Dr. Ara J. Deukmedjian, MD

Ranked #1 in the world

Dr. Ara Deukmedjian was fortunate to be accepted into the top 7-year neurological surgery training program at Shands Hospital headed by preeminent neurosurgeon, Dr. Albert Rhoton MD. While at the University of Florida Department of Neurosurgery, the faculty was comprised of top neurosurgeons in their field including Dr. Arthur Day, Dr. Bill Friedman, Dr. Richard Fessler, Dr. Parker Mickle, Dr. Jeff Henn, Dr. Steven Lewis, Dr. Robert Mericle and Dr. Steven Roper. During his neurosurgical training, Dr. Deukmedjian became an expert in various neurosurgical fields including spine, neurocritical care, skull base, cerebrovascular, neuro-endovascular, pediatric, brain lesions, functional neurosurgery and pain. While in residency, the National Institute of Health (NIH) awarded Dr. Deukmedjian a fully funded 2-year research fellowship in epilepsy neurosurgery. Dr. Deukmedjian completed his board-certification in neurosurgery and is a Fellow of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons.

Ranked #15 in the world

Dr. Ara Deukmedjian graduated from USC school of Medicine with “Highest Distinction” also ranked #1 by grades in his class of 170 students. Dr. Deukmedjian was appointed “junior AOA” and soon after elected President of the USC chapter of Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA), the national honor society for medical schools. Dr. Deukmedjian received many honors and awards in medical school including the Barbara Monroe Pathology Honor Award for the student with the highest test scores in pathology. Dr. Deukmedjian’s academic performance earned him Phi Beta Kappa national honor society and selection for the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology award with a trip to Walter Reed Army Hospital. In 1995, Dr. Deukmedjian was recognized by pathology chairman and author Dr. Clive Taylor for scoring the only perfect score on the pathology final exam at the end of the year, a first in the 100+ year history of the school. Dr. Deukmedjian won the annual Retzius Neuroanatomy competition held every year at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. Dr. Deukmedjian was promoted to neuroanatomy faculty during his 4th year in medical school and received his entire 4th year of medical school tuition free, also a first for the University of Southern California to offer this opportunity to one of its own exceptional medical students.

Ranked top 30 in the world

Dr. Deukmedjian graduated Lutheran High School of Ventura County as valedictorian and attended the University of California campus in San Diego for undergraduate studies in Biochemistry-Cell Biology and Chemistry, obtaining degrees in both. While at UCSD, Dr. Deukmedjian played competitive soccer, DJ at the school radio station, was elected sophomore senator and served in student government, co-founded the Armenian Student Organization, joined a fraternity Delta Sigma Phi, volunteered in Dr. Jay Seegmiller’s Alzheimer Disease Research lab, volunteered in the UCSD burn ICU and served on the UCSD admissions committee. Dr. Deukmedjian was appointed Chairman of the UCSD Cultural Programming Board in 1989 and oversaw all school funded student cultural activities. His coursework included diverse areas of study including African dance, anthropology, molecular biology, physical chemistry, microbial genetics, organic chemistry, literature and marine biology. The decision to go to medical school was easy however, the path was difficult at times because medicine has and will always be a competitive field to enter into.