Our Guide to the Top Docs in Marin and the Bay Area, 2026

Looking for a doctor? Here’s our top doctors working in and across Marin County. Need more? Check out our directory of top docs here.

Marin’s Most Comprehensive Spine Care

Akash A. Shah, M.D., Ramana Naidu, M.D., Brian W. Su , M.D., Ernest H. Sponzilli, M.D., Harjot S. Bhandal, M.D.

MarinHealth Spine Institute | A UCSF Clinic

Dr. Shah is a Harvard fellowship-trained spine surgeon providing personalized patient-centered spine care, prioritizing non-surgical treatment. He focuses on providing motion-sparing and minimally invasive surgical techniques.

Dr. Naidu is a UCSF fellowship-trained anesthesiologist and interventional pain physician. He has 14 years of experience and performs 1,000 spine procedures annually. Dr. Naidu is deeply committed to improving outcomes for patients suffering from pain.

Dr. Su is an orthopedic and neurosurgical fellowship-trained spine surgeon who has performed over 4,000 surgeries in the last 16 years, including care for fellow healthcare professionals and their families. He is known for his conservative approach to spine care.

Dr. Sponzilli is a UCLA trained physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor with 20 years of experience. He has been awarded three board certifications and has performed 25,000 interventional procedures.

Dr. Bhandal is U-Penn trained interventional pain physician and anesthesiologist. He is at the forefront of cutting-edge research and has extensive experience with new therapies. His practice is dedicated to personalized, minimally invasive care.

For spine education connect with The Spine Guy on YouTube: youtube.com/c/DrBrianSuTheSpineGuy.

Locations in Larkspur, Sausalito, Novato, and Petaluma | 415.925.8200 | mymarinhealth.org/locations

Serving Marin County and San Francisco for Over 25 Years

Ilkcan Cokgor, M.D.

Neurology Clinic of Marin

I moved to Marin County from Duke University, where I was a Neurology faculty member, and opened my private practice 25 years ago. Over time, I learned about the residents, healthcare challenges, and the county’s culture. Practicing western medicine with a holistic approach has aligned with my patients’ preferences, making this journey very rewarding.

I have also been working as a consulting physician at MarinHealth and Novato Community Hospitals. Over the years, I have witnessed healthcare transformation across age groups, largely driven by advances in medications and procedures. While Marin’s population is healthier in many areas, it is also older, so even those who take excellent care of themselves eventually require attention.

Dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, spine and balance problems are very common among our elderly. The needs of these residents shaped my practice. We can now diagnose patients with memory problems at early stages, and thanks to the advanced research, we can offer anti-amyloid
medications to reverse the progression of their illness.

I am the stroke director of MarinHealth Medical Center. I see many stroke patients with age-related cardiovascular conditions. With recent advances, we can now reverse the debilitating symptoms of acute stroke if patients arrive at the emergency room early. Our cutting-edge stroke program in MarinHealth, in collaboration with UCSF, supports these breakthroughs.

I enjoy treating a variety of neurological disorders and commit to challenging cases like seizures, multiple sclerosis, and movement disorders. Many patients can’t commute to distant tertiary centers, making experienced local neurologists essential.

Many young people also work in stressful jobs in our county. Therefore, migraines, neck and back pains, and insomnia are very common among them. I offer the newest medications, which have the least side effects, and do therapeutic Botox when appropriate.

Every patient deserves expert care delivered with compassion and clarity. By integrating modern neurology with a holistic understanding of each person’s life and goals, I work to ensure that treatment supports overall well-being. I am grateful for the trust Marin residents have placed in me over the years and remain dedicated to helping our community thrive.

50 Red Hill Avenue, San Anselmo, CA | 415.456.8180 | neurologymarin.com

Villa Marin

For 47 years, it has been my privilege to serve our elders as part of a caring community. In 1978, I helped establish one of the earliest hospices in the U.S. Since then I’ve served as Medical Director of The Tamalpais, Aldersly, and for the past 10 years, Villa Marin — a vibrant, multi-level continuing care community run by and for seniors.

Aging often brings unexpected loss. In 2020, I suddenly and permanently lost vision in one eye. I continued working and found new purpose helping others regain sight through the BBH Eye Foundation, which has restored vision to over 300,000 people worldwide.

Change is inevitable as we age, how we handle it defines who we are.

Thank you for this honor,

~ Mark Kubik, MD

100 Thorndale Drive San Rafael, CA | 415.499.8711 | villa-marin.com

Keeping Marin’s Hips Moving

Nicholas H. Mast, M.D.

The Hip & Pelvis Institute

For many Marin County residents, staying active is essential to daily life. When hip pain begins to interfere, Nicholas H. Mast, MD offers a highly specialized and personalized approach to care. A second-generation orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Mast leads a boutique hip surgery practice dedicated to restoring mobility and helping patients return to the activities that define the Marin lifestyle — from hiking Mount Tam to cycling coastal roads.

Dr. Mast focuses exclusively on surgery of the hip and pelvis, with advanced expertise in hip preservation, minimally invasive anterior hip replacement, and hip resurfacing. His practice was among the early adopters of the anterior approach in the Bay Area, a technique designed to preserve surrounding tissue and support functional recovery.

Known for his thoughtful, individualized care, Dr. Mast treats a highly active patient population and emphasizes non-replacement options whenever appropriate. Guided by a philosophy instilled by his father — to treat every patient as family — he delivers care that is precise, discreet, and deeply aligned with the Marin way of life.

100 Rowland Way, Suite 200 Novato, CA | 2250 Hayes Street, Suite 208 San Francisco, CA | 415.530.5330 | sfhips.com

Expert Medical Care for Eating Disorders

Sarah Lowenthal, M.D., CEDS-C

Sarah Lowenthal, M.D.

With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Sarah Lowenthal is an expert in the medical and psychiatric management of eating disorders. She is a graduate of the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and completed her residency at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). She treats individuals of all ages and stages of recovery.

Dr. Lowenthal’s approach centers on delivering the highest quality of care, while addressing physical, nutritional, and emotional needs of her patients. She places the utmost importance on building meaningful, supportive relationships with people, believing that trust and connection are key to healing and recovery.

655 Redwood Hwy #364 Mill Valley, CA | 415.569.4918 | sarahlowenthalmdcom

UCSF Neurosurgery: World-class Spine Care in Your Backyard

UCSF Neurosurgery

UCSF Health

Back and neck pain can be overwhelming — but you may have more options than you realize.

At UCSF Health, our team of spine neurosurgeons, physiatrists, pain specialists, and rehabilitation experts work together to create a holistic plan for every patient.

Many people start feeling better without surgery. Our physiatrists offer targeted spinal injections, image-guided procedures, and non-operative strategies that reduce pain and strengthen the spine.

When surgery is the right step, we offer some of the most advanced minimally invasive and endoscopic techniques available. These procedures use tiny incisions, reduce complications, and help patients get back to life sooner. Many can even be performed as outpatient procedures, allowing patients to go home the same day.

If back or neck pain is holding you back, expert help is close to home. With spine care clinics in Marin, San Francisco, and Walnut Creek, UCSF Neurosurgery is bringing innovative, compassionate care across the Bay Area.

Locations: Greenbrae | 415.514.6868; San Francisco | 415.353.7500; Walnut Creek | 925.934.3536 | ucsfhealth.org/clinics/neurosurgery-clinic