

Biography
He completed the MD/PhD program at Cornell University Medical College. During his residency training in neurosurgery at New York Presbyterian Hospital, he invented and patented several neurosurgical devices that are currently used worldwide. After residency, he joined the faculty at the New York Presbyterian Hospital-Cornell Medical Center and was a founder of the Brain Trauma Foundation (BTF) in 1986. The mission of the BTF is to improve the outcome of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). He joined the neurosurgery faculty at Stanford in February 2014.
Learn more about the Stanford Brain Performance Center: http://med.stanford.edu/braincenter.html.
Professional Summary
Professional Education
- Residency: New York Presbyterian Cornell Campus Neurosurgery Residency (1987) NY
- Residency: New York Presbyterian Cornell Campus Neurology Residency (1983) NY
- Internship: New York Presbyterian Cornell Campus General Surgery Residency (1982) NY
- Medical Education: Cornell University School of Medicine Registrar (1981) NY
- Board Certification: American Board of Neurological Surgery, Neurosurgery (1993)
Honors & Awards
- American Iranian Council Award, American Iranian Council (2001)
- Ellis Island Award, Ellis Island Award Committee (2013)
- Honorary Police Surgeon, New York Police Department (2007-2014)
Administrative Appointments
- Chief of Neurosurgery, The Jamaica Hospital-Cornell Trauma Center. New York (1989 - 2014)
- Clinical Professor of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College (2003 - 2014)
- Clinical Professor of Neurosurgery, Stanford University Medical School (2014 - Present)
- Moghadam Family Director, Stanford Brain Performance Center (2019 - Present)
- President, Brain Trauma Foundation (1995 - Present)
Publications
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Detecting eye movement abnormalities from concussion.
Maruta, J., & Ghajar, J. (2014). Detecting eye movement abnormalities from concussion. Progress in Neurological Surgery, 28, 226–33. -
Concussion guidelines step 1: systematic review of prevalent indicators.
Carney, N., Ghajar, J., Jagoda, A., Bedrick, S., Davis-O'Reilly, C., du Coudray, H., … Riggio, S. (2014). Concussion guidelines step 1: systematic review of prevalent indicators. Neurosurgery, 75, S3–S15. -
Executive summary of concussion guidelines step 1: systematic review of prevalent indicators.
Carney, N., Ghajar, J., Jagoda, A., Bedrick, S., Davis-O'Reilly, C., du Coudray, H., … Riggio, S. (2014). Executive summary of concussion guidelines step 1: systematic review of prevalent indicators. Neurosurgery, 75, S1–2. -
Predictive Visual Tracking: Specificity in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Sleep Deprivation
Maruta, J., Heaton, K. J., Mau, A. L., & Ghajar, J. (2014). Predictive Visual Tracking: Specificity in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Sleep Deprivation. MILITARY MEDICINE, 179(6), 619–625. -
Structural dissociation of attentional control and memory in adults with and without mild traumatic brain injury
Niogi, S. N., Mukherjee, P., Ghajar, J., Johnson, C. E., Kolster, R., Lee, H., … McCandliss, B. D. (2008). Structural dissociation of attentional control and memory in adults with and without mild traumatic brain injury. BRAIN, 131, 3209–21. -
Filling in the gaps: Anticipatory control of eye movements in chronic mild traumatic brain injury
Diwakar, M., Harrington, D. L., Maruta, J., Ghajar, J., El-Gabalawy, F., Muzzatti, L., … Lee, R. R. (2015). Filling in the gaps: Anticipatory control of eye movements in chronic mild traumatic brain injury. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL, 8, 210–23. -
Chronic Post-Concussion Neurocognitive Deficits. II. Relationship with Persistent Symptoms
Maruta, J., Spielman, L. A., Yarusi, B. B., Wang, Y., Silver, J. M., & Ghajar, J. (2016). Chronic Post-Concussion Neurocognitive Deficits. II. Relationship with Persistent Symptoms. FRONTIERS IN HUMAN NEUROSCIENCE, 10. -
Clinical evaluation of concussion: the evolving role of oculomotor assessments
Sussman, E. S., Ho, A. L., Pendharkar, A. V., & Ghajar, J. (2016). Clinical evaluation of concussion: the evolving role of oculomotor assessments. NEUROSURGICAL FOCUS, 40(4). -
Chronic Post-Concussion Neurocognitive Deficits. I. Relationship with White Matter Integrity
Maruta, J., Palacios, E. M., Zimmerman, R. D., Ghajar, J., & Mukherjee, P. (2016). Chronic Post-Concussion Neurocognitive Deficits. I. Relationship with White Matter Integrity. FRONTIERS IN HUMAN NEUROSCIENCE, 10. -
Degradation of Binocular Coordination during Sleep Deprivation
Tong, J., Maruta, J., Heaton, K. J., Maule, A. L., Rajashekar, U., Spielman, L. A., & Ghajar, J. (2016). Degradation of Binocular Coordination during Sleep Deprivation. FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY, 7. -
Guidelines for the Management of Severe Traumatic Brain Injury, Fourth Edition.
