Board-certified, fellowship-trained neurosurgeon
Gunjan Goel, MD
FAANS, FCNS
Comprehensive spine & cranial care
Dr. Gunjan Goel is a board-certified, fellowship-trained neurosurgeon with specialized expertise in comprehensive spine care and advanced skull base surgery. She completed her neurosurgical residency at UC San Diego, followed by advanced fellowships in skull base microneurosurgery and minimally invasive endoscopic endonasal surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine.
Beginning in July 2026, Dr. Goel will join the faculty as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery at UPMC. Her clinical practice focuses on surgical care of the spine—including degenerative disease, spinal trauma, and spinal tumors—utilizing minimally invasive and motion-preserving techniques whenever appropriate. Her broader scope of expertise includes advanced cranial neurosurgery, encompassing the microsurgical and endoscopic management of brain tumors, skull base pathology, trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm, and pituitary disease. She provides care for patients across the UPMC system, including UPMC East and UPMC Presbyterian, as well as the VA Pittsburgh.
Dr. Goel believes that exceptional neurosurgical care begins with listening. She takes the time to thoroughly understand each patient's history, symptoms, and personal goals, exploring conservative and non-surgical options before considering more invasive surgical interventions.
Board Certified
American Board of Neurological Surgery
Residency
UC San Diego Neurological Surgery
Fellowship Training
Weill Cornell Skull Base and Endoscopic Endonasal Surgery
Patient Recognition
San Diego Top Doctor and two-time Sharp Guardian Angel Honoree
Clinical Focus
Surgical precision across the spine and skull base.
Dr. Goel provides careful, tailored surgical management for degenerative and traumatic spine conditions, matching this clinical focus with an elite fellowship background in the microsurgical and endoscopic treatment of complex cranial disease.
Spine Surgery
Comprehensive evaluation and surgical management for cervical, thoracic, and lumbar conditions—including degenerative disease, nerve compression, stenosis, myelopathy, trauma, and spinal tumors.
Facial Pain and Neurovascular Compression
Thoughtful evaluation of trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm, and related syndromes—with careful attention to pain patterns, imaging, and medication history before considering surgical intervention.
Cranial and Skull Base Surgery
Advanced fellowship training in endoscopic and microsurgical approaches equips Dr. Goel to evaluate and manage complex cranial conditions, including brain tumors, pituitary and sellar tumors, meningiomas, and vestibular schwannomas.
Careful counseling is part of the care.
Neurosurgical decisions are rarely simple. Dr. Goel's approach begins with a careful review of symptoms, imaging, prior treatment, overall health, and patient goals. When surgery is appropriate, the plan should be understandable, technically sound, and matched to the problem being treated.
Start Here
Simple paths for patients and clinicians.
Dedicated resources to help you prepare for an upcoming consultation or submit a new patient referral.
For Patients
Learn what information is useful before a neurosurgical visit, how imaging and symptoms are reviewed together, and what questions matter when surgery is being considered.
For Referring Providers
Review current referral fit, helpful records, and the clinical information that supports efficient spine, facial pain, cranial, and skull base evaluation.
Please note: Dr. Goel will begin seeing patients across the UPMC system in July 2026. Official scheduling, referral pathways, and clinic contact information will be posted here as soon as they are available. For medical emergencies, please call 911 or seek immediate emergency care.