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Spiros L. Blackburn, MD

Dr. Spiros Blackburn

Neurosurgeon
Associate Professor
Program Director of the Residency Program
Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery
McGovern Medical School, UTHealth


Dr. Blackburn Sees Patients at:
UTHealth Neurosciences–Texas Medical Center
(713) 486-8000
6400 Fannin Street, Suite 2800
Houston, TX 77030
Driving Directions

Map to UTHealth Neurosciences Texas Medical Center

Spiros Blackburn, MD, is a board-certified neurosurgeon who specializes in cerebrovascular and skull base surgery and director of the neurosurgery residency program at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. He has special expertise in both endoscopic and endovascular neurosurgery.

A summa cum laude graduate of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, Dr. Blackburn received his medical degree at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas. After concluding his residency at Washington University in St. Louis, he completed a cerebrovascular fellowship at Emory University in Atlanta and a neuro-endovascular fellowship at Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology at Washington University. Prior to joining UTHealth Neurosciences, he held a faculty appointment as assistant professor of neurosurgery at the University of Florida in Gainesville.

His clinical research interests include biomarkers for cerebral vasospasm and translational research for patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage, as well as a number of clinical trials for the treatment of brain aneurysms. Dr. Blackburn is committed to providing superior care.

The recipient of numerous academic awards, Dr. Blackburn has lectured nationally on the management of cerebral aneurysms, surgical anatomy, arteriovenous malformations and stroke. His research has been published in peer-reviewed journals including PNAS, Neurosurgery, World Neurosurgery, Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery, British Journal of Neurosurgery, Journal of Neurosurgery, Stroke and Journal of Neuro-Oncology, among others. His clinical research interests include biomarkers for cerebral vasospasm and translational research for patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage, as well as a number of clinical trials for the treatment of brain aneurysms. Dr. Blackburn is committed to providing superior care.

Collaboration with Referring Physicians

Physicians at UTHealth Houston Neurosciences engage referring physicians in the care of their patients, keeping them informed about patient progress throughout the evaluation and treatment process. After a patient’s treatment, referring physicians receive a summary and a plan for follow-up. Our physicians encourage continued communication about each patient.

Languages Spoken:
English

Medical School
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 2004

Education/Training

Fellowship
Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, 2012

Fellowship
Emory University School of Medicine, 2011

Residency
Barnes Jewish Hospital WU School of Medicine, 2010

Residency
Barnes Jewish Hospital WU School of Medicine, 2005

Clinical Interests

Cerebral aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, meningiomas and other brain tumors, pituitary tumors, Moya Moya disease, carotid artery stenosis and endarterectomy, cavernous malformations, endovascular neurosurgery, interventional neuroradiology, coil embolization of aneurysms.

Patient Stories

esteban

Esteban Delafuente Survives a Ruptured Brain Aneurysm


While talking about his grades with his mother, Esteban Delafuente grabbed the back of his head in pain and the left side of his body collapsed. He sat down hard and told his mother he couldn’t move his legs. After his mother got him to an emergency room near their home, a scan revealed that Esteban had a ruptured brain aneurysm. His ability to move declined rapidly… Click here to read more »