and epilepsy.

Dr. AmirNovin practiced complex general neurosurgery at MGH before moving back to the West Coast to be near his family in 2007. As a board-certified, fellowship-trained neurosurgeon, he has extensive experience in the treatment of complex spine problems and tumors, brain tumors, cranial-spinal trauma, stroke, movement disorders, complex pain syndromes, Parkinson’s, and peripheral nerve diseases.

Dr. AmirNovin believes that the most important service he provides his patients is a “no-hype, no-gimmick, no-pressure approach to neurosurgery.”   He is highly regarded by his patients and the local physicians for doing the least invasive surgery necessary to restore the patient’s health and functional status. He takes the time to explain the disease process to the patient and explains all of the risks and benefits of their various options for treating them.  Dr. AmirNovin is the Senior Partner at INI.

His patient-centered approach to neurological surgery has gained him numerous clinical recognitions based on patient and colleague reviews. He is rated as a Castle Connolly top doctor for multiple years and is routinely a '5-star' medicare participant.  

In his free time, Dr. AmirNovin enjoys spending time with his family, computer programming, skiing, and dabbling in digital photography.

EDUCATION

• 1996: Bachelor of Science in Chemistry / Biochemistry (Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, Highest Honors)
• 2000: Medical Doctorate (MD) from New york University (NYU) Medical School (Alpha Omega Alpha Honors Society)
• 2000: General Surgery Internship – Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Boston, MA
• 2001-2006: Neurosurgery Residency at Harvard’s Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH)
• 2005-2006: Fellowship training in Functional Neurosurgery at Harvard Medical School Center for CNS Regeneration (includes Surgery for Parkinsons, Complex pain, Image-Guided Surgery,
• Movement Disorders, and Seizure disorders)
• GAMMA Knife trained and certified 2008.
• Board Certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgeons, 2010

ASSOCIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS

• American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS)
• Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS)
• American Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (ASSFN)

ARTICLES & JOURNALS

• Article: Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN)
• Article: Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery for Parkinson’s Disease
• Article: PubMed.gov Articles

Catherine Peterson, MD, is an endovascular-trained neurosurgeon with advanced expertise in minimally invasive brain and spine procedures. At Inland Neurosurgery Institute, a practice with locations in Pomona and Arcadia, California, Dr. Peterson brings a deep commitment to patient-centered care and innovative neurovascular treatment strategies.

Originally from Moldova, Dr. Peterson immigrated to the U.S. in childhood, where she cultivated a strong work ethic and passion for medicine. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology with magna cum laude honors from Purdue and her medical degree from Indiana University School of Medicine. She completed her neurosurgery residency at UC Davis and Detroit Medical Center, followed by a competitive endovascular neurosurgery fellowship at UCLA.

Dr. Peterson specializes in both cranial and spinal neurosurgery, with a particular focus on treating stroke, aneurysms, and complex neurovascular conditions through catheter-based techniques. Her research, including multiple peer-reviewed publications and national presentations, centers on improving outcomes in stroke care and understanding cognitive recovery following brain hemorrhage.
Recognized for her academic excellence and compassionate approach, 

Dr. Peterson received the James E. Boggan Award for Scholarly Excellence twice. She believes in a personalized, respectful approach to neurosurgical care and stays active in the field through membership in organizations like the AANS, CNS, and SNIS.

Outside the operating room, Dr. Peterson enjoys gardening, traveling, and spending time with her family in California’s outdoors.

Katherine Wagner, MD, is one of the skilled neurosurgeons serving patients at Venutra Neurosurgery in Ventura, California. She moved to Ventura in 2022 and has privileges at Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura, Ventura County Medical Center in Ventura, and St. John Regional in Oxnard.

Dr. Wagner completed her undergraduate degree at Wellesley College, where she majored in chemistry. Her undergraduate research focused on utilizing nanoparticles to remove metal ions from water and other solutions. She earned her medical degree at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School in Newark, New Jersey, where she helped manage a student-run clinic and provided medical care at a homeless shelter. The New Jersey Medical School Alumni Association awarded her scholarships during her second, third, and fourth years.

Dr. Wagner completed her neurosurgery residency at Hofstra/Northwell Health in Long Island, New York. She spent a year in a neuro-oncology fellowship that focused primarily on surgery for brain tumors, along with techniques like laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). As a senior resident, she developed a strong interest in spine surgery, including neuro-navigation, exoscopic surgery, robotic surgery, and spinal instrumentation. After finishing her residency, she moved to California for a fellowship in complex and minimally invasive spine surgery at Stanford University. She moved to Ventura to start her practice after finishing that fellowship.

In her leisure time, Dr. Wagner enjoys hiking, gardening, boating, and traveling.

David Westra, MD, is an expert neurosurgeon who serves his patients at Ventura Neurosurgery in Ventura, California. He was raised in Tucson, Arizona, as well as Houston, Texas. He also spent a significant portion of his youth in Santiago, Chile, where he became fluent in Spanish. Dr. Westra is board-certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery.

Dr. Westra attended the University of Texas at Austin and earned a degree with honors in chemical engineering. He then enrolled in the University of Texas at Houston Medical School, where he received a Doctor of Medicine with highest honors as a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha honor medical society. During this time, Dr. Westra spent a significant amount of time among the neurosurgeons at the MD Anderson Cancer Center. It was this experience that led him to pursue a career in neurosurgery.

After completing his medical degree, Dr. Westra enrolled in the Loma Linda University Medical Center residency program for neurosurgery. While at LLU Medical Center, he gained extensive experience in minimally invasive spine surgery as well as all aspects of cerebrovascular and neuro-oncologic surgery. Dr. Westra also completed extensive research investigating the capacity for hyperbaric oxygen therapy to reduce surgically-induced brain injuries.

Dr. Westra completed his chief residency year and enrolled in a minimally invasive neurosurgery fellowship at the Swedish Neuroscience Institute in Seattle, Washington. While there, he gained extensive experience working alongside leaders in the fields of pituitary surgery, cerebrovascular surgery, endoscopic neurosurgery, functional neurosurgery, and complex spinal surgery — including minimally invasive spine surgery.

In 2010, Dr. Westra joined the Ventura County Neurosurgical Associates in 2010 and became involved at the Community Memorial Hospital, where he currently serves on the surgery committee. He is an active member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, the Western Neurosurgical Association, the California Association of Neurological Surgeons, and the Ventura County Medical Association. In his spare time, Dr. Westra enjoys spending time with his wife, Reimee, and his two children, Thomas and Olivia. He also loves travel, music, playing guitar, and everything to do with the ocean.