Michael DiLuna, MD, FAANS
Professor of NeurosurgeryCards
About
Titles
Professor of Neurosurgery
Program Director, Neurosurgery Residency, Neurosurgery; Chief, Pediatric Neurosurgery
Biography
Michael L DiLuna is an associate professor of neurosurgery and pediatrics at Yale University and chief of pediatric neurosurgery at Yale-New Haven Hospital. He joined the Yale faculty in 2010 after medical school and a neurosurgical residency at Yale. Dr. DiLuna completed his fellowship in pediatric neurosurgery at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Dr. DiLuna is attending physician at Yale-New Haven Hospital and the Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital and a consultant in neurosurgery at the West Haven Medical Center. He is recognized nationally and internationally as a leader in pediatric neurosurgery. He also sees adult patients with general neurosurgical needs.
Appointments
Neurosurgery
ProfessorPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
- Brain Tumor Center
- Craniofacial Fellowship
- Craniofacial Surgery Program
- Fetal Care Center
- Neurosurgery
- Pediatric Epilepsy Program
- Pediatric Hematology & Oncology Program
- Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Program
- Pediatric Neurosurgery
- Pediatric Neurosurgery
- Pediatric Spine Program
- Spine Center
- Yale Cancer Center
- Yale Medicine
- Yale Ventures
Education & Training
- Fellow
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (2010)
- Resident
- Yale-New Haven Hospital (2009)
- Intern
- Yale-New Haven Hospital (2004)
- MD
- Yale University School of Medicine (2003)
- BS
- Yale College, Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry (1998)
Research
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
Clinical Care
Overview
Michael DiLuna, MD, is the chief of pediatric neurosurgery at Yale Medicine. Dr. DiLuna sees adult and children patients with general neurosurgical issues.
Dr. DiLuna first became interested in neurosurgery after seeing a brain surgery during medical school. “It’s kind of like watching a birth or a heart beating—you’re struck by how the procedure’s done, how the patients wakes up, and how they recover,” he says. Soon after that, Dr. DiLuna developed a special interest in taking care of children. “The kids are brave and face their challenges much differently than adults do,” he says. “They have few concerns about their treatments. They just want to go back to school.”
When meeting with his patients and their parents, Dr. DiLuna tries to keep things simple. He explains how the procedure will unfold to the child and helps them understand the process by simulating it with the help of a team of oncologists and social workers. Dr. DiLuna also tries to alleviate the parents’ fears and answer as many of their questions as he can.
In addition to seeing patients, Dr. DiLuna conducts research on how certain genes in the brain might contribute to problems in brain development. He also collaborates with researchers on clinical trials for treatments for neurosurgical conditions. “We're taking care of a complicated part of the body that we don't understand fully,” he says. “Every day we're learning something new. The technology available to us changes so frequently it drives the field forward very quickly.”
Clinical Specialties
Fact Sheets
Pediatric Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors
Learn More on Yale MedicinePediatric Skull and Spine Deformities
Learn More on Yale MedicineCraniofacial Surgery
Learn More on Yale MedicineNormal Pressure Hydrocephalus
Learn More on Yale Medicine
Board Certifications
Neurological Surgery
- Certification Organization
- AB of Neurological Surgery
- Original Certification Date
- 2015
Yale Medicine News
News
News
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- April 06, 2022
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- April 07, 2021
2021 Residency Match Day - Welcome to Our Newest Residents!
- March 11, 2021
Case Study of Rare Nervous System Tumor Reveals Hypermutation