Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Brian Fiani.
Hi Dr. Fiani, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
At an early age, I knew I wanted a high-achieving career that had a great impact on others. My brother encouraged me to pursue medicine. It was at that point in high school that I decided I would like to pursue a career as a doctor. I cultivated my knowledge through the University of Michigan and then Michigan State University’s medical school before I came to California. To me, a career in Neurosurgery had the greatest impact on others. There was nothing more awe-inspiring to me in the human body than the brain and spinal cord. Through an unrelenting pursuit of excellence, years of sacrifice, and painstaking dedication to my craft, I became the neurosurgeon that I am today .
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road to success is seldom an easy one. The challenges instill growth and the growth instills learning. Because I am a perfectionist, I always make sure that I am doing the best for my patients on a daily basis. Therefore, it is a challenge is to find a life outside of work. I enjoy many athletic activities including tennis and hiking. The initial move across the country from Michigan to California was a different type of challenge, but it was met with the warm embrace of new friends and fun adventures. I really began to love all that Southern California has to offer very quickly as I lived in Palm Springs, Orange County, Hollywood, and San Diego.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
To tell you a little bit more about my work, I specialize in neurosurgery, which is the surgical subspecialty that focuses on the brain and the spine. Some particular brain surgeries and spine surgeries that I perform include degenerative spine surgery, cranial and spine trauma surgeries, and brain or spine tumor resections. I obtained a fellowship from an Ivy-League institution that focused on minimally invasive spine surgery and became Board-Certified at age 32. I am known for performing all brain and spine surgeries, but what sets me apart is my ability to perform minimally invasive spine surgery to help my patients get back to work and their activities quickly. Some of my research has focused on minimally invasive techniques, in particular, as I have published over 120 peer-reviewed journal publications.
I am most proud of my position that I served during my chief neurosurgery residency year as President of the entire hospital’s residency population at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs. I was honored to be voted by my peers as a leader for all specialties, and I believe that played a strong role in my winning of the Resident Achievement Award which is granted to the best osteopathic surgical resident in the entire country of any surgical specialty honoring them for their work during the entirety of their residency career. I believe similar leadership roles that I hold currently identify me as a compassionate and caring physician who always wants to find the best treatment plans for my patients. Most patients tend to remember me for my excellent bedside manner and my ability to bring a smile to even the most trying times.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
There is continued advancement in neurosurgical technology. Surgical tools and instruments are making surgeries safer and safer for patients by helping surgeons achieve greater accuracy and precision. I currently play role in the progressive movement forward as I have two medical device patents.
It could be argued that the modernization of spinal neurosurgery first started with the presentation of minimally invasive spine surgery techniques. Then, newer technologies such as robotic assistance platforms grew in popularity. Lately, artificial intelligence software has shown promise and there will likely be a big shift towards its utilization in the next 5-10 years. Augmented reality and virtual reality will take longer to incorporate into the industry but is likely to grow in the next 5-10 years. A big change that started recently is the performing of surgeries at ambulatory surgery centers rather than in hospitals.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Dr.BrianFiani
