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Michael T. Lawton, MD
Professor and Chair, Neurosurgery
Chief, Neurovascular Surgery
- (602) 406-3181
- Fax: (602) 406-4402
Michael T. Lawton, MD, is the President and CEO of Barrow Neurological Institute, Robert F. Spetzler Endowed Chair in Neurosciences, and Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery. He is board certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery.
Dr. Lawton’s neurosurgical expertise includes cerebrovascular disorders (aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, cavernous malformations, and stroke) and skull base tumors. He has experience in treating more than 5,250 brain aneurysms, 1,200 arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), and 1,200 cavernous malformations, including more than 400 in the brainstem and other highly delicate areas of the brain. He is a member of the the American Academy of Neurological Surgery, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, the Society of Neurological Surgeons, and the World Academy of Neurological Surgery.
Dr. Lawton received his medical degree from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland and an undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. He completed his neurosurgery residency at Barrow, where he also completed a fellowship in cerebrovascular and skull base surgery. After joining the faculty at the University of California, San Francisco, he later completed a fellowship in endovascular surgery there.
Dr. Lawton’s research studies the formation, underlying genetics, and rupture of brain AVMs, as well as the hemodynamics, rupture, and computational modeling of brain aneurysms. His clinical research studies the anatomy of microsurgical approaches and clinical outcomes of microsurgery for aneurysms, AVMs, and bypass surgery. He is the principal investigator for the Brain Vascular Malformation Consortium, a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded multicenter group studying the genetics and clinical course of rare vascular diseases of the brain. He has published more than 900 peer-reviewed articles, eight single-author textbooks, and more than 120 book chapters.
Knowing neurosurgical education must continue during the pandemic, Dr. Lawton launched Seven Series, a collection of narrated case studies with histories, imaging studies, and illustrations from the Barrow Neuroscience Publications animation studio. He also initiated Barrow Neurosurgery Base Camp, a series of videos capturing resident teaching rounds to help neurosurgeons sharpen their skills. These efforts have helped to make him the one of the most prominent and influential neurosurgeons on X, formerly known as Twitter. Dr. Lawton also co-founded Mission: BRAIN, a teaching mission to raise the level of neurosurgery practiced in developing countries. The organization conducts annual missions in Mexico and Asia.
To request an appointment with Dr. Lawton, please call (602) 406-3181.
- Aetna
- Arizona Foundation
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Cigna
- Medicare
- Mercy Care (AHCCCS)
- United Healthcare
- Fellowship, University of California, San Francisco, Endovascular Surgery, 2008-2011
- Fellowship, Barrow Neurological Institute, Cerebrovascular and Skull Base Surgery, 1995-1996
- Residency, Barrow Neurological Institute, Neurosurgery, 1991-1997
- Internship, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, General Surgery, 1990-1991
- MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1990
- ScB, Brown University, Engineering, 1986
- American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS)
- Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS)
- Section of Cerebrovascular Surgery of the AANS and CNS
- American Academy of Neurological Surgery
- World Academy of Neurological Surgery
- Society of Neurological Surgeons
- Western Neurosurgical Society
- Cushing Award for Technical Excellence and Innovation in Neurosurgery, AANS, 2023
- William L. Young Achievement Award, The Aneurysm and AVM Foundation, 2017
- Distinguished Service Award, University of California, San Francisco, 2017
- Christopher C. Getch Fellowship Award, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, 2015
- Honorable Mention, PROSE Award, Textbook in Medicine Category, American Publishers Awards for Professional and Scholarly Excellence, Seven AVMS: Tenets and Techniques for Resection, 2015
- Top Doctor, Castle Connolly, 2007-present
- Hunt-Wilson Lecture, American Association of Neurological Surgeons, 2013
- Finalist, Ben Franklin Award, Professional and Technical Category, Independent Book Publishers Association, Seven Aneurysms: Tenets and Techniques for Clipping, 2012
- Super Doctor, MSP Communications, 2012
- Patients’ Choice Award, American Registry, 2011
- Award of Merit, Association of Medical Illustrators, Seven Aneurysms: Tenets and Techniques for Clipping, 2011
- Top Doctor, 415 Top Doctors, Marin Magazine, 2011-2017
- Best Doctors in America, Best Doctors, 2007-present
- Diane D. Ralston Clinical and Basic Science Teaching Award, University of California, San Francisco, Department of Neurological Surgery, 2006
