Walavan Sivakumar, MD

Accepting New Patients
Offers Video Visits
5215 Torrance Boulevard, Suite 300
Torrance, CA 90503
1987.3 miles away
Medical Groups & Affiliations
Speaks: English, Spanish and Tamil
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Pacific Neuroscience Institute

5215 Torrance Boulevard, Suite 300, Torrance, CA 90503

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About Walavan Sivakumar

Walavan Sivakumar, M.D., is a fellowship-trained neurosurgeon specializing in minimally invasive and endoscopic neurosurgery. With expertise in brain and skull-base tumors, pituitary/parasellar tumors, and intra-ventricular brain tumors, he utilizes advanced neuroimaging and microsurgical techniques to minimize collateral damage to the brain.

Dr. Sivakumar has over 40 peer-reviewed publications. A local and national level speaker, he has received numerous awards for research in cranial surgery and tumor biology. Award highlights include the William H. Sweet Award from the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Stryker Neuro-Oncology Award from the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, and best research awards from the Rocky Mountain Neurosurgical Society and Western Neurosurgical Society. His current research focuses on brain tumor biology and skull base surgery outcomes. He currently serves as a reviewer for the Journal of Neurosurgery and is on the editorial board of Frontiers in Neurology and Oncology.

A Los Angeles native, Dr. Sivakumar completed his undergraduate studies in Neuroscience at UCLA. He attained his MD with distinction from USC, being elected to the Skull and Dagger All University Honor Society and Order of Arete, the highest honor given to a USC graduate student. During medical school, he served as student body president and was awarded the National Leadership Award by the American Medical Association (AMA).

He completed his residency training in Salt Lake City at the University of Utah under the guidance of Dr. William Couldwell, former president of the AANS. He completed his fellowship in Endoscopic Skull Base and Pituitary Surgery and Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery with Dr. Daniel Kelly at the Saint John’s Cancer Institute in 2016.

Dr. Sivakumar is an active member of the AANS and CNS, currently serving on the national Young Neurosurgeons Committee and executive committee of the AANS/CNS Section on Tumors. He has a deep interest in neurosurgical trainee education, having served on the national Liaison Committee on Medical Education and is involved in the Clinical/Research Neurosurgical Fellowship at the Saint John’s Cancer Institute.

Medical School

USC Keck School of Medicine - Los Angeles, CA
2010

Internship

University of Utah Hospital - Salt Lake City, UT
2011

Residency

University of Utah Hospital - Salt Lake City, UT
2017

Fellowship

John Wayne Cancer Institute - Santa Monica, CA
2016

Professional Associations
Committees:
  • Member, AANS Young Neurosurgeons Committee 2014 - Present
Professional Memberships:
Board Certifications
  • American Board of Neurological Surgery, Neurological Surgery
  • American Board of Neurological Surg, Neurological Surgery
Pacific Neuroscience Institute
5215 Torrance Boulevard, Suite 300
Torrance, CA 90503

Medical Groups & Affiliations
Saint John’s Physician Partners

Affiliated Locations
Saint John’s Health Center Cancer Clinic – Santa Monica
Providence Saint John's Health Center
Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance
Providence Little Company of Mary Torrance - Spine Institute
Providence Little Company of Mary Torrance - Stroke and Neurosciences

