October 1, 2025 - By Kathryn Sill

The Department of Neurosurgery welcomes Spyridon (Spyros) Karadimas, MD, PhD, who joins the team as an assistant professor of Neurosurgery. Dr. Karadimas is also a hybrid cerebrovascular neurosurgeon at Stanford Health Care.

Dr. Karadimas specializes in the management of complex brain aneurysms, moyamoya disease, brain and spinal arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), carotid artery disease, ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. He is formally trained in both cerebrovascular and skull base surgery, utilizing his expertise in cerebrovascular and skull base surgery, as well as in minimal invasive techniques.

Dr. Karadimas earned his medical degree from the University of Athens, a PhD in Medicine from the University of Patras, and a PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Toronto. He completed his neurosurgical residency and an enfolded fellowship there, followed by fellowships in cerebrovascular and skull base surgery at the University of Miami and UTHealth Houston, and in endovascular neurosurgery at Thomas Jefferson University.

At Stanford, Dr. Karadimas directs a basic and translational research program focused on the neural circuits of motor control and stroke recovery. His laboratory integrates systems neuroscience, in vivo imaging, electrophysiology, and brain–computer interface development to uncover the principles of neuroplasticity and create novel therapeutic strategies to restore movement after brain injury.

Dr. Karadimas’ faculty appointment begins October 1, 2025.

We spoke with Dr. Karadimas to learn more about his clinical and research interests:

What do you enjoy most about neurosurgery as a career?

What I enjoy most about neurosurgery is the privilege of caring for patients during the most challenging times in their lives. I find great fulfillment in being able to change their trajectory through surgery and patient care. Additionally, neurosurgery uniquely combines clinical practice with science and research, allowing us to help patients not only now but also in the future through our ongoing research efforts.

What do you find most rewarding about subspecializing in cerebrovascular neurosurgery?

Cerebrovascular neurosurgery is one of the most challenging subspecialties in the field, demanding rigor, exceptional technical skills, a deep understanding of anatomy, and courage. The ability to combine these qualities allows us to positively influence disease progression for our patients, which is incredibly rewarding.
 

Can you tell us more about your research?

My basic and translational research program focuses on the neural systems involved in motor control, stroke recovery, and brain plasticity following arteriovenous malformations. This laboratory aims to integrate various systems to uncover the principles of neuroplasticity and develop novel therapeutic strategies for restoring movement after brain injury.
 

What drew you to working at Stanford?

I was drawn to Stanford by its exceptional leadership, particularly Dr. Michael Lim, Dr. Gordon Li, and especially Dr. Gary Steinberg, a prominent figure in cerebrovascular neurosurgery and research. Stanford embodies the three key pillars that have guided my neurosurgery career: outstanding neurosurgical care, cutting-edge science and research, and top-tier education to cultivate the next generation of neurosurgery leaders. These factors were the primary reasons for my decision to join Stanford.
 

What is something others may not know about you?

Something others may not know about me is that I come from a very small town in Greece. Outside of medicine and research, I enjoy traveling and watching soccer with my wife — we follow a club in Greece closely, and I have always been a fan of Manchester United, especially from their glory days.