- Harold Rosegay Teaching Award, University of California, San Francisco, Department of Neurological Surgery, 2005
- Young Neurosurgeon Award, World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies and International Congress of Neurological Surgery, 1997
- Resident Research Award, Rocky Mountain Neurosurgical Society, 1996-1997
- Sigma Xi, Scientific Research Honor Society, 1986
- Honors in Engineering, Brown University, 1986
- Meiklejohn Society, Brown University, 1984-1986
Factors influencing geographic gender disparity in neurosurgery: a nationwide geospatial clustering analysis
Date: 01/2024
Authors: Anant Naik, Nicholas Peterman, Charuta Furey, Gabriella Paisan, Joshua Catapano, Drishti Bhardwaj, Ankitha Iyer, Maria Bederson, Suguna Pappu, Laura Snyder, Laura A. Snyder, Ann Stroink, Michael T. Lawton, Paul M. Arnold
Rupture risk and outcomes of giant aneurysms in pediatric patients: a multi-institutional case series and systematic review
Date: 12/2023
Authors: Saksham Gupta, Blake M. Hauser, Joshua S. Catapano, Dara Farhadi, Patrick R. Ng, Joshua D. Bernstock, Alfred Pokmeng See, Michael T. Lawton, Edward R. Smith, Rose Du
Clip Reconstruction of a Ruptured Thoracic Anterior Spinal Artery Aneurysm Utilizing a Costotransversectomy Approach: 2-Dimensional Operative Video
Date: 12/2023
Authors: S Harrison Farber, Redi Rahmani, Lea Scherschinski, Joseph D. DiDomenico, Luke A. Mugge, Arnau Benet, Jennifer E. Kim, Andrew F. Ducruet, Jay D. Turner, Michael T. Lawton
Optimal PHASES scoring for risk stratification of surgically treated unruptured aneurysms
Date: 12/2023
Authors: Stefan W. Koester, Emmajane G. Rhodenhiser, Stephen J. Dabrowski, Lea Scherschinski, Joelle N. Hartke, Anant Naik, Katherine Karahalios, Elsa Nico, Ashia M. Hackett, Olga Ciobanu-Caraus, Laura Beatriz Lopez Lopez, Ethan A. Winkler, Joshua S. Catapano, Michael T. Lawton
Tranexamic Acid Demonstrates Efficacy without Increased Risk for Venous Thromboembolic Events in Cranial Neurosurgery: Systematic Review of the Evidence and Current Applications in Nontraumatic Pathologies
Date: 12/2023
Authors: Nolan J. Brown, Joelle N. Hartke, Mark Pacult, Kyle R. Burkett, Julian Gendreau, Joshua S. Catapano, Michael T. Lawton
- English
- (602) 406-3181
- Fax: (602) 406-4402
Michael T. Lawton, MD
Professor and Chair, Neurosurgery
Chief, Neurovascular Surgery
- (602) 406-3181
- Fax: (602) 406-4402
Michael T. Lawton, MD, is the President and CEO of Barrow Neurological Institute, Robert F. Spetzler Endowed Chair in Neurosciences, and Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery. He is board certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery.
Dr. Lawton’s neurosurgical expertise includes cerebrovascular disorders (aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, cavernous malformations, and stroke) and skull base tumors. He has experience in treating more than 5,250 brain aneurysms, 1,200 arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), and 1,200 cavernous malformations, including more than 400 in the brainstem and other highly delicate areas of the brain. He is a member of the the American Academy of Neurological Surgery, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, the Society of Neurological Surgeons, and the World Academy of Neurological Surgery.
Dr. Lawton received his medical degree from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland and an undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. He completed his neurosurgery residency at Barrow, where he also completed a fellowship in cerebrovascular and skull base surgery. After joining the faculty at the University of California, San Francisco, he later completed a fellowship in endovascular surgery there.
Dr. Lawton’s research studies the formation, underlying genetics, and rupture of brain AVMs, as well as the hemodynamics, rupture, and computational modeling of brain aneurysms. His clinical research studies the anatomy of microsurgical approaches and clinical outcomes of microsurgery for aneurysms, AVMs, and bypass surgery. He is the principal investigator for the Brain Vascular Malformation Consortium, a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded multicenter group studying the genetics and clinical course of rare vascular diseases of the brain. He has published more than 900 peer-reviewed articles, eight single-author textbooks, and more than 120 book chapters.
Knowing neurosurgical education must continue during the pandemic, Dr. Lawton launched Seven Series, a collection of narrated case studies with histories, imaging studies, and illustrations from the Barrow Neuroscience Publications animation studio. He also initiated Barrow Neurosurgery Base Camp, a series of videos capturing resident teaching rounds to help neurosurgeons sharpen their skills. These efforts have helped to make him the one of the most prominent and influential neurosurgeons on X, formerly known as Twitter. Dr. Lawton also co-founded Mission: BRAIN, a teaching mission to raise the level of neurosurgery practiced in developing countries. The organization conducts annual missions in Mexico and Asia.
To request an appointment with Dr. Lawton, please call (602) 406-3181.
