Dr. Ari G Chacko
Verified Specialist

Dr. Ari G Chacko

Senior Consultant, Neurosurgery

Neurosurgeon

Apollo Proton Cancer Centre Chennai, India 32+ Years Experience
4.8

173 verified reviews

173

Recent Consultations

About Dr. Ari G Chacko

Dr. Ari G Chacko is one of India's most experienced neurosurgeons, with over three decades spent operating on some of the most complex conditions of the brain and spine. Based at Apollo Proton Cancer Centre in Chennai, he brings rare depth of expertise in brain and spinal cord tumor surgery, epilepsy surgery, and skull base procedures. He is widely recognised for his work in awake surgery for gliomas — a technique that allows surgeons to preserve critical brain function while removing as much of the tumor as safely possible — as well as for his precision in vestibular schwannoma surgery, where protecting the facial nerve is paramount.

Dr. Chacko's career path reflects both academic rigor and global exposure. He spent many years at the renowned Christian Medical College in Vellore, rising through the ranks from Lecturer to Professor in the Department of Neurological Sciences. He also pursued research at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, gaining international perspective on cutting-edge neurosurgical practice. He later served as a Senior Consultant Neurosurgeon at Square Hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh, before joining Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, where he now focuses on delivering world-class neurological cancer care.

Patients and families often speak about how Dr. Chacko takes the time to explain things clearly and involves them meaningfully in treatment decisions. Rather than presenting a single plan, he believes in helping patients understand their options so they can make informed choices — an approach that feels especially reassuring when facing a diagnosis as serious as a brain tumor or epilepsy. His clinic operates within a strong multidisciplinary framework, collaborating closely with radiation oncologists, neuroradiologists, neuropathologists, neurophysiologists, and endocrinologists.

For international patients seeking care in India, Dr. Chacko represents a compelling choice: a surgeon who trained at institutions of the highest calibre, has operated across three countries, and now works within one of the most technologically advanced cancer centres in South Asia. Gaf Healthcare can help coordinate your consultation, travel, and treatment planning from start to finish.

Conditions Treated by Dr. Ari G Chacko

  • Brain Tumors (Gliomas, Meningiomas, Craniopharyngiomas)
  • Pituitary Tumors and Adenomas
  • Skull Base Tumors
  • Spinal Cord Tumors (Intramedullary & Extramedullary)
  • Acoustic Neuroma (Vestibular Schwannoma)
  • Epilepsy (including Intractable Epilepsy)
  • Brain Aneurysms
  • Arteriovenous Malformations (AVM)
  • Cavernomas
  • Trigeminal Neuralgia
  • Cervical Spine Disorders
  • Movement Disorders requiring Deep Brain Stimulation

Areas of Interest

  • Awake Craniotomy for Glioma Surgery
  • Microsurgical Excision of Intramedullary Spinal Cord Tumors
  • Vestibular Schwannoma Surgery with Facial Nerve Preservation
  • Endoscopic Skull Base and Pituitary Tumor Surgery
  • Epilepsy Surgery including Hemispherotomy
  • Maximal Safe Resection of Craniopharyngiomas
  • Functional and Stereotactic Neurosurgery
  • Surgical Neuro-oncology

Qualifications

  • MBBSIndia
  • MCh (Neurosurgery)India

Work Experience

  • Currently serving as Senior Consultant Neurosurgeon at Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, Chennai, with a focus on complex brain and spine tumor surgery.
  • Previously served as Senior Consultant Neurosurgeon at Square Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh, delivering advanced neurosurgical care to patients across South Asia.
  • Conducted research as a Research Associate in the Department of Neurosurgery at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
  • Served for many years at Christian Medical College, Vellore — progressing from Lecturer to Associate Professor and then Professor in the Department of Neurological Sciences.
  • Maintains an active affiliation with Christian Medical College, Vellore, one of India's most respected academic medical institutions.

Certifications (0)

    Memberships (4)

    • Neurological Society of India (NSI)
    • Indian Medical Association (IMA)
    • Indian Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (ISSFN)
    • Asian Congress of Neurological Surgeons (ACNS)

    Research Papers & Publications (0)

    Procedures

    Brain Tumor Resection (Craniotomy)Awake Craniotomy for Glioma SurgerySkull Base Tumor SurgeryPituitary Tumor Surgery (Endoscopic)Endoscopic Brain SurgerySpinal Tumor SurgeryEpilepsy Surgery including Hemispherotomy Meningioma SurgeryAcoustic Neuroma SurgeryBrain Aneurysm ClippingMicrovascular Decompression for Trigeminal NeuralgiaDeep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Vagus Nerve Stimulator (VNS) ImplantPre-operative Tumor Embolization

    Frequently Asked Questions

    It's straightforward. Reach out to the Gaf Healthcare team via our website at gafhealthcare.in, share your medical reports and a brief summary of your condition, and our coordinators will arrange a consultation with Dr. Chacko at Apollo Proton Cancer Centre in Chennai. We handle appointment scheduling, visa support documentation, and local logistics so your focus stays on your health.