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Specialties

Cranial Surgery

Delicate cranial surgery, also known as brain surgery, requires the care of world-class neurosurgeons who are highly trained to operate with precision and skill. Several St. Luke’s neurosurgeons have additional fellowship training in cranial surgery, and operate to address conditions such as tumors, aneurysms, infection, and head injuries.

We offer:

  • Brain and spine tumor surgery
  • Open and catheter-based treatments for brain aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, fistulas, and subdural hematomas
  • Crebrovascular bypass of Moyamoya disease and other brain circulation disorders
  • Deep brain stimulation (DBS) and epilepsy surgery
  • NPH—comprehensive, multidisciplinary work-up and treatment for normal-pressure hydrocephalus
  • Chiari malformation surgery
  • Surgical, percutaneous, and radiation treatments for face pain
  • Multidisciplinary treatment of skull base tumors, including meningiomas, acoustic neuromas, and pituitary tumors

Providers

  • Edward A. Duckworth, MD

    Neurosurgery

    Biography

    Edward Duckworth, MD, MS, FAANS is an intracranial-focused neurosurgeon, specializing in the treatment of complex cranial disorders. He has expertise in treating many conditions, including cerebrovascular disease and the surgical treatment of stroke; brain tumors, including pituitary tumors; acoustic neuroma; skull base tumors; Chiari malformation; epilepsy; moyamoya; trigeminal neuralgia; arteriovenous malformations, cavernoma; normal-pressure hydrocephalus (NPH); and carotid artery disease. He is the director of St. Luke's Cranial Neurosurgery Program.

    Dr. Duckworth holds the distinction of being "dual-fellowship trained," having completed fellowship training in cerebrovascular and cranial base surgery at Northwestern University and in endovascular neurosurgery and interventional neuroradiology at Semmes-Murphey Neurologic and Spine Institute and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. He as also earned a subspecialty certification in neuroendovascular surgery from The Society of Neurological Surgeons Committee on Advanced Subspecialty Training (CAST). This depth of expertise allows him to offer the safest and most effective treatments for cerebrovascular conditions, whether that is open surgery or an endovascular technique.

    While working at the Baylor College of Medicine, he held the rank of associate professor and served as the director of cerebrovascular and cranial base neurosurgery.

    Dr. Duckworth is a member of the American Association for Neurological Surgeons and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. He has published over 50 peer reviewed papers and given more than 40 oral presentations on neurosurgery.

    Surgical Specialties

    • Neurosurgery
    • Cerebrovascular neurosurgery
    • Endovascular neurosurgery
    • Endovascular surgical neuroradiology
    • Neurological skull base surgery

    Availability

    Accepting new patients
     

  • Michael V. Hajjar, MD

    Neurosurgery

    Biography

    Michael Hajjar, MD specializes in reconstructive spine surgery, degenerative spinal conditions, treatment of spinal tumors, cerebrovascular disorders, brain tumors, peripheral nerve surgery, and spine and cranial trauma.

    Dr. Hajjar completed his bachelor's degree at Boston University.


    Availability

    Accepting new patients
     
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    Gregory S. Harrison, MD

    Neurosurgery

    Biography

    Gregory S. Harrison, MD, FAANS specializes in complex spine surgery, brain tumor surgery, peripheral nerve surgery, and general neurosurgery. Before moving to Boise, he practiced in both the Minneapolis/St. Paul area and Pocatello, ID.

    Dr. Harrison earned his bachelor's degree at Yale University and completed his medical degree at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, graduating with Alpha Omega Alpha honors. After his neurosurgery residency at Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Dr. Harrison performed his fellowship at the Royal Melbourne Hospital in Australia, with a focus on brain tumors and skull base surgery.

    Surgical Specialties

    • Brain surgery
    • Spine surgery
    • Discectomy
    • Laminectomy
    • Cervical and lumbar fusion
    • Corpectomy

    Availability

    Accepting new patients
     

  • Kenneth M. Little, MD

    Neurosurgery

    Biography

    Kenneth M. Little, MD, FAANS is the director of St. Luke's Clinic – Northwest Neurosurgery Associates and the regional director of spine surgery at St. Luke's Boise. His areas of expertise include complex spinal surgery, minimally invasive spinal surgery, brain tumor surgery, peripheral nerve surgery, reconstructive spine surgery, general neurosurgery, and artificial disc replacement. He also specializes in treatment of spinal tumors, cerebrovascular disorders, and degenerative spinal conditions. 

    Dr. Little earned his bachelor's degree in neuroscience from the University of California at Los Angeles where he received the Athletic and Academic Achievement Award. He earned his medical degree from Vanderbilt University where he received the Neurobiology Research Award for his work in neuroplasticity. While completing his neurosurgery training at Duke University, Dr. Little pursued a wide variety of clinical and academic interests. He authored several research papers and book chapters and received the Congress of Neurological Surgeons Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery Resident Award for his basic science work in epilepsy.

    Dr. Little also leads quality initiatives at St. Luke’s Health System across the continuum of care including a multidisciplinary outpatient spine clinic. Dr. Little is a member of St. Luke’s Research Advisory Committee and has a particular interest in comparative effectiveness research and novel analytics through mathematical modeling. 

    Surgical Specialties

    • Brain surgery
    • Spine surgery
    • Discectomy
    • Laminectomy
    • Cervical and lumbar fusion
    • Corpectomy

    Availability

    Accepting new patients
     

  • Richard A. Lochhead, MD

    Neurosurgery

    Biography

    Richard Lochhead, MD performs complex and minimally invasive spinal surgery, as well as cranial and skull-based neurosurgery. He is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, and Neurosurgical Review.

    Dr. Lochhead earned his bachelor's degree in neuroscience from Brigham Young University. He performed his internship in general surgery at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Phoenix and his fellowship in skull base surgery at the International Neuroscience Institute in Hannover, Germany. He completed his residency in neurological surgery and fellowship in complex spinal surgery at Barrow Neurological Institute/St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix.

    Availability

    Accepting new patients
     

  • Derek L. Martinez, MD

    Neurosurgery

    Biography

    Derek Martinez, MD, MS specializes in the treatment of a wide array of complex brain, spine, and peripheral nerve conditions. He has expertise in surgery for brain and spine tumors, complex spine care, radiosurgery, cerebral hemorrhages, artificial disc replacement, normal-pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), and general neurosurgery. He also performs surgery for neuromodulation and the treatment of movement disorders and epilepsy.

    Dr. Martinez is board certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery. He is also a member of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, and the American Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery. 

    Prior to his medical education, Dr. Martinez earned a bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University-Idaho and a master's degree in neuroscience from Brigham Young University.

    Surgical Specialties

    • Deep brain stimulation (DBS)
    • Epilepsy surgery
    • Stereotactic neurosurgery
    • Brain and pituitary tumors
    • Spine tumors
    • Complex spine surgery
    • Peripheral nerve surgery

    Availability

    Accepting new patients
     

Related Programs

Support Groups

North American Skull Base Society Recognition

North American Skull Base Society Recognition

St. Luke's Neurosurgery a Team of Distinction

St. Luke’s neurosurgery has earned recognition as a Multidisciplinary Team of Distinction from the North American Skull Base Society (NASBS). NASBS recognizes programs like St. Luke’s Neurosurgery that have multidisciplinary skull base surgery teams that include physicians in a variety of specialties.

Learn More about this Recognition

Support the Patients and Families at St. Luke's Neurosciences

Support the Patients and Families at St. Lukes Neurosciences

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Make a Donation to St. Luke's Neurosciences

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Together with our community partners and patients, we're building a stronger, healthier future for all Idahoans.

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