Dr Kelly is an amazing neurosurgeon. He removed my 1.7cm pituitary adenoma with no complications. He is highly competent in his craft. I highly recommend him. read more

This review is not for the doctor but for the multiple communications with his support team. A doctor may think this unfair but when your care team is sub par it does reflect negatively on the doctor. Sometimes unknown to them and sometimes because they do not care. I am not sure where it falls in here. I have phoned at least four times in the last few years. I had an acoustic tumor that grew aggressively (not a norm for this type of tumor) into the brain stem. I wanted to get another opinion because I have had 'inconclusive' on the final reads (whether there was additional growth) and I wanted to make sure I did not get into another life-threatening situation (my first surgery was emergency with a 2% chance of survival which I thankfully survived). I would get sent to the voice mail of his nurse at which time I would get a follow up weeks later. Cut to now a few years since I phoned and got the 'inconclusive' read on my last MRI (with and without contrast) but now with a possible sign of growth so, again, I phoned Dr. Kellys' office only to be told he does not deal with Schwannomas. I was never informed of this in prior communications with the office (which is odd). I always stated what type of tumor I had and reports and scans were sent. Then his nurse said she was forwarding my information to another doctor that deals with the aforementioned type of tumor. I never heard from them. Then, maybe three months later (or more) I got a call from someone that did not say their name (just stated Pacific Neurosurgery) and called from a private number. Just to reiterate, this is now 1/3 of a year later. Buyer beware. read more

His team was great! They were educational and really took care of me. I was dealing with a tumor near my pituitary and the whole experience was scary but his team made the removal very easy. He's definitely a great doctor! read more

Dr. Kelly and the entire team are incredibly educated and deliver 5 star health care.

The doctors here must be cherry picked from God, because I have been brutalized by the medical system and actually found professionals who are thorough and actually care about your health. I only wish that I found everyone sooner, as in that week. You can read my story of medical abuse on my other reviews. Highly rec. read more

I flew to CA from CO 7 days after being diagnosed with a craniopharyngioma. I couldn't get the scheduling assistants in Denver to return my calls, much less the surgeons. But Dr. Kelly called me from his personal cell phone after getting my online submission, to discuss my case. Dr. Kelly, Dr. Griffiths, Dr. Klaussen, and Dr. Araque moved their schedules completely around to accommodate my surgery--the care, personal touch, and obvious medical/surgical prowess of the team made it a no-brainer for my husband and I. When ending our first phonecall, I asked Dr. Kelly "You're a neurosurgeon...how is it you are able and willing to call a potential patient on your weekend and discuss her case?" Without missing a beat, Dr. Kelly responded "This is a scary diagnosis--I know you're scared and want answers, and I think you should get them as soon as possible!" In person, Dr. Kelly was just as impressive. He took the time to answer all my concerns, he even stepped out and called a doctor directly when my test results were taking longer than expected. And to top off all these extra's, his actual surgical skill is incredible--I had to get my final debridement from a team here and Colorado, and the NP insinuated the level of skill she saw in my surgery could not have been matched by her team! If you're searching for a surgeon, stop your search. You found him! read more

I contacted Dr. Kelly after receiving a delayed (7 months) diagnosis of a tumor that was displacing my cerebellum. Dr. Kelly immediately diagnosed it as a meningeal tumor and based on its location and growth rate recommended that it should be removed. As a flight medic that works on a helicopter, anything that could affect my balance or coordination could be catastrophic. So, not removing the tumor wasn't an option but the spectre of lasting neurological complications from the surgery ending my career weighed heavily on me. Dr. Kelly, and his entire team, put me at ease during the entire process. Their professionalism, warmth and genuine caring was a huge help to my family as well. The staff at St. John's Hospital, who were also fantastic, repeatedly told me that Dr. Kelly and his team were simply the best and people came from all over the world to be operated on by them. The surgery was successful and I was back to work in a month. The follow up care has been thorough and just as compassionate as every other aspect of my treatment. A five star review simply isn't enough to convey what an amazing job Dr. Kelly and his entire team did. I will forever be appreciative and consider myself lucky for having found them. read more

