Meet Our Team

Alejandro Carrasquilla

MD
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info@texasback.com

972-608-5000

Location

Central Plano

4001 W. 15th Street Medical Office Bldg. III, Suite 455,
Plano, TX 75093

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Practicing Locations: Central Plano 

Specialty: Neurosurgeon 

Fellowship Training: Neurosurgical Oncology

Dr. Alejandro Carrasquilla Quote:

   “One must treat the patient as a whole and ensure they find the best treatment. That means informing them of the objective medical assessment but going beyond that to learn about the person, their wishes and environment. As a surgeon, I use my skills, resources and connections to ensure each patient receives the top care they can receive.”

Alejandro Carrasquilla, M.D. is a Neurosurgeon at the Texas Back Institute, practicing in Plano, Texas. He is a well-rounded neurosurgical oncologist who is passionate about excellence in neurosurgery care. He emphasizes safety in operations, tailoring approaches, innovation and applying surgical adjuncts strategically for best outcomes.

Dr. Carrasquilla earned his Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Alabama, graduating summa cum laude. He went on to obtain his Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Carrasquilla received scholarships for both his engineering and medical school studies. After medical school at the University of Pennsylvania, he received broad training at the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City with high-volume degenerative spine, tumor, cerebrovascular, skull base experience, and dedicated time at a NYC level I trauma center. Following residency, he completed a neurosurgical-oncology fellowship at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, a large Comprehensive Cancer Center. He has contributed to the field through his research and peer-reviewed publications, and his work has led to a number of awards and accolades.

Throughout his training, Dr. Carrasquilla has learned to tailor surgical solutions for complex cranial and spinal pathologies. This encompasses using awake craniotomies and functional mapping for best outcomes, expanded endoscopic and open skull base approaches, microscopic resection of intradural and intramedullary spinal tumors, and resection of peripheral nerve tumors. He values minimizing morbidity by employing minimally-invasive surgical and percutaneous techniques but cares for both simple and complex spine pathology. Other areas of interest include Chiari malformations, trigeminal neuralgia, encephaloceles, and numerous more. Dr. Alejandro Carrasquilla values finding the best treatment for diverse pathologies and looks forward to serving the needs of his patients and community.

In his free time, Dr. Carrasquilla enjoys music, comedy, the outdoors, travel, culinary experiences and spending time with family.

  • 2009- 2013 University of Alabama, BS, Chemical Engineering, Summa Cum Laude
  • 2013- 2017 Perelman School of Medicine, MD, Twenty First Century Scholar, University of Pennsylvania
  • 2017- 2024 Neurosurgery Residency, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
  • 2024-2025 Neurosurgical Oncology Fellowship, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center

Current Grants and Awards:

H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center
● Junior Scientist Research Program Grant: $10,000
Utilizing Machine Learning Models to Guide and Optimize Clinical Management of Spinal Metastatic Disease

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
● New York Society of Neurosurgery Stump The Professor Runner Up
● AANS/CNS Section on Tumors Future Leader Panelist
● With Dr. Isabelle Germano, recipient of the inaugural CNS Foundation Brain Tumor Fellowship Award

Perelman School of Medicine at The University of Pennsylvania
● Perelman School of Medicine Twenty First Century Scholarship: Covers Tuition and Fees (2013-2017)
● NIH National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Student Grant for research on Weight-Based Heparin Prophylaxis (2017)
● Global Health Research Travel Award from the University of Pennsylvania to Brazil (2014)
● Penn Med Soccer Team: 2nd Place in Philadelphia-wide Grad Student Tournament

University of Alabama
● University of Alabama Presidential Scholarship: Covered Tuition, Fees, Room and Board (2009-2013)
● Randall Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Award
● HHMI Undergraduate Research Scholar (2011)
● Alabama Dystonia Scholar (2010)
● University of Alabama Emerging Scholar (2009)
● Omega Chi Epsilon Honor Society Outstanding Member

