Team of Physicians

NEUROLOGISTS

The Houston Methodist Neuroscience & Spine Center at Sugar Land has board-certified neurologists, neurosurgeons, orthopedic spine surgeons, pain management specialists and primary care sports medicine specialists who work together to provide comprehensive, personalized care, designed to help patients return to a productive lifestyle.

OMOTOLA HOPE, M.D.

“My goal is to provide high quality, patient-centered and evidence-based neurologic care. I strongly believe that when treating a disease, consideration must be given to the “quality of life” of the person, not just disease management.” - Omotola Hope, M.D.

 

Clinical Interests: acquired epilepsy, assessment after apparent first seizure, diagnosis and early treatment of epilepsy, headaches and migraines, new onset epilepsy in the elderly, neuromodulatory treatments for epilepsy, post-stroke care, women living with epilepsy

DARINE KASSAR, M.D.

“My goal is to treat every patient as a family member and offer them the best care, as I am here to serve them.” - Darine Kassar, M.D.


Clinical Interests: multiple sclerosis (MS), motor neuron diseases including ALS, muscle and nerve biopsies, muscle disorders, neuromuscular diseases, neuromuscular junction disorders including myasthenia gravis, peripheral neuropathy and inherited neuropathy, small fiber peripheral neuropathy

IRFAN LALANI, M.D.

"I have an in-depth understanding of the structure and function of the nervous system. I work with my patients to evaluate and formulate comprehensive diagnostic and treatment plans. My goal is to improve the quality of life for my patients." - Irfan Lalani, M.D.

 

Clinical Interests: Alzheimer's, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), cancer pain, complex regional pain syndrome, headaches, neck/low back pain, neuropathy, Parkinson's disease

CHARLES POPENEY, M.D.

"My goal is to provide individualized and compassionate care for patients with neurological conditions. I believe in partnering with my patients to develop the most appropriate treatment plans while utilizing the latest technology available." - Charles Popeney, M.D.

 

Clinical Interests: Alzheimer’s, epilepsy, headaches, migraines, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, peripheral neuropathy, pudendal nerve entrapments, spinal muscular atrophy, tremors

JINAL SHAH, M.D.

"My mission is to provide compassionate and quality care to my patients using evidence-based medicine. I involve my patients and their family members in developing an individualized treatment plan that improves their quality of life." - Jinal Shah, M.D.

 

Clinical Interests: botulinum toxin injections for migraines and spasticity, EMG and nerve conduction studies, headaches, migraines, multiple sclerosis, neuropathy and peripheral nerve disorders, seizures, stroke

LARRY TRAN, M.D. - Medical Director of the Houston Methodist Neuroscience & Spine Center at Sugar Land

"My mission is the service of my patients through the complexity that is the field of neurology while delivering quality care in a patient-oriented environment. I strive to achieve open communication with my patients in an effort to work as a team to develop treatment plans, all the while keeping them updated on the latest advances in treatment and care." - Larry Tran, M.D.

 

Clinical Interests: cognitive disorders, demyelinating disorders, EMG, neck/low back pain, nerve disorders

 

BRIAN WALTER, D.O.

“My passion is to deliver high-quality patient care to those with neurological disorders by utilizing evidence-based medicine and an individualized approach.” - Brian Walter, M.D.F

 

Clinical Interests: botulinum toxin therapy, electroencephalography (EEG), electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies, epilepsy, headache, peripheral nerve disorders, stroke

TOBY YALTHO, M.D.

"My goal is to provide high quality and compassionate care using both the newest advances and time-tested strategies in neurology. I strive to establish trust and maintain open communication with my patients and tailor treatment to their individual lifestyles and particular concerns." - Toby Yaltho, M.D.

 

Clinical Interests: botulinum toxin injections, DBS, movement disorders, Parkinson’s, sleep medicine, tremors

NEUROSURGEONS

DANI BIDROS, M.D.

"I am dedicated to providing my patients with individualized attention and care guided by experience and compassion. I utilize the latest minimally invasive techniques which aid in recovery and to maximize your return to normal activity." - Dani Bidros, M.D.

 

Clinical Interests: artificial disc replacement, brain tumor microsurgery, complex spine reconstruction, herniated disc management, minimally invasive brain and spine surgery, surgical pain management, traumatic brain and spine injury

RAJESH K. BINDAL, M.D.

"I have a conservative treatment philosophy and try to avoid surgery whenever possible. When surgery is required, I provide my patients with the latest and most effective treatments available anywhere." - Rajesh K. Bindal, M.D.

 

Clinical Interests: artificial disc replacement, cervical and lumbar disc disease, minimally invasive spine surgery

TSZ Y. LAU, M.D.

