Neurology & Neurosurgery
Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center collaborates with Baylor College of Medicine to revolutionize neurosurgical approaches, find innovative uses for technology, and navigate new frontiers. With some of the best brains in neuroscience, our team manages patient care today while developing new treatments for tomorrow.
Pioneers in deep brain stimulation
Our image-guided, robotic DBS implantation system achieves the highest degree of precision available. We offer both conventional, microelectrode recording-guided surgery (during which the patient is awake for part of the procedure) and asleep, image-guided surgery (during which the patient is sound asleep the entire time). We maximize outcomes and minimize side effects by incorporating the latest intraoperative adjuncts and most sophisticated DBS systems, including those with directional steering capability.
In 2016, Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center was one of the first hospitals in the country to use the Infinity™ Deep Brain Stimulation System, an advanced treatment option for patients with Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor.
And in 2019, we became the first hospital in Texas to use the Vercise™ Gevia™ Deep Brain Stimulation Systems, featuring the Vercise Cartesia™ Directional Lead by Boston Scientific.
“The additional features of this DBS system allow us to better tailor stimulation to each patient’s needs. Because every patient is different, this greater degree of control will be very helpful for individualizing therapy, which translates into better symptom reduction and fewer stimulation-induced side effects for our patients."
Our team is internationally renowned for employing DBS to treat severe psychiatric illnesses, especially OCD and depression. In fact, Baylor St. Luke’s was the first in the world to use the Medtronic Activa RC+S DBS system in a patient with severe, treatment-resistant OCD as part of an NIH-funded research trial. This system is unique in that it allows the clinician to stream real-time brain recordings from the device in addition to providing stimulation. Dr. Sheth and Dr. Wayne Goodman, Chair in Psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine, collaborated in the trial.

Associate Professor of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine
Revolutionizing tumor treatment and removal
As one of the most active pituitary centers in the nation with published superior surgical outcomes, we safely discharge over 90% of our pituitary surgery patients after just one night in the hospital. We utilize a multidisciplinary approach that combines patient management protocol with a less-invasive endonasal surgical technique in which surgeons enter through the nasal passage to remove the pituitary tumor. The patient management protocol emphasizes patient education, early mobilization, and scheduled inpatient and outpatient endocrine assessments that have been shown to decrease hospital stay, complications, and readmission.
Benefits include:
- No incisions
- No pain
- No required anesthesia
- No recovery time — you may return to work following treatment
- No painful head frame bolted to skull
- Pinpoint accuracy
Meet our team




AI helps care teams make quicker, more accurate treatment decisions for stroke patients
“Before, we had to make decisions on the fly or quantify the images from the CAT scan, which can take hours to complete. The Viz.ai software bypasses the guesswork and allows for early intervention, which results in improved outcomes for our patients,” notes Dr. Chethan P Venkatasubba Rao, medical director of the Neuroscience ICU at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center.
Brain implant gives epilepsy patients fewer seizures, new lease on life
A new method of deep brain stimulation lessens motor impairment in Parkinson’s patients

Medical Director of Neurosurgery and Director of Functional Neurosurgery
Baylor College of Medicine
Neurosurgery Service Chief
Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center

Neurosurgery
Baylor College of Medicine
New research shows promise of DBS as an effective treatment for severe depression
1st to bring applied artificial intelligence to stroke care in Houston

“Viz.ai’s applied artificial intelligence solutions have been developed by top stroke clinicians and technical experts in the world, and we are excited to be able to bring these transformational technologies to Baylor St. Luke’s and our community,” said Dr. Chethan P. Venkatasubba Rao, medical director of the neuroscience ICU at Baylor St. Luke’s. “Before, we had to make decisions on the fly or quantify the images from the CAT scan, which is a laborious process that can take hours to complete. The Viz.ai software bypasses the guesswork and allows for early intervention, which results in improved outcomes for our patients.”
Treating the most complex spine cases
- Chin-on-Chest Deformity
- Kyphotic Deformity
- Swan-Neck Deformity
- Adult Degenerative Deformity
- Unstable Fractures
- Post-Infectious Deformity of the Spine
Award-winning comprehensive stroke center

Life-altering treatment for patients with Parkinson’s Disease
