Amin Amini, MD, MS, FAANS

Amin Amini, MD, MS, FAANS, is a world-class neurosurgeon, leading the Maryland / DC area in developing general, minimially-invasive, and micro-neurosurgery.

Dr. Amini received a Bachelors and Masters degree in Neurobiology and Cell Biology at the University of Maryland. He obtained a medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia, and completed a neurosurgery residency and chief residency at the University of Utah. There, he made significant contributions to the neurosurgical literature in malignant tumors of the brain and spine, traumatic cervical spine injuries, and endoscopic spine surgeries, with more than 40 scientific papers, abstracts, and chapters published in prestigious neurosurgical journals and text books. 

After residency, he moved back to the Maryland / DC area, and has been providing state of the art neurosurgical care since 2008, treating people with a wide variety of neurological conditions. From 2008-2011, he served as the Medical Director of the Neurosciences Program at Holy Cross Hospital. From 2010-2018, he has served as the Medical Director of Neurosurgery at UM Prince George Hospital, one of the busiest trauma centers in the DC metropolitan area. In 2013, he was appointed the Medical Director of Neurosurgery at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital and Washington Adventist Hospital, where he leads the development of a neurosurgery program to better serve the needs of this growing community.

Dr. Amini has been consistently been voted a Washingtonian Top Doc by his peers since 2012. He is board certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery, and is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, and the Washington Academy of Neurosurgery.

In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Dr. Nadia Hashimi (a pediatrician and world-renowned writer) and four children.  

