Neurological Care Team > Beacon Health System
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Neurological Care Team

Whether you are looking for a new provider or have been referred for a specific neurological condition, which specialist you see depends on your situation: a Neurologist, a Neurosurgeon, a Pediatric Neurosurgeon or a Pain Management Specialist.

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What is a neurologist? 

A neurologist is a specialist in disorders of the brain and nervous system. They will treat and manage conditions or disorders in the brain, spinal cord or the entire nervous system. Learn more.

What is a neurosurgeon? 

For surgical and nonsurgical procedures for your entire nervous system, including your brain, spinal cord, neck and peripheral nerves, you would need a neurosurgeon. Conditions that affect the nervous system, like those of the spinal disks and vertebrae, skull, blood vessels and tissues, are diagnosed and treated by these specialists. Learn more about these highly trained surgeons.

What is a pediatric neurosurgeon? 

Children has young as infants through young adults, may be treated by a pediatric neurosurgeon. These specialists  treat and manage head and spinal deformities and conditions of children’s nervous systems. Learn more.

Accolades and advancements

  • Spine Certification 
  • Advanced Stroke Provider (Thropectomy) 
  • Teaching Awards – Medical Students rotate through Neurosurgery 
  • Beacon neurosurgeons, in collaboration with the Harper Cancer Research Institute, have been actively contributing to groundbreaking research. Tissue samples donated from brain tumor surgeries performed at Beacon have played a pivotal role in advancing our understanding of brain tumors and their treatment. 
  • Stephen Smith, MD, who practices at Beacon Medical Group North Central Neurosurgery, teamed up with University of Notre Dame engineer and professor Dr. Ryan Roeder to develop new FDA-approved implant that accelerates the fusion process by allowing bones to grow directly through it. 
  • Dr. Fessler – advanced fellowship at Rush/Germany
  • Advanced endoscopy training 
  • Dr. Huff – complex brain tumors and aneurysms

The patient’s guide for the journey

When an adult or child needs neurological care, they will be guided through the process by spine patient navigators. These nurse navigators play a vital role in enhancing patient care by engaging with individuals pre-operatively to provide education and to develop tailored post-operative recovery plans. They meticulously review each patient’s medical history and lab results to ensure optimal preparation for surgery. During hospital stays, they visit patients to reinforce education and coordinate care, ensuring a seamless experience. After discharge, they continue the relationship, following up with patients to monitor recovery progress and address any concerns.

Spine patient navigators

Christine Thorn, BSN, RN
Memorial Hospital of South Bend
574-647-7972 

Brittney Lammott, BSN, RN
Elkhart General Hospital
574-523-3173 

Providers

Daniel Fulkerson, MD - Beacon Medical Group North Central Neurosurgery South Bend

