Vikas Rao, MD

Diplomat of the American Board of
Neurological Surgery

Dr. Vikas Rao is a board-certified fellowship-trained neurosurgeon specializing in brain surgery, cerebrovascular and endovascular neurosurgery, brain tumor treatments. He is fellowship-trained in the treatment of vascular disorders of the brain and a specialist in the treatment of stroke, brain bleeds, cerebral aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), carotid diseases, and the ICU care of neurological patients.

In addition to cerebrovascular disease, Dr. Rao has extensive training in the treatment of brain and spine tumors, brain and spine trauma, minimally invasive pituitary and skull base surgery, and minimally invasive spine surgery. Dr. Rao also has a special interest in hair-sparing brain surgery and always tries to keep patients looking the same pre and post-op.

Dr. Rao was born in Orange County but grew up in Claremont, California. He attended the Webb School before attending the University of California, Berkeley where he graduated with honors and double majored in Neurobiology and Psychology. After college he spent two years traveling, volunteering in India, and working in neuroscience laboratories studying functional brain mapping using MRI technology. He then joined the Keck School of Medicine at USC where he continued to focus on the brain and neurological diseases.

After USC, Dr. Rao spent 7 years in Houston training at the Baylor College of Medicine / MD Anderson Cancer Center Neurosurgery residency program. In addition to training in brain and spine surgery, Dr. Rao spent time training in cerebral angiography and catheter based neurosurgical interventions during residency. After finishing residency, he completed a fellowship in Endovascular, Surgical, and Critical Care Cerebrovascular Neurosurgery at the Drexel Neurosciences Institute in Philadelphia, PA. While there, he trained in the latest treatments for stroke, brain aneurysms, and vascular malformations with pioneers in the field.

Dr. Rao lives in Irvine, CA with his wife, an ophthalmologist, and his two sons.

Medical School

  • Keck School of Medicine at USC

Residency

  • Baylor College of Medicine / MD Anderson Cancer Center Neurosurgery Residency Program

Fellowship

  • Drexel Neurosciences Institute
    • Specializing in Endovascular, Surgical, and Critical Care Cerebrovascular Neurosurgery

Sub-Specialty

  • Brain Surgery
  • Cerebrovascular and Endovascular Neurosurgery
  • Brain Tumor Treatments
  • Vascular Disorders of the Brain
  • Minimally Invasive Pituitary and Skull Base Surgery
  • Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

Additional Focuses:

  • Stroke
  • Brain Bleeds
  • Cerebral Aneurysms
  • Arteriovenous Malformations (AVMs)
  • Carotid Diseases
  • ICU Care of Neurological Patients
  • Brain and Spine Tumors
  • Brain and Spine Trauma
  • Hair-Sparing Brain Surgery

Address

26732 Crown Valley Parkway, Mission Viejo, CA 92691

Fax

(949) 388-7150 ext. 118

Phone

(949) 388-7190 ext. 118

Coordinator

Danette Hansell: (949) 388-5028

Curriculum Vitae

Click HERE.

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