Timothy F Witham, MD, FACS, FAANS, is a Professor of Neurological Surgery and Section Chief of Spine Surgery at The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. He is also the Director of The University of Chicago Neurosurgery Spinal Fusion Laboratory.
Dr Witham earned his BS in Biochemistry with Honors at The Pennsylvania State University and was the top graduate in the College of Science serving as the student marshal for the college at his graduation. Witham was a four-year letter winner in varsity swimming and was a GTE First Team Academic All-American as well as Penn State's McCoy Award winner given to the university's top male student athlete. He earned his MD from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine graduating AOA and in the top 5 in his class. Dr Witham completed his internship in general surgery and residency in Neurological Surgery at The University of Pittsburgh. After serving for 4 years in the United States Air Force and winning a Meritorious Service Medal, he completed a clinical fellowship in Complex Spinal Surgery and Spinal Oncology at Johns Hopkins University. Dr Witham stayed on faculty there for over 20 years serving as an Endowed Full Professor and The Director of The Johns Hopkins Bayview Neurosurgery Spine Program, the Associate residency program director for 10 years, and The Director of The Johns Hopkins Neurosurgery Spinal Fusion Laboratory.
Dr Witham won the Chairman's Award for Teaching and The Resident's Award for teaching while at Johns Hopkins in Neurosurgery. He is a busy surgeon performing over 250 surgical cases per year with expertise in complex spinal surgery, spinal oncology and augmented reality as it pertains to spinal surgery. He is a pioneer in augmented reality(AR) as applied to spinal surgery and was the first in The United States to perform surgery on a patient using Augmented Reality guidance. He speaks nationally and internationally on this topic. He has published numerous manuscripts on AR and overall has published over 325 peer-reviewed manuscripts. Dr Witham has a research interest in improving outcomes of spinal fusion surgery and has a patent pending for a novel biomimetic bone graft. He currently serves on the editorial board of The Journal of Neurosurgery Spine and has served as a reviewer for multiple other journals. He has served on The Board of Directors of The Lumbar Spine Research Society.
The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Baltimore, MD
- Fellowship, Complex Spinal Surgery and Spinal Oncology
2006
The University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
- Residency, Neurological Surgery
2001
The University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
- Fellow, Image Guided Neurosurgery
2000
The University Of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
- Internship, General Surgery
1995
The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Baltimore, MD
MD - Medicine
1994
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA
BS - Biochemistry
1990
Utility of direct wave intraoperative neuromonitoring for intramedullary spinal cord tumor resection.
Utility of direct wave intraoperative neuromonitoring for intramedullary spinal cord tumor resection. J Neurosurg Spine. 2026 Apr 24; 1-10.
PMID: 42030565
Enhancing Lumbar Spinal Fusion Using Hypoxia Preconditioned Culture-Expanded Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Evidence From a Rat Posterolateral Lumbar Spinal Fusion Model.
Enhancing Lumbar Spinal Fusion Using Hypoxia Preconditioned Culture-Expanded Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Evidence From a Rat Posterolateral Lumbar Spinal Fusion Model. Neurosurgery. 2026 Apr 22.
PMID: 42017849
Safety of Perioperative Immunotherapy Use on Wound Healing After Surgery for Spinal Metastases.
Safety of Perioperative Immunotherapy Use on Wound Healing After Surgery for Spinal Metastases. Neurosurgery. 2026 Apr 10.
PMID: 41960913
Sex-based differences in early neurological recovery after traumatic spinal cord injury.
Sex-based differences in early neurological recovery after traumatic spinal cord injury. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2026 Mar 19.
PMID: 41860348
Application of enhanced recovery after surgery for patients with spinal metastasis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Application of enhanced recovery after surgery for patients with spinal metastasis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Neurooncol. 2026 Mar 13; 177(1).
PMID: 41824155
Effect of radiation on patients with grade 2 intramedullary spine ependymoma.
Effect of radiation on patients with grade 2 intramedullary spine ependymoma. Eur Spine J. 2026 Mar 07.
PMID: 41792495
Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist use and clinical outcomes after posterior cervical spinal fusion for degenerative pathologies: A large cohort retrospective analysis.
Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist use and clinical outcomes after posterior cervical spinal fusion for degenerative pathologies: A large cohort retrospective analysis. N Am Spine Soc J. 2026 Jun; 26:100873.
PMID: 41938705
Implementation of a virtual curriculum for medical students completing clinical rotations in neurosurgery.
Implementation of a virtual curriculum for medical students completing clinical rotations in neurosurgery. J Clin Neurosci. 2026 May; 147:111937.
PMID: 41719702
Functional Outcomes After Endovascular Versus Open Surgical Approach for Treatment of Spinal Dural Arteriovenous Fistula.
Functional Outcomes After Endovascular Versus Open Surgical Approach for Treatment of Spinal Dural Arteriovenous Fistula. Neurosurgery. 2026 Feb 18.
PMID: 41705829
Carbon fiber-PEEK pedicle screw instrumentation in spinal oncology: a retrospective case series, systematic review of the literature, and cost-effectiveness analysis.
Carbon fiber-PEEK pedicle screw instrumentation in spinal oncology: a retrospective case series, systematic review of the literature, and cost-effectiveness analysis. J Neurooncol. 2026 Jan 30; 176(3):190.
PMID: 41615533
Richard J Otenasek Jr Faculty Teaching Award
Johns Hopkins University Department of Neurosurgery
2022
Chairman's Award for Excellence in Teaching
Johns Hopkins University Department of Neurosurgery
2014
Top Doctor
Baltimore Magazine
2007
Meritorious Service Medal
United States Air Force
2005
Resident Teaching Award
The University of Pittsburgh, Department of Neurological Surgery
2000
Resident Research Scholarship
American College of Surgeons
1998
AOA
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
1994
Student Marshal, College of Science
The Pennsylvania State University
1990
Phi Beta Kappa
The Pennsylvania State University
1990
Academic All-American, First Team
The Pennsylvania State University, Swimming
1990
McCoy Award- Outstanding Male Student Athlete
The Pennsylvania State University, Biochemistry/Swimming
1990
Health Professions Scholarship
United States Air Force
1990 - 1994
Health Professions Indoctrination Course Distinguished Graduate
United States Air Force
1990
Shigley Award, Outstanding Junior Biochemisty Student
The Pennsylvania State University
1989
Department of Biochemistry Scholarship
The Pennsylvania State University
1988 - 1989
Golden Key National Honor Society Scholarship
The Pennsylvania State University
1987
Valedictorian
State College Area High School, State College, PA
1986