Dr. Steven Sykes

As the first physician in his family, he was drawn to medicine through what he describes as an inherent wiring toward rigorous inquiry and deep compassion for others. His fascination with the brain began in high school, where he devoured books by the pioneering neurologist and author Dr. Oliver Sacks. During his undergraduate studies in neuroscience, he became even more captivated by the organ responsible for thought, memory, sensation, and emotion.

“There’s this scientific intrigue with the brain, and there is also the detective part of being a neurologist,” he says. “Add in the empathy required to really help people, and I knew that was what I wanted to spend my life doing.”

Dr. Steven Sykes runs the Brain Health Program at Atria Los Angeles, optimizing cognitive performance at midlife and beyond. The former Chief of the Division of Neurology for Cedars-Sinai Medical Group brings more than 20 years of experience and dual board certifications. At Atria, he merges clinical expertise with research—something he did earlier in his career—to impact populations beyond individual care.

Prior to joining Atria, Dr. Sykes served as Chief of the Division of Neurology for Cedars-Sinai Medical Group, where his colleagues recognized his contributions to the field with the Physician of the Year Award. He is recognized by Castle Connolly as a Top Doctor and acknowledged by U.S. News & World Report among the nation's leading neurologists. Dr. Sykes is also an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Neurology at Cedars-Sinai.

Dr. Sykes earned his medical degree from the University of Michigan School of Medicine and completed his neurology residency at UCLA Medical Center, where he was also Chief Resident. He then pursued fellowship training in clinical neurophysiology at Los Angeles County Hospital/University of Southern California, developing expertise in the diagnostic tests that assess electrical activity throughout the nervous system. He holds dual board certifications in neurology and clinical neurophysiology.

During his medical school rotations, some attending physicians would express surprise at his chosen specialty. “People would call it depressing, which I think stems from an outdated notion about neurological diseases,” he says. “There is so much we can do to help people. And since I graduated from medical school, there's been exponential growth in therapeutic options for neurological conditions, which has been really exciting to see."

What Dr. Sykes loves most about neurology is its remarkable variety. In a single day, he might spend meaningful time with a migraine patient, combining medication with behavioral changes to drastically transform their quality of life. Next, he might shift to evaluating memory concerns in someone worried about Alzheimer's disease. "One of the things I love about neurology is the mix of what we get to do and the many ways we can help people," he says.

“Each case requires a different approach,” says Dr. Sykes. “Some demand intensive detective work, others focus on education and reassurance. I have always known that I want to help people, and in my mind, what better way to do that than with science and medicine?”

Dr. Sykes lives in Southern California with his wife and their three daughters.