Basar Atalay, MD, PhD, is a fellowship-trained neurosurgeon and complex spine surgeon specializing in minimally invasive and endoscopic spine surgery. With nearly two decades of experience, he provides advanced care for patients with spinal tumors, degenerative spine disorders, spinal deformities and disc herniations. He has completed additional fellowship training in spine surgery and neurocritical care and offers a full spectrum of surgical techniques, including microscopic and microneurosurgery, minimally invasive spine surgery and endoscopic spine surgery. His goal is to provide effective treatment while minimizing tissue disruption, reducing recovery time and optimizing patient outcomes.

As a member of the neurosurgery team at MU Health Care, Dr. Atalay is dedicated to providing expert, patient-centered care to the people of mid-Missouri. His surgical philosophy emphasizes preserving normal anatomy whenever possible and utilizing minimally invasive approaches that maximize function and quality of life. He is European Neurosurgery Board certified. He completed his orthopedic spine education at Yale University, neurosurgery spine education at Beth Israel Lahey-Harvard University and neurocritical care at Jackson Memorial-University of Miami. He believes that every patient deserves an individualized treatment plan tailored to their specific condition, goals, and lifestyle.

Outside of medicine, Dr. Atalay enjoys spending time with his two daughters, who share interests in art and sports, and with his Hemingway cat. His hobbies include walking in nature, reading, studying history, playing basketball and tennis, swimming, sailing, cooking and enjoying Mediterranean cuisine and exploring the night sky through astronomy and stargazing.