Neurosurgeon Prithvi Narayan started his professional life as a software engineer. Then, in his early 20s, he heard of an opportunity at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Mo. A neurosurgeon there was looking for a programmer to develop a brain navigation system. This was in the early 1990s, when the marriage between 3D imagery, computer technology and brain surgery was more science fiction than fact. This opportunity changed the course of his life.
“I thought it sounded interesting,” Dr. Narayan remembers, “so I interviewed for the position. At the time, navigating the brain using 3D imaging was a novel idea, and the challenge appealed to me.”
He worked on this project for a year and a half, during which time he spent many hours in the operating room observing the use of the software during neurosurgery. This piqued his interest in neurosurgery, and after he finished the project, he started the long journey to transform himself from an engineer to a neurosurgeon.
“I discussed this with my neurosurgery mentor and my wife and made the decision to pursue medicine,” he said. “It is not a far leap for an engineer to be interested in neurosurgery, since both fields are highly structured and technical.”
After finishing medical school at Washington University School of Medicine, Dr. Narayan completed his residency at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta and then returned to St. Louis for a fellowship in pediatric neurosurgery at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
“In addition to my training in general neurosurgery, I decided to pursue additional training in pediatric neurosurgery because I found that I had a natural rapport with children and their families, and intellectually, I found the pathology of a developing brain fascinating,” he said.
In August 2020, after practicing in the Northeast for several years, Dr. Narayan joined Cape Fear Valley Neurosurgery in Fayetteville.
“I was looking for a general neurosurgical practice that allowed me to also serve a pediatric population, and Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, with its busy emergency room and established neurosurgery practice, was ideal,” Dr. Narayan said. “I have found that it is a great community, and it is gratifying to take care of the many military and veteran families here.”
With the addition of Dr. Narayan’s pediatric expertise, Cape Fear Valley Neurosurgery can now treat pediatric neurosurgical issues, such as craniosynostosis (a condition in which the bones in a baby’s skull join together too early), tethered spinal cord (a neurologic disorder that limits the movement of the spinal cord), and hydrocephalus (a buildup of fluid deep within the brain), as well as brain tumors and pediatric trauma.
Dr. Narayan is currently the only board-certified pediatric neurosurgeon in Cumberland County, and having a specialist of his caliber in Fayetteville will spare local families from having to travel over an hour away for these services. “The administration at Cape Fear Valley and Dr. Charles Haworth, Medical Director of Neurosurgery, have been very supportive and instrumental in the development of the program,” Dr. Narayan said.
In mid-February, Dr. Narayan performed his first pediatric neurosurgical procedure here and held the first pediatric neurosurgery clinic. His goal is to have the clinic once a week as the practice grows.
“Dr. Narayan is a true gentleman and a very caring person,” said Cape Fear Valley Health CEO Mike Nagowski. “He has the unique blend of tremendous clinical expertise combined with a passion for patient care. We are fortunate to have someone with his abilities at Cape Fear Valley.”