Clinical Interests

  • Ablation Of Migraine Trigger Points
  • Accessory Nerve Disease
  • Accessory Nerve Injury
  • Acoustic Neurofibromatosis
  • Acromegaly
  • Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy
  • Anaplastic Mixed Glioma
  • Aneurysm
  • Anterior Cervical Spine Fusion
  • Anterior Cervical Spine Surgery
  • Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion
  • Anterior Lumbar Spine Fusion
  • Anterior Lumbar Spine Surgery
  • Anterior Spine Fusion
  • Anterior Spine Surgery
  • Anterior Temporal Lobectomy
  • Anterior Thoracic Spine Fusion
  • Anterior Thoracic Spine Surgery
  • Arachnoid Cyst
  • Artificial Disc Replacement Surgery In The Cervical Spine
  • Artificial Disc Replacement Surgery In The Lumbar Spine
  • Artificial Disc Replacement Surgery In The Thoracic Spine
  • Astrocytic Cancer
  • Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumor (Atrt) Of The Central Nervous System
  • Awake Brain Surgery
  • Awake Brain Tumor Surgery
  • Awake Craniotomy
  • Awake Spine Fusion
  • Back Hair Tufts
  • Back Surgery
  • Basilar Skull Fracture
  • Benign Neoplasm Of Brain
  • Berry Aneurysm
  • Bertolotti's Deformity
  • Biopsy Of Brain
  • Biopsy Of Skull
  • Bone Cancer
  • Brachial Nerve Tumors
  • Brachial Plexus Surgery
  • Brain Arteriovenous Malformation
  • Brain Cancer Surgery
  • Brain Laceration
  • Brain Neoplasms
  • Brain Surgery
  • Bulging Disc
  • Burr Hole
  • Burst Fracture
  • Butterfly Vertebrae
  • Carotid Angioplasty And Stenting
  • Carotid Cavernous Fistula
  • Carotid Cavernous Fistula Repair
  • Carotid Stenosis
  • Cavernous Hemangioma
  • Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis
  • Central Nervous System Germ Cell Tumors
  • Central Venous Stenosis
  • Cerebellar Anomalies
  • Cerebral Aneurysm
  • Cerebral Artery Bypass Surgery
  • Cerebral Cyst
  • Cerebral Decompression
  • Cerebral Edema
  • Cerebral Hernia
  • Cerebral Revascularization
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak
  • Cerebrovascular Bypass Surgery
  • Cervical Deformity
  • Cervical Herniated Disc Surgery
  • Cervical Laminoplasty
  • Cervical Spinal Stenosis
  • Cervical Spine Deformities
  • Cervical Spine Fracture
  • Cervical Spine Fracture Surgery
  • Cervical Spine Fusion
  • Cervical Spine Stress Fracture
  • Cervical Spine Surgery
  • Chiari Decompression
  • Cingulotomy
  • Clipping Of Brain Aneurysm
  • Colloid Cyst
  • Complex Spine Deformities
  • Complex Spine Surgery
  • Compression Fracture
  • Compression Fracture Surgery
  • Congenital Anomalies Of The Head And Neck
  • Congenital Brain And Spine Malformations
  • Congenital Hydrocephalus
  • Cortical Tuber
  • Cranial Helmet Therapy
  • Cranial Nerve Injury
  • Cranial Nerve Repair
  • Cranial Vault Malformations
  • Craniectomy
  • Craniocele
  • Craniocervical Junction Surgery
  • Craniosynostosis Surgery
  • Craniotomy
  • Csf Shunt Removal
  • Decompression Laminectomy
  • Decompression Neck Surgery
  • Deep Brain Stimulation
  • Deep Brain Stimulation (Asleep)
  • Deep Brain Stimulation (Awake)
  • Deep Brain Stimulation For Dystonia
  • Degenerative Joint Disease Of The Spine
  • Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (Dipg)
  • Disc Surgery
  • Diskectomy
  • Dorsal Column Stimulator
  • Dorsal Root Entry Zone (Drez) Lesioning Procedure
  • Dural Tear
  • Ear, Nose And Throat Surgery
  • Electrical Sacral Stimulation
  • Elevated Growth Hormone
  • Encephalocele Repair
  • Encephaloduroarteriosynangiosis (Edas)
  • Endoscopic Cervical Spine Surgery
  • Endoscopic Endonasal Approach
  • Endoscopic Lumbar Spine Surgery
  • Endoscopic Spine Surgery
  • Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy
  • Endoscopic Thoracic Spine Surgery
  • Endovascular Coiling Of Aneurysm