Everyone was very kind, I will say that. I didnt mind the 1.5 hour wait to see the doctor because I know that surgery patients are priority. Also, the doctor felt like he needed to talk to my doctor before he spoke to me without telling me, so there was a further delay. The office was immaculate. There were definite positives. This is a place to go if you have a very cut and dry diagnosis. For example, if you have a 2.5 cm pit adenoma that is affecting your optic chasm and needs removal, you're golden. Im sure all would go as planned. I personally felt dismissed. I thought there was a lack of knowledge on my condition and, for a cancer center, that's concerning since I have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia which cause cancerous and benign tumors. The doctor tried to tell me that the size of my "cyst" or adenoma is 5mm, but he was not looking at it in the correct view on the MRI. I had to tell him to look at the Coronal view. My adenoma is 9mm. He then told me it is not big enough to cause symptoms or hormonal deficiencies. I have six years of labs that show different. As the adenoma has grown, my hormone levels have changed dramatically. I am followed very closely due to previous cancers and tumors. I also belong to several support groups and this is just not true. The issue with these kind of doctors is they don't listen and believe you are the expert on your own body. This is not my first rodeo. I have had thyroid cancer, thymus cancer, parathyroid adenoma, etc. Im very well-versed in my health, my hormones, my endocrine system and what is happening to me due to this space occupying lesion. It has grown lately and that is why I am seeking help now, not when it was a lot smaller and my levels were fine. I have had this adenoma since 2012. This is my first appointment with him for a reason. The layest MRI showed stalk deviation and a 4mm growth.. Im perfectly fine with a surgeon telling me it is not ready to be removed or that is not the protocol, but to tell me that it is not causing me issues, that is not acceptable. Again, if you have a clear cut case, great. If you want to be told you are not experiencing what you are, then that may be what happens here. As a woman, it just feels like the same old, same old... condescending crap we always get. You dont know anything and you arent feeling that and thats not possible even though you know otherwise.. Again.. probably a great place for a straightforward case and the staff was very nice. read more

100 stars. Really. Dr. Kelly is a rockstar without the rockstar attitude. He performed an 8-hour keyhole craniotomy on my wife that removed 90% (!) of the 4 cm tumor while preserving all remaining nerve function (!!). The incision is so slight and so well placed, you can barely see it. Two days in the hospital only before release. You wouldn't have guessed she had major brain surgery. World-class cutting-edge neurosurgeon, excellent support team, great nurses and follow-up staff. Great hospital care at Providence St. John's in the ICU/ Critical Care Unit. Whoever posted about his arrogant attitude-are we in the same time-space reality? I've never met a more placid, even-keel, humble surgeon in my life. I've grown up among doctors and many have the "you're lucky to be around me" attitude. Not Dr. Kelly. Far from it. The farthest. But even if he did (but doesn't), it'd be worth it for the quality of work he does in a field where the slightest error can be life-altering. read more

This man is the most genuine, honest and educated doctor I have ever met in my life! I'd been fighting for 6 years for a diagnosis and had seen approximately 80 doctors. On my first visit to him, he looked at my records and wondered why other doctors hadn't made a diagnosis. He streamlined me in to one final test and I was in surgery within two weeks. He saved my life. His Office is willing to work with you if you don't live in town... They can order testing from whatever city you're in. They'll also work with you financially to help you in anyway they can. read more

Brilliant!! Dr Kelly is the best!! He is SO smart! And so humble. I had cushings disease and he removed my tumor from my pituitary gland. I had been through 3 endocrinologist to get diagnosed. Dr Kelly took his time and was very thorough at making his diagnosis. I had a kidney transplant, thyroid cancer over the past 8 years.. Needless to say brain surgery was something I was scared of and cushings disease is very hard to diagnose. When deciding on this I had to put my full faith in him and Dr Griffith's (ENT who did the surgery with him) and I went with it. He is meant for this job. I can tell he does it because it's his passion and nothing else. He literally saves and changes lives!! I challenge my doctors a lot as I have worked with many specialty doctors for 18 years and know a lot since I have had so many health issues. I follow what he says because I trust him! read more

