Medical College of Wisconsin
Medical College of Wisconsin Medical College of Wisconsin
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Neurosurgery
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Rupen Desai, MD

Assistant Professor

Locations

  • Neurosurgery
  • 8701 Watertown Plank Rd.
    Milwaukee, WI 53226

Education

Fellowship, Complex Neuro-Oncology/Skull Base, University of Oklahoma School of Medicine, Oklahoma City, OK, 2024
Fellowship, Minimally Invasive Skull Base Surgery, Weill Cornell School of Medicine, New York, NY, 2023
Residency, Neurological Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 2016-2023
MD, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 2016
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Biography

As a neurosurgeon specializing in brain tumors, I recognize that meeting me often coincides with one of the most challenging days in your life or that of a loved one. I witness every day how overwhelming it can be to face frightening diagnoses, let alone the inevitable decisions that accompany such illnesses. That is why the concept of “shared decision making” is so important to me. I strive to empower patients with the knowledge and support they need, and to provide expert guidance with compassion and clarity. From our first consultation to your recovery, I will work closely with you, discussing your treatment options, potential risks, and personal goals. Whenever possible, I offer minimally invasive surgical techniques and the latest breakthrough therapies, tailoring each step of your care to suit your needs and values. I am so pleased to be able to offer this combination of technical expertise and patient-focused care within the context of an outstanding multi-disciplinary team that provides the best medical oncology and radiation oncology care offered at Froedtert Health and the Medical College of Wisconsin.

Although I am Texas-born, I have lived in eight states spanning the East Coast and Midwest before settling down in Wisconsin. I started my medical education in North Carolina, completing both undergraduate and medical training at Duke University before moving back to the Midwest for my neurosurgical residency training at Washington University in St. Louis. There, I was fortunate to train with some of the top brain tumor surgeons, learning both complex mapping techniques for tumors affecting intricate brain areas and laser interstitial thermal ablation (LITT) for minimally invasive tumor therapy. I became an expert in brain tumor surgery by training with world-renowned experts, including a Minimally Invasive fellowship with Dr. Theodore Schwartz at Weill Cornell School of Medicine in New York and Complex Neurosurgical Oncology with Dr. Ian Dunn at the University of Oklahoma.

Outside of work, I am a proud husband to my wife Rachel and dog-daddy to my Australian Shepherd Bella. You can often find us hiking, running, watching both college and professional sports, and exploring the local restaurant scene!

Clinical Programs

Research Interests

  • Glioblastoma
  • Brain Metastases
  • Tumor Microenvironment Immunotherapy
  • Clinical Trials

Publications

Publications of Rupen Desai MD from the Faculty Collaboration Database