Daniel Fulkerson, MD

  • Pediatric Neurosurgery,
  • Neurosurgery
BMG North Central Neurosurgery South Bend
4.7
(6410)
Accepting New Patients
  • Adolescents
  • Adults
  • Children
  • Infants
  • Neurologic Surgery
  • Neurological Surgeon
  • Neurological Surgery
  • Neurosurgeon
  • Neurosurgeon Expert
  • Neurosurgeon Physician
  • Neurosurgeon Provider
  • Neurosurgeon Specialist
  • Neurosurgery
  • Neurosurgery Doctor
  • Neurosurgery Expert
  • Neurosurgery Physician
  • Neurosurgery Provider
  • Neurosurgery Specialist
  • Neurosurgical Surgery
  • Older Adults
  • Pediatric Neurologic Surgeon
  • Pediatric Neurologic Surgery
  • Pediatric Neurological Surgeon
  • Pediatric Neurological Surgery
  • Pediatric Neurosurgeon
  • Pediatric Neurosurgery
  • Children'S Brain Surgery
  • Children'S Neurological Surgery
  • Kids Brain Surgery
  • Kids Neurological Surgery
  • Thoracic Spine Fracture
  • Thoracic Spine Injury
  • Thoracic Spine Mass
  • Thoracic Spine Tumor
  • Aneurysm
  • Back Surgery
  • Biopsy Of Brain
  • Biopsy Of Skull
  • Brachial Nerve Tumors
  • Brain Surgery
  • Bulging Disc
  • Burr Hole
  • Cerebellar Tumor
  • Cerebral Aneurysm
  • Cerebral Cyst
  • Cerebral Decompression
  • Cerebral Hernia
  • Cervical Compression Fracture
  • Cervical Spinal Stenosis
  • Cervical Spine Fracture
  • Cervical Spine Fusion
  • Cervical Spine Injury
  • Cervical Spine Mass
  • Cervical Spine Tumor
  • Chiari Decompression
  • Clipping Of Brain Aneurysm
  • Compression Fracture
  • Cranial Nerve Injury
  • Disc Surgery
  • Diskectomy
  • Epidural Hematoma
  • Epidural Hemorrhage
  • Herniated Disc
  • Hydrocephalus
  • Intracranial Hemorrhage
  • Intraventricular Tumor
  • Low Back Surgery
  • Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
  • Lumbar Spine Fracture
  • Lumbar Spine Fusion
  • Lumbar Spine Injury
  • Lumbar Spine Mass
  • Lumbar Spine Tumor
  • Minimally Invasive Spine Fusion
  • Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
  • Nerve Injury
  • Neuroablation
  • Neuroblastoma
  • Neuroendoscopy
  • Neurofibromatosis
  • Numbness
  • Optic Nerve Surgery
  • Orbital Tumors
  • Pediatric Brain Tumor
  • Peripheral Nerve Injury
  • Peripheral Nerve Tumors
  • Pituitary Surgery
  • Pituitary Tumor
  • Primary Brain Tumor
  • Skull Base Tumor
  • Skull Fracture
  • Spina Bifida
  • Spinal Abscess
  • Spinal Cord Anomalies
  • Spinal Cord Compression
  • Spinal Cord Diseases
  • Spinal Cord Tumors
  • Spinal Stenosis
  • Spine Fracture
  • Spine Fusion
Richard Fessler, MD, PhD - Beacon Medical Group North Central Neurosurgery South Bend

David Fessler, MD, PhD

  • Neurosurgery
BMG North Central Neurosurgery South Bend
Accepting New Patients
  • Arteriovenous Malformation (Avm)
  • Artificial Disc Replacement Surgery In The Cervical Spine
  • Artificial Disc Replacement Surgery In The Lumbar Spine
  • Back Surgery
  • Bulging Disc
  • Cauda Equina Syndrome
  • Central Nervous System Tumors
  • Cervical Compression Fracture
  • Cervical Laminoplasty
  • Cervical Spinal Stenosis
  • Cervical Spine Fracture
  • Cervical Spine Fusion
  • Cervical Spine Injury
  • Cervical Spine Mass
  • Cervical Spine Tumor
  • Chiari Decompression
  • Chordoma
  • Compression Fracture
  • Decompression Laminectomy
  • Disc Replacement
  • Disc Surgery
  • Diskectomy
  • Endoscopic Neurosurgery
  • Foot Drag
  • Herniated Disc
  • Kyphoplasty
  • Laminectomy
  • Laminoplasty
  • Lateral Access Spine Surgery
  • Low Back Surgery
  • Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
  • Lumbar Spine Fracture
  • Lumbar Spine Fusion
  • Lumbar Spine Injury
  • Lumbar Spine Mass
  • Lumbar Spine Tumor
  • Malignant Neoplasm Of The Spinal Cord
  • Malunion Fracture Of The Spine
  • Microneurosurgery
  • Microsurgery
  • Minimally Invasive Spine Fusion
  • Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
  • Myelomalacia
  • Myelopathy
  • Myelopathy Surgery
  • Nerve Injury
  • Neurogenic Claudication
  • Pinched Nerve
  • Radiculopathy
  • Ruptured Intervertebral Disc
  • Sacroiliitis
  • Sciatica
  • Spinal Abscess
  • Spinal Cord Compression
  • Spinal Cord Tumors
  • Spinal Schwannoma
  • Spinal Stenosis
  • Spine Fracture
  • Spine Fusion
  • Spine Injury
  • Spine Instrumentation
  • Spine Mass
  • Spine Tumor
  • Spondylosis With Myelopathy
  • Surgical Treatment Of Myelopathy
  • Thoracic Spinal Stenosis
  • Thoracic Spine Fracture
  • Thoracic Spine Fusion
  • Thoracic Spine Injury
  • Thoracic Spine Mass
  • Thoracic Spine Tumor
  • Vertebral Fracture
Gina Connolly, DNP - Beacon Medical Group La Porte