Carney, N., Totten, A. M., O'Reilly, C., Ullman, J. S., Hawryluk, G. W. J., Bell, M. J., … Ghajar, J. (2016). Guidelines for the Management of Severe Traumatic Brain Injury, Fourth Edition. Neurosurgery, -? -
Individual Differences in Distinct Components of Attention are Linked to Anatomical Variations in Distinct White Matter Tracts.
Niogi, S., Mukherjee, P., Ghajar, J., & McCandliss, B. D. (2010). Individual Differences in Distinct Components of Attention are Linked to Anatomical Variations in Distinct White Matter Tracts. Frontiers in Neuroanatomy, 4, 2-? -
Impact of falls on early mortality from severe traumatic brain injury.
Gerber, L. M., Ni, Q., Härtl, R., & Ghajar, J. (2009). Impact of falls on early mortality from severe traumatic brain injury. Journal of Trauma Management & Outcomes, 3, 9-? -
Possible Medication-Resistant Deficits in Adult ADHD.
Maruta, J., Spielman, L. A., Tseretopoulos, I. D., Hezghia, A., & Ghajar, J. (2014). Possible Medication-Resistant Deficits in Adult ADHD. Journal of Attention Disorders. -
The Effect of Physical Exercise After a Concussion: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Lal, A., Kolakowsky-Hayner, S. A., Ghajar, J., & Balamane, M. (2017). The Effect of Physical Exercise After a Concussion: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. American Journal of Sports Medicine, 363546517706137-? -
In Reply: Guidelines for the Management of Severe Traumatic Brain Injury, Fourth Edition.
Hawryluk, G. W. J., Ullman, J. S., Totten, A. M., & Ghajar, J. (2017). In Reply: Guidelines for the Management of Severe Traumatic Brain Injury, Fourth Edition. Neurosurgery. -
Frequency Responses to Visual Tracking Stimuli May Be Affected by Concussion
Maruta, J., Jaw, E., Modera, P., Rajashekar, U., Spielman, L. A., & Ghajar, J. (2017). Frequency Responses to Visual Tracking Stimuli May Be Affected by Concussion. MILITARY MEDICINE, 182, 120–23. -
Living Guideline Development in Traumatic Brain Injury: Opportunities to Link Quality of Care, Research, and Better Patient Outcomes to a Future Research Agenda
Kolakowsky-Hayner, S. A., Totten, A. M., Assasnik, S., Balamane, M., & Ghajar, J. (2017). Living Guideline Development in Traumatic Brain Injury: Opportunities to Link Quality of Care, Research, and Better Patient Outcomes to a Future Research Agenda. JOURNAL OF HEAD TRAUMA REHABILITATION, 32(6), E85–E86. -
Visual Tracking in Development and Aging
Maruta, J., Spielman, L. A., Rajashekar, U., & Ghajar, J. (2017). Visual Tracking in Development and Aging. FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY, 8, 640. -
Increasing Adherence to Brain Trauma Foundation Guidelines for Hospital Care of Patients With Traumatic Brain Injury
Saherwala, A. A., Bader, M. K., Stutzman, S. E., Figueroa, S. A., Ghajar, J., Gorman, A. R., … Olson, D. W. M. (2018). Increasing Adherence to Brain Trauma Foundation Guidelines for Hospital Care of Patients With Traumatic Brain Injury. CRITICAL CARE NURSE, 38(1), E11–E20. -
Establishing Evidence for Concussion Subtypes
Lumba-Brown, A., Lal, A., Collins, M., Kontos, A., Gioia, G., Bloom, J., … Ghajar, J. (2018). Establishing Evidence for Concussion Subtypes. JOURNAL OF HEAD TRAUMA REHABILITATION, 33(3), E106. -
Association of Visual Tracking Metrics With Post-concussion Symptomatology
Maruta, J., Spielman, L. A., Rajashekar, U., & Ghajar, J. (2018). Association of Visual Tracking Metrics With Post-concussion Symptomatology. FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY, 9. -
Mild traumatic brain injury and concussion: terminology and classification.
