Biography of Dr. Timothy Vogel

Biography of Dr. Timothy Vogel

Dr. Timothy Vogel is a board-certified pediatric neurosurgeon who serves as the Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital and is the founder of Pediatric Neurosurgeons of New Jersey. He is known for his work in pediatric craniofacial surgery, minimally invasive craniosynostosis surgery, brain tumors, traumatic brain injuries, and congenital malformations. His leadership in performing the first successful surgery in the world for a baby born with exencephaly brought significant attention to the thoughtful clinical approach taken by his team.

As a leading craniofacial surgeon in the Northeast, Dr. Vogel has centered much of his work on expanding access to craniofacial surgery in Northern New Jersey. He created the comprehensive craniofacial center at Hackensack University Medical Center, which earned national accreditation from the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association. His multidisciplinary team evaluates and treats complex craniofacial cases with a model designed to support families through each stage of care.

Leadership in Pediatric Brain Tumor Management

Dr. Vogel served as co-chair of the Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation Gala and is recognized in New Jersey for his expertise in pediatric brain tumors. He uses minimally invasive techniques to treat children with rare and life-threatening brain and spine tumors. Families from across the Northeast seek his guidance, drawn by the clinical

trials and treatment approaches he helped develop. He also played a key role in founding New Jersey’s first pediatric neuro-oncology laboratory, dedicated to studying rare brain tumors and improving future therapies.

His academic contributions include multiple publications and several patents. With experience as a developmental neuroscientist, he has worked extensively in CNS genetics and forebrain development. His peers across the New York and New Jersey region continue to recognize him as one of the top pediatric neurosurgeons, reflecting his steady dedication to the field.

Foundations in Academic Medicine

Throughout his academic career, Timothy Vogel, MD, has held significant roles that have shaped his work as both a surgeon and a scientist. He began his educational path at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, the #1 pediatric hospital in the United States. There, he served as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, and the Division of Developmental Biology, contributing to clinical care, teaching, and research. During his time at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Dr. Vogel also served as training faculty and mentor for the Neuroscience Graduate Program at the University of Cincinnati Neuroscience Institute and for the Graduate Program in Molecular and Developmental Biology at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. His early research involved work on treatments for craniosynostosis. Patients from more than 15 states continue to travel to seek his experience in minimally invasive endoscopic surgery, a reflection of the long-standing impact of his research and clinical efforts.

Growth Through Research and Collaboration

While in Cincinnati, Dr. Timothy Vogel expanded his research experience by joining the Wellman Center for Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School as a Visiting Research Fellow in the Department of Dermatology. His involvement supported ongoing work at the intersection of photomedicine and neuroscience, advancing translational research to improve patient care.

Dr. Vogel later became the Director of Pediatric and Craniofacial Neurosurgery at the New Jersey Brain and Spine Center in Hackensack. In this leadership role, he continued building multidisciplinary programs designed to support children with craniofacial and neurosurgical needs.

He went on to serve as the Scientific Director and Principal Investigator of the Pediatric Neuro-oncology Lab at the Center for Discovery and Innovation CDI at the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine at Seton Hall University. Before taking on this leadership position, he served as an Associate Member and Faculty at the CDI, where he participated in research that strengthened the field of pediatric neuro-oncology.

Continued Impact Through Clinical Leadership

Dr. Timothy Vogel later became the Director of the Comprehensive Craniofacial Clinic at Hackensack in collaboration with Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital, Hackensack University Medical Center. Today, he continues his clinical leadership as Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery, guiding programs that support patients and families from across the region.

His academic background includes completing his Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Chemistry at Princeton University and earning his medical degree from Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons. He completed his residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, where he served as Chief Resident. His advanced fellowship in minimally invasive surgery was completed at Boston Children’s Hospital, part of Harvard University, followed by a fellowship in pediatric neurosurgery at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, part of Washington University in St. Louis.

He is double board-certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgeons ABNS and the American Board of Pediatric Neurological Surgeons ABPNS. His professional fellowships include FACS and FAAP.