Curriculum Vitae

Education
  • Chief Resident, Neurosurgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
  • Resident, Neurosurgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
  • MD, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond, VA
  • MS, Cell Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
  • BS, Neurobiology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD. 
Journal Articles
  1. Bowers C, Amini A, Dalley AT, Schmidt MH. Dynamic interspinous process stabilization: review of complications associated with the X-stop device. Neurosurg Focus. 2010;28(6):E8. PMID: 20568923. 
  2. Binning MJ, Hauschild TB, Amini A, MacDonald JD. Delayed post-traumatic saccular aneurysm of PICA in an adolescent. ACTA Neurochir (Wien). 2009;151(12):164701648. PMID: 19396391. 
  3. Eskandari R, Amini A, Yonemura KS, Couldwell WT.  The use of the Olympus EndoArm for spinal and skull-based transphenoidal neurosurgery. Minim Invasive Neurosurg. 2008;51(6):370-372. PMID: 19061151. ​
  4. Kan P, Gooch, J, Amini A, Ploeger D, Grams, B, Oberg W, Simonsen S, Walker ML, Kestle J. Surgical treatment of spasticity in children: comparison of selective dorsal rhizotomy and intrathecal baclofen pump implantation. Childs Nerv Syst. 2008;24(2):239-243. PMID: 17805547. 
  5. Amini A, Chin SS, Schmidt MH. Malignant transformation of conus medullaris ganglioglioma: case report. J Neurooncol. 2007;82(3):313-315. PMID: 17151931. 
  6. Amini A, Apfelbaum RI, Schmidt MH. Chylorrhea: a rare complication of thoracoscopic discectomy of the thoracolumbar junction. Case report. J Neurosurg Spine. 2007;6(6):563-566. PMID: 17561746. ​
  7. Amini A, Beisse R, Schmidt MH. Thoracoscopic debridement and stabilization of pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis. Surg Laparosc Endosc Percutan Tech. 2007;17(4):354-357. PMID: 17710069. 
  8. Ragel BT, Amini A, Schmidt MH. Thoracoscopic vertebral body replacement with an expandable cage after ventral spinal canal decompression. Neurosurgery. 2007;61(5 Suppl 2):317-322. PMID: 18091246. 
  9. Amini A, Osborn AG, McCall TD, Couldwell WT. Remote cerebellar hemorrhage. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2006;27(2):387-390. PMID: 16484416. 
  10. Amini A, Schmidt RH, Salzman KL, Chin SS, Couldwell WT. Glioblastoma multiforme of the pineal region. J Neurooncol. 2006;79(3):307-314. PMID: 16645719. 
  11. Amini A, Digre K, Couldwell WT. Photophobia in a blind patient: An alternate visual pathway. Case Report. J Neurosurg. 2006;105 (5):765-768. PMID: 17121141. 
  12. Amini A, Liu JK, Kan P, Walker ML, Brockmeyer DL. Cerebrospinal fluid dissecting into spinal epidural space after lumbar puncture causing cauda equina syndrome: a review of literature and illustrative case. Childs Nerv System. 2006;22 (12):1639-1641. PMID: 16933137. 
  13. Couldwell WT, Liu JK, Amini A, Kan P.  Submandibular-infratemporal interpositional carotid artery bypass for cranial base tumors and giant aneurysms. Neurosurgery. 2006;59(4 Suppl 2): ONS353-359. PMID: 17041504. 
  14. Kan P, Amini A, Hansen R, White GL Jr, Walker ML, Kestle JR. Outcomes after decompressive craniectomy for severe traumic brain injury in children. J Neurosurg. 2006;105(5 Suppl):337-342. PMID: 17328254. 
  15. Amini A, Liu JK, Kestle JR. Disseminated medulloblastoma. J Neurooncol. 2006;80(2):157-158. PMID: 17001520. 
  16. Amini A, Beisse R, Schmidt MH. Thoracoscopic spine surgery for decompression and stabilization of the anterolateral thoracolumar spine. Neurosurg Focus. 2005;19(6):E4. PMID: 16398481. 
  17. Amini A, Schmidt RH. Endoscopic third ventriculostomy in a series of 36 adult patients. Neurosurg Focus. 2005;19(6): E9. PMID: 16398486. 
  18. Amini A, Schmidt MH. Syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone and hyponatremia after spinal surgery. Neurosurg Focus. 2004;16(4):E10. PMID: 15191339. 
  19. Liu JK, Gottfried ON, Amini A, Couldwell WT. Aneurysms of the petrous internal carotid artery: anatomy, origins, and treatment. Neurosurg Focus. 2004;17(5):E13. PMID: 15633978. 
  20. Stefferl A, Schubart A, Storch M, Amini A, Mather I, Lassmann H, Linington C. Butyrophilin, a milk protein, modulates the encephalitogenic T cell response myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. J Immunol. 2000;165(5): 2859-2865. PMID: 10946319. 
Book Chapters
  1. Amini A, Omar A, Schmidt MH. Thoracoscopic diskectomy and instrumented fusion for thoracic discitis and osteomyelitis. In: Nader R, Berta SC, Gragnaniello C, Sabbath AJ, Levy ML, eds. Neurosurgery Tricks of the Trade: Spine and Peripheral Nerves. New York, NY. Thieme; 2013. 
  2. Liu JK, Amini A, Orlandi R, Weiss ML, Couldwell WT. The role of the transsphenoidal surgery in the management of complex lesions involving the skull base. In: Laws ER Jr., Lanzino G, eds. Transsphenoidal Surgery. Philadelphia, PA. Elsevier; 2010. 
Presentations
  1. Amini A. Trends and Technologies in Neurosciences: Advances in minimally invasive spine surgery. GATE Institute, Holy Cross Hospital. Silver Spring, MD. May 2009​.
  2. Amini A. Trends and Technologies in Neurosciences: Transsphenoidal surgery. GATE Institute, Holy Cross Hospital. Silver Spring, MD. May 2009.
  3. Amini A. Medical Grand Rounds: Normal pressure hydrocephalus. Holy Cross Hospital. Silver Spring, MD. April 2009.
  4. Amini A. Community Lecture: Lumbar stenosis. Leisure World. Silver Spring, MD. April 2009.
  5. Amini A. Holy Cross Grand Rounds: Minimally invasive spine surgery. Holy Cross Hospital, Silver Spring, MD. February 2009.
  6. Amini A. Medical Grand Rounds: Back pain. Holy Cross Hospital. Silver Spring, MD. November 2008.
  7. Amini A, Kan P, Schmidt MH, Apfelbaum RI. Bilateral cervical facet dislocation: mechanism, clinical outcomes of treatment by anterior cervical surgery: a review of 43 consecutive patients. American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) / Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) Spine Section Meeting. Orlando, FL. September 2008.
  8. Amini A, Kan P, Walker ML, Kestle JK, Brockmeyer DL. Strip sagittal craniectomy in treatment of sagittal craniosynostosis: experience with 310 surgical procedures. American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) Annual Meeting, Washington, DC. April 2007.
