Hey Norwalk: You Have Exceptional Brain, Spine and Stroke Care at Norwalk Hospital

By Joshua Marcus, MD, Chief of Neurosurgery, Norwalk Hospital, part of Northwell Health

I joined Norwalk Hospital in 2016 after training in New York City because I wanted to practice academic medicine in a community setting. Since then, Norwalk Hospital has evolved its brain, spine and stroke care to meet the needs of our community. I have evolved, too, and am humbled and honored to accept the Chief of Neurosurgery at Norwalk Hospital position. I do this with deep admiration for Dr. Ramon Batson, who handed me the baton after nearly 15 years of service in the role.

I am excited to further strengthen the neurosurgical care we provide to the Greater Norwalk communities, because when it comes to conditions that affect the brain and spine, there’s no time to waste and no substitute for advanced, compassionate care close to home.

At Norwalk Hospital, we’re delivering on that promise — and being recognized for it.

We recently earned for the third consecutive year the American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines® Stroke Gold Plus and Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll award. This high-standard award means when someone from our communities experiences a stroke, they have access to the most effective, timely care available.

We also have certification from The Joint Commission as a Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center, which means we’re equipped to perform mechanical thrombectomy — a minimally invasive procedure that removes blood clots from the brain and can prevent long-term disability after a stroke. It’s a procedure that gives people who experience stroke more hope for a successful recovery, especially those who may not have had options before due to age or other medical conditions.

Another advancement I’m especially proud of is the installation of our biplane angiography system. This imaging technology gives us real-time 3D views of the brain and spine during procedures, enhancing precision and safety. It’s used for treating brain aneurysms, strokes and other neurovascular conditions. It’s a major leap forward in neurosurgery — and it’s available here at Norwalk Hospital.

Our neurosurgery team performs complex brain tumor surgeries, as well as spine surgeries, including minimally invasive, robotic-assisted approaches. Disc herniations, spinal stenosis and scoliosis can be life-limiting, and we offer more surgical options with faster recoveries than ever before. We also have extensive experience with treating rare diseases, like spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas.

Our neurosurgery team performed Connecticut’s first facet joint replacement using the Total Posterior Spine Surgery (TOPS™) system in September 2023. Since then, we have performed nearly the most TOPS procedures in the country. TOPS offers new hope to people with spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis (slipped vertebra) because it preserves mobility while relieving pressure on the spine.

But we don’t do it alone.

We work closely with many other specialists at Norwalk Hospital and across our outpatient locations. From physical, occupational and speech therapists with unique training in neurorehabilitation, to interventional pain management specialists, to our colleagues in radiology, oncology and internal medicine — we all share a common goal: to help our patients heal and thrive.

If you need continued care after surgery or illness, we’re here for you. The Nuvance Health Neuroscience Institute at iPark in Norwalk offers specialized outpatient services for neurology, neurosurgery and pain management needs. And Physical Rehabilitation at Norwalk on West Avenue helps people recover after brain tumors, traumatic brain injuries, strokes and spine surgery.

Another advancement worth mentioning: Norwalk Hospital is now proudly part of Northwell Health, one of the largest and most respected health systems in the country. As Norwalk Hospital integrates with Northwell, our ability to offer leading-edge neurosurgical care will only continue to grow.

To everyone who trusts us with their care: Thank you. And to my colleagues across the hospital and outpatient locations: Thank you for your commitment and teamwork. It is a privilege to serve this community, and I look forward to what we’ll continue to accomplish together.

We’re here when you need us — with the expertise, technology and compassion you deserve.

Learn more about neurosurgery at the Nuvance Health Neuroscience Institute, now part of Northwell Health.