Pioneering Surgeon Bob Carter, MD, PhD, Joins UCSD

Newswise — Distinguished neurosurgeon and scientist, Bob Carter, MD, PhD, has been named chief of the division of neurosurgery at UC San Diego Medical Center and the Moores UCSD Cancer Center. Under his leadership, the university will launch a multidisciplinary Brain Tumor Treatment Center that will serve as a destination for patients and referring physicians seeking integrated care from multiple specialists in one location. Internationally recognized for advancing novel therapies for the treatment of glioblastomas at both the genetic and surgical level, Carter was one of the first researchers to identify a genetic signature for brain tumors in blood samples of cancer patients. This form of profiling enables the early diagnosis and personalized treatment of brain tumors. Carter is also a leader in immunotherapy, researching how the body’s own biologic system can be used to reject cancerous growths. “Dr. Carter is one of the nations’ most sought after neurosurgeons for the treatment of complex neurological disease,” said Mark A. Talamini, MD, professor and M. J. Orloff Family Chair of the department of surgery at UC San Diego Medical Center. “Our region is fortunate to have one of the world’s preeminent brain surgeons to enrich and expand California’s health sciences innovation platform.” Carter arrived from Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School where he specialized in surgical treatment of brain and skull base tumors, brain aneurysms, and other intracranial neurologic diseases. Carter obtained his MD and PhD degrees at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Public Health respectively. His post-doctoral training included residency in neurosurgery at Massachusetts General Hospital and post-doctoral fellowships at the Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, MA and Children’s Hospital, Boston. “UC San Diego Medical Center has a patient-focused vision of how to treat all forms of neurological disease from diagnosis and imaging to surgery and rehabilitation,” said Carter, professor and chief of neurosurgery at UC San Diego Medical Center. “UC San Diego has an amazing trajectory in terms of innovation and growth. The UCSD Division of Neurosurgery will continue to increase its slope and acceleration forward.” Carter will lead UCSD Medical Center’s effort to develop a specialized ICU for neurological patients, offering rapid assessment and treatment of complex neurological illnesses including stroke, brain hemorrhage, traumatic brain injury, coma, and neurological infections. Advanced technologies and procedures include new endovascular therapies, awake surgery for brain tumors to preserve limb and speech function, functional brain mapping, and deep brain stimulation. Carter is internationally recognized for his contributions to the neurosurgical field. He serves on the editorial boards for the journal Neurosurgery and serves on the program committee for the International Stroke Conference. Carter will lead a team of 21 neurosurgeons including 11 neurosurgeons training in the San Diego’s only neurosurgical residency program. Areas of expertise include treatment of arteriovenous malformations, brain malignancies, carotid artery disease, cerebral aneurysms, chronic pain, epilepsy, movement disorders, minimally invasive spine surgery and Parkinson’s disease.