Robert Louis, MD

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Get to know Neurosurgeon Dr. Robert Louis, who serves patients in Newport Beach, California.

Dr. Louis is a board-certified, fellowship-trained neurosurgeon who currently holds the position of Program Director of the Skull Base and Pituitary Tumor Program at Pickup Family Neurosciences Institute – Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, California. 

Through its more than 1,500-member medical staff, state-of-the-art equipment, and modern facilities, Hoag Hospital provides a full spectrum of health care services that includes five institutes providing specialized services in the following areas: cancer, heart and vascular, neurosciences, women’s health, and orthopedics. As the most comprehensive neurosciences program in Orange County, Pickup Family Neurosciences Institute offers significant expertise in many neurological disorders.   

Dr. Louis has particular expertise in endoscopic and minimally invasive treatment of benign and malignant brain tumors, sellar and parasellar tumors, and skull base tumors. He specializes in minimally invasive endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery for removal of tumors in the pituitary gland. Through the use of cutting-edge neuroimaging and neuro-navigational equipment, he utilizes the concept of keyhole neurosurgery, minimizing the damage to surrounding brain, vascular and soft tissue structures.

The doctor’s clinical interests include minimally invasive brain tumor surgery, skull base and pituitary surgery, neuroendoscopy, microneurosurgery, complex spinal surgery, and peripheral nerve surgery. In his practice, he employs a thoughtfully conservative approach, dedicated to delivering outstanding neurosurgical care with an individual, patient-centered focus.

Raised in a suburb of Boston, Dr. Louis graduated with his undergraduate degree from Boston University. After earning his medical degree from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, he was accepted into residency in neurological surgery at the University of Virginia, under the direction and mentorship of Dr. John Jane. 

During his six years at UVA, he completed more than 1200 cases, spanning the breadth of cranial and spinal neurosurgery. Specifically, Dr. Louis focused his training on complex brain tumor and skull base and pituitary surgery. He had the honor of training extensively under Dr. Edward Oldfield, who is widely considered the foremost pituitary surgeon in the world. After completing his chief residency in neurosurgery, he went on to more advanced subspecialty training, completing a fellowship in minimally invasive neurosurgery under the mentorship of Dr. Daniel Kelly at the John Wayne Cancer Institute. Dr. Louis is one of only a handful of fellowship-trained minimally invasive neurosurgeons in the nation and the only one in Orange County with this distinction.

From 2011-2013, Dr. Louis served as an Instructor of Neuroscience and Anatomy in the Brain, Mind and Behavior Course at the University of Virginia. In 2012, he was appointed Director of the Skull Base Anatomical Dissection Laboratory at the University of Virginia.

Continuously advancing his efforts, he is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Association of Clinical Anatomists, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, the Foundation for International Education in Neurosurgery, the North American Skull Base Society, and the Pituitary Network Association.

Having published over 75 peer-reviewed publications and 10 book chapters, Dr. Louis attributes his success to being fortunate enough to have the most excellent mentors, trainers, and teachers.

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, certain types of birth defects, infections, and head or spinal cord injuries. Beyond his specialty training in the neurosurgical treatment of brain and pituitary tumors, Dr. Louis has a particular interest in microsurgical neuroanatomy. Specifically, his focus is on advanced understanding of neuroanatomy and the development of new neurosurgical procedures.

Throughout his line of work, Dr. Louis has received several awards, including Chancellor Paul S. Tien Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement (2007), Predoctoral Award for The Best Oral Presentation (2004), and Predoctoral Award for The Best Poster Presentation (2005) – among others.

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