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Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD

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Specializes in: Neurosurgery

Yale School of Medicine

Professional interests include: thoracic spine surgery, spinal fracture, traumatic brain injury, and more.

300 Pasteur Drive
Palo Alto, CA 94304

(650) 723-4000

Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD is a neurosurgeon in Santa Cruz, CA specializing in neurosurgery. She graduated from Yale School of Medicine. Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD is affiliated with Dignity Health, Stanford Health Care and Dominican Hospital Santa Cruz.

Office Locations

Stanford Health Care

1595 Soquel Drive Suite 360
Santa Cruz, CA 95065

(831) 475-5232

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Stanford Health Care

213 Quarry Road
Palo Alto, CA 94304

(650) 723-6469

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300 Pasteur Drive
Palo Alto, CA 94304

(650) 723-4000

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Some issues Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD can help you with:

Spinal Fusion

Spinal fusion is a surgical procedure to permanently join together two or more vertebrae, the bones in the spine. Certain spinal disorders can lead to instability and pain, and the idea behind spinal fusion is that fusing vertebrae together can both make them stronger and reduce motion, which can sometimes reduce pain.

There are several different types of spinal fusion surgery available, mostly depending on where a patient's pain is located and whether his or her surgeon will perform the procedure through the back, front, or side. In general, a fusion is performed by packing the vertebrae to be fused with grafted bone. This bone may be taken from the patient's hip, may be donated from a cadaver, or it may be a manufactured synthetic material. The bone is placed along the vertebrae, and sometimes, the disc that lies in between the vertebrae is removed and replaced with grafted bone. The bone material will grow and cement the two vertebrae together. After the bone graft is placed, the vertebrae are sometimes held in place with rods, screws, plates, or cages, depending on the weakness of the spine and needs of the graft.

Spinal fusion is a significant surgery and can take three to four hours or more. Recovery is typically two to four days in the hospital. After surgery, it is important to remember that the fusion takes time to grow from the bone graft. So, the actual fusion is not complete for several months. Patients will probably feel somewhat better right away, but it may take a while to feel the full effects of the fusion as the bone grows into place. In the meantime, doctors might have patients wear a brace to protect their spine and keep it properly aligned.

Spinal fusion is not used for all kinds of back pain. Changing the way the spine moves can lead to strain on the other joints in the back, and fusion is only performed when the benefits outweigh the risks. Some spine disorders that are treated with fusion include:

Curvature disorders, such as scoliosis and kyphosis
Degenerative disc disease
Spondylolisthesis, a disorder that causes vertebrae to slip over each other
Significant spinal fractures that cause instability
Weakened spine due to infection or tumor
Some cases of spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal column
Chronic lower back pain (although the use of fusion to treat this is controversial)

Regardless of the diagnosis, there is always a possibility of 'failure' with spinal fusion, or of the surgery not fully solving the pain. This is more likely when fusion is used primarily to treat pain instead of structural problems. Patients can improve their chances of a successful outcome by stopping smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, moving their body every day, and following their doctor's instructions for any physical therapy that they are prescribed.

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2014 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD treated as a neurosurgeon in Santa Cruz, CA during 2014 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD for Medicare patients.

hospital care	16
inpatient care	16

2014 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD.

**Gender**
Male	22
Female	24

**Age**
From 65 to 74	20
From 75 to 84	12
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD in 2014

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD treated during 2014 were hypertension, high cholesterol, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and ischemic heart disease.

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	57
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	26
Depression	0
Chronic Kidney Disease	24
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	24
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	28
Diabetes	0
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2015 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD treated as a neurosurgeon in Santa Cruz, CA during 2015 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	116
hospital care	151
inpatient care	151

2015 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD.

**Gender**
Male	162
Female	232

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	342
Black	0
Hispanic	26
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	150
From 75 to 84	126
85 and over	44
Less than 65	74

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD in 2015

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD treated during 2015 were hypertension, high cholesterol, ischemic heart disease and chronic kidney disease.

Hypertension	70
High Cholesterol	52
Stroke	28
Ischemic Heart Disease	35
Depression	29
Chronic Kidney Disease	30
Asthma	16
Osteoperosis	11
Atrial Fibrilation	12
Heart Failure	22
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	23
Diabetes	30
Dementia	19
Cancer	15

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD treated as a neurosurgeon in Santa Cruz, CA during 2016 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	148
hospital care	141
inpatient care	141

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD.

**Gender**
Male	83
Female	108

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	162
Black	0
Hispanic	17
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	80
From 75 to 84	61
85 and over	22
Less than 65	28

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD in 2016

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD treated during 2016 were hypertension, high cholesterol, chronic kidney disease and ischemic heart disease.

Hypertension	73
High Cholesterol	57
Stroke	16
Ischemic Heart Disease	34
Depression	27
Chronic Kidney Disease	36
Asthma	19
Osteoperosis	13
Atrial Fibrilation	11
Heart Failure	16
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	19
Diabetes	26
Dementia	19
Cancer	14

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD in 2017

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD treated during 2017 were hypertension.

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	0
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	0
Depression	0
Chronic Kidney Disease	0
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	0
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD treated as a neurosurgeon in Santa Cruz, CA during 2018 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	14
hospital care	87
inpatient care	87

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD.

