Geoffrey Colby, MD, PhD
- Vascular Neurosurgery|
- Endovascular Neurosurgery|
- Neurosurgery
About
Dr. Geoffrey Colby is a neurosurgeon and expert specialist in the open microsurgical and minimally-invasive endovascular treatment of cerebrovascular disorders of the brain and spine. He is a Professor of Neurosurgery and Radiology and the Director of Cerebrovascular Neurosurgery at UCLA. Dr. Colby is also the Director of the Neurosurgery Residency Training Program at UCLA.
Dr. Colby uses the most modern and advanced techniques to treat cerebral aneurysms (brain aneurysms), arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs), subdural hematoma (SDH), subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), carotid stenosis, cavernomas, and Moyamoya.
Dr. Colby is a world-class expert using flow diversion for treatment and cure of brain aneurysms. He is the only neurosurgeon on the West Coast certified to train and proctor physicians on the use of all FDA-approved flow diverting stents and intrasaccular devices for treatment of brain aneurysms. He is sought after to assist other specialists and provide guidance on complex aneurysm procedures across the country and internationally. He also performs embolization for treatment of subdural hematoma (SDH) and tumors of the brain and spine.
Dr. Colby’s research explores technical advances to improve patient outcomes and the development of novel devices to treat cerebrovascular disorders. He has co-authored more than 120 peer-reviewed scientific articles and book chapters, and he has served as the principal investigator for many clinical studies testing new endovascular devices to treat cerebral aneurysms and stroke. He has lectured around the world on 4 continents, and he is a reviewer for the main scientific journals in the field of cerebrovascular disorders.
Dr. Colby joined UCLA in 2017 from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, where he was an Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery, Neurology and Radiology. During his tenure there, he performed thousands of neurosurgical procedures and was an avid researcher. His passion for teaching earned him the Department of Neurosurgery Chairman’s Award of Excellence, and the Neurosurgery house staff at Johns Hopkins presented him with the Richard J. Otenasek, Jr. Faculty Teaching Award. While at UCLA, he has been awarded similar honors for excellence in teaching and education, receiving the Ulrich Batzdorf, MD Gold Teaching Award.
Dr. Colby received his MD and PhD degrees from Columbia University in New York City. He completed his internship and neurosurgery residency at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, as well as a two-year fellowship in endovascular neurosurgery and interventional neuroradiology. He joined the Johns Hopkins faculty in 2013.
He is an avid outdoor enthusiast and has participated in triathlons, marathons, and mountaineering expeditions. He also enjoys casual jogs, bike riding, and hiking.
Los Angeles Brain Aneurysm Foundation Support Group
Dr. Colby is a patient advocate and leader of the Los Angeles Brain Aneurysm Support Group.
The Los Angeles Brain Aneurysm Support Group meets on a quarterly basis at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center. More recently, these meeting have occurred over video conference to allow for more widespread patient participation. The Support Group is for patients diagnosed with an unruptured brain aneurysm, those having survived a ruptured aneurysm and all caregivers who have supported and taken care of these patients. Patients with other cerebrovascular disorders are welcome to participate as well. The meetings provide information and education on a variety of topics relating to the diagnosis, investigation, treatment options, and recovery process for both the survivor and the caregiver. Topics vary meeting to meeting. Dr. Colby hosts these support groups and you may find more information by clicking .
Languages
Education
Medical Board Certification
Fellowship
Residency
Internship
Degrees
Recognitions
- Super doctors, Southern California, 2024
-
Top doctors, Los Angeles Magazine's Top Doctors 2024
- Top Doctors, Los Angeles Magazine, 2024
- Super Doctors® Southern California 2022 - 2024
- Top Doctors, Los Angeles Magazine, 2021
- See More
Locations
Hospital Affiliations
Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center
Medical Services
Areas of Focus
Videos
Research
Interests
- Dr. Colby’s research explores technical advances to improve patient outcomes and the development of novel devices to treat cerebrovascular disorders. He has co-authored more than 110 peer-reviewed scientific articles and book chapters, and he has served as the principal investigator for many clinical studies testing new endovascular devices to treat cerebral aneurysms and stroke.
- Dr. Colby is currently working on new, minimally invasive treatments for cerebral vasospasm, which is a serious condition that can lead to additional problems and disabilities after a brain aneurysm ruptures. He is also working on next generation minimally invasive monitoring devices for common cerebral vascular diseases.
Publications
Sample of recent peer-reviewed publications:
- Samarage HM, Kim WJ, Zarrin D, Goel K, Wang AC, Johnson J, Kaneko N, Nour M, Szeder V, Tateshima T, Jahan R, Duckwiler G, Colby GP. The “bright falx” sign - midline embolic penetration is associated with faster resolution of CSDH following MMA embolization – case series. Neurosurgery. 2022 Sep 1;91(3):389-398.
- Bender MT, Monarch T, Wendt H, Beaty N, Lin LM, Huang J, Coon AL, Tamargo RJ, Colby GP. Small Aneurysms Account for Majority and Increasing Percentage of Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: a 25 year study. Neurosurgery. 2017.
