Brain & Spinal Tumor Program
Contact Us
Contact our Brain and Spinal Tumor Program Nurse Navigator Chelsea Brooks, BSN, RN at 805-450-8820, who can assist with guiding patients from diagnosis, treatment, survivorship and beyond.
Meet Chelsea
Expert Care When You Need It Most
Our board-certified neurologists and neurosurgeons use the most advanced technologies, treatment options based on clinical research, and compassionate care tailored to each patient’s needs.
Services Offered
- Brain and spinal cord tumor management
- Open and minimally-invasive craniotomies
- Skull base and pituitary tumor surgery
- Surgical epilepsy management
First in California and one of six certified programs in the United States to receive Brain Tumor Certification from The Joint Commission
Our Brain & Spinal Tumor Program has earned The Joint Commission’s (TJC) Gold Seal of Approval® for Brain Tumor Certification by demonstrating continuous achievement of TJC performance standards. TJC is an independent, not-for-profit organization and the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in healthcare. TJC awards the Gold Seal of Approval® to healthcare organizations that demonstrate a commitment to quality improvement and patient safety.
The certification recognizes healthcare organizations that provide clinical programs across the continuum of brain tumor care and use clinical outcomes and performance measures to identify opportunities to improve care, as well as to educate and prepare patients and their caregivers for discharge.
“Earning this certification highlights our team’s commitment to patients and specialized treatment for brain tumors," said Nicole Moayeri, MD, Medical Director of Neurosurgical Oncology. "We have worked hard to ensure our patients have access to critical resources, and we’re proud to be the first hospital in California to receive this certification.”
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Our Brain & Spinal Tumor Program Team
N. Nicole Moayeri, MD
Medical Director, Neurosurgical Oncology Program
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Akinwunmi Oni-Orisan, MD
Neurological Surgery
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Chelsea Brooks, BSN, RN
Nurse Navigator
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Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LITT)
Cottage Neuroscience Institute is the first healthcare provider on the Central Coast to use the latest image-guided laser technology to treat brain tumors, lesions and epilepsy.
The NeuroBlate® System delivers Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LITT), a minimally invasive surgical technique using MRI-guided laser light to ablate unhealthy brain tissue. It can be an effective treatment option for recurrent and hard to reach brain tumors and lesions. It is also used to treat certain types of epilepsy.
“LITT provides patients with difficult-to-access lesions, recurrent brain tumors and epilepsy with an alternative treatment method,” said N. Nicole Moayeri, MD, board-certified neurosurgeon and Medical Director of Neurosurgical Oncology at Cottage Neuroscience Institute. “Being the first in the region to offer LITT is a testament to Cottage’s commitment to staying at the forefront of neurosurgery.”
Recognitions and Accreditations
- First in California Cottage Brain and Spinal Tumor Program Joint Commission Certified
