Ben Zussman, MD
This website is maintained by Ben Zussman, MD, a cerebrovascular and spine neurosurgeon with the Wellstar Medical Group. Dr. Zussman completed residency and fellowship training at UPMC in Pittsburgh, PA and medical school at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA. His research on the treatment of cerebrovascular disease has resulted in novel surgical techniques and improvements in patient safety and satisfaction. Dr. Zussman is passionate about providing safe, high-quality patient care.
What originally inspired you to go into medicine?
My mother was a physician in our hometown. Growing up, I got a behind-the-scenes look at the dedication and focus it takes to be a doctor, and also the meaning and satisfaction that comes from caring for others. My mom’s life of service inspired me to follow her example.
Why did you choose your medical specialty?
As a teenager I shadowed a family friend who was a neurosurgeon. The experience amazed me. I met a woman who couldn’t walk, watched her surgery to remove a tumor in her spinal cord, and saw her walk again. I encountered a man who was unconscious, observed a surgery to fix a blood clot in his head, and watched him literally come back to life. I learned that neurosurgery deals with the body’s mainframe —the stuff that makes someone who they are. In my opinion, it is the most exciting medical specialty.
What do you most enjoy about being a physician?
Doing a job right matters to me. We commonly deal with high-stakes, life-or-death situations. It can be very intense and even downright scary for patients and their loved ones.
The first thing I do is help a patient understand what is going on; We take complex, foreign concepts and make them clear and relatable, in terms patients feel comfortable with. The next thing I do is help a patient decide on the best treatment option for them; We explain the different choices, discuss benefits and risks, and listen very carefully. If proceeding with surgery makes sense, my focus is technical excellence and attention to detail —every time.
What I enjoy most about being a physician is partnering with each patient to get this entire process right, from start to finish.
What are your areas of focus within your medical specialty?
I treat the entire spectrum of blood vessel problems in the head, neck, and spinal cord. Sometimes we approach the blood vessels from the outside with microsurgery. For example, I perform clipping of intracranial aneurysms, carotid endarterectomies, and microvascular decompressions. Other times we treat the vessels from within using endovascular techniques. For example, I perform coiling of intracranial aneurysms, carotid artery stenting, and embolization of vascular malformations. A significant portion of my cerebrovascular practice involves emergency care, including acute stroke interventions and brain hemorrhages. My training in both microsurgery and endovascular surgery enables me to tailor the surgical strategy for each individual patient.
Our Team:
Amy Colon, PA-C
Erin Tobon, MA
Our Locations:
North Fulton Clinic:
Wellstar Neurosurgery
2500 Hospital Boulevard, Suite 310
Roswell, GA 30076-4947
Phone: (770) 664-9600
Fax: (770) 664-9856
North Fulton Hospital:
3000 Hospital Boulevard
Roswell, GA 30076
Phone: (770) 751-2500
Patient Reviews:
“I am alive because of Dr. Zussman and his team” – Gerald U.
“Their team takes the time to listen” – Sandra D.
“Dr. Zussman’s team gave me back my life” – Jeannie R.
“Y’all have a great team and I love y’all” – Laquita W.
Media Links
Wellstar North Fulton Hospital offers comprehensive stroke, aneurysm services
Atlanta Medical Guide 2020: Expert Q&A
Videos
DISCLAIMER
Website contents are for educational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Neurovascularcases.com is not responsible in any way should you decide to follow any information on the site. Always seek the advice of your physician with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.