Words do not exist to describe my gratitude and appreciation for Dr. Daniel Kelly and his phenomenal TEAM at St. John's Santa Monica. Dr. Kelly is everything you could ever want in a neurosurgeon. From our very first meeting, I trusted his calm confidence and knowledge. After 8 months of struggles and not knowing why I was becoming disabled, I could easily say that I was terrified. Within one week of meeting Dr. Kelly, my very large tumor was perfectly removed and my health miraculously restored. A surgeon of this caliber is a blessing. Moving forward I hope to be able to support his research efforts, as a small way of saying thank you for my new life. read more

Dr. Kelly removed my pituitary tumor in 2002, when I was first diagnosed with acromegaly. At that time, Dr. Kelly was at UCLA. I just came across his name now and had to post. He was so kind, devoted, sincere, honest, and I immediately felt at ease with him. He was the second doctor I'd seen, and after meeting with him I knew I had to go with him. Thanks to my successful surgery, I've lived a completely normal life since 2002. Since surgery, I rarely think about my acromegaly, other than having to get a Sandostatin injection in my butt every 6 weeks. Even though he removed the entire tumor, and there is still no visible evidence of it returning, my IGF1 levels started going back up. It truly was a scary surgery, going through your nose to your pituitary! But I woke up from surgery feeling great. I had to leave Kaiser insurance in order to see Dr. Kelly. Kaiser wanted to radiate the tumor instead of removing it because they didn't have any staff doctor that could do that surgery. They refused to refer me out of their network. Surgery is the gold standard. Bottom line, Dr. Kelly saved my life! read more

Dr. Kelly and Dr. Griffiths receive my highest possible recommendation. They removed a tumor on top of my pituitary gland that was resting against my optical nerve. They flawlessly removed the entire tumor utilizing a minimally invasive technique. 5 out of 5 stars. read more

I WISH ICOULD GIVE DR DAVID KELLY 10 stars!... I am a recently retired nurse. I had seen FOUR specialists regarding a cyst on my pituitary gland. I had vision loss, daily debilitating headaches but, the gland is functioning perfectly. All my specialists decided to refer me out of area to a teaching hospital, CEDARS SINAI. THAT WAS A DISASTER! So, my neurosurgeon, Dr David Westra here in Ventura, referred me to Dr Kelly. He said, " I would send my own family to him." Well, Dr Kelly IS outstanding. He was beyond my high expectations, being a nurse. His Assistant made it possible for me to see him much sooner than I expected, due to my daily headaches. He was EXTREMELY PROFESSIONAL & up to date with my condition, polite, explained VERY CLEARLY exactly what my problem is. He went over the FOUR MRIs and 1 CT with us (my husband and myself,) IN DETAIL. He assured me that the specific "cyst" that I have is harmless, though rare. The vision loss & headaches stumped him . By this time, he had spent 90 minutes with us and, it was exactly 12noon. So, he said, "let me call my partner, the ophthalmic specialist downstairs and see how soon he can get you in." He explained that we were from out of the Santa Monica area and, my headaches and vision loss began late December of 2017 and, I still had no answers about those challenges. That doctor said he would see me right then, giving up his lunch break and do a full exam. I was overcome with the wonderful news the cyst was no threat and Dr Kelly was so kind, soft spoken and, really treated me as if we were his ONLY patients that day. But, to take the time to make sure I got my vision loss evaluated tha day as well was ABOVE AND BEYOND, that I was crying- tears of relief. Unfortunately, there are only a FEW of these exceptional professionals left. He is definitely on my "GREAT DOCTOR LIST." I will be forever grateful to him! And, I would recommend him HIGHLY! I would send my loved ones to Dr Kelly... read more

I would like to extend my greatest appreciation for Dr Kelly. I am compelled to write a review on his business as I am in the OR waiting room here at Saint Johns. By the grace of God Dr Kelly had a last minute opening to conduct brain surgery on my mommy this morning. The hospital he works for and the work he does is five star. Thank you Doc - and much success to you and your practice. read more

