Dr. Andrew Fanous, MD FAANS FCNS

03/17/2026

After trusting us with her care and undergoing surgery at Inova, one of my dear patients took the time to draw this beautiful portrait of me. I’m honestly humbled… and I have to admit, the painting might be an improvement on the original 😅

Moments like this are a powerful reminder that medicine is so much more than procedures and outcomes. It’s about connection, trust, and the human side of healing.

03/12/2026

At Inova, we take pride in staying at the forefront of technological innovation to bring our patients the most advanced care possible. That’s why we’re honored to be the first hospital system on the East Coast to perform surgery using the newly branded activL® Lumbar Artificial Disc.

Lumbar disc replacement is an exciting advancement in spine surgery because it focuses on motion preservation. Unlike traditional fusion procedures that permanently limit movement, artificial disc technology is designed to maintain the natural motion of the spine. Preserving motion reduces stress on adjacent spinal segments and supports a more natural recovery and long-term spine health.

We’re proud to continue leading the way in bringing cutting-edge spine technologies to our community and advancing the future of patient care.

02/10/2026

We’re excited to launch a new Spine Research Fellowship at Inova Health System for motivated medical school graduates interested in spine research and academic medicine.

This position is ideal for those planning to apply to residency or clinical fellowship in either Neurosurgery or Orthopedic Surgery.

01/29/2026

An incredibly successful weekend at the Neurosurgical Society of the Virginias meeting. Outstanding turnout, strong industry engagement, and impressive posters and presentations from neurosurgeons, residents, and medical students made for a truly energizing and intellectually rich meeting.

I’m grateful for the opportunity to have served as Treasurer of the society over the past two years, and deeply honored to have been elected Secretary for the next two. Looking forward to continuing to work with this exceptional group to advance our field, support education, and strengthen our regional neurosurgical community.

01/27/2026

I’m pleased to share that I’ve been elected Chair of the Department of Surgery at Inova Mount Vernon Hospital.

I look forward to working closely with the outstanding surgeons, APPs, nursing teams, and hospital leadership to continue advancing the department, strengthening collaboration across specialties, and supporting excellence in patient care, education, and innovation. I’m excited for what we can build together.

01/22/2026

Last night’s dinner with the Inova Alexandria neurosurgery team was a great reminder of how special this group really is. It was wonderful to spend time together outside the hospital, share some laughs, and connect beyond the day-to-day work. I’m incredibly proud and privileged to work alongside such an outstanding team of surgeons and APPs—talented, dedicated, and genuinely invested in the wellbeing of our patients.

01/19/2026

Just back from Park City after an outstanding CNS Spine Complications Course. An exceptional setting to exchange hard-earned lessons and practical wisdom around some of the most challenging spine surgery cases we face. I appreciated the opportunity to present and contribute to the collective discussion, and it was equally rewarding to reconnect with many longtime friends and colleagues. As a bonus, the conditions couldn’t have been better for some memorable time on the slopes. A great balance of learning, collaboration, and time well spent. ❄️⛷️

01/10/2026

This week marked a milestone I don’t take lightly: 2,000 surgeries since I joined Inova!

What made it truly special was celebrating with the people who made this work possible—first at the hospital, then again with our clinic team. From the OR to recovery rooms to clinic visits, this number represents trust, teamwork, and countless hours of dedication behind the scenes. I am truly grateful for this incredible group, my supportive colleagues, and our patients who place their confidence in us every day.

12/24/2025

Christmas and birthday celebrations at our Alexandria Neurosurgery Clinic. Wishing you all a merry Christmas and a wonderful new year.

12/19/2025

Wrapping up 2025 on a high note—being named a Washingtonian Top Doctor is a really meaningful way to close out the year. It’s been a year of hard work, growth, and great collaboration. This recognition reflects the incredible teams and patients I’m fortunate to work with every day.

12/08/2025

Great achievement by our neuro and spine team at Inova.

We are honored to share that the Inova Spine Program has been named to Becker's Hospital Review's 2025 list of 100 great neuro and spine programs to know – recognizing excellence in spine and neuroscience care! 🏆

Becker's highlights programs that advance patient outcomes, emphasize data-driven quality improvement, pioneer groundbreaking research and expand access to vital services.

👏 Congratulations to our entire Neurosciences team for this outstanding recognition.

👉 Learn more: https://bit.ly/48eE5P4

11/23/2025

Just wrapped up an energizing three days of teaching at the Spine IEP Course. I thoroughly enjoyed diving into the fundamentals of spine surgery with residents, fellows, and young spine surgeons who are already shaping the future of our specialty.

I loved reconnecting with longtime friends and colleagues, and learning from so many talented experts made the experience deeply meaningful. I’m already looking forward to the next opportunity to teach, collaborate, and continue advancing our field.