Joaquin A. Hidalgo, MD
Assistant Professor
Department:
SOM-Neurosurgery
Email:
jhidalgo@umc.edu
Work Phone:
(601) 984-5700
Biography
Dr. Joaquín Hidalgo is a board-certified neurosurgeon with extensive experience in cranial, spinal, and peripheral nerve procedures for both adult and pediatric patients. He graduated summa cum laude from medical school in Venezuela before moving to the United States to complete neurosurgical training at the University of Mississippi, followed by advanced fellowship training at Johns Hopkins University.
With expertise in complex spine, skull base, and peripheral nerve conditions, Dr. Hidalgo is committed to providing personalized care. He carefully evaluates both surgical and non-surgical options to determine the most effective treatment plan for each patient—always prioritizing safety, comfort, and long-term recovery.
He specializes in minimally invasive techniques for spinal and skull base disorders, offering patients faster recovery and reduced postoperative discomfort. His approach leverages the latest advancements in neurosurgery, allowing for precision treatment with minimal disruption to surrounding tissue.
A strong advocate for interdisciplinary collaboration, Dr. Hidalgo works closely with a team of specialists to ensure the best possible outcomes. His academic interests include cadaveric skull base dissections and spine quality improvement and outcomes, reflecting his commitment to both clinical excellence and advancing the field of neurosurgery through research and education.
Education
| Johns Hopkins, Fellowship, Pediatric Neurosurgery | 2019 |
| University of Mississippi, Neurological Surgery, Neurological Surgery | 2018 |
| La Universidad del Zulia, MD, Medicine | 2010 |
Specialty Certification Licensure
| Licensure, Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure | 06/2019 - Present |
| Certification, ECFMG | 03/2012 - Present |
| Certification, Neurological Surgeon, American Board of Neurological Surgeons | 05/2022 - Present |
Current Positions
| Assistant Professor, School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery | 07/2023 - Present |
| The University of Mississippi Medical Center Jackson, Mississippi 39216 | |
Academic Appointments or Other Previous Appointments
| Division Chief, North Mississippi Medical Center, Department of Neurosurgery | 07/2022 - 06/2023 |
Publications
Letter | |
| Hidalgo J, Cohen AR, Giant intracranial germinoma. Journal of neuro-oncology, 2020 Aug;149(1):191-192 | 2020 |
| Jitpun E, Hidalgo J, Link MJ, Amrami KK, Spinner RJ, Letter to the Editor Regarding "Spontaneous Regression of a Hypoglossal Neurinoma: Case Report and Review of the Literature". World neurosurgery, 2019 Oct;130:578-579 | 2019 |
Journal Article | |
| Quiroz Alfaro AJ, Herrera Ortíz AF, Diaz OM, Hidalgo J, Hakim Tawil JA, Cardona Ortegón JD, Mejía JA, Successful Endovascular Treatment of a Traumatic Cervical Arteriovenous Fistula After a Carotid Paraganglioma Resection: A Case Report. Cureus, 2023 Apr;15(4):e38284 | 2023 |
| Hidalgo J, Redett RJ 3rd, Soares BP, Cohen AR, Meet in the middle: a technique for resecting nasocranial dermoids-technical note and review of the literature. Child's nervous system : ChNS : official journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery, 2020 Mar;36(3):477-484 | 2020 |
| Chen JA, Mathios D, Hidalgo J, Cohen AR, Treatment-refractory Escherichia coli subdural empyema caused by infection of a chronic subdural hematoma in an infant. Child's nervous system : ChNS : official journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery, 2019 Apr;35(4):719-723 | 2019 |