Pre-College
● National Hispanic Scholar

Other Research Experience:
● Reviewer of Neurosurgery
● Reviewer of Otolaryngology Case Reports
● Reviewer of Journal of Spine Surgery
● Ad Hoc Reviewer of World Neurosurgery

Significant Activities, Leadership, Service:

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
● Coordinator for Doctors Reaching Minority Men Exploring Neuroscience (DR MMEN) Program
● Pipeline program for mentoring High School students under-represented in medicine

Perelman School of Medicine at The University of Pennsylvania
● Vice President of Penn’s Langfitt Neurosurgical Society
● Student Advisory Board Member of the Clinical Neuroscience Training (CNST) Program
● Academic Chair of the Latino Medical Student Association
● Lesson developer for a new Surgical Certificate Training Program for Penn Students
● Neuroscience Coordinator in the Penn Pipeline Program for high school and undergraduate students
● University City Hospital Coalition volunteer – free clinic for the homeless
● Student Interviewer and Happy Hour Coordinator for the Admissions office
● Penn Med Soccer Team – 2nd place Philadelphia-Wide Grad Student Tournament
● Volunteer guitar player at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

University of Alabama
● Initiated a science mentoring program for 3rd-5th graders at Tuscaloosa Magnet School (2013)
● 5th grade Art mentor at Holt Elementary (2011), Habitat for Humanity (2012), Salvation Army Thrift Store Volunteer (2011), Hurricane Creek Clean-up (2009), Community Culture Fest Volunteer (2009), UA Gameday Recycling (2009)
● Vice President – Omega Chi Epsilon (Chemical Engineering Senior Honor Society)
● Secretary of the UA chapter of AIChE (American Institute of Chemical Engineers)
● Member of Alpha Epsilon Delta (pre-medical honorary), Anderson Society (senior honorary), Mortar Board Honor Society (senior honorary), Tau Beta Pi (engineering honorary)

Past Research Positions:
● Undergraduate Researcher at the lab of Drs. Guy and Kim Caldwell (2010-2013). Technical skills: Fluorescent microscopy, PCR, molecular cloning, mini-prep, microinjection, and to some extent western blotting and blue native techniques. Model Organisms: C. elegans, some work with H4 and HEK 293 cell culture.
● Visiting rotation Laboratorio de Neurofisiologia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (June-July 2014). Worked with mice and rats studying physiological effects of tobacco smoke, performing behavioral tasks and collecting biopsy and histology samples. Also shadowed neurosurgery and critical care at Hospital Municipal Manuel Couto.

 

Publications

Publications:

  1. Carrasquilla A, Jagtiani P, Chaluts D, Rogers JS, Jones S, Byun H, Joseph D, Hickman Z, Margetis K. Surgical management of sacral fractures: A comprehensive series and review at a Level I trauma center. Interdisciplinary Neurosurgery. June 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.inat.2025.102020
  2. Carrasquilla A*, Asfaw ZK*, Tomalin LE, D’Amico RS, Hervey-Jumper SL, Ivan ME, Sivakumar W, Germano IM. Enhanced Recovery After Adult Brain Tumor Surgery: A Proposed Succinct Evidence-Based Protocol. Neurosurgery. 2025 Jan 8;97(2):341-350. doi: 10.1227/neu.0000000000003314. PMID: 40232987.
  3. Lemonick MB, Carrasquilla A, Houten JK, Margetis K. Catastrophic failure of anterior fusion for bilateral cervical facet dislocation: illustrative case. J Neurosurg Case Lessons. 2025 Mar 3;9(9):CASE24563. doi: 10.3171/CASE24563. PMID: 40030154; PMCID: PMC11877365.
  4. Chuang YC*, Carrasquilla A*, Bilgili G, Pionteck A, Liu X, Abderezaei J, Quinones A, Shuman WH, Zhao S, Ellenbogen R, Shrivastava RK, Kurt M. Multi-Dimensional Morphometric and Volumetric Analysis of the Posterior Cranial Fossa to Study Type I Chiari Malformation. World Neurosurg. 2024 Aug 26:S1878-8750(24)01474-8. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2024.08.105. PMID: 39197706.
  5. Karabacak M, Jazayeri SB, Jagtiani P, Mavridis O, Carrasquilla A, Yong RL, Margetis K. Geriatric grade 2 and 3 gliomas: A national cancer database analysis of demographics, treatment utilization, and survival. J Clin Neurosci. 2024 Sep;127:110763. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2024.110763. Epub 2024 Jul 25. PMID: 39059334.
  6. Karabacak M, Jagtiani P, Carrasquilla A, Jain A, Germano IM, Margetis K. Simplifying synthesis of the expanding glioblastoma literature: a topic modeling approach. J Neurooncol. 2024 Jul 11. doi: 10.1007/s11060-024-04762-8. PMID: 38990445.
  7. Carrasquilla A, Zgurov A, Salih M, Le C, Matsoukas S, Feng R, Schupper AJ, Hadjipanayis C. Exoscopic resection of a parasagittal atypical meningioma. Neurosurg Focus Video. 2024 Jan 1;10(1):V8. doi: 10.3171/2023.10.FOCVID23164. PMID: 38283808; PMCID: PMC10821652.
  8. Karabacak M, Jagtiani P, Carrasquilla A, Germano IM, Margetis K. Prognosis Individualized: Survival predictions for WHO grade II and III gliomas with a machine learning-based web application. NPJ Digit Med. 2023 Oct 26;6(1):200. doi: 10.1038/s41746-023-00948-y. PMID: 37884599; PMCID: PMC10603035.
  9. Karabacak M, Jagtiani P, Carrasquilla A, Shrivastava RK, Margetis K. Advancing personalized prognosis in atypical and anaplastic meningiomas through interpretable machine learning models. J Neurooncol. 2023 Sep 28. doi: 10.1007/s11060-023-04463-8. PMID: 37768472.
  10. Schwam ZG, Mavrommatis M, Gidumal S, Carrasquilla A, Shrivastava R, Perez ER, Cosetti MK, Wanna GB. The Role of Lumbar Drains in the Perioperative Management of Primary Spontaneous Temporal Lobe Encephaloceles and Cerebrospinal Fluid Leaks. Otol Neurotol. 2024 Apr 1;45(4):404-409. doi: 10.1097/MAO.0000000000004114. Epub 2024 Feb 15. PMID: 38361328.
  11. Lara-Reyna J, Morgan IC, Odland IC, Carrasquilla A, Matsoukas S, Mocco J, Bederson JB, Kellner CP, Rapoport BI. Endoscope-Assisted Evacuation of Subdural Hematoma and Middle Meningeal Artery Embolization in a Single Session in the Angiography Suite: 2-Dimensional Operative Video. Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown). 2023 Oct 20. doi: 10.1227/ons.0000000000000919. PMID: 37861319.
  12. Al-Sharshahi ZF, Aljuboori Z, Carrasquilla A, Malone A, Boulnemour K, Matti WE, Barthélemy EJ, Mirza FA. Neurosurgical trips to war zones: Mission (im)possible? Surg Neurol Int. 2024 Feb 2;15:32. doi: 10.25259/SNI_918_2023. PMID: 38468655; PMCID: PMC10927170.
  13. Rossitto CP, Yudkoff C, Youssef D, Carrasquilla A, Carr MT, Oemke H, Tabani H, Hickman ZL, Kellner CP. Resection of Arteriovenous Malformation With Sonolucent Cranioplasty: 2-Dimensional Operative Video With 360° Virtual Reality Fly-Through. Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown). 2023 Jul 1;25(1):e38. doi: 10.1227/ons.0000000000000686. Epub 2023 Apr 21. PMID: 37083550.
  14. Nichols NM, Hackett A, Carrasquilla A, Solodnik P, Byun H, Jones S, Hickman ZL. Intracranial Extramedullary Hematopoiesis in a Patient with Beta Thalassemia Presenting with Head Trauma. Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery. Surg Neurol Int. 2022 Nov 18;13:542. doi: 10.25259/SNI_730_2022. PMID: 36447872; PMCID: PMC9699845.
  15. McNeill I, Carrasquilla A, Barthélemy E, Joseph A, Mehr A, Butts G, Bederson J, Germano I. Breaking Boundaries Through Doctors Reaching Minority Men Exploring Neuroscience (DR. MMEN): A Mentorship Model to Foster a Pipeline for Underrepresented Minorities. JNS. 2022.
  16. Nistal DA, Martini ML, Neifert SN, Price G, Carrasquilla A, Gal JS, Caridi JM. The Impact of Obstructive Sleep Apnea on Clinical, Perioperative, and Cost Outcomes in Patients Who Underwent Posterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion: A Single-Center Retrospective Analysis From 2008 to 2016. Int J Spine Surg. 2022 Sep 24:8324. doi: 10.14444/8324. PMID: 36153042.
  17. Asfaw ZK, Soto E, Yaeger K, Feng R, Carrasquilla A, Barthélemy EJ, Tabani H, Berkalieva A, Mazumdar M, McNeill IT, Germano IM. Racial Diversity Within the Neurosurgery Resident and Faculty Workforce in the United States. Neurosurgery. July 2022.
  18. Shuman WH, DiRisio A, Carrasquilla A, Lamb CD, Quinones A, Pionteck A, Yang Y, Kurt M, Shrivastava RK. Is there a morphometric cause of Chiari malformation type I? Analysis of existing literature. Neurosurg Rev. 2021 Jul 13. doi: 10.1007/s10143-021-01592-4. PMID: 34254195.
  19. Carrasquilla A, Maragkos GA, Ghatan S, Steinberger J. C4-5 Intramedullary Ependymoma Resection with Intraoperative Dorsal Column Mapping. CNS Nexus. 2020. https://cnsnexus.crowdwisdomhq.net/nexus/article/15007
  20. Ramayya, AG, Carrasquilla, A, Hitti, FL, Madsen, PJ, Thawani, JP, Imbesi, K, Trotter, M, Kung, DK, Schuster, J (2019). Non-traumatic rupture of the ligamentum flavum with symptomatic spontaneous lumbar epidural hematoma: A case report. Interdisciplinary Neurosurgery: Advanced Techniques and Case Management, 16, 51-53. doi:10.1016/j.inat.2018.12.001
  21. Kautu BB, Carrasquilla A, Hicks ML, Caldwell KA, Caldwell GA. Valproic acid ameliorates C. elegans dopaminergic neurodegeneration with implications for ERK-MAPK signaling. Neurosci Lett. 2013 Apr 29;541:116-9.
  22. Carrasquilla A. Manipulating the Nervous System: A Review of Deep Brain Stimulation. Journal of Science and Health at the University of Alabama (JOSHUA): 2011 Jun 8; 42-46.

