NJBS Wins Awards

NJBS Named #1 in New Jersey by Castle Connolly and Develops State's Only Nationally Ranked Neurosurgery Program by U.S. News & World Report

December 19th, 2024 by Reza J. Karimi, MD

At New Jersey Brain and Spine, we are thrilled to announce that Castle Connolly has recognized us as the #1 Neurosurgery practice in New Jersey, and #5 Nationally for the second consecutive year. This recognition is a testament to our team’s unwavering dedication and unparalleled expertise. This prestigious honor reflects not only the quality of care we provide but also our commitment to improving the lives of our patients through innovative treatments and compassionate service.

What is the Castle Connolly Award?

The Castle Connolly Top Doctors program has long been a trusted resource for identifying the most skilled and respected physicians and practices nationwide. The rigorous selection process includes peer nominations, extensive research, and thorough evaluations of a practice’s qualifications, reputation, and patient care standards. Being named the #1 practice in our field by Castle Connolly is a recognition we deeply value, as it reflects our commitment to excellence and exceptional patient outcomes.

Distinctions Beyond Compare

We are also proud to have helped develop the neurosurgical program at Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC), the only nationally ranked neurosurgical program in New Jersey. HUMC has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as being among the top 50 in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery—a testament to exceptional capabilities and patient outcomes.

Practicing at this elite program means our patients benefit from access to groundbreaking research, state-of-the-art technology, and an integrated care model that prioritizes their well-being. At HUMC, advancements such as robotic-assisted surgeries, innovative imaging techniques, and minimally invasive procedures are standard. These tools allow us to deliver safer, more effective treatments that result in faster recovery times and improved patient satisfaction.

Our partnership with HUMC enables us to collaborate with some of the most esteemed specialists in the field, ensuring that each patient’s care plan is informed by the latest evidence and tailored to their unique needs. For our patients, this means access to the highest level of neurosurgical care available not only in New Jersey but across the country.

Why These Recognitions Matter | Is Castle Connolly Reputable?

At New Jersey Brain and Spine, we pride ourselves on being the region’s leading brain and spine care experts. Our highly specialized team is dedicated to providing expert treatment for various conditions, ensuring the best outcomes for our patients. Choosing the right healthcare provider is a deeply personal and critical decision, especially regarding neurological and spinal health. The Castle Connolly recognition, and partnership with HUMC, affirms that New Jersey Brain and Spine meets and exceeds our field’s highest standards.

These awards underscore the trust and confidence patients can have in our care. From minimally invasive surgeries to comprehensive rehabilitation programs, we focus on restoring patients’ health and lives through personalized, expert recommendations and compassionate care. We continue to prioritize leadership in neurosurgical care and we hope these distinctions underscore our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of excellence.

Our Commitment to Excellence

We are also proud that 13 of our physicians have received recognition from Castle Connolly as Top Doctors. These honors reflect their expertise, dedication, and standing as leaders in their fields. We are proud to highlight the achievements of our physicians who have been recognized as Castle Connolly Top Doctors.

Castle Connolly award winning doctors

These accolades highlight the caliber of professionals at New Jersey Brain and Spine and reinforce our unwavering commitment to excellence.

Being named #1 drives us to continue raising the standard in exceptional, neurosurgical care, ensuring that each patient receives personalized, expert attention backed by cutting-edge advancements. Our practice is built on a foundation of excellence, combining cutting-edge technology, innovative treatments, and a patient-first philosophy. Every team member is committed to providing care tailored to each patient’s needs.

Whether pioneering minimally invasive spine surgery or delivering world-class care for complex brain conditions, we remain at the forefront of medical advancements for exceptional outcomes. As Castle Connolly recognized, our mission is simple: to help patients heal and reclaim their lives.

A Heartfelt Thank You

These achievements would not have been possible without our patients’ immense trust and support, our team’s collaborative spirit, and the invaluable contributions of the surrounding medical community. We want to extend our deepest gratitude to Castle Connolly for this recognition and to everyone who has been part of our journey.

Looking Ahead

We remain focused on providing top-tier, compassionate care for patients with brain, spine, and neurological conditions. We are inspired to continue pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in our field.

For more information about our services and specialties, please reach out. Together, we can achieve extraordinary patient outcomes.

