Erez Nossek, MD

As a vascular neurosurgeon, I specialize in treating people who have had stroke and people who have conditions that carry a high risk of stroke, such as moyamoya disease, intracranial atherosclerotic disease, and cervical carotid stenosis. I also treat people who or are at risk for conditions that cause bleeding in the brain, such as brain aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, and arteriovenous fistula. Through my extensive training, I am able to offer my patients the option of minimally invasive endovascular techniques or open vascular neurosurgery.

I am originally from Israel and served in the Israeli Air Force for seven years before medical school. I was fascinated by the advanced technology of the jet aircrafts that I flew, and it was these technological intricacies that attracted me to neurosurgery, where technology plays a significant role in the operating room (OR).

The field of vascular neurosurgery has progressed significantly over the past decade, due to devices and technologies that allow for minimally invasive treatment options with high efficacy and safety profiles. As director of NYU Langone’s Cranial Bypass Program, I perform extracranial–intracranial bypass surgery—often called cranial bypass or cerebral bypass surgery—to improve blood flow to the brain and prevent strokes. During this procedure, I divert a blood vessel located outside the skull that flows into the scalp and connect it to a blood vessel in the brain. Rerouting blood flow to the brain provides additional flow and that reduces stress on the body’s circulation and lessens the risk of stroke or bleeding inside the brain. As a neurosurgeon, witnessing the immediate postoperative improvements of my patients is gratifying.

Cranial bypass is a complex procedure that is not routinely performed at other institutions. Before each surgery, I use methodologies I learned as an Air Force pilot to plan for the most successful outcome. I start by acquiring as much information as possible about the patient’s specific neurovascular anatomy, followed by simulation of the case using preoperative high-tech options of three-dimensional analyses. I also use virtual reality systems and preoperative real technical practice in the OR under a surgical microscope. At NYU Langone, I am fortunate to work with a highly skilled team of clinicians with the same passion for patient care.

I am devoted to treating, as well as researching, both the clinical aspects and genetics of carotid webs. A carotid web is a small, shelf-like membrane lesion at the carotid bulb—the area where the carotid artery widens at its main branch point—that carries high risk for stroke in younger patients. There is still so much to learn about this lesion and how to prevent brain injury for these patients.

At NYU Grossman School of Medicine, I teach neurosurgery fellows, residents, and medical students. I believe that being a mentor and educator is an integral and essential part of being a physician and a surgeon. Teaching the next generation of physician to further advance treatment options for our patients is one of my major goals. I was extremely proud and honored to be named best teacher of the year during 2020.