801 Broadway, Suite 617/ Seattle, Washington, 98122 /(206-623-0922)
Northwest Neurological
Surgery (NWNS) is the oldest private neurosurgical group practice in Seattle.
Started by Drs.Wally Nelson and Larry Knopp in 1962, they were then joined by
Dr. John Gibson in 1967 and Dr. Ralph Kamm in 1977. Drs. Nelson, Gibson and
Kamm were present at the groundbreaking of the Heath Medical Building, on the
Swedish Hospital campus, where our office remains to this day.
Together, they helped to pioneer the use of modern microsurgical techniques,
performing the first microdiscectomy in the Northwest and were among the first
to utilize the operating microscope for intracranial surgery. The philosophy
of the practice was set and sustained by these three caring and talented men
through the 60's and 70's - the conservative and judicious use of the latest
in neurosurgical technology for the benefit of our patients.
Upon Dr. Nelson's retirement
in 1982, they were joined by Dr. James Blue at the completion of
his residency at Duke University. Dr. Jim Raisis, already a respected,
widely experience neurosurgeon from the Virginia Mason Clinic, added his expertise
and congenial presence to the practice in 1989. After nearly 30 years of practice,
Dr. Kamm decided that it was time to turn his wealth of knowledge exclusively
toward helping his younger partners. In 1993, he stopped seeing patients and
began assisting in surgery. This frequently allows our patients the added advantage
of having two neurosurgeons at their procedure. In 1997, Dr. Jacob Young joined the practice after
Dr. Gibson decided to practice half time, moving to Group Health Hospital. Dr.
Young is also a graduate of the Duke University Neurosurgical Program, and joined
the group after spending four years at the Navel Medical Center in Portsmouth,
Virginia. In 2004, Dr. Jayashree Srinivasan, already a respected fcolleague at Swedish and Providence Medical Centers, joined the practice. She brought with her a thriving practice and consummate skills in vascular neurosurgery. All partners are Board Certified in Neurological Surgery.
Despite the busy nature of the practice, our focus
and commitment has been to provide attentive, available care to our patients
and referring physicians. Although we are constantly evaluating new and innovative
techniques and treatments, we have always been cautious about their application
to our patients until they are firmly proven, and their risks and dangers clearly
delineated. We are not affiliated with a residency training program, and can
therefore devote all our time and energies toward individualized patient care.
By being in private practice, we are likewise free to evaluate treatment modalities
objectively, with no bias or pre-commitment to sponsoring agencies, commercial
interests, or institutional protocols. This allows us to choose what is best
for our patients, not merely what is new.
This website updates frequently. Please contact our office for any inquiries, or use our email address, NWNS @ halcyon.com