Neurosurgeon Brings Expertise in Brain Tumors, Spine Surgery to FirstHealth

PINEHURST, N.C. -FirstHealth of the Carolinas is pleased to welcome Ravi Kumar, M.D., to the team at FirstHealth Neurosurgery & Spine, where he will provide advanced surgical care for patients with brain and spine conditions.

Dr. Kumar is passionate about neuro-oncology and brain tumor management, in addition to performing a broad range of complex spine procedures. He completed his neurosurgery residency at the Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education in Rochester, Minnesota. He earned his medical degree from Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine and holds a bachelor's degree in marine biology from Texas A&M at Galveston.

Dr. Kumar first connected with FirstHealth through a contract role and said the experience strongly influenced his decision to join the team full time.

"I was really impressed with the collaborative environment at FirstHealth," he said. "It just felt like a good place to work, which strongly guided my decision."

A lifelong fascination with the human body and a deep sense of purpose led Dr. Kumar to a career in medicine.

"Medicine uniquely blends curiosity, compassion, scientific discovery and even entrepreneurship, making it an incredibly fulfilling career," he said. "Of all its mysteries, the central nervous system captivates me most. It's remarkable that a single organ can shape our personality, memories, emotions and even our sense of spirituality, all within such an intricate, delicate tissue. Having the opportunity to operate on the nervous system is one of the greatest privileges of my life, and I remain deeply grateful to every patient who entrusts me with their care."

Dr. Kumar's approach to patient care is rooted in the belief that surgery should be a last resort, pursued only after all conservative treatment options have been explored.

"Once all options are exhausted, I perform conservative and safe surgery to facilitate the body's ability to heal," he said.

He is particularly interested in the role robotic-assisted technology is playing in the future of neurosurgery. "Neurosurgery often involves working within millimeters of delicate structures," he said. "Robotic-assisted tools enhance our ability to perform these procedures with greater precision, safety and efficiency."

When he's not in the operating room, Dr. Kumar enjoys gardening, staying active and sharing medical knowledge through his website and podcast, The Dr. Kumar Discovery. Available on all major platforms, the podcast is a personal passion project aimed at making complex medical topics easy to understand and apply.

"My mission is to empower people to take charge of their health with greater confidence and understanding," he said.

The neurosurgery team at FirstHealth Neurosurgery & Spine in Pinehurst specializes in the neurological treatment of diseases and disorders of the brain, spine, and peripheral nerves including carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel syndromes. To learn more, visit https://www.firsthealth.org/neurosurgery-spine.