David A. Purger, MD, PhD

Dr. David A. Purger, MD, PhD, practices functional and restorative neurosurgery at IU Health, specializing in the surgical treatment of movement disorders, epilepsy, psychiatric conditions, facial pain and peripheral nerve disorders. Dr. Purger was called to neurosurgery by a lifelong fascination with the brain and a passion for exploring the intersection between technology and the mind. Dr. Purger believes in partnering with his patients and their families to help understand disorders of the nervous system and to develop a personalized, patient-centered treatment strategy. He believes in approaching every encounter with his patients and their families with kindness, humility and a commitment to work together to achieve the best outcome possible.

Dr. Purger grew up in and around Washington, DC, and studied Brain and Cognitive Sciences at MIT, followed by his medical degree and neurosurgical residency and fellowship training at the Stanford University School of Medicine. He is the Principal Investigator of the Indiana University Center on Novel Investigations of Consciousness (ICONIC), where he leads research on using neurosurgical tools to uncover mysteries of human consciousness, understand patient-specific network dysfunction to develop personalized neuromodulation strategies for psychiatric disorders and investigate the mechanisms underlying the effects of psychedelic-assisted therapy. Dr. Purger’s research has resulted in more than 50 peer-reviewed publications, presentations at national conferences and book chapters. He also has a strong interest in brain-computer interfaces and restorative neurotechnology.

Outside of work, Dr. Purger enjoys exploring Indiana with his wife and miniature dachshund, playing piano and guitar, traveling, hiking, photography and caring for his plant collection.