Arnold H. Menezes
2004, San Francisco, CA
Arnold Menezes was born in Bombay, India, where he attended the Topiwala National Medical College at Bombay University; graduating in 1967. He completed his neurosurgical training at the University of Iowa in 1973 under the tutelage of George Perret, MD, and Carl Graf, MD; adding fellowship training in Pediatric Neurology under William Bell, MD, and joined the faculty the following year.
Dr. Menezes is Professor and Vice Chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Iowa Roy and Lucille Carver College of Medicine and the University of Iowa Health Care Center in Iowa City, Iowa, where he has been in practice for over 30 years. He has played a significant role in the development of the department and its teaching activities. His main areas of interest have been pediatric and spinal neurosurgery as well as the posterior skull base. He has been active in furthering these sections of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons as well as the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, advancing the field in pediatric neurosurgery and having major commitments to the Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves. He is a founding member of the North American Skull Base Society. His over 20 professional affiliations encompass national and international neurosurgical groups that speak for his commitment to the spread of neurosurgery.
Dr. Menezes has substantial clinical research interests furthering the understanding of the craniocervical junction to provide definition of congenital, developmental and acquired pathological states at the craniocervical border, identifying the natural history and planning surgical physiological approaches to their management. The database of over 4,500 patients has identified numerous disorders. A major interest is the hindbrain herniation and its implications. Pediatric neurosurgery and especially its application to the developing spine has been on par with his development of the skull base interdisciplinary center.
Blending his clinical expertise in pediatric neurosurgery and disorders of the spine and the base of the skull has resulted in a truly unique clinical practice, with a major emphasis on congenital and acquired disorders. Through this work, the University of Iowa has become a national and international site for referral of craniovertebral and skull base pathology. He has authored over 150 peer-reviewed publications, over 90 book chapters and serves on seven editorial boards. His major textbooks include the first textbook on Craniovertebral Junction Abnormalities and Principles of Spinal Surgery, in addition to numerous monographs including “Spinal Neurosurgical Issues in the Pediatric Patient” and “The Craniovertebral Junction”. He has made over 800 scientific presentations, including 52 visiting professorships throughout the United States and abroad. He is active in educational forums and advanced neurosurgical training. Dr. Menezes has held offices in the Joint Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves, the American Society of Pediatric Neurosurgery, the Neurosurgical Society of America and the International Society of Pediatric Neurosurgery. He was involved in developing the first “hands-on” practical courses in spinal surgery in the country and has been instrumental in setting up spinal neurosurgery programs and fostering specialty education in Asia, Africa, Europe and South America.
Complementing his national and international successes, Dr. Menezes’ true expertise lies in his tremendous ability as a teacher and a mentor. He has had a major influence in the success of his residents, providing a role model for dedication and enthusiasm for academic neurosurgery and has had a major impact in supporting both his residents and co-faculty members in pursuing their areas of interest.
Dr. Menezes comes from a long lineage of physicians and surgeons. He and his wife, Meenal, have two children: Francis, an economist, and Maithilee, in residency training in Otolaryngology.