Faculty & Staff Directory
Dilan Ellegala, MD
Professor, Neurosurgery
Dilan Ellegala, MD, is a neurosurgeon, the medical director of Barrow Global, and professor of neurosurgery at Barrow Neurological Institute. He is board certified in neurosurgery by the American Board of Neurological Surgery.
Dr. Ellegala’s neurosurgical expertise is in complex brain surgery and leveraging new technology to advance brain and spine care. He is also known for advancing global neurosurgery and global health initiatives. Recognizing an unmet need for medical education in rural areas of Africa, Dr. Ellegala founded Madaktari Africa, a nonprofit organization to improve the health care of Sub-Saharan Africa by facilitating local medical training and education. Additionally, as a young faculty member, he was the founding dean of the Center for Global Health at the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Ellegala’s groundbreaking work in global neurosurgery development is documented in, “A Surgeon in the Village: An American Doctor Teaches Brain Surgery in Africa,” by Pulitzer-nominated journalist Tony Bartleme. Dr. Ellegala is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. He serves as a board member of the Foundation for International Education in Neurological Surgery.
Dr. Ellegala earned his medical degree from the University of Washington in Seattle. He completed his neurosurgery residency at the University of Virginia, with an enfolded year abroad spent at Auckland Hospital in New Zealand. He completed a cerebrovascular fellowship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and was a clinical instructor at Harvard Medical School in Boston.
Dr. Ellegala has authored over 50 peer-reviewed research articles, holds multiple patents, and has spent years advancing traditional surgery and medicine using state-of-the-art technology.
- Fellowship, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Cerebrovascular Neurosurgery, 2004-2005
- Fellowship/Registrarship, Auckland Hospital, Neurosurgery, 2002-2003
- Residency, University of Virginia, 1998-2002, 2003-2004
- Residency, University of Washington, Neurosurgery, 1997-1998
- Internship, University of Washington, General Surgery, 1996-1997
- MD, University of Washington, 1996
- BS, University of Washington, Biological Psychology, 1990
- Board Member, Foundation for International Education in Neurological Surgery
- Member, American Association of Neurological Surgeons
- Member, Congress of Neurological Surgeons
- Exceptional Achievement Award, Sri Lanka Foundation Awards, 2018
- Top Neurosurgeon in Virginia, Virginia Living Magazine, 2018
- Best Doctors in America, Teledoc, 2017-2018
- Top Doctor in Neurosurgery, Lynchburg Living, 2017
- Gold Winner, Best Bedside Manner Award, OurHealth Magazine (Lynchburg), 2017
- Distinguished Doctor, Expert Network, 2017-2018
- America’s Best Physicians, National Consumer Advisory Board, 2016
- Synthes Award for Resident Research on Brain and Craniofacial Injury Research, American Association of Neurological Surgeons/Congress of Neurological Surgeons, 2006
- August McCravey Award for Best Overall Research, Southern Neurosurgical Society, 2004
- Fellowship for Postdoctoral Research, Pratt Foundation, 2001-2004
- Winner, Resident Teaching Award, University of Virginia, 2001
- Gage Crutchfield Singer Prize for Original Basic Research, Society of the Virginias, 2001
- Nominee, Resident Teaching Award, University of Washington, 1999
- Nominee, Resident Teaching Award, University of Virginia, 1997
- Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, University of Washington, 1996
- Neuroscience Subspecialty Award, Western Student and Resident Medical Research Forum, 1994
- Warren G. Magnuson Research Scholar, University of Washington, 1993
- Joseph Collins Foundation Scholar, University of Washington, 1991-1996
A New Source of Nonprofit Neurosurgical Funding
Date: 02/2017
Authors: Amali M. Fernando, Joyce S. Nicholas, Peter O'Brien, Hamisi Shabani, Mohamed Janabi, Peter Kisenge, Dilantha B. Ellegala, R. Daniel Bass
Isolated left homonymous hemianopia secondary to a pericatheter cyst - A rare presentation of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt failure
Date: 03/2015
Authors: Jordan D. Watkins, Janet Lee, Meagan J. Van Engen, McKenzie L. Tibbs, Dilantha B. Ellegala, Joyce S. Nicholas
Neurosurgical capacity building in the developing world through focused training
Date: 12/2014
Authors: Dilantha B. Ellegala, Lauren Simpson, A. M.O. Emanuel Mayegga, Emanuel Nuwas, Hayte Samo, A. M.O. Naftal Naman, Doyle B. Word, Joyce S. Nicholas
Multi-Institutional Neurosurgical Training Initiative at a Tertiary Referral Center in Mwanza, Tanzania: Where We Are after 2 Years
Date: 01/2014
Authors: Jan Coburger, Lewis Z. Leng, David G. Rubin, Gerald Mayaya, Ricky Medel, Isidor Ngayomela, Dilantha Ellegala, Marcel E. Durieux, Joyce Nicholas, Roger Härtl
The use of IV-tubing as a closed-suction drainage system during neurosurgical cases in Tanzania
Date: 01/2013
Authors: Christopher M. Bonfield, Hamisi K. Shabani, Emmanuel S. Kanumba, Dilantha B. Ellegala, Joyce Nicholas
Dilan Ellegala, MD
Professor, Neurosurgery
Dilan Ellegala, MD, is a neurosurgeon, the medical director of Barrow Global, and professor of neurosurgery at Barrow Neurological Institute. He is board certified in neurosurgery by the American Board of Neurological Surgery.
