Neurosurgeon brings advanced expertise to FirstHealth Neurosurgery
By Staff Report, posted Jul 8, 2026 on BizFayetteville.com
Ryan Hess, M.D., has joined FirstHealth Neurosurgery. His path to medicine took shape during his undergraduate studies at the University of Buffalo while working alongside a neurosurgery research team, where he discovered a passion for solving complex problems and caring for patients facing some of life’s most difficult diagnoses.
“Neurosurgery combines cutting-edge technology with the opportunity to make a meaningful difference for patients and their families,” Hess said in a press release. “That combination is what drew me to the field.”
Hess went on to earn his medical degree from the University of Buffalo, where he also completed his residency in neurosurgery. During residency, he also earned a Master of Business Administration from Duke University. He later completed fellowship training in surgical neurooncology, where he specialized in the treatment of brain and pituitary tumors and other complex neurological conditions at the University of Colorado.
Hess is excited about the future of neurosurgery and the rapid advances transforming patient care. From personalized cancer treatments guided by a patient’s genetics to emerging technologies that may one day help restore function for people with neurological disabilities, he believes innovation is creating new opportunities to improve both outcomes and quality of life.
He has also helped pioneer a promising treatment that removes harmful substances from the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord while delivering medication directly where it is needed, an approach that has shown encouraging results for patients with conditions such as stroke and severe brain infections.
When considering where to build his practice, Dr. Hess said FirstHealth stood out because of its patient-centered culture.
“Throughout the interview process, I saw that FirstHealth truly treats patients like family. That commitment to compassionate, high-quality care really resonated with me,” remarked Hess in a press release.
He is especially excited to expand access to advanced brain tumor care in the Sandhills through FirstHealth Neurosurgery’s partnership with UNC, allowing more patients to receive specialized treatment closer to home instead of traveling to large academic medical centers.
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