Chapters:

  1. Carrasquilla, A., Rasouli, J., Panov, F., Kopell, H. “Spinal Cord Stimulator and Implantable Drug Delivery System.” Spine Secrets, by Vincent J Devlin, Third ed., Elsevier, 2021, pp. 333–341.

Oral Presentations:

  1. Chuang, YC, Carrasquilla, A, Bilgili, G, Pionteck, A, Liu, X, Abderezaei, J, Quinones, A, Shuman, WH, Zhao, S, Shrivastava, RK, Kurt, M. (2022). Multi-dimensional Morphometric and Volumetric Analysis of Posterior Cranial Fossa to Study Type I Chiari Malformation. Biomechanics, Bioengineering, and Biotransport Conference. Maryland, USA.
  2. Carrasquilla, A., McNeill, I.T., Barthelemy, E.J., Mehr, A., Alexander, J., Bederson, J.B., Butts, G.C., Germano, I.M. (May 2021). Breaking boundaries through DR. MMEN: A mentorship model for underrepresented minority males. Oral Presentation, 2021 Annual Sachdev Neurosurgery Research Day, Department of Neurosurgery, Icahn School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.
  3. Carrasquilla, A., Nistal, D., Martini, M.L., Neifert, S., Gal, J., Caridi, J. (October, 2019). The Impact of Obstructive Sleep Apnea on Clinical, Peri-operative, and Cost Outcomes in Patients Who Underwent Posterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion: A Single Center Retrospective Analysis from 2008-2016. Oral Presentation, 2019 Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) Annual Meeting, San Francisco, California, USA.
  4. Carrasquilla, A., Burdette, A.J., Caldwell, K.A., Caldwell, G.A.. (April, 2011). Novel Therapeutic Strategies for a More Effective Treatment of Dystonia. Oral Presentation presented at: Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Conference; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA.

