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JAMES HERMAN, M.D.
SCIENCE of BRAIN
& SPINE Written By Amy Jones
NAVIGATING NEUROSURGERY:
DR. JAMES MARSHALL HERMAN, DIRECTOR OF NEUROSURGERY, VCMC
Dr. James Marshall Herman, M.D., FAANS, FCAS, Director of Neurosurgery at Ventura County Medical Center
(VCMC) has played a significant role in bringing the standards, skill-sets, and technologies, more often associated with larger, world renowned medical centers, to Ventura and West Ventura County
communities.
Looking back along his life path to understand the genesis of what now is an impeccable, multifaceted medical career, what one finds is a kid who grew up in Los Gatos, California, liked science and working with his hands. James Herman was curious, liked to tinker, work
on cars, fix things.
Dr. Herman reflects back, “As a senior medical student, I began to have more hands-on surgical experience; I distinctly remember watching my first neurosurgical procedures, and I realized that, not only does it follow new techniques and innovations in the field, but you really do a lot of life-saving procedures or surgeries that significantly
improve people’s lives. I had the opportunity in neuroscience, to be physically working with my hands, using all my skills and new technology to drastically improve the life-quality of patients. I saw patients who
went from being unable to walk to being ambulatory. Being able to help in that way was tremendously exciting and satisfying for me. It’s still exciting.”
Today, Dr. Herman marshals 33-years of diverse medical experience and specialization in Neurological Surgery, Stereotactic Neurosurgery, and minimally invasive Surgery.
But the abilities that make Dr. Herman an excellent surgeon, while also serving as an excellent department director, practice partner, trauma physician, instructor, and hospital board member are skills one wishes to see among more doctors, but for which medical students aren’t tested on medical board exams. Clear Compassionate Communication skills.
Accepting his Director role gave Dr. Herman the opportunity to design a new Neurosurgery Program, within the context of a medical campus undertaking major redevelopment and acquiring new equipment. “We were able to plan for new technologies and bring the best of what is out there to VCMC and our patients. It’s been quite exciting. A great experience.”
Other facets of Dr. Herman’s regular commitments include sitting on the board of VCMC and teaching medical students and residents. VCMC is distinguished as Ventura County’s UCLA School
of Medicine-affiliated teaching hospital, offering a higher level of coordinated care for routine medical cases to the
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