Neurosurgeon specializing in cranial and spinal neurosurgery with an interest in neuro-oncology and neurovascular disease
Dr. Zain Allison is a neurosurgeon and spine surgeon serving patients in Denver and Lakewood who specializes in cranial and spinal neurosurgery, including trauma . He has extensive experience in neurotrauma and open vascular neurosurgery, including surgeries for aneurysms , stroke, brain injuries, and acute spinal cord injuries.
As a prior cranial oncology patient himself, Dr. Allison offers firsthand, personalized care for patients. His goal during each visit is to inform patients of all their surgical and nonsurgical options while guiding them toward realistic expectations. Dr. Allison takes pride in helping patients regain a life as close as possible to what they had before surgery.
Dr. Allison obtained his medical degree in Honolulu at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine. He completed his neurosurgery residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch in the Texas Medical Center, where he treated patients at five hospitals, including a Level 1 Trauma Center, a comprehensive stroke center, and a Level IV NICU. During his residency, he contributed to neurosurgical research involving neurotrauma, neuro-oncology, and space flight. He is currently fulfilling his post-residency practice requirement to become board-certified.
He has worked in Madagascar and Bali and founded a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, “Gratia Servo,” to help fund access to emergency medical care in Madagascar and Uganda. Working in different regions of the world has given Dr. Allison a unique perspective when caring for patients with different backgrounds. He approaches difficult medical decisions by treating patients as if they are part of his family.
Dr. Allison was featured on the Life Changes podcast, where he spoke about the circumstances that led him to become a neurosurgeon, how he responds as a physician to each patient’s unique needs, and how he approaches the work as a millennial. In the podcast, Dr. Allison speaks more about his travels and how bringing his work across the globe affects his day-to-day practice. Listen to the episode here.
Education & Experience
Dr. Zain Allison's Education
- Bachelor of Science in Microbiology: University of Hawaii at Manoa
- Medical Doctorate: University of Hawaii School of Medicine
- Neurological Surgery Residency: University of Texas Medical Branch
Work Experience
- Neurotrauma director, Level I trauma center, St. Anthony Hospital Lakewood, CO
- Neurooncology tumor board director, St. Anthony Hospital Lakewood, CO
- Resident in Neurological Surgery at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX
- Research Assistant: University of Hawaii Center for Cardiovascular Research, Honolulu, HI
- Research Assistant: University of Hawaii Specialized Neuroscience Research Program, Honolulu, HI
- Emergency Medical Technician: Rapid Response and Medical Services Team, Lubbock, TX
International Experience
- Founder, President Gratia Servo (federal 501c3 nonprofit organization: Madagascar
- Outpatient Medicine and Public Health: UPTD Puskesmas I; Bali, Indonesia
Quality Improvement Experience
- Inclusion of C1/2 Junction in the Cervical Spine MRI
- Implementation of Intraoperative MRI “Time Out” Checklist
- Optimization of Neurosurgical Documentation for DNV Comprehensive Stroke Center Certification
Memberships
- American Association of Neurological Surgeons
- Colorado Neurosurgical Society
Publications
- Cureus 13(8) e17143 2021
Late Testicular Yolk Sac Tumor with Cerebellar Metastasis and Rapid Recurrence after Gross Total Resection
Nia A, Allison RZ, Sweeney M, Briner RP - Cureus 13(5) e14804 2021
Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma to the Cerebrum in a Patient with Lynch Syndrome
Hrushka J, Allison RZ - Br J Neurosurg 22:1-5 2019
Effect of an additional neurosurgical resident on procedure length, operating room time, estimated blood loss, and post-operative length-of-stay
Nguyen AV, Coggins WS, Jain RR, Branch DW, Allison RZ, Maynard K, Lall RR - Clin Neurol Neurosurg 182:152-157 2019
Cefazolin versus vancomycin for neurosurgical operative prophylaxis- A single institution retrospective cohort study
Nguyen AV, Coggins WS, Jain RR, Branch DW, Allison RZ, Maynard K, Oliver B, Lall RR - World Neurosurgery 109:444-448 2017
Spaceflight and Neurosurgery: A Comprehensive Review of the Relevant Literature
Swinney C, Allison RZ - Neurocritical Care 26(1):80-86 2016
Derivation of a Predictive Score for Hemorrhagic Progression of Cerebral Contusions in Moderate and Severe Traumatic Brain Injury
Allison RZ, Nakagawa K, Hayashi M, Donovan DJ, Koenig MA - Neurosurgery 63 Supplement 152-3 2015
Application of Cortical Bone Trajectory Instrumentation for Juvenile and Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
Patel VJ, Desai SK, Maynard K, Allison RZ, Frank T, Branch D, Mohanty A
Team
Monika is providing care to patients with brain and spine conditions and supports Dr. Zain Allison in Lakewood.
Lindsey is a physician assistant providing care for neurosurgery and spine inpatients at Porter Hospital in Neurosurgery One's Denver clinic.