  • Endplate Fracture
  • Epidermoid Cysts
  • Epidural Hematoma
  • Epidural Hemorrhage
  • Epilepsy Surgery
  • Epilepsy Surgery Evaluation
  • Evaluation For Deep Brain Stimulation (Dbs)
  • Extracranial-Intracranial Bypass
  • Extradural Abscess
  • Facet Joint Syndrome
  • Facet Surgery
  • Facial Nerve Tumor
  • Filar Cyst
  • Filum Terminale Lipoma
  • Flow Diversion For Cerebral Aneurysms
  • Focal Resection Surgery Brain
  • Foraminotomy
  • Forestier's Disease Surgery
  • Ganglioglioneurocytoma
  • Germinoma
  • Germinoma Of The Central Nervous System (Cns)
  • Gigantism
  • Head Reconstruction
  • Hemispherectomy
  • Hemivertebrae
  • Herniated Disc
  • Herniated Disc Surgery
  • Herniation Syndrome
  • Hydrocephalus
  • Hyperhidrosis
  • Image Guided Biopsy Of The Spine
  • Instrumented Anterior Cervical Discectomy, Fusion (Acdf)
  • Interlaminar Endoscopic Spine Surgery
  • Interspinous Device Placement
  • Intracranial Abscess
  • Intracranial Arterial Bypass
  • Intracranial Arterial Occlusion
  • Intracranial Hemangioma
  • Intracranial Hemorrhage
  • Intracranial Hypotension
  • Intradiscal Electrothermal Therapy
  • Intraoperative Neuromonitoring
  • Intraspinal Abscess
  • Kyphoplasty
  • Kyphosis
  • Laminectomy
  • Laminoplasty
  • Laser Spine Surgery
  • Lateral Access Spine Surgery
  • Lesionectomy
  • Lipomeningocele
  • Lobectomy Of Brain
  • Low Back Surgery
  • Lower Extremity Peripheral Nerve Surgery
  • Lumbar Drain
  • Lumbar Herniated Disc
  • Lumbar Herniated Disc Surgery
  • Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
  • Lumbar Spine Epidural Steroid Injection
  • Lumbar Spine Fracture Surgery
  • Lumbar Spine Fusion
  • Lumbar Spine Stress Fracture
  • Lumbar Spine Surgery
  • Lumboperitoneal Shunt Placement
  • Malunion Fracture Of The Spine
  • Meningocele
  • Microneurosurgery Of Trigeminal Nerve Repair
  • Microsurgery Of The Cervical Spine
  • Microsurgery Of The Lumbar Spine
  • Microsurgery Of The Thoracic Spine
  • Migraine Surgery
  • Minimally Invasive Craniosynostosis Surgery
  • Minimally Invasive Lumbar Discectomy
  • Minimally Invasive Lumbar Fusion
  • Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery
  • Minimally Invasive Partial Lumbar Discectomy
  • Minimally Invasive Sacroiliac Joint Fusion
  • Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
  • Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion
  • Motion Sparing Spine Surgery
  • Mri Guided Focused Ultrasound
  • Multilevel Cervical Arthroplasty
  • Myelopathy Surgery
  • Navigation Spine Surgery
  • Needle Biopsy Of Brain
  • Needle Biopsy Of Cerebral Meninges
  • Nerve Biopsy
  • Nerve Compression Of The Cervical Spine
  • Nerve Decompression
  • Nerve Tumor Resection Surgery
  • Neural Foramen Injection
  • Neural Foraminal Stenosis
  • Neuroablation
  • Neuroendoscopy
  • Non Ruptured Cerebral Aneurysm
  • Non Surgical Treatment Of Tarlov Cyst
  • Nonunion Fracture Of The Spine
  • Occipito Cervical Fusion
  • Odontoid Fractures
  • Open Biopsy Of Brain
  • Optic Nerve Decompression
  • Optic Nerve Surgery
  • Orbital Nerve Decompression
  • Os Odontoideum
  • Palmar Hyperhidrosis
  • Parkinson's Disease (Pd) Surgery
  • Percutaneous Trigeminal Rhizotomy
  • Perimedullary Fistula
  • Peripheral Nerve Surgery
  • Pial Synangiosis
  • Pineal Gland Parenchymal Tumor
  • Pituitary Surgery
  • Plantar Hyperhidrosis
  • Post Laminectomy Kyphosis
  • Post Laminectomy Syndrome
  • Posterior Cervical Laminectomy And Fusion
  • Posterior Cervical Laminotomy
  • Posterior Cervical Spine Fusion
  • Posterior Cervical Spine Surgery
  • Posterior Fossa Cranioplasty
  • Posterior Lumbar Laminectomy
  • Posterior Lumbar Laminectomy With Fusion, Without Instrumentation
  • Posterior Lumbar Laminectomy With Instrumentation And Fusion
