Jesse Skoch, MD, FAANS, FACS

I am a brain, skull and spine surgeon with special interests in epilepsy, brain tumors, hydrocephalus, craniosynostosis and the spine. When possible, I employ a minimally invasive technique called neuroendoscopy, which allows surgeons to reach areas of the brain through smaller openings.

My interest in neurosurgery began in college, where I was fascinated both by how much had been discovered about the electrochemical machinery of the nervous system and by how many mysteries remain to be solved. I enjoy working with my hands and fixing things, so neurosurgery was a perfect fit. Children spark excitement and wonder and have a unique set of challenges for a neurosurgical subspecialty. I'm so grateful to be able to work with an exclusively pediatric population.

In my practice, I perform exceptional surgical interventions to treat or cure the spine and brain. At Cincinnati Children’s, we are on the cutting edge of pediatric neurosurgical therapies. We’re adapting to a changing field and a changing world by being a part of the discovery process. I’m working to improve how surgery is done to make pediatric neurosurgical procedures smaller, safer and more effective.

I am a lead developer for the cloud-based hydrocephalus tracking app HydroAssist. This free program helps families who are managing hydrocephalus get access to key medical information, be connected to their care providers and stay knowledgeable about treatments.

I have published more than 50 papers in peer-reviewed journals, authored book chapters and garnered several awards for my scientific research. I’m researching ways to improve seizure surgery by finding new techniques to monitor where seizures come from in a child’s brain.

When I have free time, I enjoy skiing and mountain biking and trying to teach my kids to cook.