I first met Dr. Kelly on November 25th of 2019 where he confirmed the diagnosis of having Acromegaly. He explained the surgery process to my wife and I putting us at ease and making us feel comfortable about the surgery. I had a 3mm - 4mm tumor that needed to be removed from my Pituitary gland. One week later, surgery was scheduled for December 17th. Surgery went well and was a success! You know Dr. Kelly is a top notch Neuro-surgeon, in the world, when there are other doctors from another country there to observe the surgery. He is kind, patient, understanding and professional. A huge THANK YOU to the staff at Saint John's Providence Hospital for taking care of me post surgery. I also would like to take this opportunity to thank the office staff (Maricela, Mary-Lou) at PNI and the team of doctors; Dr. Kelly, Dr Jai, Dr. Griffiths, and Dr. Araque for their sincerity, professionalism, expertise, and for making me feel comfortable during this time. WORLD CLASS PEOPLE!! Thank you very much, Kunane Burns read more

I was referred to Dr. Kelly several years ago to consult regarding an accidentally-discovered small benign meningioma. He monitored it annually until it grew marginally enough to recommend neurosurgery to remove it. He and his team of colleagues and observing fellows were thorough, reassuring and explanatory at every stage. The options, schedules, procedures, risks and outcomes were explained so that I could make an informed decision to proceed, which I embraced without anxiety or fear. The growth was removed and I consider Dr. Kelly's professionalism, skill and care, as well as the process and outcome achieved, to have been optimal and exemplary. I was fortunate to fully return to all normal daily activities 10 days post-op, and virtually without a visible trace of the operation. I give him my highest recommendation and deepest thanks. It is hard to imagine receiving better medical care. read more

First of all, I want to thank the whole team at Pacific Neuroscience Institute for their hard work and dedication. In October of 2018 I was diagnosed with a 4.8 cm pituitary mass adenoma. I was referred to Dr Kelly in santa Monica. Upon meeting with him on Nov 19 and had surgery on Nov 21. On Thanksgiving, I received a call from Dr. Kelly while recovering in the hospital. That phone call meant the world to me and displays his care for his patients. They SAVED my life! Dr Kelly and Dr. Griffiths are truly professionals and angels in disguise! My family and I can't thank PNI enough for all they have done for me. My hormones have all came back normal and this would've never been possible without the team at PNI. 5 stars don't reflect the amazing work they do on a daily basis and the lives they change, there is no rating on any platform that reflects the amazing miracles they create. I can never thank you enough! read more

On Friday 8th January I found out I had a meningioma tumor growing on my spine. On 9th and 10th January, Dr Walavan Sivakumar kindly took random calls and text messages from my husband with regards to my health and well being and helped keep us both calm until we met with Dr Kelly and Dr Barkhoudarian on Monday 11th January! Dr Kelly, Dr Barkhoudarian and Dr Walavan Sivakumar completely explained the surgery I would need (a total T3 and partial T4 laminectomy) and took time to answer all of my questions and concerns. On 13th January, these three doctors performed surgery and removed the tumor completely. Yesterday, I went for my 3 month check up and I couldn't feel better! Apart from a very neat 4 inch scar down my spine I sometimes forget this ever happened at all! Dr Kelly and his whole team (including the office staff, particularly Maricela, and his nurse, Amy) are exceptionally professional and understanding. If I could give them ten stars I would. I can't recommend them enough. My treatment from our very first meeting, through pre and post surgery to my follow up appointments have all been great. I feel extremely lucky and fortunate to have found myself in the hands of this amazing team and doubt there are any others who come close to their expertise. read more

Dr Kelly and his team endoscopicicslly removed my 11 year old daughter's Rathke Cleft Cyst back in December, 2018. Today my daughter is thriving! And there are absolutely no tell take signs of surgery. She even looks better than before as Dr Griffiths made certain her nose would not be damaged. I am forever grateful. Best of all, the team recognized how urgent the situation was for my daughter's (and our family's) quality of life and do they went above and beyond to fit us in their schedule and adjust to our travel needs as we flew in from Minnesota. read more