  9. Amini A, Kan P, Schmidt MH, Apfelbaum RI. Anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF) and traumatic subaxial cervical spine injury (SCSI). Lende Neurosurgical Meeting. Snowbird, UT. February 2007. 
  10. Ragel BT, Kan P, Amini A, Schmidt MH. Thoracoscopic placement of expandable cages for anterior vertebral body reconstructions: initial experience. Lende Neurosurgical Meeting. Snowbird, UT. February 2007​. 
  11. Amini A, Ragel A, Cole C, Brodke D, Schmidt MH. X-Stop dynamic interspinous decompression and Stablization; Early Clinical Experience. Lende Neurosurgical Meeting. Snowbird, UT. February 2007. 
  12. Amini A, Kan P, Schmidt MH, Apfelbaum RI. Anterior cervical decompression, instrumentation, and fusion in treatment of acute traumatic subaxial cervical spine injury: a review of 349 consecutive patients. American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) / Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) Spine Section Meeting. Phoenix, AZ. March 2007. 
  13. Amini A, Schmidt RH. Endoscopic third ventriculostomy in treatment adult hydrocephalus. Rocky Mountain Neurosurgical Meeting. Sedona, AZ. June 2006. (Resident Award)
  14. Amini A, Apfelbaum RI, Schmidt MH. Thoracoscopic diskectomy of thoracolumbar junction and chylorrhea. Rocky Mountain Neurosurgical Meeting. Sedona, AZ. June 2006.
  15. Liu JK, Amini A, Kan P, Couldwell WT. Zygoma-sparing submandibular- infratemporal interpositional saphenous vein graft bypass for the treatment of a malignant skull base tumor. Lende Neurosurgical Meeting. Snowbird, UT. February 2006.
  16. Amini A, Digre K, Couldwell WT. Photophobia in a blind patient: an alternate visual pathway. Lende Neurosurgical Meeting. Snowbird, UT. February 2006.
  17. Amini A, Schmidt RH, Salzman KL, Chin SS, Couldwell WT. Glioblastoma multiforme of the pineal region. Lende Neurosurgical Meeting. Snowbird, UT. February 2006.
  18. Amini A, Schmidt RH. Endoscopic third ventriculostomy in adult patients: a series of 36 patients. Lende Neurosurgical Meeting. Snowbird, UT. February 2006.
  19. Schmidt MH, Ragel BT, Amini A, Cole CB. Thoracoscopic vertebral body replacement with an expandable cage after ventral spinal canal decompression. Video Presentation, Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL. October 2006. 
  20. Amini A, Schmidt RH. Cervical cisternal shunts as an alternative to lumboperitoneal shunts, Rocky Mountain Neurosurgical Meeting. Whistler, BC. June 2005.
  21. Amini A, Schmidt RH. Cervical cisternal shunts in patients with pseudotumor cerebri and small ventricles. Lende Neurosurgical Meeting. Snowbird, UT. February 2005.
Abstracts
  1. Amini A, Kan P, Schmidt MH, Apfelbaum RI. Unilateral cervical facet dislocation: mechanism, clinical outcomes of treatment by the anterior cervical approach: a review of 34 consecutive patients. American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) / Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) Spine Section Meeting. Orlando, FL. February 2008. 
  2. Ragel BT, Cole CD, Amini A, Schmidt MH. Anterior vertebral body reconstruction from T3 to L5 with expandable cages: initial experience. American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) Annual Meeting. Washington, DC. April 2007. 
  3. Cole CD, Ragel BT, Amini A, Schmidt MH. Anterior vertebral body reconstruction with expandable cages: evolution from open thoracotomy to endoscopic technique. American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) Annual Meeting. Washington, DC. April 2007. 
  4. Amini A, Ragel A, Cole C, Brodke D, Schmidt MH. X-Stop Dynamic Interspinous Decompression and Stablization, Early Clinical Experience. American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) / Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) Spine Section Meeting. Phoenix, AZ. March 2007.
  5. Amini A, Schmidt RH, Salzman KL, Chin SS, Couldwell WT. Glioblastoma multiforme of the pineal region. Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL. October 2006.
  6. Bownds SE, Amini A, Osborn A, Hedlund G, Schmidt M, Koch B, Moore K, Dillon W, Rees J. Spinal cord glioblastoma multiforme: clinical and imaging spectrum. NER Foundation and American Society of Neuroradiologists (AJNR) Annual Meeting.. San Diego, CA. May 2006.
  7. Amini A, Liu JK, Rodriguez LF, Klimo P Jr, Walker ML. Endoscopic placement of cyst-to-cisterna magna shunt via an infratentorial supracerebellar approach for the​ treatment of pineal region arachnoid cysts: technical note and report of 4 patients. American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) Annual Meeting. New Orleans, LA. April 2005. 
  8. Amini A, Liu JK, Couldwell WT. Zygoma-sparing submandibular-infratemporal interpositional saphenous vein graft bypass for the treatment of a malignant skull base tumor: technical note. American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) / Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS)  Cerebrovascular Section Meeting. New Orleans. LA. February 2005.
  9. Rodriguez LF, Liu JK, Amini A, Fassett DR, Avery NC, Brockmeyer DL. A novel plate for occipitocervical stabilization in children: technical note and initial experience. American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) / Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) Pediatric Section Meeting. San Francisco, CA. September 2004. 
  10. Stefferl A, Storch M, Amini A, Mather I, Linington C. Cross-reactivity of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) and the milk protein butyrophilin: implications for the aetiology of multiple sclerosis. Proc. 26th Gottingen Neurobiology Conference, Elsner N and Wehner R (eds) Vol II, 740, 1998. 
  11. Stefferl A, Storch M, Amini A, Mather I, Lassmann H, Linington C. Milk and self tolerance: induction of autoimmune CNS disease by a common environmental antigen. J Neuroimmunol 90/1, 85, 1998.
Professional Memberships
  • Board Certified Neurosurgeon, American Board of Neurological Surgery
  • Member, American Association of Neurological Surgeons 
  • Member, Congress of Neurological Surgeons
  • Member, Washington Academy of Neurosurgery
Phone: 301-585-7900 . . . Email: contact@centerbrainspine.com . . . Address: 1300 Spring Street, Suite 210, Silver Spring, MD 20910