Dr. Lisa S. Apfel, MD, is a board-certified neurosurgeon who holds dual roles as Section Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Carilion Clinic in Roanoke, Virginia, and as an Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, where she contributes to both clinical care and academic teaching . After completing an undergraduate degree at Boston University and working for several years in corporate finance, she redirected her career toward medicine, completing prerequisite coursework and earning her MD from the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo in 2000 . She then completed a general surgery internship in 2000–2001 and a rigorous five-year neurological surgery residency at Buffalo from 2001 to 2006, training in a broad range of cranial and spinal procedures before establishing her practice in Roanoke in mid-2006 . Since beginning her clinical career, Dr. Apfel has focused on both pediatric and adult neurosurgery, offering advanced surgical and non-surgical management for conditions spanning spinal disorders and brain pathology, including spinal fusion, decompression techniques, brain tumor resection, stereotactic and endoscopic cranial surgeries, and correction of congenital anomalies such as craniosynostosis, hydrocephalus, and spina bifida . She emphasizes minimally invasive approaches when appropriate and collaborates closely with multidisciplinary teams—including pain management specialists, orthopedic surgeons, and pediatric neurologists—to optimize outcomes and expedite recovery for her patients . Reflecting on the precision required in neurosurgery, she noted in Carilion Medicine that “the brain stem tissue is the highest-price neurological real estate in the brain... One wrong move, and he doesn’t wake up or he doesn’t come off a ventilator,” underscoring her commitment to meticulous technique and patient safety . An active researcher, Dr. Apfel has authored peer-reviewed publications in leading journals, including a November 2023 World Neurosurgery systematic review on central nervous system lymphoproliferative disorders secondary to methotrexate and a January 2023 Rare Tumors case study of pediatric diffuse hemispheric glioma, as well as a 2021 Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal article on the treatment of Balamuthia mandrillaris cerebral abscess in a child, all contributing to the advancement of knowledge in rare neurological conditions . She is a Fellow of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and a member of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, and her peers have recognized her excellence by naming her a “Top Doctor in Neurosurgery” through awards from The Roanoker in 2015, 2017, and 2019 . Demonstrating her leadership in clinical informatics, she earned CMS Meaningful Use Stage 1 Certification in EpicCare Ambulatory EMR from Epic Systems Corporation from 2011 to 2013, further highlighting her commitment to integrating health technology into patient care . To integrate holistic treatment modalities, Dr. Apfel completed a certification in medical acupuncture at the University of New England in 2019–2020, applying complementary techniques to comprehensive neurosurgical care plans . She maintains an active clinical practice across several Carilion Clinic sites, including Carilion Children’s Pediatric Neurosurgery, Carilion Clinic Neurosurgery in Roanoke and Hillsville, and is affiliated with Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where she accepts new patients and supports families throughout the continuum of neurosurgical care. In her capacity as Section Chief, she provides leadership and coordination for the pediatric neurosurgery department, overseeing surgical teams and care pathways to uphold best-practice standards . She also shares her expertise through teaching and mentorship, guiding neurosurgery residents and medical students and delivering Grand Rounds presentations on topics such as pediatric hydrocephalus at Carilion Children’s Grand Rounds . Outside of medicine, Dr. Apfel thrives on adrenaline, pursuing skydiving and car racing in her spare time to sharpen her focus and embrace the high-stakes challenges that mirror her professional ethos . She holds active medical licenses in Virginia and North Carolina through 2026, with past licensure in New York, ensuring compliance with state regulations for multi-state practice . A passionate advocate for neurosurgical excellence and patient-centered care, Dr. Apfel’s ongoing vision is to integrate cutting-edge research with compassionate treatment to transform neurosurgical outcomes across the lifespan.