I had a 2nd pituitary surgery in 2012. My 1st surgery in 2011 was not done by Dr. Kelly. It was botched. I was devastated. A friend made me drive to Dr. Kelly and leave my MRI. He reviewed it that night on his own time and his office call me to come in a day later. He cares deeply for his patients and in that consult I knew I was at the right place. Surgery was scheduled in one month. I had to pay out of pocket because insurance would not cover. I know he charged less and his team as well for me to be able to get the surgery. The hospital knew what they were doing, understood adrenal crashes, and his ENT Dr. Chester Griffiths did sinus surgery at the same time. They saved my life from this life threatening disease called Cushings. His endocrinologist, Dr. Pejman Cohan is top notch. All of his team are easy to communicate with and follow up is excellent in each area. With this disease being rare, there are very few other people I would recommend. He is excellent at second opinions and correcting surgeries thay went wrong. This is all my personal experience. read more

Probably the best surgeon for pituitary tumors in the world. Enough said?

Top notch surgeon. He is very personable and an Expert with Cushings tumors. You will feel very comfortable with him and his staff.

Dr. Daniel Kelly, Dr. Chester Griffiths and their highly qualified team performed surgery on me and took excellent care of me on all accounts. I highly recommend them to anyone in need. My utmost gratitude goes out to them all. read more

Dr. Kelly, Dr. Barkhoudarian, Dr. Sivakumar, Dr. Griffiths and their entire team are beyond amazing. I had interviewed some of the top doctors on the east and west coast regarding my arachnoid cyst. As soon as I met Dr. Kelly, I trusted him and knew that he was the right doctor for my surgery. No one compared to him and his associates. The entire team is truly one-of-a-kind. They are calm, extremely compassionate and above all highly skilled in what they do. I am forever grateful to have found his team and forever thankful for their amazing work. read more

After being diagnosed with Acromegaly, I began my research for a nuerosuregon. I came across Dr. Kelly, Dr. Barkhoudarian and their excellent team at Providence St. John's Health Center. The doctors were thorough in their explanation of the surgery, they were patient with me as they answered any and all of my questions, and most importantly, they were available before and after the surgery. I had a successful surgery 2 weeks ago. The doctors removed all of my tumor. I couldn't be happier with Dr. Kelly, Dr. Barkhoudarian, and their wonderful team. read more

Dr Kelly and his entire team including Dr. Walvan Sivakumar took excellent care of my husband during his 3rd brain surgery. The first 2 were done at other places. We have both worked for 30 years at another hospital and we have never seen this level of knowledge, caring and compassion. He immediately knew how to expediently handle the situation, and everything went as smooth as can be. We are so grateful to Dr Kelly and everyone there, including Maricela and Marilu for all of their help along the way. We would 100% recommend this caring and wonderful group of sought after doctors. read more

I'm editing my review because I've had time for my frustration to simmer! I did not have a good experience in my appointment with Dr Kelly, however he did a phone call follow up with me after reading my negative online reviews which I did appreciate - he did listen to what I had to say and seemed to show respect for my opinions. What was clear from meeting them both is that he and Dr Cohan do not approve of my endocrinologists methods and do not "believe" in cyclical Cushing's: this was made clear by negative references made about my doctor. I have heard good things about Dr Kelly from other patients and clearly he is a good surgeon. I think the Dr Duo are a good pair for a patient who is suffering from florid Cushing's who is easier to diagnose. Unfortunately if you are suffering from cyclical (episodic, intermediate, subclinical) Cushing's, this pair is unlikely to help you. Aside from admitting they don't believe in that diagnosis, they are unwilling to work with a patient who might even present as obviously Cushinoid in helping them to find answers. I've seen this a lot in similar doctors having travelled around the US seeking opinions. Cyclical Cushing's is a disease that we are only now and slowly learning more about and it behooves all doctors who profess themselves to be "experts" in this disease to stay abreast of current studies that are refuting old school beliefs: UFC is no longer the gold standard for assessing CD; Low Dose Dex is flawed for CD patients, variability inconsistent with saliva cortisol, early morning urine (EMU) has been used in Europe for years with published studies showing the viability of catching late night urinary cortisol, etc, etc. Dr Friedman is the leading physician to treat cyclical Cushings. Why? Because he is a researcher who has dedicated his life to finding NEW and better tests from the currently flawed ones available-his methods are progressive but then they need to be to get ahead of people dying from this disease. It's not good enough to wait until a patient is so sick that their lives will be irrevocably ruined from this disease. It's also much easier to be the doctors who take the "easy" cases which result in higher success rates. But that's not really stretching yourself, is it? read more