| Dickerson JC, Hidalgo JA, Smalley ZS, Shiflett JM, Diffuse vasospasm after transcortical temporal lobectomy for intractable epilepsy. Acta neurochirurgica, 2018 Sep;160(9):1883-1887 | 2018 |
| Hidalgo J, Dickerson JC, Burnsed B, Luqman A, Shiflett JM, Middle cerebral artery aneurysm rupture in a neonate with interrupted aortic arch: case report. Child's nervous system : ChNS : official journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery, 2017 Jun;33(6):999-1003 | 2017 |
| Alvernia JE, Hidalgo J, Sindou MP, Washington C, Luzardo G, Perkins E, Nader R, Mertens P, The maxillary artery and its variants: an anatomical study with neurosurgical applications. Acta neurochirurgica, 2017 Apr;159(4):655-664 | 2017 |
| Friel MT, Hidalgo J, Shiflett JM, Iatrogenic Intradiploic Epidermoid Cyst Following Strip Craniectomy for Sagittal Craniosynostosis. The Journal of craniofacial surgery, 2017 Jun;28(4):1052-1054 | 2017 |
| Hidalgo JA, Reddy CG, Schmit GD, Spinner RJ, Sciatic neuropathy after extruded cement from cementoplasty. The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society, 2012 Jun;12(6):532-3 | 2012 |
| Hidalgo JC, Hidalgo JA, Leendertz R, Lipoma of the corpus callosum and mirror writing. Neurology, 2010 Sep 7;75(10):936 | 2010 |
| Lee RP, Zhou NJ, Hidalgo J, Titsworth WL, Uribe-Cardenas R, Chowdhury R, Chun Y, Nasr I, Stewart FD, Sponseller P, Groves ML, Jackson EM, Weighing the Risk Profile of Cervical Spine MRI in Evaluating Pediatric Cervical Spine Injuries. Pediatric neurosurgery, 2022;57(5):314-322 | |
| Hansen D, Hidalgo J, Cohen A, Mukherjee D, Scafidi S, Evaluation and Management of Symptomatic Vasospasm following Endoscopic Endonasal Resection of Pediatric Adamantinomatous Craniopharyngioma. Case reports in pediatrics, 2020;2020:8822874 | |
| Rodríguez CR, Mejias J, Hidalgo JA, Unmasking false epilepsy: Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia. Cardiology journal, 2010;17(1):98-9 | |
| Bermúdez V, Cano R, Cano C, Bermúdez F, Arraiz N, Acosta L, Finol F, Pabón MR, Amell A, Reyna N, Hidalgo J, Kendall P, Manuel V, Hernández R, Pharmacologic management of isolated low high-density lipoprotein syndrome. American journal of therapeutics, 2008 Jul-Aug;15(4):377-88 | |
Book Chapter | |
| Iver R, Miller J, Hidalgo J, Cohen A. Management of Tumors of the Fourth Ventricle Schmidek and Sweet: Operative Neurosurgical Techniques, 7th edition. Elsevier 2021 | |
| Hidalgo J and Alvernia J. Chapter 2A Colorant Injection Cadaveric Heads, The Brain, and other Tissues: Injection Techniques, Preservation and Dissection in Neurosurgery, 1 edition Editorial: Thieme | |
| Luzardo G., Swamy N., Hidalgo J. Surgical management of acute carotid occlusion. Neurosurgery Tricks of the trade: Cranial. Thieme, 2013 | |
| Hidalgo J., Marks J., Alvernia J. Lumbar Chance Fractures Neurosurgery Case Review: Questions and Answers. Second Edition. Thieme, 2020. | |
| Hidalgo J, Jackson E. Management of Neurotrauma in the Newborn Evidence-Based Neonatology, Elsevier 2023 | |
Presentations
| Regional Invited Seminars/Lectures, Endoscopic Endonasal Approach to the Cranio-cervical Junction, Mississippi Neurosurgical Society, The Sheraton Hotel, Flowood, MS | 02/2025 |
| Regional Invited Seminars/Lectures, Endoscopic Approach to Pituitary Tumor Resection, University of Mississippi Medical Center Division of Continuing Health Professional Education, Hattiesburg, Mississippi | 08/2024 |
| National and International Invited Seminars/Lectures, Pediatric Neurosurgery Case Presentation/Discussion with the USA and Canadian Society of Latin American Neurosurgeons., Latin American Neurosurgery Society, Miami | 11/2022 |
