Dr. Andrew Fanous is a board-certified neurosurgeon who serves as the Section Chief of Neurosurgery at Inova Alexandria Hospital and the Medical Co-Director of Spine for Inova's Eastern Region. He is also an assistant professor of neurological surgery at the University of Virginia School of Medicine.
Dr. Fanous specializes in minimally invasive spine surgery, the surgical management of back pain, and the treatment of spine and brain tumors. He is particularly passionate about advancing techniques that reduce recovery time and improve patient outcomes.
Originally from Alexandria, Egypt, Dr. Fanous graduated magna cum laude from Middlebury College in Vermont, where he majored in molecular biology, biochemistry and German literature, earning the highest departmental honors. During his undergraduate studies, he conducted research on neural progenitor cell differentiation at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics in Germany and received a fellowship grant from Freie Universität for his work on a novel spinal cord protein involved in pain transmission.
Dr. Fanous earned his medical degree from the University of Vermont College of Medicine, with a focus in surgery, and completed his neurosurgical residency at the State University of New York at Buffalo. During residency, Dr. Fanous received numerous honors. Dr. Fanous completed advanced fellowship training in minimally invasive and complex spine surgery at the University of Miami. At Inova, Dr. Fanous has received several prestigious awards.
Dr. Fanous is the founder and director of the Annual Inova Spine Symposium and the first editor of the medical textbook Spine and spinal cord tumors – classification, management and treatment. He remains highly engaged in medical education, mentorship and community outreach throughout Northern Virginia.
Awards/Associations
- Northern Virginia Magazine Top Doctor Award, 2025
- Castle Connolly Top Doctor Award, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
- Arlington Magazine Top Doctor Award, 2024
- Washingtonian Top Doctor Award, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
- Best Resident Teacher Faculty Award, Inova
- Community Engagement and Mentorship Award, Inova
- Distinguished Physician Leadership Award, Inova
- Best Research Project Award, New York State Neurosurgical Society
- Community Service Award, Association of American Medical Colleges
- Louis A. and Ruth Siegel Award for Excellence in Teaching
- Graduate Medical Education Quality Improvement Award
- Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society
- Gold Humanism Honor Society
- Fellow of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons
- Fellow of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons
Published Blog Posts and Other Media
Blog Posts
Carolyn is on Top of the World After Spine Surgery at Inova (October 2023)
Tom Looks Forward to the Future After Spine Surgery Repairs Fractured Neck (September 2023)
Back from the Brink: Will Returns to Life After Spine Surgery to Repair Damage from MRSA Infection (February 2022)
Videos
Hear how Dr. Fanous used minimally invasive surgery to correct the cervical spine deformity of Tom Bull, former Gallaudet University teacher
Spine Symposium 2024 - Farley Banks
What to Know About Spine Augmented Reality (AR) Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
Mark's Story with Spine Augmented Reality Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
Patient Reviews
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