Dr. Dan Kelly and Dr. Barkhoudarian performed a heroic surgery on my brain tumor in May 2014. Their expertise and knowledge saved my life. Their support staff includes Amy, the NP and Maricela in the front office. Both are warm and very caring. It is clear patients are treated by the best in the country. I am deeply grateful for their skill and perseverance. read more

Dr Kelly is the best Dr and surgeon in the US. In 2012 I was diagnosed with a Tumor. Size of a LIME. Dr Kelly is the most Humane, and so amazing. I interviewed 4 other Dr's before I chose him to do my surgery. But when I met Dr Kelly I knew he was the most kind and an expert in his field. Its now been 4 years and I am doing well. read more

In early March 2017, I learned that I had a 1 inch diameter pituitary adenoma pressing against my pituitary gland and carotid artery. The tumor was beginning to affect my hormone functions and I was told that eventually the tumor would damage my eye sight and other important functions. An endocrinologist in my home city of Portland, Oregon determined that the best course of action was to remove the tumor with surgery. After this diagnosis, I spent a few weeks researching surgical teams across the United States who specialize in the treatment of pituitary adenomas. Ultimately, I selected Dr. Daniel Kelly and his associate ENT surgeon Dr. Chester Griffiths to perform my surgery. Dr. Kelly and Dr. Griffiths helped to develop endoscopic pituitary surgery and have assembled one of the best teams available for this type of surgery. Dr. Kelly was able to remove 100 percent of the tumor. My post op recovery was quick and nearly painless. Six weeks after the operation my pituitary function is nearly fully restored. read more

i am a 67 yr. old white male, born and raised in the south. i got very, very strange physical, not mental, sensations in the spring of 1993. i have a lot of education, computer science, math, etc., so, i did what every normal person would do under these circumstances-or, what i did. i was driving an 18 wheeler truck over the road for a living. this is very, very, hard work! long hours. driving 500 miles a day. waiting to load and unload, tied to your truck all the time, with not much human interaction. so, being a wreck, physically, i got out of my truck, and, worked as a security guard, while i sought medical help. the first doctor i went to was a brahmin from india. she made fun of me! then, i went to an endocrinologist. he criticized everything i said! however, he put me in the hospital for a week, and, ran endo tests. he never told me my labs. he never showed me my labs. nada! then, he discharged me as a patient 2 months later! i got, and read, dr. robert hardin williams,m.d.'s, book," textbook of endocrinology, 7th. ed." i read it. i told myself "i have cushing's disease". i was right. however, doctors kept telling me "..cushing's disease is very, very hard to diagnose.." this went on and on, until, i finally had a positive mri for pituitary tumor, in 1993. it took them 3 yrs. to operate on me!! why? who knows! i had 2 pituitary tumors removed, but, i was not cured! then, high blood sugars, high blood pressure, weight gain, i still was very, very sick. i went to an elderly m.d. dec., 2009. he had an mri run. they found another tumor on my pituitary gland. i contacted dr. dan kelly, m.d., john wayne cancer center, santa monica., california. why? he is the world's best! his assistants were exceptionally kind to me, thorough, knew what they were doing. dr. kelly looked at my mri, and told me he would operate on me! you have to realize this is like albert einstein telling you to come on over to his house, and, he will grade your physics exams!! wow! i flew out there. he saw me. nice. humble. kind. a gentleman to the core. he removed my entire pituitary gland. i am now free, after 17 years of intense, painful, suffering, the likes of which most people could never, ever, imagine! why did i go into such depth, and detail, in giving this man a good report on "yelp". because, people, who have never heard of him, need good, solid information on who, and what, he is, and does. that's why. read more