Gina Connolly, NP

  • Non-Operative Orthopedics,
  • Neurosurgery
BMG North Central Neurosurgery South Bend
4.8
(1732)
Accepting New Patients
  • Adults
  • Neurologic Surgery
  • Neurological Surgeon
  • Neurological Surgery
  • Neurosurgeon
  • Neurosurgeon Expert
  • Neurosurgeon Physician
  • Neurosurgeon Provider
  • Neurosurgeon Specialist
  • Neurosurgery
  • Neurosurgery Doctor
  • Neurosurgery Expert
  • Neurosurgery Physician
  • Neurosurgery Provider
  • Neurosurgery Specialist
  • Neurosurgical Surgery
  • Older Adults
  • Neurofibromatosis
  • Neurogenic Claudication
  • Non Ruptured Cerebral Aneurysm
  • Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
  • Oligodendroglioma
  • Pinched Nerve
  • Pituitary Adenoma
  • Pituitary Cancer
  • Pituitary Tumor
  • Primary Brain Tumor
  • Prolactinoma
  • Radiculopathy
  • Ruptured Brain Aneurysm
  • Ruptured Intervertebral Disc
  • Sacroiliitis
  • Sciatica
  • Skull Base Tumor
  • Skull Fracture
  • Spinal Abscess
  • Spinal Cord Compression
  • Spinal Cord Tumors
  • Spinal Schwannoma
  • Spinal Stenosis
  • Spine Fracture
  • Spine Injury
  • Spine Mass
  • Spine Tumor
  • Spondylosis With Myelopathy
  • Subdural Hematoma
  • Thoracic Spinal Stenosis
  • Thoracic Spine Fracture
  • Thoracic Spine Injury
  • Thoracic Spine Mass
  • Thoracic Spine Tumor
  • Vascular Brain Tumors
  • Vascular Malformations Of The Brain
  • Venous Malformation Brain
  • Vertebral Fracture
  • Open Biopsy Of Brain
  • Peripheral Nerve Surgery
  • Pituitary Surgery
  • Resection Of Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformation (Avm)
  • Spine Fusion
  • Spine Instrumentation
  • Standard Transsphenoidal Approach
  • Stereotactic Brain Biopsy
  • Surgical Treatment Of Myelopathy
  • Thoracic Spine Fusion
  • Ulnar Nerve Decompression
  • Ventricular Shunt
  • Ventriculo Peritoneal Shunt
  • Acoustic Neuroma
  • Acoustic Neuroma Removal
  • Aneurysm
  • Arnold Chiari Malformation
  • Arteriovenous Malformation (Avm)
  • Artificial Disc Replacement Surgery In The Cervical Spine
  • Artificial Disc Replacement Surgery In The Lumbar Spine
  • Back Surgery
  • Benign Neoplasm Of Brain
  • Biopsy Of Brain
  • Biopsy Of Skull
  • Brain Metastases
  • Brain Neoplasms
  • Brain Surgery
  • Bulging Disc
  • Burr Hole
  • Cauda Equina Syndrome
  • Central Nervous System Tumors
  • Cerebellar Tumor
  • Cerebral Aneurysm
  • Cerebral Decompression
  • Cervical Compression Fracture
  • Cervical Laminoplasty
  • Cervical Spinal Stenosis
  • Cervical Spine Fracture
  • Cervical Spine Fusion
  • Cervical Spine Injury
  • Cervical Spine Mass
  • Cervical Spine Tumor
  • Chiari Decompression
  • Chordoma
  • Clipping Of Brain Aneurysm