**Gender**
Male	31
Female	46

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	59
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	29
From 75 to 84	22
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD in 2018

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD treated during 2018 were hypertension, high cholesterol, depression and chronic kidney disease.

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	56
Stroke	35
Ischemic Heart Disease	32
Depression	49
Chronic Kidney Disease	40
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	16
Atrial Fibrilation	17
Heart Failure	25
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	27
Dementia	23
Cancer	26

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD treated as a neurosurgeon in Santa Cruz, CA during 2019 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	34
hospital care	65
inpatient care	65

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD.

**Gender**
Male	38
Female	34

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	59
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	22
From 75 to 84	25
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD in 2019

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD treated during 2019 were hypertension, high cholesterol, depression and chronic kidney disease.

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	56
Stroke	24
Ischemic Heart Disease	29
Depression	40
Chronic Kidney Disease	36
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	22
Atrial Fibrilation	18
Heart Failure	22
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	29
Dementia	21
Cancer	15

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD treated as a neurosurgeon in Santa Cruz, CA during 2020 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	15
hospital care	17
inpatient care	17

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD.

**Gender**
Male	23
Female	21

**Age**
From 65 to 74	16
From 75 to 84	12
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD in 2020

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD treated during 2020 were hypertension, high cholesterol, depression and chronic kidney disease.

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	50
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	34
Depression	45
Chronic Kidney Disease	36
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	30
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	27
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	25
Dementia	27
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD treated as a neurosurgeon in Santa Cruz, CA during 2021 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	45
hospital care	27
inpatient care	27

2021 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD.

**Gender**
Male	25
Female	33

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	45
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	16
From 75 to 84	20
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD in 2021

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD treated during 2021 were hypertension, high cholesterol, chronic kidney disease and depression.

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	69
Stroke	31
Ischemic Heart Disease	36
Depression	38
Chronic Kidney Disease	41
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	26
Atrial Fibrilation	22
Heart Failure	28
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	19
Diabetes	31
Dementia	34
Cancer	19

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2022 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD treated as a neurosurgeon in Santa Cruz, CA during 2022 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	33
hospital care	18
inpatient care	18

2022 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD.

**Gender**
Male	28
Female	31

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	40
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	16
From 75 to 84	23
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD in 2022

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD treated during 2022 were high cholesterol, hypertension, stroke and depression.

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	46
Ischemic Heart Disease	25
Depression	42
Chronic Kidney Disease	29
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	25
Atrial Fibrilation	32
Heart Failure	24
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	20
Diabetes	42
Dementia	20
Cancer	25

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2023 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD treated as a neurosurgeon in Santa Cruz, CA during 2023 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD for Medicare patients.

hospital care	13
inpatient care	13

2023 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD.

**Gender**
Male	28
Female	24

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	34
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	22
From 75 to 84	18
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD in 2023

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD treated during 2023 were high cholesterol, hypertension, atrial fibrilation and stroke.

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	46
Ischemic Heart Disease	35
Depression	37
Chronic Kidney Disease	38
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	31
Atrial Fibrilation	46
Heart Failure	21
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	29
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2014 - 2023

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD treated as a neurosurgeon in Santa Cruz, CA were hospital care and inpatient care.

doctor visit	57
hospital care	59
inpatient care	59

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2014 - 2023

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD.

**Gender**
Male	44
Female	55

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	0
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	74
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Hispanic	4
Other	0

**Age**
75 to 84	31
85 and over	6
Less than 65	10
65 to 74	37

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD From 2014 - 2023

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, chronic kidney disease and depression.

Hypertension	74
High Cholesterol	54
Stroke	22
Ischemic Heart Disease	28
Depression	30
Chronic Kidney Disease	31
Asthma	3
Osteoporosis	17
Heart Failure	20
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	10
Diabetes	23
Atrial Fibrillation	15
Cancer	11
Dementia	16

Education & Training

Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD graduated from Yale School of Medicine. She completed residency at University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Affiliated Hospitals. She is certified by the Neurological Surgery and has a state license in Nevada.

Medical School: Yale School of Medicine

Residency: University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Affiliated Hospitals

Board Certification: Neurological Surgery

Licensed In: Nevada

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Dignity Health

Stanford Health Care

Dominican Hospital Santa Cruz

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General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Jenli Dawn Waters, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

**Payments by Company**
Globus Medical, Inc.	$904 Spine $904
Medtronic Sofamor Danek USA, Inc.	$78 Biologics Therapies $58	Interventional Therapies $21
LDR SPINE USA, INC	$31 Spinal Implant $31
BK Medical Holding Company Inc.	$29 bk3000, bk3500 & bk5000 Ultrasound System $29
Integra LifeSciences Corporation	$28 $28
Other	$18 Laser ablation $18

**Types of Payments**
Travel and Lodging	$811
Food and Beverage	$278

Biography

Dr. Jenli Waters' medical specialty is neurosurgery. She attended Yale School of Medicine and subsequently trained at a hospital affiliated with the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) for residency. Dr. Waters has a special interest in thoracic spine surgery. She speaks Mandarin. Dr. Waters is affiliated with Stanford Health Care.