Poster Presentations:

  1. Carrasquilla, A., Chuang Y.C., Bilgili, G.; Pionteck A., Liu, X., Abderezaei, J., Quinones, A., Shuman W.H., Zhao S., Kurt M., Shrivastava R.K. Morphometric and Volumetric Characteristics Associated with Surgical Intervention in Chiari I Malformation. Poster Presented at NASBS 2023 Annual Meeting.
  2. Carrasquilla, A., Chuang Y.C., Bilgili, G.; Pionteck A., Liu, X., Abderezaei, J., Quinones, A., Shuman W.H., Zhao S., Kurt M., Shrivastava R.K. Morphometric and Volumetric Changes Associated with Syrinx Formation in Chiari I Malformation. Poster Presented at NASBS 2023 Annual Meeting.
  3. Carrasquilla, A, Quinones A, Lamb C, Shuman W, Liu X, Schwartz T, Morgenstern P. (2022). Endoscopic Trans-sphenoidal Surgery (ETSS) versus Open Transcranial Approach (TCA) for Pediatric Craniopharyngioma Resection. Congress of Neurological Surgeons. Poster Presented at CNS 2022 Annual Meeting.
  4. Kalagara, R, Chennareddy, S, Carrasquilla, A, Bishay, V, Lookstein, R, Mocco, J, Kellner, C. (2022). Simultaneous Endovascular Pulmonary Embolectomy and Minimally Invasive Surgiscopic ICH: A Multidisciplinary Approach. Congress of Neurological Surgeons. Poster Presented at CNS 2022 Annual Meeting.
  5. Carrasquilla, A., Shuman, W., Zhao, S., Nguyen, F., Bederson, J., Shrivastava, R. (July, 2020). Chordoma: Institutional Experience. Poster Presented at: International Chordoma Research Workshop.
  6. Carrasquilla, A., Buch, V., Grady, M.S. (May, 2017). Subcutaneous Unfractionated Heparin Prophylaxis and Patient Demographics. Poster Presented at: 6th World Intracranial Hemorrhage Conference, Baltimore, MD, USA.
  7. Carrasquilla, A., Berkowitz, L.A., Caldwell, K.A., Caldwell, G.A. (April, 2010). Utilizing Microinjection to Study Candidate Genes in C. elegans for the Prevention of Parkinson’s Disease. Poster presented at: University of Alabama System Honors Research Conference; Birmingham, AL, USA.
  8. Carrasquilla, A., Burdette, A.J., Chen, P., Caldwell, G.A, Caldwell, K.A.. (July, 2011). The Mechanisms by which Ampicillin Affects TorsinA Activity. Poster presented at: 12th Annual UA-Howard Hughes Medical Institute Undergraduate Research Poster Presentation; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA.
  9. Roberts N.B., Carrasquilla A., Sales E., Nix C., Caldwell K.A., Caldwell G.A.. (April, 2011). Involvement of TorsinA in CFTR Processing: New Insights from a C. elegans Model. Poster presented at: University of Alabama System Honors Research Conference; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA.
  10. Roberts, N.B., Carrasquilla, A., Chen, P., Ricketts, J., Burdette, A.J., Caldwell, K.A., Caldwell, G.A.. (March, 2010). RNA Interference screening to identify factors that influence TorsinA activity in C. elegans: Implications for dystonia, a human movement disorder. Poster presented at: University of Alabama Research Symposium; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA.
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