He received his medical degree in 1993 at the University of Southern California with highest distinction and election to Alpha Omega Alpha, the medical school honor society. Following surgical internship at County-USC Medical Center in Los Angeles, he received neurosurgical training at the Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard in Boston and Emory University in Atlanta.
Services
When most people hear the word "neurosurgery" they automatically think of brain surgery. However, neurosurgery encompasses far more than the brain. Neurosurgery is the medical specialty concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of the entire nervous system, composed of the brain, spinal cord and spinal column.
Jacqueline is a published author whose passion is walking. She and her husband have walked through many parts of Spain as well as other locations in Europe and California. She tries to walk two to three miles every day. It is usually quite painful and she has to stop and sit often to complete the walk.
Sam is a very athletic man. He religiously runs, plays tennis, jogs and works out. You would never know he was retired. He experienced significant neck and arm pain that affected him both physically and psychologically. His family noticed the problem and were concerned that Sam might have to undergo surgery to repair his chronic and painful problem.
If obtained from your website and filled out prior to your appointment, bring your Patient Registration, Financial Agreement/Assignment of Benefits, Medical History. Urgent patients are always accommodated. Please have your referring physician fax or e-mail an MRI report, relevant records and a note for Dr. Tang to review.
Reviews (7)
Travis Simon Jr
Mar 20, 2022
Hello my name is Travis Simon I am 43 years old I just recently had spinal cord surgery by this doctor before I had the surgery I was in 24 seven agony pain my surgery went successful 100% and I feel no pain at all thank you so much from the bottom of my heart. I'm one weekend to recovery and I feel a lot stronger more healthier and I'm more focused and now I'm just waiting on rehabilitation to start this doctor from start to finish did everything he said he was going to do and thank you
Kent Van Dyke
Aug 26, 2021
I got spinal decompression surgery from Dr. Tang and it was the best decision I've ever made. I was super skeptical and anti surgery for over 3 years with my back pain. However after chronic back pain and sciatic pain for 3 years, receiving injections every 3 months I had to make the decision to get surgery. I had a herniated disc in my L5 disc and it was compressing my S1 nerve causing me to have sciatica.
I saw four different orthopedic surgeons and every one of them wanted to do intense back surgery. So I decided to look into a neurosurgeon and that's when I found Dr. Tang. I like dr. Tang a lot because even though I needed back surgery he tried to solve the issues without going to surgery surgery was his last option. After months and months of trying different things unfortunately I ended up having to get back surgery.
The surgery only lasted 45 minutes and he told me I would be back on my feet in three days and fully recovered within about four weeks. I was back on my feet doing chores around the house in three days and back to work in 6 days. I had a very fast recovery time and I feel a thousand times better since I've done the surgery. There is nice I couldn't sleep because of how painful it was and I don't regret getting the surgery at all.
The only regret I have is not getting the surgery years ago. I'm not recommending anybody to get surgery but what I am recommending is go and see Dr. Tang and if you end up getting surgery or needing to get surgery I would strongly advise you to look into potentially getting your surgery done by Dr. Tang. Number one reason why is because he didn't have to cut my muscle tissue to get to my disc where every orthopedic surgeon told me they would have to cut my muscle.
This dramatically decreased my recovery time since the muscle didn't have to heal from being cut. Again I am not recommending anybody to get surgery right away, try different things and see different types of doctors. My only recommendation would be if you have no other option to get back surgery I would recommend looking into just speaking or seeing Dr. Tang.
Also he is very difficult to book and could take months to see him, so I would try to schedule something with him as quick as you can because it may take you a few months to see him! Good luck with your back and I hope this helps!
I saw four different orthopedic surgeons and every one of them wanted to do intense back surgery. So I decided to look into a neurosurgeon and that's when I found Dr. Tang. I like dr. Tang a lot because even though I needed back surgery he tried to solve the issues without going to surgery surgery was his last option. After months and months of trying different things unfortunately I ended up having to get back surgery.
The surgery only lasted 45 minutes and he told me I would be back on my feet in three days and fully recovered within about four weeks. I was back on my feet doing chores around the house in three days and back to work in 6 days. I had a very fast recovery time and I feel a thousand times better since I've done the surgery. There is nice I couldn't sleep because of how painful it was and I don't regret getting the surgery at all.
The only regret I have is not getting the surgery years ago. I'm not recommending anybody to get surgery but what I am recommending is go and see Dr. Tang and if you end up getting surgery or needing to get surgery I would strongly advise you to look into potentially getting your surgery done by Dr. Tang. Number one reason why is because he didn't have to cut my muscle tissue to get to my disc where every orthopedic surgeon told me they would have to cut my muscle.
This dramatically decreased my recovery time since the muscle didn't have to heal from being cut. Again I am not recommending anybody to get surgery right away, try different things and see different types of doctors. My only recommendation would be if you have no other option to get back surgery I would recommend looking into just speaking or seeing Dr. Tang.
Also he is very difficult to book and could take months to see him, so I would try to schedule something with him as quick as you can because it may take you a few months to see him! Good luck with your back and I hope this helps!
Rose Anna
May 11, 2018
Dr. Gordon Tang is an outstanding neurosurgeon, with a wonderful personality and a very professional but soothing bedside manner. He is very precise and confident in his work. The surgery that Dr. Tang performed on me was lifesaving, relieved all the pain that I was experiencing and I am recovering nicely. I am happy that I chose Dr. Tang to perform my surger and thankful that I found such a wonderful doctor.
