Leading the way in brain and spine care for Oklahoma

Ascension St. John is the region's only Comprehensive Stroke Center, certified by The Joint Commission. When you choose Ascension St. John, you’ll find a team of doctors who specialize in neurological disorders that affect your brain, spine and nerves.

Your neurologists and neurosurgeons work with a team of brain and spine specialists from across the country, sharing best practices, knowledge and research — bringing the best of our integrated national network of care, close to home. We have the expertise to help find the cause of your symptoms and deliver a personalized care plan.

Every appointment with your neurologist starts with a conversation. Your doctor will take the time to answer all your questions — big and small. As your care needs change, we’re ready with the care that’s right for you, helping relieve pain, improve movement and manage symptoms, so that you can feel more like you again.

Brain, spine and nerve conditions

Your care starts with a thorough evaluation to help your doctor determine the cause of your symptoms. Getting the right treatment as early as possible can often make a difference in your recovery and care moving forward. Tell your doctor about how symptoms such as pain are affecting your life and the activities you enjoy.

From diagnostic testing and advanced treatment options to surgical care, chronic disease management and rehabilitation, all the care you need is close to home for conditions including:

• Arteriovenous malformation (AVM)
• Blepharospasm (involuntary, repetitive movement of the muscles around the eyes)
• Brain injury and concussion
• Brain tumors
• Aneurysms
• Carotid artery disease
• Cavernous malformation
• Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
• Epilepsy and seizures
• Fibromyalgia, chronic muscle pain and fatigue
• Fistula
• Headaches and migraines
• Head, nerve and back pain
• Movement disorders, including tremors and Parkinson’s
• Moyamoya disease
• Multiple sclerosis
• Neurovascular
• Stroke
• Trigeminal neuralgia
• Other neuromuscular disorders, such as cerebral palsy and ALS

Your care may require additional tests and imaging, pharmacy or specialists — we connect you to the right specialists and services. And your care team will stay connected throughout your ongoing care. Ask your doctor about virtual (online) visits for your follow-up care.

Ascension St. John also provides dedicated neurorehabilitation services to help improve your quality of life after a stroke, brain or spine injury. Your physical therapists (or PTs) specialize in treatments for nerve damage to help you manage symptoms from a neuromuscular disease, such as Parkinson’s or peripheral neuropathy.

Surgical care for brain, spine and nerve conditions

Surgery is rarely the first option. Tyler Auschwitz, MD, Mohammad Yashar Kalani, MD and Cordell M. Baker, MD are the only neurosurgeons in Northeast Oklahoma with fellowship training in cerebrovascular, endovascular and skull-base surgeries. This means that they’re fellowship-trained in both neurosurgery and vascular surgery.

Our neurosurgeons collaborate to develop a highly specialized, advanced surgical treatment plan, customized for you. And whenever possible, they use minimally invasive surgery and robotic-assisted technology to help shorten your recovery.

Neurosurgeons specialize in neurosurgical procedures, including:

• Brain and spinal tumor surgery
• Bypass surgery
• Carotid angioplasty and stenting
• Chiari decompression
• Corrective spine surgery for herniated disc, spinal stenosis, scoliosis and more
• Deep brain stimulation surgery
• Nerve decompression for migraines

From pre-surgery to your rehabilitation care, we connect the dots for you. And whether you’ll be recovering at home or in our hospital’s neuro-intensive care recovery unit, our care teams deliver comprehensive care for all your needs after a neurosurgical procedure.