Danika L Paulo, MD

I am a functional neurosurgeon dedicated to providing comprehensive, patient-centered care for individuals with complex neurological conditions. This type of care is centered around improving patients' daily function and regaining meaningful quality of life. My clinical practice focuses on surgical treatments for medically refractory movement disorders, epilepsy, pain, and psychiatric disorders. Common procedures I perform include: deep brain stimulation (DBS), focused ultrasound (FUS/HIFU), resections and neuromodulation for epilepsy (responsive neurostimulation/RNS, DBS, vagus nerve stimulation/VNS, stereoelectroencephalography/SEEG), spinal cord stimulators, intrathecal pumps and laser ablations (LITT). I believe the best outcomes come from truly understanding each patient—not just their diagnosis, but their goals and daily life. I treat my patients like family and prioritize building strong, trusting relationships. My approach extends beyond the operating room, with a focus on treating the whole person and supporting patients and their families throughout every stage of care.

Clinical Philosophy

My philosophy centers on thoughtful, individualized care grounded in communication, compassion, and excellence, with a strong emphasis on guiding patients through complex decisions so they feel informed and supported. I view the patient doctor relationship as a partnership, striving not only for excellent surgical outcomes but also for meaningful connection and improvements in each patient’s quality of life. Research & Academic Interests My research focuses on advancing precision in functional neurosurgery through neuroimaging, brain network analysis, and neuromodulation. My published work explores improving targeting for deep brain stimulation using advanced imaging and physiology, understanding functional connectivity in epilepsy, and developing less invasive therapies such as focused ultrasound.