| Poster Presentation, Ventriculo-Subgaleal Shunt Technique Modification to Avoid Subgaleal Pocket Collapse., AANS/CNS Joint Section Pediatric Neurosurgery, Arizona | 12/2019 |
| Poster Presentation, Continuous EEG In Pediatric Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: A Pilot Study, AANS/CNS Joint Section Pediatric Neurosurgery, Florida | 12/2016 |
| Poster Presentation, The Maxillary Artery and Its Variants: An Anatomical Study With Neurosurgical Applications, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Louisiana | 10/2015 |
| Poster Presentation, Successful Clipping of A Ruptured Middle Cerebral Artery Aneurysm In A Neonate And Review Of The Literature, AANS/CNS Joint section pediatric neurosurgery meeting, Florida | 12/2014 |
| Poster Presentation, False Epilepsy: Importance of Tilt Test In The Diagnosis Of Syncope In Patients With Transient Loss Of Consciousness (TLOC), European Society of Cardiology, Venice, Italy | 10/2007 |
Honors, Awards, and Recognition
| Outstanding International Fellow Award, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine | 2019 |
| Summa-Cum-Laude, La Universidad del Zulia | 2010 |
| Valedictorian. School of Medicine, class of 2003, La Universidad del Zulia | 2010 |
| Valedictorian. Bachelor's in science High School, Class of 2003, Unidad Educativa Colegio San Vicente de Paul | 2003 |
Professional Membership and Service
| North American Skull Base Society, Member | 2024 - Present |
| Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Member | 2012 - Present |
| American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Member | 2012 - Present |
| North American Spine Association, Member |
Committee Service
| SCHOOL OF MEDICINE-GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION | 2016 - 2018 |
Other Service
| Independent Medical Reviewer for Maximus | 05/2024 - Present |
| Cureus Medical Journal, Neurosurgery | 07/2022 - Present |
| NMHS Neuro-oncology board moderator, Founder, moderator | 04/2021 - Present |
| Zavation Spine Medical Products LLC, Consultant | 07/2020 - Present |
| World Neurosurgery Journal, Elsevier | 07/2020 - Present |
| North Mississippi Medical Center Trauma Care Committee, Member | 08/2019 - 06/2023 |
| Neurosurgery Department Chief Resident | 07/2017 - 06/2018 |
| Graduate Medical Education Committee Residency Review Sub-Committee (RRSC) | 07/2016 - 06/2017 |
| Resident Education Committee Liaison, Member | 07/2015 - 06/2018 |
Teaching Experience
| Graduate, Lecture, Lecturer, Oral Board Review- Spine Case Presentations for Oral Board Preparation | 2025 |
| SOM 622 and 623, Medicine, Course, Lecturer, SOM 622, 623 The Endocrine & Reproductive System course: The Hypothalamus | Annual 2024, 2025 |
| SOM 622, 623, Medicine, Lecture, Lecturer, SOM 622, 623 The Endocrine & Reproductive System course: The anterior Pituitary | Annual 2024, 2025 |
| Graduate, Lecture, Lecturer, Oral Board Review- Pediatric Case Presentations for Oral Board Preparation | 2024 |
| Graduate, Lab, Course Director, Prone lateral transpsoas Interbody fusion | 2024 - 2024 |
| Graduate, Lecture, Lecturer, “Intraoperative Spinal Navigation, Robotics, O-arm 101” | 2024 - 2024 |
Directed Student Learning
| Supervised Research, Advised: Olivia Patch | 2024 - Present |
| Internship Advisor, Advised: John Wilkinson | 2023 - Present |
Residency Training
| Orthopedic Surgery, Subspecialty/Activity Director | 2025 - Present |
| Plastic Surgery, Attending Physician | 2023 - Present |
| Neurosurgery, Attending Physician | 2023 - Present |