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Catherine A. Mazzola, MD, FAANS

Best pediatric neurosurgeon in the US

Dr. Catherine Mazzola is an experienced neurosurgeon for kids, certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgeons and the American Board of Pediatric Neurological Surgery. She completed her Pediatric Neurosurgical Fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh in 2002 and did her neurosurgery residency at New Jersey Medical School. 

Dr. Mazzola also founded the Craniofacial program, the Pediatric Brain and Spinal Tumor Program, and the Movement Disorders Center for Children at Goryeb Children’s Hospital. Dr. Mazzola served on the Executive Committees of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons and the Council of State Neurosurgical Societies. Dr. Mazzola was Co-Chair of the Diversity Committee for AANS/ CNS Pediatric Neurosurgery section. She chaired both the Medicolegal Committee and the Ethics Committee of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. She is on the Boards of Morris County Medical Society and Medical Society of New Jersey. Dr. Mazzola has an adjunct appointment and does research at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). 

She started her own practice in 2009, after being hospital employed for 3 years (2002-2005) and working with Atlantic Neurosurgical Specialists from 2005-2009. Her work as a neurosurgeon for kids has earned her recognition among the best neurosurgeons in NJ, USA and one of best surgeons located anywhere. She is currently a second year law student at Rutgers Law School in Newark. 

Clinical Interest of Dr. Catherine Mazzola

Dr. Mazzola’s special interests include: cerebral palsy, the management of movement disorders such as dystonia and spasticity, hydrocephalus, traumatic brain injury and concussion, pediatric brain tumors and spine tumors, brain cysts, craniofacial surgery, plagiocephaly, torticollis, Chiari malformation, spina bifida, spine deformity, and epilepsy. 

She has offices located in Morristown, Hackensack, Hazlet, Newark and Rockaway, NJ.

Why Is Dr. Catherine Mazzola a Famous Neurosurgeon?

One of the best neurosurgeons in NJ, Dr. Catherine Mazzola is an author of many publications, including peer-reviewed articles presented at national neuroscience meetings. She has helped patients improve their health through surgery and has also helped found several organizations dedicated towards pediatric brain tumor research as well as providing grants through The Children's Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation & New Jersey State Cancer Commission. 

Dr. Mazzola has been continuously listed in NJ Top Docs Magazines since 2015 and was voted by parents as a featured pediatric neurosurgeon in the NJ Family Magazine: The List of NJ's Favorite Kids' Docs and Dentists 2024, which is an essential source for NJ parents.

She is highly sought out by other medical practices and hospitals to provide her expert opinion on complex cases. Dr. Mazzola has also traveled to Kijabe, Kenya where she provided surgical care for people who would otherwise not have access to it! 

Originally from Queens, New York, Dr. Mazzola now lives in northern New Jersey with her husband and five children. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and reading.

Schedule a Consultation

If you are looking for the best neurosurgeon in USA, contact Dr. Catherine Mazzola. Schedule your consultation today by giving us a call at the numbers listed below!

Morris County Offices: 973-326-9000
Bergen County Office: 973-326-9000
Monmouth County Office: 973-326-9000

Articles & Interviews

 

1. NJ Top Docs

2. Profit & Prejudice: How UnitedHealth Turns Greed Into a Business Model

3. NJ's Favorite Kids' Docs

Published In

 

1. Som T, Ravichander A, Khurana E, Panchmatia P, Kornitzer J, Mazzola C. The Current State of Research on Postoperative Cerebellar Mutism Syndrome: A Bibliometric Analysis. J Child Neurol. 2025 Apr 10:8830738251328435. doi: 10.1177/08830738251328435. 

2. Khurana E, Welch J, Collins J, Ammar A, Mazzola CA. Surgical complication index for pediatric patients (SCIPP): A novel pediatric frailty index predicting postoperative complications in a study of 133 pediatric neurosurgical patients. Childs Nerv Syst. 2025 Feb 3;41(1):101. doi: 10.1007/s00381-025-06752-1.

