Fassil B Mesfin, MD PhD
175 Elizabeth Blackwell Street
Syracuse, NY 13210
315 464-6380
Current Appointments
- Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery
- Director of Spine
Hospital Campus
- Downtown
- Community
Clinical Section Affiliations
- Neurosurgery: Brain Tumors, Pain Management, Radiosurgery, Spine
- Upstate Cancer Center: Neurosurgery
Research Programs and Affiliations
- Cancer Research Institute
Previous Appointments
- Albany Medical Center Hospital, 2005–2011
- Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2011–2012
Clinical Interests
Dr. Mesfin's clincal interests include complex spine, minimally invasive spine, and pain modulating procedures including steroid injections, sympathectomy, spinal cord stimulator placement and, intratheca pump placement. He performed numerous peripheral nerves procedures including excision of tumor, carpal tunnel release, and repair/decompression damage nerves.
Education Interests
Dr. Mesfin is involved in the Federation of International Education in Neurosurgery (FIENS) which trainees Neurosurgical Residents in developing countries such as Ethiopia. He was also involved Madaktari Africa, a Neurosurgery Mission to Tanzania. The goal of these organizations is to provide training of local physicians in order to improve neurosurgical care and make it self-sustaining.
Research Interests
Dr. Mesfin is involved in the development of anti-cancer drugs with significant promise for treatment of metastatic breast cancer to the brain and spinal cord. These anti-cancer agents are also found to have effect on primary brain tumors including GBM. In addition, his research interest includes biomechanics of spine, development of neuroprosthesis, and stem cell transplantation for spinal cord injury patients.
Diseases & Conditions Treated
- Benign Bone Tumors
- Brachial Plexus Injury
- Brachial plexopathy
- Brain Abscess
- Brain Cancer
- Brain Injury
- Brain Tumor
- Brain and Spine Tumors
- Chronic Pain
- Hydrocephalus
- Kyphosis
- Low Back Pain
- Lumbar Stenosis
- Lumbosacral Plexopathy
- Lumbosacral Radiculopathy
- Myelopathy
- Neck Injuries
- Neck Spasms
- Neuralgias
- Neuro-Oncology Cancers
- Neurofibromatosis
- Neurogenic Claudication
- Neuropathic Pain
- Sciatica
- Slipped Disk or Herniated Disk
- Spasticity
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Spinal Fracture
- Spinal Stenosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spondylolysis and Spondylolisthesis
- Trauma
- Ulnar neuropathy
Treats
- Adults and Children
Treatments/Services
- Acoustic Neuroma Resection
- Biopsy of Bone Lesions
- Biopsy of Soft-Tissue Masses
- Brain Tumor Treatment
- Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Leak Repair
- Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)
- Fine Needle Aspiration
- Fluoroscopic Guided Precision Blocks
- Fracture Treatment of Spine
- Gamma Knife Radiosurgery
- Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
- Intrathecal Pump Management
- Intrathecal Pump Refill
- Kyphoplasty/Vertebroplasty
- Lumbar Puncture
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery
- Nerve Conduction Study/Testing
- Neurologic Evaluation
- Neurosurgery for Pain
- Pain Control
- Pain Management for Chronic Illness
- Sacral Nerve Stimulation
- Seizure Focus Investigation
- Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy
- Spinal Decompression Surgery
- Spinal Surgery
- Spine Injury Evaluation and Emergent Care
- Spine Pain Treatment
- Spine Surgery
- Surgical Options for Back Pain
- Surgical Repair of Congenital and Developmental Lesions of the Nervous System
- Surgical Treatment of Brain and Spine Tumors
- Surgical Treatment of Epilepsy
- Surgical Treatment of Hydrocephalus
- Surgical Treatment of Spasticity
- Surgical Treatment of Vascular Lesions of the Nervous System
Current Hospital Privileges
- Upstate University Hospital
Faculty Profile Shortcut: http://www.upstate.edu/faculty/mesfinf
Sue Stearns, PhD
Associate Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology
Sue Stearns, PhD, is one of four faculty members who teach Gross Anatomy to first-year medical students at SUNY Upstate. Students routinely cite this course as a favorite.
Steven Youngentob, PhD
Associate Dean of Basic Research and Graduate Studies
Steven Youngentob, PhD, is at the forefront of research into alcohol addiction.