People

• • Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery and Bioengineering
• • Director, Minimally Invasive Spine and Robotics Surgery
• • Associate Program Director, Neurological Surgery Residency
• • Co-Director, Complex and Minimally Invasive Spine Deformity Fellowship

• • Professor of Neurological Surgery
• • Director, UPMC Neurosurgical Spine Services
• • Director, Neurosurgery Residency Training Program
• • Co-Director, Spine Fellowship Program

Dr. Qazi Zeeshan received his medical degree from the Institute of Medical Science and completed his residency at King George's Medical University, followed by fellowships at Harborview Medical Center, SUNY University at Buffalo, and Mayo Clinic.

Joined the University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurological Surgery residency program in July 2019 after graduating with research distinction from the University of Iowa. Currently a CAST and AO spine accredited complex and minimally invasive spine fellow and founder/CEO of BioForce Spine LLC.

Joined the University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurological Surgery residency program in July 2019 after earning his medical degree from Vanderbilt University. Focuses on minimally invasive spine surgery and machine learning applications in spine surgery.

Joined the University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurological Surgery residency program in July 2019. Graduated with distinction from UCSF School of Medicine. Research focuses on traumatic brain injury biomarkers and genetic factors in neurotrauma.

Joined the University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurological Surgery residency program in July 2020 after graduating from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

Joined the University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurological Surgery residency program in July of 2020. He graduated from Colgate University in 2012 with honors in cellular neuroscience.

Joined the University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurological Surgery residency program in July of 2021. He completed the five-year Physician Scientist Training Program (PSTP), and was awarded The Theodore Kurze, MD, award for Excellence in Neurological Surgery and Clinical Neurosciences.

Specializes in neurosurgery and is a certified physician assistant by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. She practices at UPMC Neurological Institute – Presbyterian.

Specializes in neurosurgery and is a certified physician assistant by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. He practices at UPMC Neurological Institute – Presbyterian and UPMC Shadyside.

Previously specialized in neurosurgery. Practiced at University of Pittsburgh Physicians, Department of Neurosurgery and was affiliated with UPMC Presbyterian and UPMC Shadyside.

Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Previously completed neurosurgery residency training. Outside of medicine, Ricardo enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing baseball, softball, practicing martial arts, tennis, volleyball, weight lifting, and outdoor activities.

Previously completed the University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurological Surgery residency program. Although raised in Pittsburgh, Dr. Nayar moved to Gainesville, Fla. for high school and college before returning for residency training.

Dr. Raj Lavadi previously worked at University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in SCOLI. His research focused on personalized spine care and using advanced imaging to identify TBI biomarkers.

Dr. Rida Mitha previously worked in Neurological Surgery at University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, studying Neurotrauma, Neurophysiology, Spine and Healthcare Disparities.

Rohit Kumar was previously a research fellow in SCOLI and is a biology graduate from New Jersey Institute of Technology. His research focused on using big data to improve neurosurgical outcomes.

Neuroscience graduate from Carnegie Mellon University who previously worked as a research coordinator focusing on sports medicine, deformity, and TBI research.

He graduated summa cum laude from Union College in a combined 8-year BS/MD/MBA, majoring in Political Science and Chemistry, and minoring in Psychology. He also earned his MBA in Healthcare Management while he was at Union. His areas of research interests include cerebrovascular, endovascular, and spinal neurosurgery. Avi is the co-founder of NeurosurGen Inc. (www.NeurosurGen.com), a project that aims to compile training lineage for neurosurgeons across the globe. This groundbreaking initiative received significant funding from the National Research and Education Foundation (NREF), enabling the establishment of NeurosurGen Inc. He was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is also an Eagle Scout and enjoys spending time outdoors kayaking, camping, biking, and skiing.

Dr. Elsayed is an award-winning neurosurgeon with advanced fellowship training in endoscopic, minimally invasive, and complex reconstructive spine surgery. He completed his medical degree at the University of Central Florida and neurosurgery residency at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, followed by fellowship training at Washington University in St. Louis. He is currently Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine and practices at Och Spine at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens.

Dr. Shah received his medical degree from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, where he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. He completed neurosurgery residency training at Wayne State University and Rutgers NJMS/RWJBarnabas Health, followed by a fellowship in Complex and Minimally Invasive Spine Deformity Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He also completed an AO Spine Fellowship and obtained the AO Global Spine Diploma.