3. Gadiraju S, Jacob GA, Mazzola CA. Cervical spine considerations in Goldenhar syndrome: a clinical perspective. Childs Nerv Syst. 2024 Dec 23;41(1):65. doi: 10.1007/s00381-024-06727-8.

4. Estrella C, Mody S, Pletcher B, Baisre A, Lee HJ, Mazzola C. Intraspinal lipomatous neurofibroma in a child with atypical Proteus syndrome. Childs Nerv Syst. 2024 Dec;40(12):3895-3900. doi: 10.1007/s00381-024-06652-w. 

5. Khurana E, Mody S, Shah T, Bouffard JP, Pedemonte M, Holover G, Lee JS, Jacob G, Scheid S, Morin R, Mazzola C. Pediatric skull inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor: a rare case report and literature review. Childs Nerv Syst. 2024 Nov;40(11):3829-3835. doi: 10.1007/s00381-024-06512-7.

6. McGuire LS, Huntoon K, Gerald BM, Stacy JD, Ruebenacker MP, Kelly KA, Houston R, Mazzola CA. Regional differences in reimbursement rates from Medicare, Medicaid, and FAIR Health across common procedures for neurological surgeons. J Neurosurg. 2024 Oct 25;142(3):860-867. doi: 10.3171/2024.6.JNS24515.

7. Cazorla-Morales IJ, Chan AW, Mikhail MM, Fu A, Koutsouras GW, Heary RF, Mazzola CA. In Reply to the Letter to the Editor Regarding "The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Twenty-Year Trends in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in the USA: How Does Neurological Surgery Compare?". World Neurosurg. 2024 Sep;189:527. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2024.06.033.

8. Khurana E, Orth J, Pletcher B, Turbin RE, Mazzola CA. Management of an older Marshall-Smith syndrome patient: a review of literature of MSS and craniosynostosis. Childs Nerv Syst. 2024 Aug;40(8):2609-2614. doi: 10.1007/s00381-024-06415-7.

9. Cazorla-Morales IJ, Chan AW, Mikhail MM, Fu A, Koutsouras GW, Heary RF, Mazzola CA. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education 20-Year Trends in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the United States: How Does Neurological Surgery Compare? World Neurosurg. 2024 May;185:e969-e975. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2024.03.007.

10. Camarano J, Lefever D, Kandregula S, Abushehab N, Benzil D, Huntoon K, Mazzola C, McGuire L, Heary R, Parr A, Hussain N, Perez-Cruet M, Shuer L, Stacy J, Guthikonda B. Utilization of Locum Tenens in Neurosurgery. World Neurosurg. 2024 Apr;184:e274-e281. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2024.01.109.

11. Fu AY, Kavia J, Yadava Y, Srinivasan A, Hargwood P, Mazzola CA, Ammar A. Biopsy of diffuse midline glioma is safe and impacts targeted therapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Childs Nerv Syst. 2024 Mar;40(3):625-634. doi: 10.1007/s00381-023-06208-4. 

12. Holover G, Adams D, Milligan D, Goldberg R, Rios J, Kornitzer J, Mazzola C. Moya moya vasculopathy and MECP2 duplication syndrome. Childs Nerv Syst. 2024 Mar;40(3):809-812. doi: 10.1007/s00381-023-06139-0. 

13. Fu AY, Gutha A, Ammar A, Collins JJ, Mazzola CA. The landscape of current research on pediatric diffuse midline glioma: a quantitative analysis of shifts, leaders, and future avenues. Childs Nerv Syst. 2024 Jan;40(1):57-63. doi: 10.1007/s00381-023-06178-7.

14. Block BR, Straka-DeMarco D, Demarest M, Mazzola CA. Congenital unilateral lower lip palsy: a case-based review. Childs Nerv Syst. 2023 Jan;39(1):35-40. doi: 10.1007/s00381-022-05695-1. 