Sussman, E. S., Pendharkar, A. V., Ho, A. L., & Ghajar, J. (2018). Mild traumatic brain injury and concussion: terminology and classification. Handbook of Clinical Neurology, 158, 21–24. -
Concussion Subtype Identification With the Rivermead Post-concussion Symptoms Questionnaire
Maruta, J., Lumba-Brown, A., & Ghajar, J. (2018). Concussion Subtype Identification With the Rivermead Post-concussion Symptoms Questionnaire. FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY, 9. -
Hypertonic Saline is Superior to Mannitol for the Combined Effect on Intracranial Pressure and Cerebral Perfusion Pressure Burdens in Patients With Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.
Mangat, H. S., Wu, X., Gerber, L. M., Schwarz, J. T., Fakhar, M., Murthy, S. B., … Hartl, R. (2019). Hypertonic Saline is Superior to Mannitol for the Combined Effect on Intracranial Pressure and Cerebral Perfusion Pressure Burdens in Patients With Severe Traumatic Brain Injury. Neurosurgery. -
Concussion Subtype Identification With the Rivermead Post-concussion Symptoms Questionnaire.
Maruta, J., Lumba-Brown, A., & Ghajar, J. (2018). Concussion Subtype Identification With the Rivermead Post-concussion Symptoms Questionnaire. Frontiers in Neurology, 9, 1034. -
Association of Visual Tracking Metrics With Post-concussion Symptomatology.
Maruta, J., Spielman, L. A., Rajashekar, U., & Ghajar, J. (2018). Association of Visual Tracking Metrics With Post-concussion Symptomatology. Frontiers in Neurology, 9, 611. -
Age-specific cerebral perfusion pressure thresholds and survival in children and adolescents with severe traumatic brain injury*.
Allen, B. B., Chiu, Y.-L. L., Gerber, L. M., Ghajar, J., & Greenfield, J. P. (2014). Age-specific cerebral perfusion pressure thresholds and survival in children and adolescents with severe traumatic brain injury*. Pediatric Critical Care Medicine : a Journal of the Society of Critical Care Medicine and the World Federation of Pediatric Intensive and Critical Care Societies, 15(1), 62–70. -
The predictive brain state: asynchrony in disorders of attention?
Ghajar, J., & Ivry, R. B. (2009). The predictive brain state: asynchrony in disorders of attention? The Neuroscientist : a Review Journal Bringing Neurobiology, Neurology and Psychiatry, 15(3), 232–42. -
Increased oculomotor deficits during target blanking as an indicator of mild traumatic brain injury.
Suh, M., Basu, S., Kolster, R., Sarkar, R., McCandliss, B., & Ghajar, J. (2006). Increased oculomotor deficits during target blanking as an indicator of mild traumatic brain injury. Neuroscience Letters, 410(3), 203–7. -
Deficits in predictive smooth pursuit after mild traumatic brain injury.
Suh, M., Kolster, R., Sarkar, R., McCandliss, B., & Ghajar, J. (2006). Deficits in predictive smooth pursuit after mild traumatic brain injury. Neuroscience Letters, 401(1-2), 108–13. -
Disrupted White Matter Microstructure of the Cerebellar Peduncles in Scholastic Athletes After Concussion
Mallott, J. M., Palacios, E. M., Maruta, J., Ghajar, J., & Mukherjee, P. (2019). Disrupted White Matter Microstructure of the Cerebellar Peduncles in Scholastic Athletes After Concussion. FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY, 10. -
Concussion Guidelines Step 2: Evidence for Subtype Classification.
Lumba-Brown, A., Teramoto, M., Bloom, O. J., Brody, D., Chesnutt, J., Clugston, J. R., … Ghajar, J. (2019). Concussion Guidelines Step 2: Evidence for Subtype Classification. Neurosurgery. -
A management algorithm for patients with intracranial pressure monitoring: the Seattle International Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Consensus Conference (SIBICC).
