Meena Vessell, MD
- Neurosurgery
Pediatric Neurosurgeon, Assistant Professor, Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine
Phone:
737-229-3513
Languages: English
Departments:
Office location:
9835 North Lake Creek Parkway
Austin, TX 78717
Get to know Meena Vessell, MD
Dr. Vessell is a dual-fellowship trained Pediatric Neurosurgeon. She specializes in surgical treatment of brain and spine conditions. She takes each of her patients from diagnosis to recovery with compassion. Dr. Vessell’s goal is for “your family to become my family” and to provide expert neurosurgical care. She was recognized as an Austin “Top Doc” by Austin Monthly magazine in 2025. Her surgical outcomes have been featured in The Austin American Statesman newspaper. In the national arena, she received the Excellence in Medicine Award from the American Medical Association. Dr. Vessell values being a part of the greater Austin community and sees patients from all over Texas. She has an experienced team that works together to treat each neurosurgery patient with a personalized plan.
Clinical Interests
hydrocephalus, tumors of brain and spine, pediatric epilepsy (mesial temporal sclerosis, extratemporal epilepsy, tuberous sclerosis, tumor-related epilepsy, cortical dysplasia, Rasmussen’s syndrome, Sturge-Weber syndrome, hemimegalencephaly, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, hypothalamic hamartoma, Laundau-Kleffner syndrome), congenital malformations (spina bifida, spina bifida occulta, myelomeningocele, meningocele, dermal sinus tract, intracranial cysts, tethered spinal cord, fatty filum, Chiari malformations, encephalocele, diastematomyelia), vascular malformations of the brain and spine (arteriovenous malformations (AVM), cavernous malformations, moyamoya, arteriovenous fistulae of the brain and spine, intracranial aneurysms, veon of Galen malformation), craniofacial syndrome (Craniosynostosis, Apert syndrome, Crouzon syndrome, Pfieffer syndrome, plagiocephaly), spinal deformities, movement disorders (cerebral palsy, dystonia, spasticity, Tourette's syndrome, torticollis), traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, peripheral nerve and brachial plexus injury
Education
| School | Education | Degree | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emory University - Children's Heathcare of Atlanta | Fellowship | Pediatric Neurosurgery | 2023 |
| University of Louisville School of Medicine | Fellowship | Epilepsy Surgery | 2022 |
| University of Louisville School of Medicine | Residency | Neurosurgery | 2022 |
| Northeast Ohio Medical University | Medical School | Doctor of Medicine | 2015 |
| Youngstown State University | Bachelors | Bachelor of Science | 2011 |
Organizations
| Organization Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Pediatric Neurosurgery Section on Coding and Reimbursement | Chair |
| Council of State Neurosurgical Societies Workforce Committee | Co-Chair |
| NeurosurgeryPAC | Board Member |
| American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Neurological Surgeons Advocacy Committee | Member |
| Congress of Neurological Surgeons | Member |
| American Association of Neurological Surgeons | Member |
| Women in Neurosurgery | Member |
Honors and awards
- 2025
-
Austin “Top Doc,” Austin Monthly
* Texas Children’s Hospital physicians’ licenses and credentials are reviewed prior to practicing at any of our facilities. Sections titled From the Doctor, Professional Organizations and Publications were provided by the physician’s office and were not verified by Texas Children’s Hospital.
Highlights
Research interests
Pediatric epilepsy, gut-brain axis, neurosurgery workforce
Vessell M, Willett A, Ugiliweneza B, Sharma M, Mutchnick I, Boakye M, Chern J, Weiner H, Neimat J. National 22-year epilepsy surgery landscape shows increasing open and minimally invasive pediatric epilepsy surgery. Epilepsia. 2024;1-15. doi:10.1111/epi.18030
Vessell M, Willett A, Chapman B, et al. Evidence for Thalamic Responsive Neurostimulation in Treatment of Adult and Pediatric Epilepsy [published online ahead of print, 2023 Feb 2]. Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery. 2023;1-11. doi:10.1159/000528629
Mamaril-Davis J, Vessell M, Ball T, et al. Combined Responsive Neurostimulation and Focal Resection for Super Refractory Status Epilepticus: A Systematic Review and Illustrative Case Report. World Neurosurgery. 2022;167:195-204.e7. doi:10.1016/j.wneu.2022.07.141
Thatikunta M, Pearson L, Nguyen C, et al. Three-Dimensional Volumetric Changes in Posterior Vault Distraction With Distraction Osteogenesis. Journal of Craniofacial Surgery. 2020;31(5):1301-1306. doi:10.1097/SCS.0000000000006450
Mutchnick I, Thatikunta M, Braun J, et al. Protocol-driven prevention of perioperative hypothermia in the pediatric neurosurgical population [published online ahead of print, 2020 Feb 14]. Journal of Neurosurgery Pediatrics. 2020;1-7. doi:10.3171/2019.12.PEDS1980
Thatikunta M, Mutchnick I, Elster J, et al. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumors: case report. Journal of Neurosurgery Pediatrics. 2017;19(5):546-552. doi:10.3171/2016.12.PEDS16427
Mutchnick IS, Thatikunta MA, Gump WC, Stewart DL, Moriarty TM. Congenital myotonic dystrophy: ventriculomegaly and shunt considerations for the pediatric neurosurgeon. Childs Nervous System. 2016;32(4):609-616. doi:10.1007/s00381-015-2993-y