Brain Tumors

Call to Request an Appointment

315 464-4470

Referral Information

Brain Tumor Referrals

Main telephone: 315 464-4470
Main Fax: 315-464-5520
Toll Free: 800 255-5011

Required for referrals:

Recent office notes with diagnosis & reason for surgical consult
Recent imaging / scans from within the last 6 months

Malignant Brain Tumor Surgeons

Harish Babu, MD, PhD
Tel: 315 492-3172
Fax: 315-464-5503

Timothy M Beutler, MD, FAANS
Tel. 315 492-3111

Lawrence Chin, MD, FACS
Dean, Norton College of Medicine
Tel. 315 492-3170
Fax: 315-464-5520

Walter Hall, MD
Tel. 315 492-3117
Fax: 315-464-6504

Satish Krishnamurthy, MD, MCh
Tel. 315 492-3125
Fax: 315-464-5501

Skull-Base Tumors

Harish Babu, MD, PhD
Tel. 315 492-3172
Fax: 315-464-5503

Lawrence Chin, MD, FACS
Dean, Norton College of Medicine
Tel. 315 492-3170
Fax: 315-464-5520

Satish Krishnamurthy, MD, MCh
Tel. 315 492-3125
Fax: 315-464-5501

Pituitary Tumors

Harish Babu, MD, PhD
Tel. 315 492-3172
Fax: 315-464-5503

Timothy M Beutler, MD, FAANS
Tel. 315 492-3117

Lawrence Chin, MD, FACS
Dean, Norton College of Medicine
Tel. 315 492-3170
Fax: 315-464-5520

Walter Hall, MD
Tel. 315 492-3117
Fax: 315-464-6504

Satish Krishnamurthy, MD, MCh
Tel. 315 492-3125
Fax: 315-464-5501

Pediatric Tumors

Satish Krishnamurthy, MD, MCh
Tel. 315 492-3125
Fax: 315-464-5501

Zulma Tovar Spinoza, MD
Tel. 315 492-3114
Fax: 315-464-4415

Because the brain is the body's command center, diagnosis of a brain tumor was long regarded as ominous news. But recent, revolutionary advances in understanding these complex tumors, combined with ever expanding powerful treatments, have dramatically improved the outlook for patients with brain tumors.

Tumors and Conditions Treated

Benign brain tumors including: menigiomas, gliomas, and metastatic tumors
Malignant brain tumors including: gliomas, GBM, and astrocytoma
Acoustic neuromas
Skull base tumors
Pseudotumor cerebri

Advanced Technology

The Gamma Knife Experts

Upstate Medical University Neurosurgery ranks as a national leader in effective and innovative brain tumor treatment, having performed hundreds of brain tumor resections annually. Our team of prominent specialists are uniquely trained to use the only Gamma Knife in Central New York and have played a leading role in development of neuronavigational tools.

Newest Options in Treatment and Imaging

Diagnosis and treatment for brain tumors includes surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Under these broad categories are dozens of highly focused treatments including:

Stereotactic radiosurgery
Image-guided surgery
Brain mapping
Immunotherapy

An individualized course of treatment is developed for each patient, often with a progression of treatments, such as surgical resection followed by chemotherapy.

Our Multidisciplinary Team

The treatment of a brain tumor is one of the most interdisciplinary endeavors in medicine requiring a wide array of treatments, technologies and specialists—resources available at Upstate Medical University through Upstate's Neurological Institute. Our comprehensive medical team for tumor patients includes a neurosurgeon, neurologist, medical and radiation oncologists, a clinical psychologist, physical, occupational and speech therapists, plus nurses, dieticians, and social workers.

Our Providers

Harish Babu, MD/PhD
315 492-3172

Education & Fellowships

Fellowship: Center for Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia, 2019, Neurooncology/Endoscopic skull base
Fellowship: University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada, 2019, Epilepsy/Functional
Residency: Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, 2018, Residency, Department of Neurosurgery,
Fellowship: Stanford University, 2012, Adult hippocampal neurogenesis
Additional Training: Charite Berlin University Medicine, 2007, PhD (neural stem cells)
MBBS: Calicut Medical College, Kerala, India, 2001

Diseases/Specialties/Treatments

Epilepsy and Epilepsy Surgery; Neuro Oncology; Functional Neurosurgery; Complex Brain Tumors; Gamma Knife; Skull Base Tumors; more

Timothy M Beutler, MD, FAANS
315 492-3117

Diseases/Specialties/Treatments

Neurological Surgery; Neurocritical Care; Bone Infection; Brain Abscess; Brain Aneurysm; Brain Cancer; more

Lawrence S Chin, MD, FAANS, FACS
315 492-3168

Education & Fellowships

Residency: University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, 1994, Neurosurgery
MD: University of Michigan Medical School, 1987
BS: University of Michigan, 1983

Diseases/Specialties/Treatments

Neurological Surgery; Brachial Plexus Injury; Brain Abscess; Brain Aneurysm; Brain Injury; Brain Tumor; more

Walter A Hall, MD, MBA
315 464-8824

Education & Fellowships

Residency: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, PA, 1990, Neurosurgery
Internship: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, PA, 1984, General Surgery
MD: Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, 1983

Diseases/Specialties/Treatments

Neurological Surgery; Brain Tumors; Gamma Knife; Pituitary Tumors; Cervical Spine; Trigeminal Neuralgia; more

Ali Hazama, MD
315 492-3168

Education & Fellowships

Residency: SUNY Upstate Medical University, 2020, Neurosurgery

Diseases/Specialties/Treatments

Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders; Minimally Invasive Surgery; Spine Fusion Surgery; Spine Tumors; Neurological Surgery; Brain Injury; more

Satish Krishnamurthy, MD, MCh, FAANS
315 492-3125

Education & Fellowships

Residency: Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Pennsylvania State University, 2000, Neurological Surgery
Fellowship: University Of Mainz, Germany, 1999
Internship: Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Pennsylvania State University, 1995, General Surgery
MD: Mysore Medical College, Mysore, India, 1984

Diseases/Specialties/Treatments

Neurocritical Care; Minimally Invasive Surgery; Pediatric Neurosurgery; Pediatric Neurosurgery; Neurological Surgery; Brain Injury; more

Zulma Tovar Spinoza, MD
315 492-3114

Education & Fellowships

Fellowship: Hospital for Sick Children - Toronto, Canada, 2007, Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery
Fellowship: Hospital for Sick Children - Toronto, Canada, 2006, Pediatric Neurosurgery
Residency: University of Tel Aviv - Rabin Medical Center, 2005, Neurological Surgery
MD: Universidad de los Andes, Venezuela, 1993

Diseases/Specialties/Treatments

Neurological Surgery; Epilepsy and Epilepsy Surgery; Minimally Invasive Surgery; Pediatric Neurosurgery Functional; Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery; Laser Ablation Surgery; more