- (602) 406-3181
- Fax: (602) 406-4402
- Aetna
- Arizona Foundation
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Cigna
- Medicare
- Mercy Care (AHCCCS)
- United Healthcare
- Fellowship, University of California, San Francisco, Endovascular Surgery, 2008-2011
- Fellowship, Barrow Neurological Institute, Cerebrovascular and Skull Base Surgery, 1995-1996
- Residency, Barrow Neurological Institute, Neurosurgery, 1991-1997
- Internship, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, General Surgery, 1990-1991
- MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1990
- ScB, Brown University, Engineering, 1986
- American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS)
- Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS)
- Section of Cerebrovascular Surgery of the AANS and CNS
- American Academy of Neurological Surgery
- World Academy of Neurological Surgery
- Society of Neurological Surgeons
- Western Neurosurgical Society
- Cushing Award for Technical Excellence and Innovation in Neurosurgery, AANS, 2023
- William L. Young Achievement Award, The Aneurysm and AVM Foundation, 2017
- Distinguished Service Award, University of California, San Francisco, 2017
- Christopher C. Getch Fellowship Award, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, 2015
- Honorable Mention, PROSE Award, Textbook in Medicine Category, American Publishers Awards for Professional and Scholarly Excellence, Seven AVMS: Tenets and Techniques for Resection, 2015
- Top Doctor, Castle Connolly, 2007-present
- Hunt-Wilson Lecture, American Association of Neurological Surgeons, 2013
- Finalist, Ben Franklin Award, Professional and Technical Category, Independent Book Publishers Association, Seven Aneurysms: Tenets and Techniques for Clipping, 2012
- Super Doctor, MSP Communications, 2012
- Patients’ Choice Award, American Registry, 2011
- Award of Merit, Association of Medical Illustrators, Seven Aneurysms: Tenets and Techniques for Clipping, 2011
- Top Doctor, 415 Top Doctors, Marin Magazine, 2011-2017
- Best Doctors in America, Best Doctors, 2007-present
- Diane D. Ralston Clinical and Basic Science Teaching Award, University of California, San Francisco, Department of Neurological Surgery, 2006
- Harold Rosegay Teaching Award, University of California, San Francisco, Department of Neurological Surgery, 2005
- Young Neurosurgeon Award, World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies and International Congress of Neurological Surgery, 1997
- Resident Research Award, Rocky Mountain Neurosurgical Society, 1996-1997
- Sigma Xi, Scientific Research Honor Society, 1986
- Honors in Engineering, Brown University, 1986
- Meiklejohn Society, Brown University, 1984-1986
Factors influencing geographic gender disparity in neurosurgery: a nationwide geospatial clustering analysis
Date: 01/2024
Authors: Anant Naik, Nicholas Peterman, Charuta Furey, Gabriella Paisan, Joshua Catapano, Drishti Bhardwaj, Ankitha Iyer, Maria Bederson, Suguna Pappu, Laura Snyder, Laura A. Snyder, Ann Stroink, Michael T. Lawton, Paul M. Arnold
Rupture risk and outcomes of giant aneurysms in pediatric patients: a multi-institutional case series and systematic review
Date: 12/2023
Authors: Saksham Gupta, Blake M. Hauser, Joshua S. Catapano, Dara Farhadi, Patrick R. Ng, Joshua D. Bernstock, Alfred Pokmeng See, Michael T. Lawton, Edward R. Smith, Rose Du
Clip Reconstruction of a Ruptured Thoracic Anterior Spinal Artery Aneurysm Utilizing a Costotransversectomy Approach: 2-Dimensional Operative Video
Date: 12/2023
Authors: S Harrison Farber, Redi Rahmani, Lea Scherschinski, Joseph D. DiDomenico, Luke A. Mugge, Arnau Benet, Jennifer E. Kim, Andrew F. Ducruet, Jay D. Turner, Michael T. Lawton
Optimal PHASES scoring for risk stratification of surgically treated unruptured aneurysms
Date: 12/2023
Authors: Stefan W. Koester, Emmajane G. Rhodenhiser, Stephen J. Dabrowski, Lea Scherschinski, Joelle N. Hartke, Anant Naik, Katherine Karahalios, Elsa Nico, Ashia M. Hackett, Olga Ciobanu-Caraus, Laura Beatriz Lopez Lopez, Ethan A. Winkler, Joshua S. Catapano, Michael T. Lawton
Tranexamic Acid Demonstrates Efficacy without Increased Risk for Venous Thromboembolic Events in Cranial Neurosurgery: Systematic Review of the Evidence and Current Applications in Nontraumatic Pathologies
Date: 12/2023
Authors: Nolan J. Brown, Joelle N. Hartke, Mark Pacult, Kyle R. Burkett, Julian Gendreau, Joshua S. Catapano, Michael T. Lawton
- English