David Antezana, MD

503-935-8501
Areas of Focus: 
General Neurosurgery/Complex Spine
Spinal Deformities: Adult & Adolescent
Stereotactic Gamma Knife Radiosurgery
Peripheral Nerve Surgery
Spinal Tumors

About Me

My responsibility is to care for my patients with the utmost competence and compassion. I strive to educate patients about their condition so they may make an informed decision about their healthcare.

- David Antezana, MD

Dr. Antezana has been a neurosurgical consultant in Portland since 2002. He earned a Bachelor of Science in biomedical engineering from Catholic University of America, and an M.D. from the University of Minnesota. He later completed residency and fellowships at Johns Hopkins Hospital in neurological surgery, cerebrovascular research and orthopedic spine surgery. Dr. Antezana is Providence Health & Services’ lead investigator on two NIH-sponsored trials; and his research on neurophysiological monitoring in surgery has been presented at major international neurosurgical conferences. He currently serves as the chair of neurosurgery at Providence Portland Medical Center.

Other Interests: 

When Dr. Antezana is not working he enjoys hiking and skiing.

Research

  • Spinal deformity surgery outcomes and complications
  • Neurophysiological monitoring in surgery
  • CLEAR-III Clinical Trial: determining whether rapid removal of intraventricular hemorrhage with a recombinant tissue plasminogen activator improves neurologic outcome
  • MISTIE-III Trial: determining whether minimally-invasive brain surgery plus recombinant tissue plasminogen activator in patients with intracranial hemorrhage results in improved functional outcome

Recent Abstracts

  • EMG Monitoring Threshold in Lumbar Spine Pedicle Screw Testing.  Scoliosis Research Society Annual Meeting, Lyon, France, September 2013.
  • Evaluation of EMG Monitoring of Pedicle Screw Placement With CT Scan Confirmation in an Adult Deformity Population.  American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Scientific Meeting, San Francisco, April 2014. 

Volunteer Educator

  • Dangerous Decibels, a hearing-preservation program for grade schools, developed by OHSU scientists and funded by the National Institutes of Health.

My Work

Hospitals Served: 
Legacy Emanuel Medical Center
Providence Portland Medical Center
Providence St. Vincent Medical Center
Specialties: 
Areas of Focus: 
General Neurosurgery/Complex Spine
Spinal Deformities: Adult & Adolescent
Stereotactic Gamma Knife Radiosurgery
Peripheral Nerve Surgery
Spinal Tumors

Education & Honors

Board Certification: 
Neurosurgery
Education & Training: 
  • Research Fellowship, Cerebrovascular Surgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD
  • Fellowship, Orthopedic Surgery/Adult Spinal Reconstructive Surgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD
  • Residency, Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, 2001
  • Internship, General Surgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, 1995
  • MD, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 1994
  • BS, Biomedical Engineering, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC
Leadership: 
  • Neurosurgery Chair, Providence Portland Medical Center
Honors: 
  • Portland Monthly Magazine, "Top Doctors", 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2022, 2023
  • Harvey Cushing Hunterian Research Award
  • Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society
  • Roy Bode Memorial Award of Catholic University
  • Exceptional Summer Student Award of NINDS/NIH
  • Sigma Xi Research Society
Other Activities: 
  • American Association of Neurological Surgeons
  • Congress of Neurological Surgeons
  • North American Spine Society
  • Oregon Medical Association
  • Oregon Neurosurgical Society
  • Scoliosis Research Society
  • Biomedical Engineer & Research Assistant to Dr. Gajdusek, Nobel Laureate, National Institutes of Health/Laboratory of Central Nervous System Studies

Testimonials

There was absolutely nothing that this doctor could have done better. He was courteous, he was kind, he was caring, he was the most impressive doctor I have ever talked to, and I have had [many] surgeries in my life. This doctor is phenomenal. I would – I would recommend him to any friend anytime to have him trusted in life support for them. Period.