Michael A. Horgan, MD

About Michael A. Horgan, MD

Dr. Horgan has extensive surgical and academic experience. He was most recently at The University of Rochester (NY) Department of Neurosurgery where he served as an Associate Professor and Director of the Skull Base and Spine Laboratory. Prior to that he spent 16 years at the University of Vermont School of Medicine, where he was Chairman of the Division of Neurosurgery.

He earned his Doctor of Medicine at New Jersey Medical School, where he was class salutatorian. He had previously graduated cum laude with a B.A. in theater from Tufts University. Dr. Horgan completed a fellowship in cerebrovascular and skull base surgery at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix following his residency in neurosurgery at Oregon Health Sciences University where he served as Chief Resident in his final year.

Dr. Horgan says he “had a calling to medicine” and credits his interest and involvement in theater with his creative and inquisitive nature. He considers this an advantage in both the operating room as well as the office when consulting with patients.

“My favorite part of the job is establishing a rapport and mutual trust with my patients,” he says. “My personal method, which has evolved over time, is to find out what makes them tick, what they like to do, and who they are beyond the reason for consultation. Understanding my patients beyond their MRI is not only fun and interesting, it helps to build mutual trust.”

Dr. Horgan enjoys working with patients throughout their disease process, openly communicating throughout and sometimes beyond. He typically calls every patient at some point after surgery to check in before they return to the office for their official follow-up.

Dr. Horgan specializes in surgery of the central nervous system. He subspecializes in vascular and skull base surgery as well as minimally invasive spine surgery.

After a career in academic medicine, Dr. Horgan is looking forward to offering more patients the opportunity to have their surgery locally rather than having to travel to an academic center. “Patients can stay closer to home and family while receiving the same excellent care within a very supportive, patient oriented, environment.”

In his spare time, Dr. Horgan loves sailing and refurbishing his 1768 home. “I spend as much time on the water as I can,” he says. “If I had the time I would probably sail around the world.”