In The News
VR Prepares Doctors and Patients for Life-Saving Surgery
Immersive 3D simulations help brain surgeons and patients prepare for complex operations, providing a VR tour of the brain that ultimately eases the fears of patients and family members about surgery. Virtual reality (VR) lets anyone explore the cosmos and gain a visual understanding of the universe. VR also offers a detailed view into the … Read More
Hoag 1st on West Coast to Install ExcelsiusGPS – 5 Highlights
Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian installed the ExcelsiusGPS. Here are five highlights: 1. Hoag is the first on the West Coast to provide this technology to patients. 2. ExcelsiusGPS is robotic technology intended for minimally invasive spine surgery. 3. The platform delivers real-time visualization during a procedure, with the intent of improving outcomes. 4. Additionally, ExcelsiusGPS … Read More
100 Hospitals & Health Systems with Great Neurosurgery and Spine Programs
Becker’s Hospital Review again named Hoag to its list of 100 Hospitals & Health Systems with Great Neurosurgery and Spine Programs. Hoag is a three-hospital health system with membership in the St. Joseph Hoag Health Alliance, supports a comprehensive neurosurgery spine program with 16 physician leaders who oversee a variety of related services. In 2016, … Read More
Newport Beach Neurosurgeon Volunteers in Palestine, Changes Lives Forever
It is Thanksgiving morning and Dr. Burak Ozgur, a Newport Beach neurosurgeon, walks ancient streets to perform 21st-century medical miracles. In moments, Ozgur will enter a hospital on the West Bank. He is armed with medical supplies that he’s brought from the United States. Soon, he will do exactly what he’s done for the past … Read More
Alzheimer's Disease: What You Can Do to Prevent Holiday Memories from Vanishing
Forgetting grandchildren’s names at Thanksgiving. Misplacing keys in an odd location at Christmas. Repeating a story for the second time in an hour at New Year’s Eve. We all wonder, “Is Grandpa just getting old or is something wrong with him?” These noticeable memory lapses may come with old age, but often lead to the … Read More
'Sleep education' must play a role in discussion about school start times
Do teenagers know how to sleep? If you’re the parent of a teen, you might be laughing to yourself. That’s all they know how to do. In truth, teens (and their parents) might not know enough about how to sleep, when to sleep and why. California is considering a bill that would require secondary schools … Read More
Retired NFL Player Keeps Tabs on Their Health Through Intensive Program at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach
JJ Birden nearly didn’t play in the National Football League. A track and field star at the University of Oregon, Birden qualified for the 1988 U.S. Olympic Trials in long jump. Admittedly, track and field was Birden’s first love. Ironically, it was an injury that swung Birden to professional football, and ultimately ended his track … Read More
Pickup Family Foundation gives $15 million for neuroscience research at Hoag
Richard “Dick” Pickup’s $15-million donation to the Neurosciences Institute at Hoag Hospital is the largest single gift ever from his Pickup Family Foundation. It’s also personal. The gift will enable the newly renamed Pickup Family Neurosciences Institute to investigate cutting-edge treatments for disorders and conditions ranging from stroke, epilepsy and addiction to paralysis and dementia. … Read More
How parents should react to anxiety in their children may surprise you
Anxiety disorders are one of the most common conditions that I see in my patients: children, teens and adults.But what I find interesting is that many parents don’t know how to determine if their child has an anxiety disorder. Parents typically interpret anxious behaviors as nervousness or stress. When worry begins to interfere with one’s … Read More
Preparing for After Graduation
Q: [Teens] I can’t believe the start of senior year has arrived. It seems like it came so quickly — I’m not sure who is less ready, our son or us! How do we know if he can be successful out in the world? A: One of the most important things to remember about raising … Read More