15. Xu JC, Haider SA, Sharma A, Blumenfeld K, Cheng J, Mazzola CA, Orrico KO, Rosenow J, Stacy J, Stroink A, Tomei K, Tumialán LM, Veeravagu A, Linskey ME, Schwalb J. Telehealth in Neurosurgery: 2021 Council of State Neurosurgical Societies National Survey Results. World Neurosurg. 2022 Dec;168:e328-e335. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2022.09.126. 

16. Mazzola CA. Commentary: Intellectual Property Protection in Neurosurgery: An Overview. Neurosurgery. 2022 Nov 1;91(5):e124. doi: 10.1227/neu.0000000000002132. 

17. Lepard JR, Yaeger K, Mazzola C, Stacy J, Shuer L, Kimmel K; Counsel of State Neurosurgical Societies. Mechanisms of Peer Review and Their Potential Impact on Neurosurgeons: A Pilot Survey. World Neurosurg. 2022 Nov;167:e469-e474. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2022.08.032. 

18. Caruso JP, Singh R, Mazzola C, Eldridge CM, Chilakapati S, Deme P, Swartz K, Schirmer CM, Huntoon K, Cheng J, Steinmetz M, Adogwa O. Trends in Racial and Ethnic Representation Among Neurosurgery Applicants and Residents: A Comparative Analysis of Procedural Specialties. World Neurosurg. 2022 Jul;163:e177-e186. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2022.03.145. 

19. Rahman RK, Majmundar N, Ghani H, San A, Koirala M, Gajjar AA, Pappert A, Mazzola CA. Neurosurgical management of patients with neurocutaneous melanosis: a systematic review. Neurosurg Focus. 2022 May;52(5):E8. doi: 10.3171/2022.2.FOCUS21791.

20. Mazzola CA. Letter: United States Medicolegal Progress and Innovation in Telemedicine in the Age of COVID-19: A Primer for Neurosurgeons. Neurosurgery. 2022 Feb 1;90(2):e52. doi: 10.1227/NEU.0000000000001797. 

21. Huntoon K, Stacy J, Cioffi S, Profitt C, Mazzola C. Sales Representatives in the Operating Room: Conflict of Interest or Clinical Support? World Neurosurg. 2021 Nov;155:e480-e483. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2021.08.088. 

22. Cao M, Luo Y, Wu Z, Mazzola CA, Catania L, Alvarez TL, Halperin JM, Biswal B, Li X. Topological Aberrance of Structural Brain Network Provides Quantitative Substrates of Post-Traumatic Brain Injury Attention Deficits in Children. Brain Connect. 2021 Oct;11(8):651-662. doi: 10.1089/brain.2020.0866. 

23. Caruso JP, Swartz K, Mazzola C, Ban VS, Singh R, Eldridge C, Schirmer C, Cheng J, Bauer AM, Steinmetz M, Adogwa O. The Financial Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Neurosurgery Practice in Spring 2020. World Neurosurg. 2021 Sep;153:e1-e10. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2021.04.120. 

24. Mazzola CA. Commentary: The Role of Gender in Neurosurgical Residency Applicants' Letters of Recommendation. Neurosurgery. 2021 Aug 16;89(3):E155. doi: 10.1093/neuros/nyab235. 

25. Lefever D, Esfahani DR, Kandregula S, Trosclair K, Demand A, Vega A, Stacy J, Hussein N, Dossani R, Pendharkar A, Menger R, Kosty J, Mazzola C, Agarwal N, Kimmell K, Rosenow J, Cozzens J, Schirmer C, Guthikonda B; Council of State Neurosurgical Societies (CSNS). The Medical Legal Environment in Neurosurgery: An Informative Overview of the Stages of Litigation and Distinct Challenges. World Neurosurg. 2021 Jul;151:370-374. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2021.03.039. 

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