Andrew Ko, MD
Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery
Dr. Ko is a UW assistant professor in the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Washington Medical Center and Harborview Medical Center. In addition to general neurosurgery, he specializes in functional and restorative neurosurgery, epilepsy and neurosurgery for pain. Dr. Ko also conducts research in the areas of deep brain stimulation (DBS) and epilepsy. In particular, he is interested in ways to use imaging techniques and the electrical activity of the brain to better understand and treat diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor and seizures. He is an active participant in research to develop better control of neural stimulation for these diseases, as well as in studies seeking to develop ways to improve memory in patients who have suffered brain damage. Dr. Ko earned his bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Dartmouth College and his M.D. from the University of Illinois in Chicago. He first came to Seattle and the University of Washington as an intern in general surgery and a resident in neurological surgery. He left a position as staff neurosurgeon at the UW Medical Center and Valley Medical Center in order to pursue a fellowship at the Oregon Health & Science University in stereotactic and functional neurosurgery. After completing this fellowship, he returned to the University of Washington to head the functional and restorative neurosurgery program. He is also a neurosurgeon with the Regional Epilepsy Center at Harborview. He works closely with the Center for Pain Relief at UWMC-Roosevelt, particularly in the areas of facial pain and intractable cancer pain.