Raymond F. Sekula Jr., MD
Overview
Dr. Sekula is one of the world’s foremost leaders in minimally invasive brain surgery. His world-renowned practice is devoted exclusively to cranial nerve disorders (i.e., including trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm, glossopharyngeal neuralgia), acoustic neuroma and other skull base disorders, and endoscopic management of intraventricular tumors. Each year, he performs more than 500 neurosurgical operations, including 200 microvascular decompressions. During his career, he has performed more than 2,000 microvascular decompression surgeries.
After receiving his undergraduate degree from The University of Virginia and his medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine, Dr. Sekula completed his internship and residency training in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he also completed his fellowship training in cranial nerve and skull base surgery.
Prior to Columbia, Dr. Sekula was Professor and Residency Program Director at the University of Pittsburgh, Department of Neurological Surgery.
Dr. Sekula’s prolific academic career includes writing over 100 scientific manuscripts, including editing of the textbook, “Microvascular Decompression Surgery.” He is Principal Investigator of a study concerning trigeminal neuralgia investigating fundamental mechanisms of facial pain from the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Sekula’s international outreach includes co-founding the World Federation of Cranial Nerve Disorders in 2016. He is a member of the medical advisory board of the Facial Pain Association, an international association dedicated to helping patients with facial pain of all types.
Areas of Expertise / Conditions Treated
- Acoustic Neuroma
- Brain Tumor
- Chiari Malformation
- Colloid Cysts
- Gamma Knife Radiosurgery
- Gliomas
- Hemifacial Spasm
- Meningioma
- Skull Base Tumors
- Trigeminal Neuralgia
- Trigeminal Neuralgia Surgery
Academic Appointments
- Professor of Neurological Surgery at CUMC
Administrative Titles
- Director, Cranial Nerve and Brainstem Disorders Center
- Director, Facial Pain and Spasm Research Laboratory
Hospital Affiliations
- NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Languages
- English
Gender
- Male
Schedule an Appointment
Phone Appointments
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Location(s)
Insurance Accepted
Aetna
- Aetna Signature Administrators
- EPO
- HMO
- Medicare Managed Care
- NYP Employee Plan
- NY Signature
- POS
- PPO
- Student Health
Affinity Health Plan
- Essential Plan
- Medicaid Managed Care
AgeWell
- Medicare Managed Care
- Special Needs
Amida Care
- Special Needs
Cigna
- EPO
- Great West (National)
- HMO
- Medicare Managed Care
- POS
- PPO
Emblem/GHI
- Medicare Managed Care
- PPO
Emblem/HIP
- ConnectiCare
- EPO
- Essential Plan
- HMO
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
- POS
- PPO
- Select Care (Exchange)
- Vytra
Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield
- EPO
- HMO
- Medicare Managed Care
- PPO
Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield HealthPlus
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Essential Plan
- Medicaid Managed Care
Fidelis Care
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Essential Plan
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
Healthfirst
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Leaf (Exchange)
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
Local 1199
- NYP Employee Plan
MagnaCare (National)
- MagnaCare
Medicare
- Railroad
- Traditional Medicare
Multiplan
- Multiplan
MVP Health Care
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Essential Plan
- HMO
- Medicaid Managed Care
Oxford Health Plans
- Freedom
- Liberty
Quality Health Management
- Quality Health Management
RiverSpring
- Special Needs
UnitedHealthcare
- Compass (Exchange)
- Empire Plan
- HMO
- Medicaid (Community Plan)
- Medicare Managed Care
- POS
- PPO
VNSNY CHOICE
- Medicare Managed Care
- SelectHealth
- Special Needs
WellCare
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
World Trade Center Health Plan
- World Trade Center Health Plan
Credentials & Experience
Education & Training
- MD, 2000 Georgetown University
- Residency: 2006 Allegheny General Hospital
- Fellowship: 2006 University Of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Board Certifications
- Neurological Surgery
Research
For a complete list of publications, please visit PubMed.gov
Related News
Testimonials
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In a 6-week post-surgery interview, Dr. Raymond Sekula speaks with Tulsie Singh who had been suffering from trigeminal neuralgia since 2020. Mr. Singh traveled from Trinidad to Columbia Neurosurgery. Before working with Dr. Sekula, this patient's facial pain was so severe that he could not put a toothbrush in his mouth and medication did not provide relief. Dr. Sekula discusses using microvascular decompression surgery with a hospital stay of mere hours for this man to be completely pain-free four days later and off all medications.
