About Dr. Lekhaj Daggubati
Practicing withWashington Brain & Spine InstituteThe region’s neurosurgery group, 20+ years
Dr. Daggubati is a fellowship-trained neurosurgeon serving Northern Virginia, Maryland and Washington DC. He completed two fellowships in surgical neuro-oncology, with specialization in benign and malignant tumors throughout the nervous system, and his practice centers on minimally invasive approaches to both cranial and spinal surgery: laser interstitial thermal therapy, radiosurgery, endoscopic skull base surgery, and endoscopic and tubular spine surgery.
His philosophy is simple. Surgery is one tool among several, and it should be used when it is the tool most likely to help. Many patients who see him leave with a non-surgical plan, a period of observation, or a referral to a colleague. When surgery is the right answer, he uses enhanced recovery protocols and the latest perioperative and intraoperative technology to make the operation as small, safe and quick to recover from as the problem allows.
Academic work
Dr. Daggubati has published more than 50 peer-reviewed articles, two book chapters, and over 50 abstracts and presentations. He is an ad-hoc reviewer for World Neurosurgery, Interventional Neuroradiology and Cureus, mentors medical students and residents.
Data science and artificial intelligence
He also holds a Master of Science in Data Science from Northwestern University with a specialization in artificial intelligence. In an era of big data and rapidly advancing computing, he works to bring machine learning and advanced analytics into neurosurgical decision-making — so that recommendations reflect not just experience but evidence.
Recognition
- Washingtonian Top Doctor 2024
- Washingtonian Top Doctor 2025
- Washingtonian Top Doctor 2026
Hospital privileges
- Reston Hospital Center, Reston, VA
- Virginia Hospital Center, Arlington, VA
- Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center, Woodbridge, VA
- Frederick Health Hospital, Frederick, MD
- Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center, Rockville, MD
- Holy Cross Hospital, Silver Spring, MD
Training
| Year | Program |
|---|---|
| 2023 | CAST Fellowship in Neuro-Oncology Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine |
| 2022 | CAST Fellowship in Neurosurgical Oncology, Penn State Hershey Medical Center |
| 2022 | Neurological Surgery Residency (Chief Resident 2021), Penn State Hershey Medical Center |
| 2022 | Master of Science in Data Science, focus in Artificial Intelligence, Northwestern University |
| 2015 | Doctor of Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine |
| 2012 | Bachelor of Science, summa cum laude, Accelerated BS/MD Program, Drexel University |
Areas of focus
Spine and nerve
- Endoscopic and tubular minimally invasive spine surgery
- Cervical disc replacement and ACDF
- Navigated and robotic MIS fusion
- Spinal fractures and kyphoplasty
- Spinal tumors and metastatic spine disease
- Spinal cord stimulation
- Carpal tunnel, cubital tunnel and peripheral nerve decompression
Brain
- Gliomas, glioblastoma and brain metastases
- Meningiomas and skull base tumors
- Pituitary tumors (endoscopic endonasal)
- Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT)
- Awake craniotomy with brain mapping
- Hydrocephalus and normal pressure hydrocephalus
- Chiari malformation and CSF leaks