Hawryluk, G. W., Aguilera, S., Buki, A., Bulger, E., Citerio, G., Cooper, D. J., … Chesnut, R. M. (2019). A management algorithm for patients with intracranial pressure monitoring: the Seattle International Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Consensus Conference (SIBICC). Intensive Care Medicine. -
A management algorithm for adult patients with both brain oxygen and intracranial pressure monitoring: the Seattle International Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Consensus Conference (SIBICC).
Chesnut, R., Aguilera, S., Buki, A., Bulger, E., Citerio, G., Cooper, D. J., … Hawryluk, G. W. (2020). A management algorithm for adult patients with both brain oxygen and intracranial pressure monitoring: the Seattle International Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Consensus Conference (SIBICC). Intensive Care Medicine. -
Hypertonic Saline is Superior to Mannitol for the Combined Effect on Intracranial Pressure and Cerebral Perfusion Pressure Burdens in Patients With Severe Traumatic Brain Injury
Mangat, H. S., Wu, X., Gerber, L. M., Schwarz, J. T., Fakhar, M., Murthy, S. B., … Hartl, R. (2020). Hypertonic Saline is Superior to Mannitol for the Combined Effect on Intracranial Pressure and Cerebral Perfusion Pressure Burdens in Patients With Severe Traumatic Brain Injury. NEUROSURGERY, 86(2), 221–29. -
Guidelines for the Management of Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: 2020 Update of the Decompressive Craniectomy Recommendations.
Hawryluk, G. W., Rubiano, A. M., Totten, A. M., O'Reilly, C., Ullman, J. S., Bratton, S. L., … Ghajar, J. (2020). Guidelines for the Management of Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: 2020 Update of the Decompressive Craniectomy Recommendations. Neurosurgery. -
Sex-Related Differences in Neurosensory Alterations Following Blunt Head Injury.
Lumba-Brown, A., Niknam, K., Cornwell, J., Meyer, C., & Ghajar, J. (2020). Sex-Related Differences in Neurosensory Alterations Following Blunt Head Injury. Frontiers in Neurology, 11, 1051. -
Concussion Disrupts Normal Brain White Matter Microstructural Symmetry.
Maruta, J., Mallott, J. M., Sulioti, G., Ghajar, J., Palacios, E. M., & Mukherjee, P. (2020). Concussion Disrupts Normal Brain White Matter Microstructural Symmetry. Frontiers in Neurology, 11, 548220. -
Phenotyping the Spectrum of Traumatic Brain Injury: A Review and Pathway to Standardization.
Pugh, M. J., Kennedy, E., Prager, E. M., Humpherys, J., Dams-O'Connor, K., Hack, D., … Lumba-Brown, A. (2021). Phenotyping the Spectrum of Traumatic Brain Injury: A Review and Pathway to Standardization. Journal of Neurotrauma. -
External Lumbar Drainage following Traumatic Intracranial Hypertension: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Badhiwala, J., Lumba-Brown, A., Hawryluk, G. W., & Ghajar, J. (2021). External Lumbar Drainage following Traumatic Intracranial Hypertension: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Neurosurgery. -
Visuomotor Synchronization: Military Normative Performance.
Maruta, J., Spielman, L. A., & Ghajar, J. (2021). Visuomotor Synchronization: Military Normative Performance. Military Medicine. -
Evolution and Impact of the Brain Trauma Foundation Guidelines.
Hawryluk, G. W., & Ghajar, J. (2021). Evolution and Impact of the Brain Trauma Foundation Guidelines. Neurosurgery. -
Sex Differences in Common Measures of Concussion in College Athletes.
Teramoto, M., Grover, E. B., Cornwell, J., Zhang, R., Boo, M., Ghajar, J., & Lumba-Brown, A. (2021). Sex Differences in Common Measures of Concussion in College Athletes. The Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation. -
A Review of Implementation Concepts and Strategies Surrounding Traumatic Brain Injury Clinical Care Guidelines.
Lumba-Brown, A., Prager, E. M., Harmon, N., McCrea, M., Bell, M. J., Ghajar, J., … Cifu, D. (2021). A Review of Implementation Concepts and Strategies Surrounding Traumatic Brain Injury Clinical Care Guidelines. Journal of Neurotrauma.
Practice Locations
Stanford Neuroscience Health Center Stanford, CA
Stanford, CAStanford Neuroscience Health Center
213 Quarry Road
Stanford , CA 94305
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Palo Alto, CANeurosurgery Program
213 Quarry Road
Palo Alto , CA 94304
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