Chair, Department of Neurological Surgery
Professor of Surgery, Radiology and Neurosciences

Dr. Alexander Khalessi is a board-certified neurosurgeon specializing in cranial and endovascular surgery. He provides both open surgical and catheter-based approaches to complex neurosurgical problems, including primary and metastatic brain tumors, cavernomas, aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), stroke, Moyamoya disease, and carotid disease.

Dr. Khalessi holds several global and national leadership roles. He is the current President of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS), the leading academic society for neurosurgical professionals. Dr. Khalessi is in his fourth term on the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS)/CNS Washington Committee and sits on the Board of Governors for the American College of Surgeons (ACS).

Dr. Khalessi earned his medical degree at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and completed his neurosurgical residency at the University of Southern California. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in public policy and master’s degree in health services research from Stanford University, and holds a master’s degree in business administration from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan School of Management.