Dr. James K. Liu, MD

The thought of having pituitary tumor scared me so much that I spent the time with my sister to research online for the best neurosurgeons in NJ. Who came up on top is Dr Liu. I made up my mind to call him when he came up on top again after I compared him with 2 recommendations from friends using ChatGPT. We were fortunate to see him within the week after I called. He showed us how big the tumor was in the MRI results and explained in detail how it will be removed thru the nose. He also introduced us to Dr Eloy who is the ENT doctor that he will partner with during the surgery. We were even more fortunate for the surgery to be done on the following week. It took between 3 to 4 hours. Dr Liu called my sister right after he removed the tumor while Dr Eloy was still closing out the operation. He told her that the tumor was successfully removed and none of the possible risks of the operation happened. The first thing I checked when I woke up was my vision which was affected by the tumor… that was pressing on my optic nerves. I was so happy to see that my vision was back to normal and everything else was working properly. My sister was surprised to see me already conversing with the attending nurse when she was called in to the recovery room. I was in the hospital for 3 days. Everyday Dr Liu came to check to see how I was doing. It is now a month and a half since the surgery. Apart from a slight headache and stuffed nose, I’m on the right track to recovery. Another month and a half and I should fully recover. I’m really glad that we found Dr Liu. He really is the best. We will be forever grateful to him for giving me my second life with his expertise and caring attitude.

I struggled with an extremely rare neuro-ophthalmic condition - Superior Oblique Myokymia (SOM). Because of its rarity, I was dismissed by numerous providers and told my condition could be anxiety, vertigo, or vision convergence insufficiency. When I finally had the relief of a proper diagnosis that I pursued myself, the medications prescribed did not alleviate my symptoms. It was such an isolating, depressing feeling to have this condition with no medical expertise to guide me. For years, my life was limited in so many aspects because of SOM. The debilitating sensation of motion sickness while sitting still and constant double vision of varying degrees was something I sadly believed I would have to live with forever. I dreamed of having stable vision and the ability to see the world in a single, steady plane. I thought I would never have the chance to have my visual sensation normal again. When I first made my appointment with Dr. Liu, I could tell he truly cared. I could tell in our… appointment that he reviewed the little literature available on SOM beforehand; no other provider did their research like this on my behalf!!! This, and other patient testimonies, told me that he was the right surgeon for the job. He approached SOM as a nerve compression disorder, rather than a primary ocular muscle disorder. When it came to the surgery, Dr. Liu quite literally pioneered a new surgical approach to relieve the compression of my 4th cranial nerve and flawlessly delivered it. He gave me my life back; I have no words to describe it adequately. I have experienced no side effects from the procedure; such as 4th nerve palsy, which commonly happened to the few people in the world that the condition surgically managed. My plane of vision is now steady. I feel such an immense amount of peace. I can now watch the birds fly around outside my window, see my dogs playing together in the grass, watch beach waves break on the shore, etc., in one solid, beautiful image. This sounds boring, but to experience this again with no symptoms is truly extraordinary. No longer do I have to wear an eyepatch to read a book, study, or write an email ever again! Dr. Liu’s entire team is wonderful, both in the OR and in his office. Aida has been so helpful and supportive at my follow-up visits. Their partnership is wonderful. I trust Dr. Liu like nobody else. While he is a superhero to me, he is also consistently humble, kind, and extremely brilliant. I am forever and profoundly grateful for the care Dr. Liu has given me.

My mom had very successful experience with the clipping of her complex brain aneurysm by Dr. James Liu at Saint Barnabas Medical Center. The team has been amazing as well. We were well informed throughout the process and treated like family! A big shout out to Dr. Lui's nurse Aida, couldn't have asked for a more caring and genuine person!

From the moment of my mom's GBM diagnosis, Dr. Liu has been by our side. His credentials speak for themselves, but what sets him apart is how genuinely he handles every patient — with care, patience, and a calm presence that steadies you when nothing else can. He's now performed 3 craniotomies on mom — each more complex than the last — but she's come back stronger to continue the fight. He's been with us every step of the way, always accessible and present. You can tell he's genuinely passionate about his work and his patients. My family is so incredibly grateful for everything he's done for us. We couldn't recommend him enough.

