Ekkehard M. Kasper, MD, DPhil, Chair of Neurosurgery
Dr. Ekkehard Kasper is the Chair of Neurosurgery at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center as well as the Regional Chief of Neurosurgery for Steward and Professor of Neurosurgery. A graduate of Freiburg University (Germany) and Oxford University (England), Dr. Kasper completed his neurosurgical training at Mass General Hospital in Boston and has cultivated an expertise in treating cancers and benign tumors of the brain and spine, using state-of-the-art technology with a mastery in stereotactic radiosurgery. He is also experienced in all of general neurosurgery.
His areas of special interest include:
• Benign and Malignant tumors of the Brain and Spine; Pituitary Tumors
• Metastatic Disease of the Brain and Spine;
• Radiosurgery
• Traumatic Brain Injury and Neurocritical Care
• Hydrocephalus
• Chiari Malformation
• Cerebrovascular Neurosurgery (Cavernomas, Intracranial hemorrhage, SAH)
• Neurosurgery in Pregnancy
• Minimally Invasive and Endoscopic Neurosurgery
Jeffrey Arle, MD, PhD, FAANS
Dr. Jeffrey Arle received his BA in Biopsychology from Columbia University in 1986 and his MD and PhD from the University of Connecticut in 1992, completing dissertation research in computational neurosciences. He then went on to do a residency in neurosurgery at the University of Pennsylvania, incorporating a double fellowship in movement disorder surgery and epilepsy surgery at New York University.
Dr. Arle has practiced in the field of functional neurosurgery for over 25 years and is experienced in all areas of neuromodulation, from deep brain stimulators to vagus nerve, spinal cord, peripheral nerve, and motor cortex stimulators. He has published several of the leading textbooks in the field of neuromodulation, including now the second edition of Essential Neuromodulation (Academic Press, 2011, 2022) with Dr. Jay Shils, as well as Innovative Neuromodulation (Academic Press 2017), and The Neuromodulation Casebook (Academic Press 2020). Additionally, he has contributed frequent peer-reviewed publications and numerous chapters to the literature for over 30 years. He has served as an associate editor at the journals Neuromodulation and Neurosurgery, past co-chair of the Research and Scientific Policy Committee for the International Neuromodulation Society, and for over ten years on the Board of Directors for the International Society for Intraoperative Neurophysiology. His longstanding research interests are in the area of computational modeling, artificial intelligence, and decision-making in medicine, and in the understanding and improved design of devices used in neuromodulation treatments.
Dr. Arle served in the Army Reserve for 15 years and retired in 2009 as a Lt. Colonel.
Serdar Kaya, MD
Dr. Serdar Kaya is a fellowship-trained neurosurgeon who specializes in spinal disorders, peripheral nerve problems and general neurosurgical care. He is experienced with the latest advances in spine surgery, including minimally invasive spine surgery, artificial disc replacement, complex and revision spinal reconstruction, navigation, and motion preservation techniques (non-fusion surgery).
Dr. Kaya completed medical school and his neurosurgery residency at Gulhane Military Medical Academy in Turkey. He obtained advanced training with complex spine surgery and skull base surgery fellowships from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center; St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center; and Harvard University Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He has authored over 100 peer reviewed abstracts, articles and book chapters focusing on spinal biomechanics, spinal surgery optimization and prevention of spine surgery complications. He serves as peer reviewer for multiple academic journals.
Combining his experience and passion for spine surgery Dr. Kaya customizes treatment plans according to the unique needs of each patient, prioritizing non-operative methods whenever feasible and advocating for surgery as a last resort after exhausting all other viable treatment options.
His clinical areas of interest include cervical, thoracic, lumbar degenerative disc disease, disc herniations, spinal stenosis, myelopathy, spinal instability, spondylolisthesis, vertebra fractures, adult spinal deformity, failed spine surgery, spine tumors, carpal tunnel syndrome, and ulnar nerve entrapments.
Zachary Tataryn, MD
Dr. Zachary Tataryn is a board-certified Neurosurgeon, specializing in complex and minimally invasive spine surgery. His special interests also include scoliosis surgery and Chiari decompressions. After graduating from Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Dr. Tataryn completed his neurosurgical residency at McMaster University. He then went on to graduate from the AO Complex Spine Surgery Fellowship at the Swedish Institute in Seattle. Dr. Tataryn is a current member of the Congress of Neurological surgeons, AO spine, the North American Spine Association, and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons. Additionally, Dr. Tataryn holds an academic appointment at Boston University Medical School as an Adjunct Assistant Professor.
Sharon Bassi, MD
Dr. Sharon Bassi is board-certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation and serves as the Spine Center Medical Director at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center. She specializes in evaluating and treating non-surgical musculoskeletal and spine conditions using conservative modalities, such as exercise-based physical therapy and image-guided injections. After earning her medical degree from the University of Florida College of Medicine, Dr. Bassi completed her training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School, where she served as Chief Resident, earning numerous academic and leadership awards. She then completed a fellowship at the University of California (UCLA) focused on advanced training in non-surgical spine care, resulting in board certification in pain medicine. She is also a member of many professional societies, including the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spine Intervention Society, and American Association for Physician Leadership. Dr. Bassi holds academic appointments at Tufts Medical Center as an Assistant Professor and at Boston University Medical School as an Adjunct Assistant Professor.