"I strive to protect the best interests of my patients by explaining the diagnosis and options for treatment in a way that is understandable and clear while providing honest and straightforward recommendations." - Tsz Y. Lau, M.D.

 

Clinical Interests: arteriovenous malformation, brain and spinal tumors, carotid artery stenosis/occlusion, cerebral aneurysms, cerebral bypass, degenerative diseases of the spine, Moyamoya disease and stroke


PATRICK SHIH, M.D.

"I strive to help patients improve on their quality of life. Oftentimes, surgery is not required and conservative management is the preferred approach. When surgery becomes a realistic option, my philosophy is to provide the patients with an individualized approach for their condition." - Patrick Shih, M.D.

 

Clinical Interests: aneurysms, brain tumors, cervical disc disease, neurovascular surgery, spinal cord tumor, spine fixation, spine fusion, spine surgery

DERRICK Y. SUN, M.D.

"It is my honor and privilege to provide personalized and compassionate care to my patients and their loved ones. I take pride in treating patients like I would treat my family members. I like to educate and empower them so they can make well-informed decisions about their care. I listen carefully to their concerns and work closely with them to formulate the best approach to their treatment." - Derrick Y. Sun, M.D.

 

Clinical Interests: minimally invasive spine surgery, complex revision/reconstructive spine surgery, artificial disc replacement, brain tumor, spinal tumor, spinal deformity, degenerative diseases of cervical/thoracic/lumbar spine, craniocervical junction disorders, brain and spine trauma

CHRISTOPHER SY, M.D.

“Patient safety and well-being are my top priorities. I provide care that is personalized for each patient and I make sure that patients and their loved ones understand all the options available to them. My life’s goal is to help people in a compassionate manner and to that end, I treat all patients as if they were my own family.” - Christopher Sy, M.D.

 

Clinical Interests: cranial conditions, neurosurgery, spine specialist 

ORTHOPEDIC SPINE SURGEONS

HARI S. MITRA, M.D.

“My philosophy of care is to treat each patient

as if they are my own family. I like to approach

each patient’s unique spinal problem on an

individual basis. I prioritize listening to my

patients in order to develop a comprehensive

plan that is tailored for each person.” - Hari S. Mitra, M.D.


Clinical Interests: adult and pediatric spine deformity, scoliosis, minimally invasive spine surgery, 

motion preserving cervical surgery including disc replacement and laminoplasty

JEFFREY B. WOOD, M.D.

"I strive to provide caring, quality, and compassionate medical care of the spine. I explore all treatment options with my patients, including conservative and surgical options." - Jeffrey B. Wood, M.D.

 

Clinical Interests: cervical/lumbar spine surgery, disc herniation/degeneration, neck/low back pain, scoliosis, tumor surgery

PAIN MANAGEMENT

VEENA BASAVA, M.D.

"I strive to provide our patients with high quality and comprehensive pain treatment involving interventional procedures and other modalities that is designed to help them regain or improve their quality of life." - Veena Basava, M.D.

 

Clinical Interests: cancer pain, chest wall pain/intercostal neuralgia, chronic low back/neck/thoracic pain, epidurals, facet joint injection and nerve ablation, joint pain, 
kyphoplasty, nerve blocks, neuropathic pain, spinal cord stimulation, spine interventions and sympathetic blocks

BENOY BENNY, M.D.

"My goal is to find the source of your symptoms and to treat them in the least invasive way." - Benoy Benny, M.D.

 

Clinical Interests: neck/low back pain, regenerative medicine, spinal injections

MARK BROWN, M.D.

"Pain is subjective and affects people differently. My goal for each patient is to find the source of their pain and develop a treatment plan that improves their functionality." - Mark Brown, M.D.

 

Clinical Interests: complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), neck/low back pain, neuropathy, spinal injections


MARVIN CHANG, M.D.

"I rely on a wide variety of techniques to provide symptom management in all chronic pain states including physical therapy and rehabilitation modalities as well as medication management." - Marvin Chang, M.D.

 

Clinical Interests: acute and chronic cervical/thoracic/lumbar pain, DRG for CRPS, headaches, intrathecal therapy, neuroablation, spinal cord stimulation, therapeutic and diagnostic spinal blocks


PHYSICAL MEDICINE & REHABILITATION

JOSEPH ELIAS, M.D.

"I strive to restore function to patients with neurological and musculoskeletal disability using the least invasive treatment methods possible." - Joseph Elias, M.D.

 

Clinical Interests: electromyography/nerve conduction studies (EMG/NCS), neurological injuries (cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, stroke and brain injury), spasticity management (botulinum toxin (Botox®) injections), spine and musculoskeletal injuries (back and neck, carpal tunnel syndrome, shoulder, hip and knee), ultrasound-guided peripheral joint injections