Dr. Alexander Copelan specializes in Neurointerventional Radiology. Originally from Columbus, OH, he began his education at Johns Hopkins University and earned his medical degree from Loyola Stritch School of Medicine in Maywood, IL. During his residency in Diagnostic Radiology at William Beaumont in Royal Oak, MI, Dr. Copelan also served as Chief Resident. He is fellowship-trained in Neuroradiology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA, and Neurointerventional Radiology at the UCSF Medical Center in San Francisco, CA.
Dr. Copelan said he became a provider because “I have always had empathy for those in need and have wanted to help people from as far back as I can remember. My parents are physicians, as were both my grandfathers, and I saw the gratification they experienced in their careers and wanted to be a part of this special community.” When asked what he enjoys most about being a radiologist, Dr. Copelan tells us that he appreciates the opportunity to treat patients with potentially life-threatening cerebrovascular diseases through a minimally invasive approach.
The challenges of Neurointerventional Radiology can be rewarding. According to Dr. Copelan, one aspect of this is “the time-sensitivity of treating patients with stroke due to large vessel occlusion as every second truly counts. You have the opportunity to treat patients who come into the hospital paralyzed on one side of their body and unable to speak, and those same patients may walk out of the hospital speaking normally a couple of days later.” Dr. Copelan also learns from his patients. For example, he finds that “Taking an extra couple of minutes to explain the disease or the procedure, often drawing a quick sketch, means a great deal to them.”
Outside of work, you’ll find Dr. Copelan spending time with his wife and two young daughters and that he is most proud of the man and father he’s become since the birth of his eldest daughter in 2016. He also enjoys exercising, traveling, and is an avid fan of college and NFL football, so it’s perhaps not surprising that his second career choice would have been sports journalism.
Awards and Recognitions
2024 Top Doctor Rising Stars Mpls.St.Paul Magazine
2023 Top Doctor Rising Stars Mpls.St.Paul Magazine
2022 Top Doctor Rising Stars Mpls.St.Paul Magazine
PRACTICE PHILOSOPHY
To treat all patients the same way I would want my family members treated and to minimize risk in complex cerebrovascular procedures.
PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS
Endovascular treatment of cerebral aneurysms
Mechanical Thrombectomy and management of acute ischemic stroke
Diagnosis and management of pulsatile tinnitus, including venous sinus stenting
Management and treatment of dural arteriovenous fistulae and arteriovenous malformations
Embolization of spinal vascular malformations
Pediatric vascular malformations, including Vein of Galen Malformations