Dr. James Liu is truly an exceptional neurosurgeon and an even better human being. He successfully removed a very complex AVM from the right side of my brain, and throughout the entire process he showed an incredible level of care, professionalism, and compassion. From the first appointment through recovery, Dr. Liu made me feel supported and confident that I was in the best hands possible. After surgery, he personally followed up with me to check on how I was doing and was always available to answer any questions or concerns I had. That level of dedication and genuine care meant so much to me and my family during such a difficult time. His staff is also amazing — professional, kind, organized, and always helpful. Every interaction with the office made the experience less stressful and more reassuring. I truly feel very lucky and grateful to have had Dr. Liu as my surgeon. I cannot thank him and his team enough for everything they did for me. Christian Molina

I would like to share my experience and express my sincere gratitude to Dr. James Liu and his team for the outstanding care I received during my acoustic neuroma surgery. After being diagnosed with a right-sided acoustic neuroma, I carefully researched treatment options and ultimately chose Dr. Liu because of his expertise and reputation in skull base surgery. From the very beginning, Dr. Liu was professional, thoughtful, and reassuring. He took the time to explain the surgical plan, the potential risks, and the goals of preserving neurological function. My surgery was successful, and the postoperative outcome exceeded my expectations. Dr. Liu achieved complete tumor removal while preserving normal facial nerve neurological function. After surgery, my facial movement remained completely normal, which was one of my greatest concerns going into the procedure. Throughout the recovery process, Dr. Liu and his team continued to provide excellent follow-up care and guidance. Dr. Liu… always responded promptly to my questions and concerns, which gave me tremendous reassurance and confidence during recovery. His attention to detail, surgical skill, and patient-centered approach made a very stressful experience much easier for me and my family. I am deeply thankful to Dr. Liu for his expertise, compassion, and dedication. I would highly recommend him to anyone facing acoustic neuroma or complex skull base surgery.

Dr Liu's expertise is invaluable. After the first week post up I was up and about with little discomfort. Thank you

I will be forever grateful to Dr. Liu for saving my husband’s life after he suffered a ruptured aneurysm. What could have been the worst time of our lives turned into a story of survival because of their incredible skill, quick decision-making, and dedication. From the moment we arrived, Dr. Liu acted with urgency and confidence. He clearly knew exactly what needed to be done and didn’t hesitate. During such a terrifying and uncertain time, his calm and focused approach gave my family and I hope when we needed it most. Not only is Dr. Liu exceptionally talented, but he is also deeply compassionate. He took the time to explain everything in a way I could understand, kept me informed throughout the process, and treated our family with kindness and respect. Because of Dr. Liu my husband is still here today, and our family has been given more time together. That is something we will never forget. I highly recommend Dr. Liu to anyone in need of outstanding, life-saving care.

My sister Linda was diagnosed with moyamoya after multiple strokes and TIAs at just 32. After a long and overwhelming journey trying to find answers, we were referred to Dr. Liu at Saint Barnabas Medical Center. Dr. Liu recommended a bilateral STA–MCA bypass. Although both surgeries were originally planned during one admission, she got the flu and we had to stage the procedures. About a year later, Linda developed limb-shaking TIAs that made it difficult and scary for her to even leave the house. When we returned for the second surgery, a major snowstorm was approaching. Despite that, the entire team coordinated everything so her surgery could still happen safely and on time. That level of care and commitment meant so much to us. Since completing both procedures, the change in her life has been incredible. Her limb-shaking TIAs are gone, her blood pressure is controlled, and she’s getting stronger every day. Less than two months after surgery, we were able to go to Branch Brook Park… together to see the cherry blossoms—something that truly didn’t feel possible before. I also want to share that she has Medicaid, and we were still able to get her this level of specialized care. We are beyond grateful to Dr. Liu and the entire team. He truly gave my sister her life back. —Cindy

In April 2025, what I expected to be a routine physical turned into something far more serious when my primary doctor identified an abnormality in my throat. About six weeks later, I was diagnosed with a very large paraganglioma tumor. Over the following months, my family and I navigated a complex and often overwhelming journey, learning about neuroendocrine tumors, completing extensive testing, and consulting with specialists across the East Coast. Due to the tumor’s size and its involvement with the vagal nerve and carotid artery, many physicians advised against surgery, recommending either long-term monitoring or radiation. Wanting to explore every possible option, we were fortunate to learn about Dr. James Liu at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center through a support group. From our very first virtual consultation, Dr. Liu stood out, not only for his expertise, but for his confidence, clarity, and willingness to take on a highly complex case that others would not. After carefully… weighing all options, I chose to move forward with surgery. The surgery was long and complex but ultimately very successful. My recovery has been smooth, and I was amazed by the level of care, coordination, and compassion shown by Dr. Liu and his entire medical team. From pre-operative planning to post-operative care, every step was handled with professionalism, precision, and genuine concern for my well-being. Dr. Liu’s skill, determination, and willingness to take on challenging cases truly changed the course of my life. I am deeply grateful for him and the outstanding team at Cooperman Barnabas. For anyone facing a complex diagnosis, I cannot recommend Dr. Liu highly enough.