Dr. George J. Counelis, MD

Expert Publications

• Cervical spine trauma associated with moderate and severe head injury: incidence, risk factors, and injury characteristics.
• The protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP-2 is required for EGFRvIII oncogenic transformation in human glioblastoma cells.
• Adult with cerebellar anaplastic pilocytic astrocytoma associated with BRAF V600E mutation and p16 loss.

Media Releases

Get to know Neurosurgeon Dr. George J. Counelis, who serves patients in Walnut Creek, California.

Serving patients of all ages, Dr. Counelis is a board-certified neurosurgeon who specializes in complex brain and spinal problems. He is the President & Founder of Bay Area Neurosciences in Walnut Creek, California.

The goal of Bay Area Neurosciences is to provide patient-centered neurosurgical care in close collaboration with referring doctors and facilities. Dr. Counelis and his staff strive to remain fully engaged with patients and care teams, while focusing on delivering excellent care in order to return patients to living their optimal lives.   

The doctor’s acclaimed career in medicine began after he earned his medical degree from the Tufts University School of Medicine. After a postdoctoral clinical fellowship in cerebral blood flow at UCLA, he completed his internship and six years of neurosurgical training at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. During his training at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, he completed fellowships in brain tumor research and complex spinal surgery. 

On reflection, Dr. Counelis pursued his profession because of his lifelong interest in medicine and surgery specifically. His decision to become a neurological surgeon was a natural result of his interest in brain function and oncology. He believes that molecular biology and biologically targeted approaches are the future for treating cancer. 

In 2004, Dr. Counelis joined the medical staff at John Muir Hospital, performing surgical procedures at the Walnut Creek facility. There, he was chosen as the Medical Director of the Brain Tumor and Neuro-Oncology Program in 2008. He is honored to lead a team of neurosurgeons, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, clinical nurses, pathologists, and radiologists to bring top-tier, quality expertise to the community.  

In addition, he has joined the faculty at UCSF Department of Neurological Surgery as a Clinical Instructor, allowing him to teach future physicians and collaborate on complex brain and spinal surgery. 

Dedicating his career to studying the brain and spine, Dr. Counelis has taken a special clinical interest in primary and metastatic tumors of the brain and spine, pituitary tumors, and stereotactic radiosurgery. He also has a special interest in minimally invasive spinal surgery, which has allowed for patients to spend less time in the hospital and heal in a timelier manner. 

With over 20 years of experience in the medical field, he is board-certified through 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.

Maintaining fellowship status, Dr. Counelis is a Fellow of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He is also a member of the Advisory Council at John Muir Health Foundation.

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.

Named a 2020 Top Doctor by San Francisco Magazine, Dr. Counelis is the recipient of Patients’ Choice Award (2020), On-Time Doctor Award (2020), and Compassionate Doctor Recognition (2020). He attributes his success to his perseverance, as well as his desire and commitment to treating his patients.

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