BRIDGEPORT —Hartford HealthCare announces the appointment of Dr. Khalid M. Abbed, one of New England’s leading neurosurgeons, as Co-Physician-in-Chief of its Ayer Neuroscience Institute.

An experienced neurosurgeon and hospital director with a demonstrated history of leadership in the healthcare industry, he will oversee neurosurgical services and lead the Ayer Neuroscience Institute expansion into Fairfield County and throughout Connecticut.

Dr. Abbed, a spine care specialist, is skilled in the minimally-invasive treatment of spine ailments, and will be working with healthcare leaders and medical device companies to improve patient care and develop less invasive, more intelligent medical technologies.

In addition to performing spine surgery at St. Vincent’s Medical Center, Dr. Abbed will serve as Chair of Neurosurgery there, and partner with Dr. Gerard Girasole, an orthopedic surgeon, as Co-Directors of Spine Services. Together, Dr. Abbed and Dr. Girasole will lead the advancement of comprehensive spine services at St. Vincent’s Medical Center.

Dr. Abbed will also serve as director of a world-class Spine Center being developed in Westport and expected to attract patients from across the country. The Spine Center will include comprehensive spine and pain management services to treat patients with all forms of spinal ailments, as well as a health and wellness center open to the community and offering services designed to help people be the best version of themselves physically and mentally.

Dr. Abbed, who joins Hartford HealthCare on March 16, comes from the Yale School of Medicine, where he was a Professor of Neurosurgery and served as Chief of Spine Surgery and Clinical Vice Chair of Neurosurgery.

“I am joining Hartford HealthCare because it is an innovative health system and our visions are very much aligned,” Dr. Abbed said. “Together, we want to provide access to care in a ‘destination’ Spine Center that will include concierge-level neurosurgical services, pain management, physiatry, rehabilitation, integrative medicine, nutrition and behavioral health.

“I am honored to join such a talented and compassionate team, and I am excited about the opportunity to provide the highest standard of neurosurgical care to help people live their healthiest lives.”

Dr. Abbed received his medical degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine. He completed a residency in neurosurgery at Massachusetts General Hospital, and a fellowship in neurosurgical and orthopedic spine surgery at the Cleveland Clinic.

Board-certified in neurosurgery, he has held a variety of leadership positions in the Department of Neurosurgery at Yale and at Yale New Haven Hospital. He is active in many neurosurgical and spine societies and has interests in a wide range of clinical and translational research.

Dr. Abbed and his practice will be located in the medical office building at 2660 Main St., Bridgeport, until the new Spine Center opens in Westport this summer. To schedule an appointment or make a referral to Dr. Abbed, call 203.332.3272.

For more information on the Hartford HealthCare Ayer Neuroscience Institute, click here.