Sophie Hahn
Jan 25, 2018
I had back surgery with Dr. Tang after a car accident caused a bulging disk, pressing against my sciatic nerve. Dr. Tang was very clear about his assessment of my situation, explaining how nerves function, what the surgery would entail, and what the prognosis was for full or partial recovery. My situation was in a "grey zone" in that chances of positive outcomes were only 50/50, so he was not able to strongly recommend, nor strongly dissuade me from undergoing a procedure.
After consulting with other doctors and returning to Dr. Tang to have a number of questions answered, I decided to undergo surgery. The procedure went well and I regained some function that was previously lost. However, as predicted, I continue to have numbness, occasional pain, and some loss of motor function. Despite these outcomes, I am very glad to have had the surgery and very pleased with Dr. Tang's services.
In fact, I wish I had been sent to him earlier, as I believe my other doctors may have waited too long, hoping that surgery would not be necessary. As it turned out, the conditions Dr. Tang found during surgery were more acute than had been anticipated. I have visited him twice for follow up and both times he was patient and helpful, again explaining complex medical topics with clarity. I highly recommend Dr. Tang.
After consulting with other doctors and returning to Dr. Tang to have a number of questions answered, I decided to undergo surgery. The procedure went well and I regained some function that was previously lost. However, as predicted, I continue to have numbness, occasional pain, and some loss of motor function. Despite these outcomes, I am very glad to have had the surgery and very pleased with Dr. Tang's services.
In fact, I wish I had been sent to him earlier, as I believe my other doctors may have waited too long, hoping that surgery would not be necessary. As it turned out, the conditions Dr. Tang found during surgery were more acute than had been anticipated. I have visited him twice for follow up and both times he was patient and helpful, again explaining complex medical topics with clarity. I highly recommend Dr. Tang.
Jeri Tomasello
Oct 31, 2017
I was referred to Dr. Tang by my primary physician. I was having severe pain in my hip and leg which was impacting my ability to walk. An MRI showed severe central canal stenosis L2-3 & L4-5 and impingement of the S1 nerve root. Dr. Tang was very thorough in describing my issues and the proposed surgery to correct my problems and took the time to answer all of my questions.
I had the surgery in early Sept 2017 and am extremely happy with the results and how I was treated by Dr. Tang and his associates in his office and at Alta Bates hospital through the entire process. I am relatively pain free as a result of the surgery and the physical therapy I received. Additionally I was experiencing pain in my neck radiating down my arms. An MRI showed multilevel degenerative disc disease and neuroforamina narrowing of the spinal cord at C6-7, C5-6, & C3-4.
After recovering from back surgery Dr. Tang performed cervical spine surgery in December to correct these issues. Again, I am extremely happy with the results, Dr. Tang and his staff. I highly recommend Dr. Tang and urge others living with pain to seek his help.
I had the surgery in early Sept 2017 and am extremely happy with the results and how I was treated by Dr. Tang and his associates in his office and at Alta Bates hospital through the entire process. I am relatively pain free as a result of the surgery and the physical therapy I received. Additionally I was experiencing pain in my neck radiating down my arms. An MRI showed multilevel degenerative disc disease and neuroforamina narrowing of the spinal cord at C6-7, C5-6, & C3-4.
After recovering from back surgery Dr. Tang performed cervical spine surgery in December to correct these issues. Again, I am extremely happy with the results, Dr. Tang and his staff. I highly recommend Dr. Tang and urge others living with pain to seek his help.
Greg Pyne
Dec 12, 2016
Google User
May 24, 2016
I was supposed to have a benign pituituary tumor removed from my head by Dr. Tang. The tumor was supposed to be removed through the nose--"transsphenoidal surgery". Dr. Tang made a first entry/attempt to remove the tumor. A cerebrospinal fluid leak started. He then made a second entry/attempt to remove the tumor, and removed 20% of the tumor. I spent over a week in the ICU at Alta Bates recovering from the cerebral spinal fluid leak.
I had an over-drainage of the CSF while in the ICU, which caused me to have a concussion, and which was excruciatingly painful. I lost conciousness for over a day because of the CSF over-drainage, my hearing changed, and I had horrible tinnitus post-surgically. After over a week in the Alta Bates ICU, I was sent by Dr. Tang and Alta Bates Hospital by ambulance to UCSF to have the remaining tumor removed by Dr. Sandeep Kunwar. UCSF has the California Center for Pituitary Surgery headed by Dr. Kunwar, and 85% of patients go home the next day, regardless of tumor size.
He has performed over 1,000 pituitary surgeries. I have suffered from a chronic headache for over a year since the surgery at Alta Bates Hospital; and I have had phantom smells of fumes for over a year. I still have a large tumor in my head, because I did not have the 2nd surgery at UCSF (yet). Overall, its been a disabling experience.
I had an over-drainage of the CSF while in the ICU, which caused me to have a concussion, and which was excruciatingly painful. I lost conciousness for over a day because of the CSF over-drainage, my hearing changed, and I had horrible tinnitus post-surgically. After over a week in the Alta Bates ICU, I was sent by Dr. Tang and Alta Bates Hospital by ambulance to UCSF to have the remaining tumor removed by Dr. Sandeep Kunwar. UCSF has the California Center for Pituitary Surgery headed by Dr. Kunwar, and 85% of patients go home the next day, regardless of tumor size.
He has performed over 1,000 pituitary surgeries. I have suffered from a chronic headache for over a year since the surgery at Alta Bates Hospital; and I have had phantom smells of fumes for over a year. I still have a large tumor in my head, because I did not have the 2nd surgery at UCSF (yet). Overall, its been a disabling experience.
