Why UHealth’s Top-Ranked Neurology and Neurosurgery Program Stands Out for Patients
From personalized treatments and multidisciplinary clinics to groundbreaking research and minimally invasive surgery, leaders of UHealth’s nationally ranked neurology and neurosurgery program explain how academic medicine is transforming care for patients with complex neurological conditions.
The University of Miami Health System’s neurology and neurosurgery program rose to No. 14 in the nation in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026-2027 Best Hospitals rankings, recognition that reflects the program’s commitment to providing world-class neurological care, advancing research and training the next generation of leaders in neuroscience.
The program’s chairs, Jose Romano, M.D., professor and chair of the Department of Neurology, and Allan Levi, M.D., Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Neurological Surgery, talk about what makes UHealth care and research stand out in a crowded national field.
What does academic medicine mean for our patients?
Dr. Romano: Academic medicine means our patients benefit from a unique combination of expert clinical care, groundbreaking research and the training of future leaders in neuroscience. Our neurologists are committed not only to providing exceptional patient care, but also to understanding the mechanisms behind neurological diseases, developing new treatments and educating the next generation of neuroscientists and physicians.
With more than 125 faculty members, our program includes expertise across every major neurological subspecialty. This means patients are cared for by specialists who focus deeply on their specific condition and are often at the forefront of emerging therapies, technologies and clinical approaches. Our expertise is recognized through 11 national Center of Excellence designations for specific neurological diseases and conditions, as well as national certification for inpatient stroke care through The Joint Commission. Patients have opportunities to participate in studies designed to improve diagnosis, understand disease mechanisms and develop innovative therapies.
Dr. Levi: Academic medicine gives our patients access to world-renowned specialists in neurology and neurosurgery. We offer access to leading-edge clinical research and trials, including brain-computer interface work for paralysis, vaccines for brain tumor, stem cells for disc regeneration and Schwann cells to assist with nerve regeneration. Our physician-scientists are actively developing novel treatment strategies through our Miami Project to Cure Paralysis and the Sylvester Brain Tumor Institute.
As a world-renowned teaching hospital, we are training the next generation of neurosurgeons while ensuring our patients benefit from the latest research, evidence-based treatments and innovative care options that may not be available elsewhere. Some of our surgeons are advancing minimally invasive techniques in spine surgery, including endoscopy to remove discs, relieve spinal stenosis or fuse the spine. Other surgical innovations include outpatient brain tumor or aneurysm surgery as well targeted laser therapies for brain tumors.
What distinguishes your program’s approach to caring for patients with complex neurological conditions?
Dr. Romano: We now know that many complex conditions require highly specialized expertise and a multidisciplinary approach that extends beyond what can be provided in a traditional general neurology setting. Our program has built a comprehensive team-based model with experts across every neurological subspecialty. Patients benefit from specialized clinics focused on conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson’s disease, MS and other movement disorders, epilepsy, brain tumors and more.
These multidisciplinary clinics bring together neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuropsychologists, physical therapists, speech therapists, nutritionists, social workers and other specialists who work collaboratively to develop personalized treatment plans. For patients requiring hospitalization, our specialized inpatient teams provide focused neurological care, including neurohospitalists, epilepsy specialists, neurocritical care experts in our Neuro ICU, neuro-oncology specialists and dedicated stroke teams.
Dr. Levi: We care for some of the most complex neurosurgical conditions, many of which require a highly coordinated, multidisciplinary approach. Our program includes subspecialists in spine, brain tumors, vascular, pediatric, functional, pain, trauma and peripheral nerve neurosurgery. As a quaternary referral center, we frequently treat rare conditions and manage challenging cases referred by physicians throughout the region. Every patient receives a personalized treatment plan supported by advanced diagnostic imaging and the collective expertise of our multidisciplinary team.
How has your team built a multidisciplinary model, and what has that collaboration unlocked for patients?