  • Posterior Lumbar Spine Fusion
  • Posterior Lumbar Spine Surgery
  • Posterior Spine Fusion
  • Posterior Spine Surgery
  • Posterior Thoracic Spine Fusion
  • Posterior Thoracic Spine Surgery
  • Posterior Vertebral Column Resection
  • Post-Operative Nerve Pain
  • Preoperative Embolization
  • Primary Brain Tumor
  • Prone Transpsoas (Ptp) Technique
  • Radiofrequency Ablation Of Benign Spine Tumors
  • Radiofrequency Ablation Of Nerve Tumor
  • Repair Of Brain
  • Resection Of Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformation (Avm)
  • Rhizotomy
  • Rhizotomy Surgery Of Trigeminal Nerve Pain
  • Robotic Assisted Neurosurgery
  • Robotic Spine Surgery
  • Ruptured Brain Aneurysm
  • Ruptured Intervertebral Disc
  • Sacral Dimples
  • Sacral Fracture Surgery
  • Sacroiliac Joint Block
  • Sacroiliac Joint Fusion
  • Sacroiliac Joint Pain
  • Sacroiliac Joint Surgery
  • Scoliosis
  • Scoliosis Surgery
  • Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy
  • Severe Kyphotic Deformities
  • Severe Lordotic Deformities
  • Shevel Procedure
  • Shunt Dysfunction
  • Shunt Revision
  • Sinonasal Undifferentiated Carcinoma
  • Sinus Stenting
  • Skin Biopsy
  • Skull Base Meningioma
  • Skull Fracture Surgery
  • Spasticity Management
  • Spina Bifida Surgery
  • Spinal Abscess
  • Spinal Abscess Surgery
  • Spinal Compression Fusion
  • Spinal Cord Anomalies
  • Spinal Cord Compression
  • Spinal Cord Injury
  • Spinal Cord Stimulator
  • Spinal Cord Stimulator Removal
  • Spinal Cord Surgery
  • Spinal Cord Tumors
  • Spinal Disorders
  • Spinal Fixation
  • Spinal Schwannoma Surgery
  • Spinal Stenosis
  • Spinal Stenosis Surgery
  • Spine Arteriovenous Malformation (Avm)
  • Spine Arthritis
  • Spine Decompression Surgery
  • Spine Deformity
  • Spine Deformity Correction Surgery
  • Spine Embolization
  • Spine Fracture Surgery
  • Spine Fusion
  • Spine Ganglion Cyst
  • Spine Hardware Removal
  • Spine Injury
  • Spine Instrumentation
  • Spine Microsurgery
  • Spine Osteotomy
  • Spine Revision
  • Spine Stapling
  • Spine Stress Fracture
  • Spine Surgery
  • Spine Tumor
  • Spondylectomy
  • Spondylosis Surgery
  • Sports Related Spinal Cord Injury
  • Sports Related Spine Injury
  • Sports Related Thoracic Spine Injury
  • Standard Transsphenoidal Approach
  • Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy
  • Stereotactic Brain Biopsy
  • Stereotactic Eeg
  • Stereotactic Radiosurgery
  • Stereotactic Spine Radiosurgery
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
  • Subcaudate Tractotomy
  • Subdural Hematoma
  • Subdural Hematoma Embolization
  • Subdural Hemorrhage
  • Subdural Hygroma
  • Surgery For Sciatica
  • Surgery For Spasticity
  • Surgical Ligation Of Spinal Dural Arteriovenous Fistula
  • Surgical Treatment Of Myelopathy
  • Synovial Cyst
  • Tarlov Cyst Surgery
  • Thoracic Herniated Disc
  • Thoracic Herniated Disc Surgery
  • Thoracic Spinal Stenosis
  • Thoracic Spine Epidural Steroid Injection
  • Thoracic Spine Fracture Surgery
  • Thoracic Spine Fusion
  • Thoracic Spine Stress Fracture
  • Thoracic Spine Surgery
  • Topectomy
  • Transluminal Balloon Angioplasty In Neurosurgery
  • Transnasal Repair Csf Leak
  • Transpetrosal Approaches
  • Ulnar Nerve Decompression
  • Ulnar Nerve Surgery
  • Ultrasound Guided Steroid Injection Of The Spine
  • Vagal Nerve Stimulator
  • Vagal Stimulation
  • Vagus Nerve Stimulation
  • Vascular Brain Tumors
  • Vascular Malformation Of The Head And Neck
  • Ventricular Shunt
  • Ventriculo Peritoneal Shunt
  • Ventriculocisternostomy
  • Ventriculostomy
  • Vertebrae Surgery
  • Vertebral Hemangioma
  • Vertebral Transposition
  • Vertebroplasty
  • Virtual Care
  • Visualase Thermal Laser Ablation