Youssef G. Comair, MD. FRCSC.FAANS
Professor of Neurosurgery
University of Chicago Medicine
Youssef G. Comair, MD, is a world-renowned neurosurgeon who has pioneered awake craniotomy for intrinsic brain tumors and helped establish pediatric epilepsy surgery as a transformative treatment for catastrophic epilepsy of childhood. At the University of Chicago Medicine, he cares for adults and children with complex brain and nervous system conditions, specializing in brain tumors, epilepsy, pituitary and skull base tumors, and spinal cord tumors — particularly those involving eloquent and high-risk regions of the brain.
Dr. Comair is internationally recognized for advancing the integration of functional brain mapping into neurosurgical oncology and epilepsy surgery. His work focuses on maximizing tumor resection and seizure control while preserving speech, movement, cognition, and quality of life. Through awake craniotomy and sophisticated cortical and subcortical mapping techniques, he has contributed to a deeper understanding of brain organization while improving surgical outcomes for patients with complex and deep-seated lesions.
He received his medical degree from St. Joseph University in Beirut and completed his neurosurgical training and fellowship in brain tumor and functional neurosurgery at the Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, where he was awarded the prestigious Wilder Penfield and McNaughton Awards.
Over the course of his career, Dr. Comair has held major academic leadership roles at UCLA, the Cleveland Clinic, the American University of Beirut, Baylor College of Medicine, and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. At UCLA, he led pediatric epilepsy surgery and performed the first functional hemispherectomy in the United States. At the Cleveland Clinic, he further advanced epilepsy surgery as a defined subspecialty. At Johns Hopkins, he expanded programs in epilepsy and brain tumor surgery and was honored as Physician of the Year, Department of Neurosurgery Teacher of the Year, and Surgeon of the Year.
Dr. Comair has authored more than 120 peer-reviewed publications, two neurosurgical textbooks, and over 40 textbook chapters. He serves on the Board of Directors of the World Society of Functional and Stereotactic Neurosurgery and on the Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Committee of the International League Against Epilepsy. In 2024, he was elected to the Editorial Board of the Journal of Neurosurgery: Case Lessons.
At the University of Chicago, Dr. Comair is committed to advancing multidisciplinary collaboration in epilepsy and neuro-oncology, expanding the frontiers of functional neurosurgery, and mentoring the next generation of neurosurgeon-scientists.
Montreal Neurological Institute-McGill University
Montreal , Canada
Resident - Neurosurgery
1989
Montreal neurological Institute,Mc Gill University
Montreal, Canada
Fellowship - Brain Tumors
1989
Saint Joseph university school of medicine
Beirut
MD - Medical Doctor
1982
The role of extent of resection, chemoradiation, and MGMT promoter methylation in overall survival in a large cohort of IDH-wildtype glioblastoma.
The role of extent of resection, chemoradiation, and MGMT promoter methylation in overall survival in a large cohort of IDH-wildtype glioblastoma. Neurosurg Focus. 2025 08 01; 59(2):E9.
PMID: 40749242
Navigating the complexity of atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (ATRT) in pediatric neuro-oncology: Insights from clinical spectrum to therapeutic challenges.
Navigating the complexity of atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (ATRT) in pediatric neuro-oncology: Insights from clinical spectrum to therapeutic challenges. Int J Surg Case Rep. 2025 Jun; 131:111354.
PMID: 40311371
The effect of resection of gliomas of the primary motor and sensory cortex on functional recovery and seizure outcome: A 10-year retrospective study.
The effect of resection of gliomas of the primary motor and sensory cortex on functional recovery and seizure outcome: A 10-year retrospective study. Surg Neurol Int. 2024; 15:228.
PMID: 39108387
Severe hyponatremia and bilateral sequential facial palsy: A case report.
Severe hyponatremia and bilateral sequential facial palsy: A case report. Radiol Case Rep. 2023 Nov; 18(11):4062-4065.
PMID: 37701361
Awake Versus Asleep Craniotomy for Patients With Eloquent Glioma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Awake Versus Asleep Craniotomy for Patients With Eloquent Glioma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Neurosurgery. 2024 01 01; 94(1):38-52.
PMID: 37489887
Craniocervical Rosai-Dorfman Disease presentation: Case report and review of literature.
Craniocervical Rosai-Dorfman Disease presentation: Case report and review of literature. Neurocirugia (Engl Ed). 2023 Jul-Aug; 34(4):203-207.
PMID: 36774252
Orofacial dyskinesia post resection of pineal gland tumor.
Orofacial dyskinesia post resection of pineal gland tumor. J Surg Case Rep. 2020 Dec; 2020(12):rjaa465.
PMID: 33391638
Bruns nystagmus occurring after resection of a giant cerebellopontine angle acoustic neuroma.
Bruns nystagmus occurring after resection of a giant cerebellopontine angle acoustic neuroma. Neurochirurgie. 2021 Sep; 67(5):500-502.
PMID: 33276002
Prognostic significance of O6-methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation and isocitrate dehydrogenase-1 (IDH-1) mutation in glioblastoma multiforme patients: A single-center experience in the Middle East region.
Prognostic significance of O6-methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation and isocitrate dehydrogenase-1 (IDH-1) mutation in glioblastoma multiforme patients: A single-center experience in the Middle East region. Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2019 07; 182:92-97.
PMID: 31108342
Deciphering glycomics and neuroproteomic alterations in experimental traumatic brain injury: Comparative analysis of aspirin and clopidogrel treatment.
Deciphering glycomics and neuroproteomic alterations in experimental traumatic brain injury: Comparative analysis of aspirin and clopidogrel treatment. Electrophoresis. 2016 06; 37(11):1562-76.
PMID: 27249377
Teacher of the year , Department of neurosurgery
Johns Hopkins University
2025
Surgeon of the year award
Suburban hospital, Johns Hopkins University
2025
Physician of the Year award
Johns Hopkins University
2024
Wilder Penfield Award
Montreal Neurological institute, McGill University
1989
Mc Naughton Award
Montreal Neurological institute,Mc Gill University
1989