Issam A. Awad, MD

Professor of Surgery

Director, Neurovascular Surgery

Issam A. Awad, MD, has expertise in neurosurgery. He is skilled in the surgical management of neurovascular conditions affecting the brain and spinal cord, including cerebral aneurysms, cerebrovascular malformations, hemorrhagic stroke and skull base tumors.

Dr. Awad's research focuses on vascular biology, genetics, and comprehensive outcome analysis in neurovascular disease and stroke. His active projects include National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded investigations of molecular mechanisms involved in the formation and progression of cerebrovascular malformations. Additionally, he leads several clinical trials on minimally invasive techniques for surgical treatment of hemorrhagic stroke.

Dr. Awad’s research contributions have spanned more than two decades. His scientific innovations include the characterization of subcortical ischemic lesions in the aged, advances in the understanding of the natural history and biologic behavior of cerebral vascular malformations, and numerous technical advances in neurovascular and epilepsy surgery.

Recognized as a pioneering and productive scholar, Dr. Awad has educated scores of neurosurgeon trainees and holds prominent editorial responsibilities. He has authored leading textbooks and published more than 250 scholarly papers related to clinical innovations, surgical outcomes and research.

Additionally, Dr. Awad has been elected to some of the most distinguished professional societies and has held leadership positions in professional and learned societies in the United States and around the world. He has served as President of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Chairman of the Cerebrovascular Section of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Chairman of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, and on the Executive Committee of the American Stroke Association and the Board of Governors of the American College of Surgeons. He is the Founding Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board of Angioma Alliance.

Practice Locations

The University of Chicago Medicine
5841 S. Maryland Avenue
Chicago, IL 60637

Center for Advanced Medicine
5758 S. Maryland Avenue
Chicago, IL 60637

University of Chicago Physicians at Matteson
4749 Lincoln Mall Drive
Suite 500
Matteson, IL 60443

Year Started Practice

1986

Board Certification

Neurological Surgery

Medical School

Loma Linda University, CA

Internship

Loma Linda University Medical Center, CA

Residency

Cleveland Clinic, OH

Fellowships

The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ

Memberships

Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society
American Academy of Neurological Surgery
American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association of Neurological Surgeons
American College of Surgeons
American Epilepsy Society
American Heart Association
American Society of Neuroimaging
American Society of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery
Chicago Medical Society
Chicago Neurological Society
Chicago Neuroscience Society
Chilean Society of Neurosurgery
Congress of Neurological Surgeons
International College of Surgeons
International Platform Association
New England Neurosurgical Society
New York Academy of Sciences
North American Skull Base Society
Research Society of Neurological Surgeons
Societe de Neurochirurgie de Langue Francaise
Society of Neurological Surgeons (Senior Society)
International College of Surgeons
World Society of Functional and Stereotactic Neurosurgery
World Association of Lebanese Neurosurgeons
Yale Surgical Society

Languages Spoken

English
Arabic
French

Email

iawad@uchicago.edu

Office Phone

(773) 702-2123

Office Fax

(773) 702-3518

Office Postal Address

Issam A. Awad, MD
The University of Chicago Medicine
5841 S. Maryland Avenue, MC 3026
Chicago, IL 60637


Physician Photo

Clinical Interests

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More About Dr. Awad

Dr. Awad successfully detected and removed a cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM) that had been causing Steven Steinhilber to experience seizures. Read Steven's story.

In a four-hour procedure, Dr. Awad, who has performed more than 800 such surgeries in his 25-year career, treated multiple cerebral aneurysms in a single operation.

Read how Dr. Awad removed a large tumor located at the base of a woman's brain and restored her vision.

By performing an experimental procedure, Dr. Awad saved the life of a man who had experienced an intracerebral hemorrhage, a type of stroke.

Selected Publications

View a partial list of Dr. Awad's publications through the National Library of Medicine's PubMed online database.