Robert Starke, M.D.

Dr. Starke is a member of the departments of Neurological Surgery, Neuroradiology, Neurosciences, and Pharmacology. He has a busy clinical practice performing more than 700 operations each year. He specializes in the treatment of cerebral vascular disease including arteriovenous malformations, aneurysms, and fistulas, cavernous malformaitons, moyamoya disease, carotid and intracranial stenosis including bypass surgery. He also treats all aspects of brain tumor and skull base surgery. He is one of the few dual-trained neurosurgeons in the country able to offer both surgical and minimally invasive endovascular solutions to complex cerebrovascular disease. The minimally invasive endovascular techniques allows patients to be treated through a 1mm incision in the leg with no incisions in the head. He also practices in gamma knife radiosurgery adding a further component of minimal invasive treatment options as one of the only doctors in Florida able to treat AVMs by all three therapeutic options. Because of his multi-modality training, he is unbiased with regards to the treatment chosen. While most lesions can be treated endovascularly, there are some cases are safer with surgery or focused radiotherapy. Dr. Starke is able to perform every procedure from the initial angiogram to the final embolization or surgery. Dr. Starke also has a busy brain tumor practice, with approximately 1/3 of his patients being referred for brain tumors. He is also a specialist in pediatric vascular disease such as aneurysms and tumors, with one dedicated day per week treating children with endovascular techniques. Dr. Starke is currently a Professor of Neurological Surgery and Radiology at the University Of Miami MILLER School Of Medicine. Previously, he graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. from Princeton University and distinction in neuroscience. He obtained his medical doctorate from Albert Einstein graduating with distinction in clinical and translational research. He also obtained a Masters of Medical Science with distinction in neuroscience research as part of the National Institute of Health Clinical Research Training Program. He also completed a cerebral vascular research fellowship at Columbia University, which provided him with a wide background in epidemiology and statistics. Dr. Starke attended neurosurgery residency at the University of Virginia. He also completed endovascular neuroradiology fellowships at Thomas Jefferson University and University of Virginia and a cerebral vascular and skull base fellowship at Auckland University Hospital, New Zealand. He is board certified in Neurosurgery ABNS and certified by the Committee on Advance Subspecialty Training in Endovascular Therapies (CAST). His laboratory is supported by multiple grants including more than 3 million dollars from the National Institute of Health. His research focuses on cerebral vascular pathophysiology including aneurysms, AVM, ICH, and ischemic stroke models. These avenues allow for the development of novel cellular, medical, radiographic, surgical, and endovascular techniques. He has co-authored over 500 academic publications. As the Director of Neurovascular Research, he helps run numerous clinical trials for minimally invasive treatment of cerebral vascular disease brain tumors.