Timothy Vogel, M.D. is a pediatric neurosurgeon and serves as the Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center. Dr. Vogel is recognized internationally as an expert on pediatric craniofacial surgery and hydrocephalus, along with leading the first successful surgery for a baby born with exencephaly. Dr. Vogel also has extensive experience treating brain tumors, traumatic brain injuries, Chiari malformations, and congenital malformations of the brain and spine.
Timothy Vogel, M.D.
Dr. Vogel has long been a part of New Jersey and New York, as he attended undergraduate at Princeton University, and completed medical school at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. Dr. Vogel completed his residency at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, serving as Chief Resident. In addition, Dr. Vogel has completed two fellowships. He received advanced fellowship training in minimally invasive surgery at Boston Children’s Hospital at Harvard University, and in pediatric neurosurgery at St. Louis Children’s Hospital at Washington University in St. Louis. He is also double board certified in both adult and pediatric neurosurgery by the American Board of Neurological Surgeons (ABNS) and the American Board of Pediatric Neurological Surgeons (ABPNS).
Pediatric Neurosurgery Advancement by Dr. Vogel
Committed to the advancement of pediatric neurosurgery, Dr. Vogel has authored multiple publications, holds several patents, established the Vogel Research Lab to find a treatment for hydrocephalus, and teaches courses each year to train other neurosurgeons on minimally invasive approaches. Dr. Vogel is also a sought-after speaker at international medical and association conventions.
Dr. Tim Vogel Was Named Bergen County's Top Doctor for Pediatric Neurosurgery 2023!
About Timothy Vogel
Dr. Vogel loves working with children because of their energy and spirit. He feels a great sense of gratitude watching his patients grow up and lead healthy lives after treatment. His education, experience and passion allows him to provide world-class treatment for his patients.
Leading Craniofacial Surgeon
Dr. Tim Vogel is a double board-certified pediatric and adult neurosurgeon, dual fellowship-trained in pediatric neurosurgery at Washington University in St. Louis and minimally invasive surgery at Harvard University’s Boston Children’s Hospital. His clinical hyper-specialty lies in craniofacial surgery and complex cranial procedures for pediatric brain tumors. He previously served as the lead craniofacial surgeon at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, the #1 pediatric hospital in the U.S., where he conducted pioneering research and holds patents for craniosynostosis treatment. During his tenure, patients from 15 states sought his expertise, especially for minimally invasive endoscopic surgery.
Due to his clinical contributions, Dr. Vogel was nominated to the International Society for Craniofacial Surgery (ISCFS), one of the few pediatric neurosurgeons in the U.S. to receive this honor. ISCFS membership is contingent on research, publication, and a sustained commitment to craniofacial surgery. Dr. Vogel is also the only pediatric neurosurgeon in the country nominated as a full-time member of the American Society for Craniofacial Surgeons, a society that mandates fellowship training and demonstrated excellence in craniofacial surgery. Additionally, he has led training courses in minimally invasive craniosynostosis techniques at annual American Academy of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) meetings, educating peers across the U.S. and abroad.
Now a leading craniofacial surgeon in the Northeast, Dr. Vogel has focused his clinical practice on advancing craniofacial surgery in Northern New Jersey. He founded the comprehensive craniofacial center at Hackensack University Medical Center, achieving national accreditation from the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association. The center evaluates and treats complex craniofacial cases in a multidisciplinary setting, working closely with a craniofacial fellowship-trained pediatric plastic surgeon.
Under Dr. Vogel’s leadership and with growing national referrals for minimally invasive surgery, the center has seen consistent growth in cases from NY, NJ, and PA. Families often seek second, third, or even fourth opinions—sometimes after delayed or missed diagnoses at local centers. Dr. Vogel and his team engage in compassionate, informative discussions to help families make confident, educated decisions.
Dr. Vogel remains deeply committed to supporting families of children facing craniofacial disorders. He recognizes the profound trust placed in him as a surgeon and is devoted to meeting that responsibility with compassion, expertise, and clear communication.
Philosophy of Care
Dr. Vogel believes that a strong physician-patient-family relationship is critical in creating positive outcomes for his patients. He empowers his patients and their parents to understand the full scope of the issue and all options available to them. As an advocate for minimally invasive approaches to treatment, Dr. Vogel ensures that treatment plans maximize benefits and minimize invasive procedures.
Dr. Vogel's Accomplishments
As a nationally recognized board certified pediatric neurosurgeon, Dr. Vogel is Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital, the #1 Children’s Hospital in New Jersey. Dr. Vogel developed the nationally recognized program that is ranked in US NEWS & WORLD REPORT. Dr. Vogel is responsible for taking care of the most complex cases for brain tumors, craniofacial disorders, and congenital defects. In conjunction with the Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation, Dr. Vogel has become New jersey’s leader in surgery for pediatric brain tumors. Dr. Vogel continues to be recognized by his peers as Top Doc for pediatric neurosurgery in Bergen County and NJ.
Dr. Vogel joined the Department of Neurosurgery at Hackensack University Medical Center to build a flagship pediatric neurosurgical center for New Jersey. Previously Dr. Vogel helped build the top-tier pediatric neurosurgery program at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, the largest children’s medical center in the mid-west and ranked #1 in the country. Patients and their families travel from New York, Boston, and Pennsylvania for specialized state-of-the-art care with Dr. Vogel.
Dr. Vogel has developed a robust academic pediatric neurosurgery program and his clinics are based on a multi-disciplinary team approach with neurosurgeon specialists, pediatricians, and oncologists so that families have coordinated and clear care plans for their children. Dr. Vogel also introduced novel minimally-invasive pediatric neurosurgical and craniofacial treatments that he helped to describe.
Dr. Vogel is also an international expert on pediatric craniofacial surgery and on understanding the cause of one of the most common neurological conditions affecting young children, hydrocephalus. Dr. Vogel has also taken care of the Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) throughout NJ where he treats babies with blood in their brain (intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH)).
Dr. Vogel collaborates throughout the country investigating novel genetic studies and imaging techniques related to brain tumors. He has published numerous papers in several top science journals and is a sought-after presenter at international medical and association conventions.
Minimally Invasive Endoscopic Surgery
Through Dr. Vogel’s research and clinical work in minimally invasive endoscopic-assisted surgery for craniosynostosis, multiple benefits have been demonstrated since the procedure’s inception in 1996–1997. Early studies identified a preferred window—under 6 months of age—for optimal outcomes: shorter surgical times, reduced hospital stays, lower risk of transfusion, and cost-efficiency without compromising safety. Further research, including work by Dr. Vogel and colleagues at Boston Children’s Hospital, Washington University, and the University of Washington, confirmed even greater benefits when surgery occurs before 4 months of age.
In single-suture craniosynostosis, severity of head shape does not correlate with developmental outcomes—mild to severe cases all carry the same risk of delays—underscoring the importance of early diagnosis. In Dr. Vogel’s hands, the minimally invasive procedure typically lasts 30 minutes. While primary risks include bleeding and infection, literature also notes rare complications such as seizures, strokes, and CSF leaks, none of which have been common in Dr. Vogel’s practice. His surgical decisions are guided by both clinical findings and the most current craniofacial research, ensuring every family is presented with the best available options.