- Bender MT, Wendt H, Monarch T, Lin LM, Jiang B, Huang J, Coon AL, Tamargo RJ, Colby GP. Shifting Treatment Paradigms for Ruptured Aneurysms from Open Surgery to Endovascular Therapy Over 25 Years. World Neurosurg. 2017 Jul 20. pii: S1878-8750(17)31174-9.
- Lin LM, Bender MT, Colby GP, Beaty NB, Jiang B, Campos JK, Huang J, Tamargo RJ, Coon AL. Use of a nextgeneration multi-durometer long guide sheath for triaxial access in flow diversion: experience in 95 consecutive cases. J Neurointerv Surg. 2017 Jul 14. pii: neurintsurg-2017-013184.
- Yang W, Xu R, Porras JL, Takemoto CM, Khalid S, Garzon-Muvdi T, Caplan JM, Colby GP, Coon AL, Tamargo RJ, Huang J, Ahn ES. Effectiveness of surgical revascularization for stroke prevention in pediatric patients with sickle cell disease and moyamoya syndrome. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2017 Jul 7:1-7.
- Bender MT, Lin LM, Coon AL, Colby GP. Staged curative treatment of a complex direct carotid-cavernous fistula with a large arterial defect and an 'oversized' internal carotid artery. BMJ Case Rep. 2017 Jun 14;2017. pii: bcr-2017-219662.
- Colby GP, Lin LM, Xu R, Beaty N, Bender MT, Jiang B, Huang J, Tamargo RJ, Coon AL. Utilization of a novel, multidurometer intracranial distal access catheter: nuances and experience in 110 cases of aneurysm flow diversion. Interv Neurol. 2017 Mar;6(1-2):90-104.
- Hung AL, Yang W, Westbroek EM, Garzon-Muvdi T, Caplan JM, Braileanu M, Wang JY, Colby GP, Coon AL, Tamargo RJ, Huang J. Differences in Functional Outcome Across Subtypes with Spetzler-Martin Grade II Arteriovenous Malformations. Neurosurgery. 2017 Jun 1;80(6):991.
- Yang W, Westbroek EM, Anderson-Keightly H, Caplan JM, Rong X, Hung AL, Braileanu M, Wang JY, Colby GP, Coon AL, Tamargo RJ, Ahn ES, Huang J. Male Gender Associated with Post-Treatment Seizure Risk of Pediatric Arteriovenous Malformation Patients. Neurosurgery. 2017 Jun 1;80(6):899-907.
- Hung AL, Yang W, Braileanu M, Garzon-Muvdi T, Caplan JM, Colby GP, Coon AL, Tamargo RJ, Huang J. Risk Assessment of Hemorrhage of Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery Aneurysms in Posterior Fossa Arteriovenous Malformations. Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown). 2017 May 18.
Insurance
- Aetna
- Anthem Blue Cross
- Blue Shield of California
- Centivo
- Cigna
- First Health
- Health Net of California
- Interplan (part of HealthSmart)
- L.A. Care
- Medicare Advantage
- MultiPlan
- UFCM Health System
- Prime Health Services
- Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS)
- TRICARE
- UnitedHealthcare
The list of health care plans above may not be comprehensive and could change.
Please contact your benefits coordinator or health insurance company directly to verify coverage.
Visit our health insurance information page for more details.
Recognitions
- Top Doctors, Los Angeles Magazine, 2024
- Super Doctors® Southern California 2022 - 2024
- Top Doctors, Los Angeles Magazine, 2021
- Super Doctors® Southern California Rising Stars 2019, 2020, 2021
- Ulrich Batzdorf, MD Gold Teaching Award. Presented by the Neurosurgery House staff in Recognition of Excellence in Teaching and Commitment to Resident Education. Department of Neurosurgery, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA. (December, 2020)
- Richard J. Otenasek, Jr. Faculty Teaching Award. Presented by the Neurosurgery House staff in Recognition of Excellence in Teaching and Commitment to Resident Education. Department of Neurological Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD. (June, 2016)
- Honorary Professor, Universidad de las Americas, Quito, Ecuador. For invaluable contribution to the development of neurosurgery and medical education. (November, 2015)
- Neurosurgery Chairman's Award of Excellence in Teaching. Department of Neurological Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD. (June, 2015)
- "Best Fellow's Abstract," Awarded for best scientific paper on the area of neurointerventional research. Society of Neurointerventional Surgery 2012 Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA. (2012)
- Neurosurgery Chairman's Award for Improving Patient Safety. Department of Neurological Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD. (June, 2012)
- Irving J. Sherman Award for Resident Achievement. Department of Neurological Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD. (June, 2009)
- Irving J. Sherman Award for Resident Achievement. Department of Neurological Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD. (June, 2009)
- Summa Cum Laude, Columbia College, Columbia University, New York, NY. (1998)
- Honors in Biological Science. Columbia College, Columbia University, New York, NY. (1998)
- Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. Columbia College, Columbia University, New York, NY. (1998)