Dr. Marcus P. Schmitz, MD, FAANS

Media Releases

Get to know Neurosurgeon Dr. Marcus P. Schmitz, who serves patients in Lafayette, Louisiana.

A top professional in the field of neurological surgery, Dr. Schmitz is affiliated with Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center.

Serving as the main campus of the Ochsner Lafayette General region, Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center has 334 staffed beds and is the largest full-service, acute care medical center in Acadiana. Their full-service, tertiary care facility offers highly trained staff and excellent physicians who are dedicated to achieving positive outcomes for their patients.

In regards to his educational background, Dr. Schmitz obtained his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from the University of Kentucky, before earning his medical degree at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine in 1985. He then went on to complete his internship and residency in neurological surgery at the same educational venue in 1991, serving as Chief Resident in his final year.

Distinguished as a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurological Surgery (FAANS), the doctor is board-certified in neurosurgery by the American Board of Neurological Surgery (ABNS). The broad aim of the ABNS is to encourage the study, improve the practice, elevate the standards and advance the science of neurological surgery and thereby serve the cause of public health.

Neurosurgery is the medical specialty concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, surgical treatment, and rehabilitation of disorders which affect any portion of the nervous system including the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and extra-cranial cerebrovascular system. Neurosurgeons are doctors who diagnose and treat problems with the nervous system, often by performing surgery on the brain or spine. They treat strokes, tumors, cervical and lumbar disc disease, infections, and head or spinal cord injuries.

An authority in his field, Dr. Schmitz has been the recipient of the Patients' Choice Award (2018, 2017, 2016, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008), Compassionate Doctor Recognition (2018, 2017, 2016, 2014, 2012, 2011, 2010), On-Time Doctor Award (2018, 2017, 2016, 2014), and Patients' Choice 5th Anniversary Award (2012).

Recommended Articles

• What Is Oromandibular Dystonia?

  Oromandibular DystoniaOromandibular dystonia is a type of focal dystonia. This condition is also called cranial dystonia, in which the face, jaw, or tongue forcefully contracts and becomes difficult to open and close the mouth. Thus, a person's speech and ability to chew are affected. Cranial...

• What to Expect After a Laminectomy

  If you experience back pain that grows severe, your doctor may recommend surgery depending on the cause. Over the centuries, back pain has been constantly a growing condition. You may be facing a lumbar laminectomy at any time.During a LaminectomyLaminectomies are done under general anesthesia,...

• Different Types of Aneurysms

  What is an aneurysm?An aneurysm is the abnormal ballooning, widening, or bulging of a part of the artery usually caused by arterial wall weakness. When an aneurysm enlarges and ruptures, disastrous consequences, such as internal bleeding, usually happen.Aneurysms are usually found in the aorta (the...

• What Is a Cervical Laminectomy?

  A cervical laminectomy is performed to relieve the compression of the spinal cord and nerves around your neck. This is achieved by making the spinal canal wider, creating more space for your nerves. A part of the protruding bone or the lamina is either removed or trimmed during this procedure. The...

• What Are the Treatments for Stroke?

  Emergency treatment for stroke is dependent on the type of stroke you're suffering from. Whether it is an ischemic stroke that blocks an artery, or a hemorrhagic stroke that is caused by bleeding of blood vessels around the brain, acting fast is important since every minute counts.Ischemic Stroke:...

• Lobotomies in Other Countries

  What is a lobotomy and why was it used?A lobotomy is a neurosurgical procedure used for the treatment of various psychological conditions, such as severe depression, mania, schizophrenia, etc. It was even used for the treatment of homosexuality.The idea of brain surgery started around 1890, when a...