New Neuroscience Leadership Structure Expands Advanced Specialty Care Across Greater Los Angeles

Adventist Health’s Southern California Network is enhancing neuroscience care with a new leadership structure to better serve patients across Greater Los Angeles.

Yaser Badr, MD, Director of Neurosurgery, and Mikayel Grigoryan, MD, Director of Neurointerventional Radiology, will lead Adventist Health’s new Neuroscience Program across Adventist Health Glendale, Adventist Health White Memorial, and Adventist Health White Memorial Montebello.

The two specialists will help guide and expand care for patients facing complex neurological conditions, including stroke, brain aneurysms, vascular malformations, brain tumors, and other disorders affecting the brain, spine, and blood vessels.

The new structure increases coordination across hospitals, making it easier for patients to access highly specialized care. Key benefits include streamlined appointments, faster diagnoses, and comprehensive treatment plans delivered by a multidisciplinary team of experts in neurology, neurosurgery, stroke care, and neurointerventional treatment. Their advanced training and experience reflect the sophistication often seen in major academic medical centers.

As the program continues to grow, Adventist Health Glendale will serve as the tertiary hub for the most complex neuroscience cases, supporting patients and care teams across the network and throughout the broader Los Angeles area.

“This is an exciting step forward for our network and for the communities we serve,” said Alice Issai, President of Adventist Health’s Southern California Network. “We are proud to continue building a neuroscience program that brings world-class expertise, leading technology, and highly coordinated care closer to home for our patients. This expanded leadership structure reflects our commitment to ensuring people across Greater Los Angeles have access to exceptional specialty care when they need it most.”

Issai added that the new program is about more than clinical growth — it is about strengthening confidence and access for patients and families facing some of the most serious health conditions.

“When someone is experiencing a stroke or confronting a complex brain or spine condition, timely access to the right team can make all the difference,” Issai said. “We are incredibly proud to have Dr. Badr and Dr. Grigoryan leading this work, and we are excited about what this means for the future of neuroscience care across our hospitals.”

Drs. Badr and Grigoryan will lead a team focused on delivering comprehensive care for a broad range of neurological and neurovascular conditions. These include arteriovenous malformations, brain tumors, carotid stenosis, cavernous malformations, cerebral aneurysms, intracranial atherosclerotic disease, intracranial stenosis, spinal vascular malformations, ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and venous sinus thrombosis.

The program’s advanced stroke services also support patients with ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), cerebral hemorrhage, carotid stenosis, aneurysm-related bleeding, and vascular malformations.

“This program establishes an integrated approach for specialized stroke and neurovascular care across our campuses,” said Dr. Grigoryan. “Patients and referring physicians will benefit from direct access to advanced expertise in stroke intervention, aneurysm treatment, vascular malformations, and other complex neurological conditions. We are committed to timely intervention, seamless collaboration, and the best possible outcomes.”

Dr. Badr said the program is designed to improve access to top-tier neuroscience care for patients with complex needs.

“The goal is to make advanced neuroscience care more accessible, so patients can receive highly specialized treatment without extensive travel,” said Dr. Badr. “By strengthening coordination across our sister hospitals and continuing to invest in technology, expertise, and clinical resources, we are building a program equipped to care for the most complex cases while supporting patients and physicians throughout the region.”

About the Leaders

Dr. Yaser Badr is a board-certified neurosurgeon with advanced fellowship training in neuroendovascular surgery. He specializes in brain tumors, aneurysms, cerebrovascular neurosurgery, AVMs, endovascular procedures, and complex and minimally invasive spine surgery.

Dr. Mikayel Grigoryan is a vascular and interventional neurologist with advanced training in vascular neurology and endovascular surgical neuroradiology. He specializes in advanced stroke intervention and minimally invasive procedures used to treat complex conditions affecting the brain’s blood vessels.

Learn more about Adventist Health’s stroke care and neuroscience program.