General Info

John F. Alksne, MD, is a board-certified neurosurgeon who focuses on the care of patients with neurological conditions such as trigeminal neuralgia (tic doloreux/facial pain), facial tic, glossopharyngeal neuralgia, and acoustic neuroma.Dr. Alksne has pioneered new surgical techniques and technologies to advance the treatment of diseases and disorders of the central nervous system. He established the Epilepsy Surgery Program at UC San Diego Health, and in 1992 was honored with a special commendation by the Epilepsy Society of San Diego County. He was instrumental in establishing the UC San Diego Program in Gene Therapy, which includes research, training and clinical trials.As a professor of surgery at UC San Diego School of Medicine, Dr. Alksne trains residents and fellows. He joined UC San Diego in 1971 as a professor of neurological surgery and served as chief of neurological surgery until 1995. He was appointed dean of the School of Medicine in 1992, vice chancellor for health sciences in 1994, and continued in both positions until 1999.Dr. Alksne was chief of neurosurgery at Harbor General Hospital at UCLA from 1964-67 and professor and chair of neurological surgery at the Medical College of Virginia from 1967-71.He completed his residency training at the University of Washington in Seattle, where he also earned his medical degree.Dr. Alksne is a member of many scientific and professional societies, including the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, the Latin American Federation of Neurosurgeons, the World Society of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, the Association of American Medical Colleges, and the Association of Academic Health Centers.UC San Diego Health LinksFor more information on neurosurgery at UC San Diego Health, see http://health.ucsd.edu/specialties/neuro/Pages/default.aspx.