National Leader in Pediatric Neurosurgery Chosen to Lead Department of Neurosurgery at OU Health, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine

Dr. Andrew Jea, M.D., MBA, MHA, FACS, FAAP, has been named chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Oklahoma and clinical service chief at OU Health. In addition to his clinical responsibilities with OU Health, he will have educational and research responsibilities for the university, driving the academic health system’s three-part mission of clinical care, research and education.

Dr. Jea is a nationally renowned pediatric neurosurgeon and physician scientist who has served OU Health as chief of pediatric neurosurgery since 2020. In his more than 17 years of experience, he has published extensively in the field of pediatric neurosurgery. At OU Health, he has been instrumental in the unprecedented growth in pediatric neurosurgery services at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital, with a focus on quality, safety, and program building.

Dr. Jea has served as vice chair of the department of neurosurgery at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine; as the residency program director; and has served as interim chair of the department since March 1 after former chair Dr. Ian F. Dunn, M.D., FACS, FAANS, assumed the role of executive dean at OU College of Medicine.

Dr. Jea began his career at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, after which he led the Section of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University School of Medicine and Indiana University Health.

“Through his career, he has built a significant reputation in pediatric spinal conditions in particular,” said Dr. Dunn. “He is a true ‘clinician-scholar’ and speaks and writes widely, having published over 250 papers in these areas. I made the decision to elevate Andrew to the permanent role based on these credentials and based on his performance before and during his tenure as interim chair.”

He received his undergraduate degree at the University of Florida and earned his medical degree from the University of Miami, where he stayed and trained in neurosurgery in one of the most iconic departments in the field, completing his residency and fellowship training in spine surgery there.

Dr. Jea is also a prominent member of national neurosurgical societies and is a member of the Society of Neurological Surgeons and the American Academy of Neurological Surgery. He has served on the editorial boards of Pediatrics, Operative Neurosurgery, and Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics.

"Dr. Jea's ongoing leadership in pediatric neurosurgery and his efforts in building world-class programs at OU Health are game changers for Oklahoma families," said Dr. Richard Lofgren, M.D., MPH, FACP, president and CEO of OU Health. "All Oklahomans should have access to world-class, innovative treatments right here at home. As the state's flagship academic health system, we're committed to developing destination programs that blend groundbreaking research with specialized care, ensuring that even the most complex cases can be treated without having to leave the state."