About Dr Al Khawaja
Dr Darweesh Al Khawaja
MD FRACS AFRACMA
Neurosurgeon
Brain and Spine Surgeon
Honorary Senior Lecturer (University of Wollongong)
Clinical Senior Lecturer (University of Sydney)
Dr Al-Khawaja is a consultant neurosurgeon based in Sydney. He also operates at Nepean Private Hospital , Norwest Private Hospital and Westmead Private Hospital. He conducted his neurosurgical training both in Australia and abroad. This included training at St Vincents’ Hospital, Nepean Public Hospital, and Wollongong hospital. He completed his fellowship exam in Australia in 2007. Since then he has performed multiple subspeciality courses to further his neurosurgical training.
He completed multiple spinal surgical courses across Europe, and subspecialised skull-base training both in the United States and St Vincents’ Hospital, Sydney. He is a member of the Royal Australian College Surgeons, the American Association of Neurological Surgery and a member of the Neurosurgical society of Australia. Furthermore he completed a fellowship with the Royal Australiasian College of Medical Administrators.
During his practice as a consultant neurosurgeon, Dr Al-khawaja has performed both cranial and spinal neurosurgery. Whilst his practice encompasses general neurosurgical procedures he also performs subspecialised neurosurgical operations including skull-base surgery, cerebello-pontine angle tumours, and endoscopic surgery.
Dr Al-Khawaja has special interests in the following areas:
Minimal Invasive Surgery
Minimal Invasive Surgery
- Keyhole Lumbar decompression
Spinal Tumours and Complex Spine Surgery
Spinal Tumours and Complex Spine Surgery
- Complex Spinal fusion and correction of scoliosis including lateral, anterior and posterior approaches
- Complex Cervical surgery including posterior and anterior approaches
Neuronavigation assisted Spinal and Cranial Surgery
Neuronavigation assisted Spinal and Cranial Surgery
Skull Based Surgery
Skull Based Surgery
- Endoscopic assisted skull base surgery including pituitary tumours
Peripheral Nerve surgery
Peripheral Nerve surgery
- Nerve Sheath tumours
Cranial Surgery
Cranial Surgery
- Brain tumours
- Neuro vascular anomalies including aneurysm surgery
Dr Darweesh Al-Khawaja is a keen researcher and active in the field of clinical neurosurgery research. He is currently conducting multiple research projects studying the management of brain tumours, as well as optimising spinal surgery. He is a supervisor of multiple University of Sydney students in various research projects.
As a result of his research, Dr Al-Khawaja has produced multiple scientific journal publications, and presented at multiple conferences. This includes a presentation to the Spine conference in 2015 regarding the anterior approaches to the spine.
Furthermore, Dr Al-Khawaja has received multiple awards in recognition of his achievements. He recently received a Certificate of Outstanding Service from the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in recognition of his contributions to surgery in general. Furthermore in 2012 he received the Paul Harris certificate from the Rotary foundation in recognition of his services to the wider Nepean community.
Qualifications and Courses Attended
- University of Jordan, Higher specialisation degree in Neurosurgery
- Aust Medical Council Certificate, Sydney
- United States Medical License Exam
- FRACS in Neurosurgery
- RACS exam participation, Sydney
- Cadaveric Workshop in spine instrumentation
- Spine society meeting in Adelaide
- World spine meeting in Geneva
- Minimally invasive spine surgery in San Francisco
Surgery Videos
Cervical Spine Tumor
Keyhole Microdiscectomy
Large Thoracic disc pressing on Spinal Cord
Lumber Spine Tumor
Spinal Cord Cyst
Contact Information
Penrith Rooms
Penrith NSW
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Nepean Room: 1 Hope St,
Penrith NSW 2750 - Reception@brainandspineclinic.org.au
- (02) 4704 8667
- (02) 4704 8662
Bella Vista Rooms
Norwest Private Hospital
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Norwest Private Hospital, Suite G3B,
11 Norbrik Drive, Bella Vista NSW 2153 - Reception@brainandspineclinic.org.au
- (02) 4704 8667
- (02) 4704 8662
Aya Medical Centre
Aya Medical Centre - Chester Square Shopping Centre
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Shop 21, Chester Square,
1 Leicester St, Chester Hill NSW 2162 - Reception@brainandspineclinic.org.au
- (02) 4704 8667
- (02) 4704 8662