Columbia Neurosurgery Welcomes Dr. Eleonora Francesca Spinazzi

We are excited to welcome Eleonora Francesca Spinazzi, MD, to the Department of Neurological Surgery at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Dr. Spinazzi is a fellowship-trained neurosurgeon specializing in cerebrovascular and endovascular neurosurgery, bringing expertise in the treatment of stroke, brain aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), and other complex neurovascular conditions.

At Columbia, Dr. Spinazzi provides advanced microsurgical and minimally invasive endovascular treatments for both emergent and elective cerebrovascular disorders. Her approach combines the latest evidence-based techniques with personalized, compassionate care tailored to each patient’s needs and goals.

I am honored to return to Columbia, where I trained as a resident, and to join such an exceptional team of neurosurgeons,” said Dr. Spinazzi. “Building on Columbia’s strong cerebrovascular legacy, I aim to carry forward this tradition and advance innovation with a commitment to clinical excellence and compassionate care.

Dr. Spinazzi earned her medical degree from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and completed her neurosurgery residency at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia. She went on to complete a CAST-accredited fellowship in endovascular neurosurgery at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona—one of the nation’s premier training programs in the field.

In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Spinazzi is a dedicated physician-scientist. Her research focuses on stroke care and neuromodulation, with an emphasis on developing innovative approaches to restore brain and nerve function for patients who do not respond to conventional therapies. Her work has been published in leading journals and textbooks, including The Lancet Oncology, Stroke, and Genome Medicine.

I’ve had the pleasure of working with Dr. Spinazzi for many years, both in the lab and in the clinic,” said Dr. E. Sander Connolly, Chair of Neurosurgery at Columbia. “She brings both exceptional surgical skill and a deep dedication to advancing cerebrovascular research. We are excited to welcome her back as a faculty member and confident she will have a profound impact on our patients and our field.

We are proud to welcome Dr. Spinazzi back to Columbia and look forward to the expertise, innovation, and compassionate care she will bring to our patients and community.