Dr. Ellegala’s neurosurgical expertise is in complex brain surgery and leveraging new technology to advance brain and spine care. He is also known for advancing global neurosurgery and global health initiatives. Recognizing an unmet need for medical education in rural areas of Africa, Dr. Ellegala founded Madaktari Africa, a nonprofit organization to improve the health care of Sub-Saharan Africa by facilitating local medical training and education. Additionally, as a young faculty member, he was the founding dean of the Center for Global Health at the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Ellegala’s groundbreaking work in global neurosurgery development is documented in, “A Surgeon in the Village: An American Doctor Teaches Brain Surgery in Africa,” by Pulitzer-nominated journalist Tony Bartleme. Dr. Ellegala is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. He serves as a board member of the Foundation for International Education in Neurological Surgery.
Dr. Ellegala earned his medical degree from the University of Washington in Seattle. He completed his neurosurgery residency at the University of Virginia, with an enfolded year abroad spent at Auckland Hospital in New Zealand. He completed a cerebrovascular fellowship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and was a clinical instructor at Harvard Medical School in Boston.
Dr. Ellegala has authored over 50 peer-reviewed research articles, holds multiple patents, and has spent years advancing traditional surgery and medicine using state-of-the-art technology.
- Fellowship, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Cerebrovascular Neurosurgery, 2004-2005
- Fellowship/Registrarship, Auckland Hospital, Neurosurgery, 2002-2003
- Residency, University of Virginia, 1998-2002, 2003-2004
- Residency, University of Washington, Neurosurgery, 1997-1998
- Internship, University of Washington, General Surgery, 1996-1997
- MD, University of Washington, 1996
- BS, University of Washington, Biological Psychology, 1990
- Board Member, Foundation for International Education in Neurological Surgery
- Member, American Association of Neurological Surgeons
- Member, Congress of Neurological Surgeons
- Exceptional Achievement Award, Sri Lanka Foundation Awards, 2018
- Top Neurosurgeon in Virginia, Virginia Living Magazine, 2018
- Best Doctors in America, Teledoc, 2017-2018
- Top Doctor in Neurosurgery, Lynchburg Living, 2017
- Gold Winner, Best Bedside Manner Award, OurHealth Magazine (Lynchburg), 2017
- Distinguished Doctor, Expert Network, 2017-2018
- America’s Best Physicians, National Consumer Advisory Board, 2016
- Synthes Award for Resident Research on Brain and Craniofacial Injury Research, American Association of Neurological Surgeons/Congress of Neurological Surgeons, 2006
- August McCravey Award for Best Overall Research, Southern Neurosurgical Society, 2004
- Fellowship for Postdoctoral Research, Pratt Foundation, 2001-2004
- Winner, Resident Teaching Award, University of Virginia, 2001
- Gage Crutchfield Singer Prize for Original Basic Research, Society of the Virginias, 2001
- Nominee, Resident Teaching Award, University of Washington, 1999
- Nominee, Resident Teaching Award, University of Virginia, 1997
- Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, University of Washington, 1996
- Neuroscience Subspecialty Award, Western Student and Resident Medical Research Forum, 1994
- Warren G. Magnuson Research Scholar, University of Washington, 1993
- Joseph Collins Foundation Scholar, University of Washington, 1991-1996
A New Source of Nonprofit Neurosurgical Funding
Date: 02/2017
Authors: Amali M. Fernando, Joyce S. Nicholas, Peter O'Brien, Hamisi Shabani, Mohamed Janabi, Peter Kisenge, Dilantha B. Ellegala, R. Daniel Bass
Isolated left homonymous hemianopia secondary to a pericatheter cyst - A rare presentation of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt failure
Date: 03/2015
Authors: Jordan D. Watkins, Janet Lee, Meagan J. Van Engen, McKenzie L. Tibbs, Dilantha B. Ellegala, Joyce S. Nicholas
Neurosurgical capacity building in the developing world through focused training
Date: 12/2014
Authors: Dilantha B. Ellegala, Lauren Simpson, A. M.O. Emanuel Mayegga, Emanuel Nuwas, Hayte Samo, A. M.O. Naftal Naman, Doyle B. Word, Joyce S. Nicholas
Multi-Institutional Neurosurgical Training Initiative at a Tertiary Referral Center in Mwanza, Tanzania: Where We Are after 2 Years
Date: 01/2014
Authors: Jan Coburger, Lewis Z. Leng, David G. Rubin, Gerald Mayaya, Ricky Medel, Isidor Ngayomela, Dilantha Ellegala, Marcel E. Durieux, Joyce Nicholas, Roger Härtl
The use of IV-tubing as a closed-suction drainage system during neurosurgical cases in Tanzania
Date: 01/2013
Authors: Christopher M. Bonfield, Hamisi K. Shabani, Emmanuel S. Kanumba, Dilantha B. Ellegala, Joyce Nicholas