Neurosurgeon Dr. John Neal performs general brain
and spinal neurosurgery.
He has special
expertise in the field of functional and
stereotactic neurosurgery – minimally
invasive, precision surgery that allows
reaching inside deep areas of the brain
without extensive opening of the skull.
He utilizes techniques such as Gamma
Knife® radiosurgery (using focused
radiation to treat tumors, vascular
abnormalities, and trigeminal neuralgia
(facial pain); and deep brain stimulation
(implanting a device that sends electrical
impulses to specific parts of the brain to
treat disorders such as Parkinson’s disease,
essential tremor, epilepsy and behavioral
conditions such as obsessive-compulsive
disorder). These two new technologies
have revolutionized neurosurgery and
have benefitted thousands of patients.
Dr. Neal joined Marshfield Clinic Health
System in 1995 to help develop its neurosurgery practice. He was instrumental in bringing the Gamma Knife to central Wisconsin and in establishing the deep brain stimulation program.
Dr. Neal earned his college and medical degrees from Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, and completed his neurosurgery residency at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. He served on faculty at the University of California, Irvine, prior to moving to Marshfield.
His passions include parenting (two daughters) with his wife, music and winter biathlon (skiing and shooting). He believes in public service and has been an active sworn law enforcement officer for Wisconsin since 2003.