Road to Recovery: Surgical and Non-Surgical Approaches for Meningioma Treatment

What is a Meningioma? A meningioma is a tumor that arises from the meninges — the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. Although not technically a brain tumor, it is included in this category because it may compress or squeeze the adjacent brain, spinal cord, nerves and vessels. There are several types and grades of Meningioma. Meningiomas are the most common type of primary brain tumor, accounting for approximately 30 percent of all brain tumors. Most meningiomas grow...

Unraveling the Enigma: Understanding Schwannoma and Its Impact on Nerves

A schwannoma is a type of tumor that develops from Schwann cells in a person’s peripheral nervous system or nerve roots. It is sometimes also called a neuroma. Schwann cells assist the conduction of nerve signals. They wrap around peripheral nerves and provide protection and support. The body’s peripheral nervous system includes nerves that travel from your spinal cord and brain to carry signals to and from the rest of your body. Schwannomas can often appear in nerves that enable sensations...

Exercises and Stretches for Sciatica Relief

If you’re suffering from sciatica, there’s good news: Exercises and stretches are a viable route to sciatica relief. Sciatica is an extremely common condition, affecting about 40% of Americans at some point in their lives. Although sometimes sciatica improves on its own without significant intervention, it’s important for patients to know that there are ways to address challenging symptoms. What is Sciatica? Sciatica is pain from damage to or pressure on the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is actually the...

Laminectomy vs. Laminotomy: What’s the Difference

Laminotomy and laminectomy are types of surgeries to remove part or most of a spinal bone called the lamina. The lamina is the back part of each vertebra (spinal bone) and covers the spinal canal, the area around the spinal cord. Both procedures reduce pressure on the spinal cord or spinal nerves to relieve pain. What’s the Difference? The difference between these two different procedures is significant. A laminectomy refers to a surgical operation that totally removes the lamina. On...

Dr Roy Vingan New Jersey Brain and Spine

Spinal Fusion Procedure Relieves Back Pain

Back pain. These are two words that can send a shiver down your spine (no pun intended). Back pain is a ubiquitous problem that plagues people globally and may originate from an array of causes, including poor posture, heavy lifting, injury, or underlying health conditions like osteoporosis, scoliosis, and herniated discs. Data from 2019 reveals that approximately 39% of adults had experienced back pain within the past three months. With almost four in every ten adults dealing with such back...

xvision marks the spot: Groundbreaking augmented reality technology makes surgeries easier, faster, and safer

Not all heroes wear capes – at New Jersey Brain & Spine, they have scrubs instead to go with their X-ray vision. What is the Surgical AR System? Neurosurgeons and practice co-founders Patrick A. Roth, MD, and Roy D. Vingan, MD, have joined an elite group of U.S. physicians to use new augmented reality (AR) technology, making them the first in the Garden State to offer more accurate and personalized implant placement. The FDA-cleared Augmedics xvision Spine System is the...

New Jersey Brain and Spine Neurosurgeons Become First Physicians in New Jersey to Use New Augmented Reality Technology

Augmented reality headset gives surgeons "x-ray vision" during procedures for accurate and personalized implant placement while keeping their eyes on their patients HACKENSACK, N.J., July 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- New Jersey Brain and Spine (NJBS) is now offering a new standard of advanced spine surgery to patients state-wide. Two NJBS surgeons have recently become New Jersey's first physicians to successfully treat patients with new technology, which allows surgeons to see anatomy as if they have "x-ray vision." In December 2023, Patrick A. Roth, MD, and Roy D. Vingan, MD,...

Radio host makes airwaves with stroke – and complete recovery

Today, Marisol Vargas is the mother of a vivacious 2½-year-old. But in 2019, she ended up permanently on a daily baby aspirin regimen after suffering a stroke that brought her to from one medical center to Hackensack University Medical Center by helicopter. Her carotid artery was completely blocked, which can lead to potentially devastating stroke even in young patient. There, she had a special brain scan from Hackensack Meridian Neuroscience Institute neurosurgeon Reza Karimi, M.D., who was then able to treat her...

Practice pioneers new aneurysm technology for riskiest brain aneurysms

Not all brain aneurysms are the same. Nor are all surgeons and practices. Out of over 1,000 neurological medical centers in the country, the vascular neurosurgery team at New Jersey Brain and Spine was selected to participate in the Citadel embolization device study. The minimally invasive approach for brain aneurysms varies from a more common coil treatment to one that’s more like a ribbon shape. A coil treatment for a brain aneurysm is a minimally invasive procedure that blocks blood...