Barrow Acoustic Neuroma Center
Barrow Neurological Institute
350 West Thomas Road
Phoenix, AZ 85013
Telephone: 602-406-7585, 800-227-7691
Fax: 602-728-9003
Email: mvarlan@chw.edu
Statement about the Center
The Barrow Acoustic Neuroma Center at St. Joseph´s Hospital and Medical Center provides comprehensive evaluation, diagnostic testing, and treatment to patients with acoustic neuromas, neurofibromatosis - type 2 (bilateral acoustic neuromas), and temporal bone disorders. We are the only comprehensive center in the Southwest to offer all available treatment options to patients suffering from these diseases, including various surgical approaches, the Auditory Brainstem Implant (ABI) and radiosurgery (Gamma Knife/CyberKnife). Our multi-disciplinary medical team has worked together for more than 20 years to provide the best in patient care and treatment options.
Jon Ashman, M.D., Ph.D.
Gamma Knife and CyberKnife Stereotactic Radiosurgery Team
Barrow Acoustic Neuroma Team and the Barrow Skull Base Team
Medical School: University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 2001
University of Chicago Committee on Immunology, Ph.D., 1999
Internship: Louis A. Weiss Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL, 2001-2002
Residency: Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 2002 - 2006
Board Certification: Radiation Oncology
C. Phillip Daspit, M.D.
Chief of Neurotology
Medical School: Louisiana State University, New Orleans, LA
Internship: Charity Hospital of Louisiana, New Orleans, LA
Residency: General Surgery/Otolaryngology, University of California, San Francisco, CA
Fellowship: House Ear Clinic, Los Angeles, CA, 1977-1978
Board Certification: Otolaryngology
Terry D. Fife, M.D.
Director, Vestibular Testing Laboratory
Medical School: Texas A&M University College of Medicine, College Station, TX, 1986
Residency: Internal Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA
Neurology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
Fellowship: Neuro-otology and Balance Disorders, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
Board Certification: Internal Medicine and Neurology
John Kresl, M.D., Ph.D.
Co-Medical Director, CyberKnife Program
Assistant Director, Center for Thoracic Disease at St. Joseph´s Hospital/Medical Center and Barrow Neurological Institute
Barrow Acoustic Neuroma and Barrow Skull Base Team
Medical School: Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL
Internship: Medicine & Surgery, Marshfield Clinic/St. Joseph´s Hospital, Marshfield, WI
Fellowship: Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
Clinical Radiation Oncology, Brachytherapy, Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo Norway
Gamma Knife Stereotactic Radiation and CyberKnife Stereotactic Radiosurgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA
Board Certification: Radiation Oncology
Randall Porter, M.D.
Co-Director, Pediatric Neurogenetics Center
Director, Neurofibromatosis Clinics
Director, Developmental Neurogenetics Lab
Medical School: LSU Medical Center, New Orleans, LA, 1981
Internship: Pediatrics, John Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, 1981-1982
Residency: Pediatrics, John Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, 1982-1983
Neurology, Barnes Hospital, St. Louis, MO, 1983-1984
Pediatric Neurology, St. Louis Children´s Hospital, St. Louis, MO, 1984-1986
Fellowship: John Hopkins University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 1986-1988
Board Certification: Pediatrics, Psychiatry and Neurology
Randall Porter, M.D.
Director of the Interdisciplinary Skull Base Program
Co-Director of CyberKnife at Barrow Neurological Institute
Co-Director of the Barrow Acoustic Neuroma Center
Medical School: Rush Medical College, Chicago, IL, 1993
Internship: General Surgery, Maricopa Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 1993-1994
Residency: Neurological Surgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph´s Hospital,
University of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, 1994-2000
Fellowship: Cerebrovascular/Skull Base, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, 1999-2000
Complex Spinal Surgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, 1999
Gamma Knife Radiosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, 1998
Neurovascular/Skull Base Surgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, 1998
Board Certification: Neurosurgery
Andrew Shetter, M.D.
Director, Pain and Stereotactic Neurological Program
Director, Atkinson Pain Research Laboratory
Co-Director of the Gamma Knife Center
Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ
Chairman, Section of Functional Stereotactic Neurosurgery
Medical School: University of California Medical School, San Francisco, CA, 1970
Internship: Medical College of Virginia Hospital, Richmond, VA, 1971
Residency: Barrow Neurological Associates, Phoenix, AZ, 1976
Fellowship: Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 1978
Board Certification: Neurosurgery, Pain Medicine and Medical Examiners
Robert Spetzler, M.D.
Neurosurgery – Medical Director
Director, Barrow Neurological Institute
J.N. Harber Chair of Neurological Surgery
Chairman and President, Barrow Neurological Associates
Professor of Surgery, Section of Neurosurgery, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ
Medical School: Northwestern University School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 1971
Internship: Northwestern University Hospital, Chicago, IL, 1971-1972
Residency: University of California, San Francisco, CA, 1972-1977
Board Certification: Neurosurgery
Mark J. Syms, M.D.
Barrow Acoustic Neuroma Team and Barrow Skull Base Team
Medical School: Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA, 1993
Internship: General Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, 1993-1994
Residency: Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Tripler Regional Medical Center, Honolulu, HI, 1994-1998
Fellowship: Otology/Neurotology, House Ear Clinic and House Ear Institute, Los Angeles, CA, 2000-2002
Board Certification: Otolaryngology
Peter A. Weisskopf, M.D.
Chief of Neurotology at Barrow Neurological Institute
Co-Director of the Barrow Acoustic Neuroma Center
Medical School: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 1992
Internship: Surgery, Naval Medical Center, San Diego, CA, 1993
Residency: Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Naval Medical Center, San Diego, CA, 2001
Fellowship: Otology/Neurotology, House Ear Clinic, Los Angeles, CA, 2005
Board Certification: Otolaryngology and Neurotology
Shelley Baltodano
Audiologist – Cochlear Implant & ABI Specialist
Education: Doctorate Degree in Audiology, Arizona School of Health Sciences, Phoenix, AZ
Fellowship: House Ear Clinic, Los Angeles, CA, 1998
Specialties: Cochlear Implant and ABI
License: Audiology
Maggie Varland, R.N., B.S.B.
Acoustic Neuroma Team Coordinator