Dr. Romano: By bringing together expertise across neurology, neurosurgery, rehabilitation, oncology, imaging, genetics and other fields, we can create individualized treatment plans that address each patient’s unique needs. This collaboration has allowed us to offer advanced diagnostic approaches, innovative procedures and access to clinical trials that may not otherwise be available. It also creates a seamless connection between discovery and patient care, allowing advances developed through research to translate more quickly into treatments that can improve patients’ lives.
Dr. Levi: Collaboration is central to the way we deliver care. Our neurosurgeons work closely with colleagues in orthopedic surgery, ENT, radiology and radiation oncology amongst others to evaluate complex cases through multidisciplinary meetings. Nurse navigators, advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants play an essential role in coordinating care, helping reduce delays, streamline appointments and improve the overall patient experience.
What advances in treatment, technology or clinical care are having the biggest impact on patients right now?
Dr. Romano: One of the most significant advances in neurological care is the continued growth of personalized medicine and precision approaches to treatment. Our multidisciplinary expertise has created opportunities for innovative programs, including the Neuroscience Institute led by Dr. Leonard Petrucelli. Through the Comprehensive Center for Brain Health and the McKnight Brain Institute, we are focused on personalized strategies for maintaining brain health, all as we study age-related cognitive decline.
Artificial intelligence is also creating new opportunities across UHealth. Our teams are exploring how AI can support diagnosis, monitor disease progression and identify changes that may not be immediately apparent through traditional clinical evaluation. For example, innovative research led by Dr. Ihtsham Haq is examining how AI can help monitor movement disorders and detect disease changes earlier.
Stem cell research is another promising area. While these therapies are not yet ready for widespread clinical use, our researchers are studying their potential applications for neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis and recovery after brain injury.
Dr. Levi: We continue to lead the way in minimally invasive neurosurgical care. Endoscopic spine surgery allows us to treat conditions such as spinal stenosis and perform spinal fusions through incisions as small as eight millimeters, resulting in less pain and faster recovery. We have also advanced minimally invasive techniques for brain lesions, including endoscopic procedures and mini-craniotomies. In addition, innovations in artificial intelligence and advanced imaging provide highly detailed three-dimensional visualization that improves surgical planning, enhances precision and ultimately increases patient safety and efficiency.
What unique resources, expertise or capabilities do we offer that patients may not find elsewhere?
Dr. Romano: Our greatest strength is the combination of specialized expertise, advanced technology, research opportunities and multidisciplinary collaboration. Patients have access to nationally recognized specialists across every area of neurology and neurosurgery, as well as advanced treatments, clinical trials and innovative research programs. Our ability to bring together physicians, scientists and health care professionals from multiple disciplines allows us to approach neurological conditions from every angle, from prevention and early diagnosis to advanced intervention and long-term management.
This integrated approach provides patients with access to comprehensive care that is difficult to replicate outside of an academic medical center.
Dr. Levi: Our program is distinguished by highly specialized centers where physicians focus exclusively on specific areas of neurosurgery. This level of sub-specialization means our surgeons are leaders in their respective fields while providing patients with access to expertise that is often unavailable elsewhere. As a result, we can diagnose and treat rare and highly complex neurological conditions using specialized knowledge and advanced treatment options.
What initiative currently underway in your specialty will define the next chapter of patient care?
Dr. Romano: The next chapter of neurological care will focus on helping people not only live longer, but live healthier lives with better brain health and quality of life. Through continued advances in research, prevention, early detection, personalized medicine and innovative care delivery models, we have the opportunity to change the trajectory of neurological disease and improve outcomes for our communities.
Dr. Levi: One of the most exciting initiatives underway is our work in brain-computer interface technology. Innovations in this area have the potential to transform the care of patients living with paralysis by restoring function and increasing independence. As this technology continues to evolve, it represents a major step forward in redefining what is possible in neurosurgical care and improving quality of life for patients.
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Tags: Department of Neurological Surgery, Department of Neurology, Dr. Allan Levi, Dr. Jose Romano, neurological surgery, neurology, neuroscience, U.S. News rankings, USNWR27