Dr. Peter Nakaji

Specialties:
Neurosurgery

Subspecialties:
Neurovascular, cerebrovascular neurosurgery

Board Certifications:
Dr. Nakaji is a board-certified Diplomate of the American Board of Neurological Surgery

Residencies and Fellowships:
Residency: UCSD Division of Neurological Surgery, San Diego School of Medicine
Fellowship: Barrow Neurological Institute – cerebrovascular/skull base surgery

Positions:
Director, Neurosurgery Residency Program, Barrow Neurological Institute
Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, University of Arizona

Appointment

Dr. Nakaji specializes in the treatment of complicated diseases of the brain and spine.  His vascular practice includes the treatment of aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, cavernous malformations, moyamoya disease, extracranial-intracranial bypass, and carotid artery disease.  Dr. Nakaji's brain and spinal tumor practice covers tumors of all types, including gliomas (such as astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas, and glioblastomas), schwannomas, and especially meninglomas.  He also maintains an active interest in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia and Chiari malformation, among other conditions.  His spine interests include degenerative disease and spinal trauma.

Dr. Nakaji completed his residency at the University of California, San Diego, Division of Neurological Surgery.  He received additional fellowship training in endoscopic neurosurgery at the Centre for Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery in Sydney, Australia, under the direction of Dr. Charles Teo.  He completed his fellowship in Cerebrovascular and Skull Base Surgery at the Barrow Neurological Institute under Dr. Robert Spetzler, before joining the staff as an attending neurosurgeon.  Dr. Nakaji currently serves as the Director of the Neurosurgical Intensive Care Units and the Director of Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery at the Barrow Neurologic Institute.  Dr. Nakaji is both nationally and internationally recognized as an expert in minimally invasive and endoscopic neurosurgical techniques, and has been invited to speak at the venues as diverse as Brazil and India.

Dr. Nakaji advocates an approach to neurosurgery that is both balanced and aggressive.  He is a strong proponent of the “minimally invasive” surgical philosophy, meaning that his surgical incisions are often smaller, less traumatic, and allow faster recovery, with the least possible discomfort to the patient.  His practice style is collaborative, incorporating his patients, their families, and the medical staff as members of his team in order to offer patients the best possible outcomes.

When not working, Dr. Nakaji enjoys running and is a “travel junkie”.