Ahmed Awad, MD

Ahmed was born in Kansas and lived in Manhattan, “The Little Apple,” for a few years before his family moved to Germany and then to Palestine, where he attended the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of An-Najah National University. This is where he developed an interest in neurosurgery and neuroscience research, and volunteered for several neurosurgery humanitarian medical missions.

After graduating from medical school and completing an internship year, he moved back to the U.S., where he received extensive research experience and collaborated with several institutions across the country. He was awarded two nationally competitive grants for intracranial aneurysm research in which he studied the functional genomics and molecular pathways involved in aneurysm formation. He has published over 60 works in the field of neurosurgery, including peer-reviewed scientific papers, conference abstracts, and book chapters. He also served as co-editor of a neurosurgery textbook on scoliosis.

In his free time, Ahmed enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, and watching soccer, especially Manchester United.

Ministry of Education Award for high school excellence on national level, 2006

Full fellowship award for summer school of Infectious Diseases & Vaccination, Antwerpen University, Belgium, 2009

University award for academic excellence in medical school that waived 33% of university tuition fees

Second prize award in ZEISS and Cureus Intraoperative Fluorescence Research Publishing Competition, 2014

Award for the best scientific abstract in the American Academy of Neurological and Orthopedic Surgeons (AANOS) conference, Troy, Michigan, 2016

$20,000 grant, Brain Aneurysm Foundation (BAF), 2016

50,000 grant, Brain Aneurysm Medical Research Award, The BEE Foundation, 2016

$30,000 grant, Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation (NREF), 2021

Publications

Single-cell immune landscape of human atherosclerotic plaques. Fernandez DM, Rahman AH, Fernandez NF, Chudnovskiy A, Amir ED, Amadori L, Khan NS, Wong CK, Shamailova R, Hill CA, Wang Z, Remark R, Li JR, Pina C, Faries C, Awad AJ, Moss N, Bjorkegren JLM, Kim-Schulze S, Gnjatic S, Ma'ayan A, Mocco J, Faries P, Merad M, Giannarelli C.Nat Med. 2019 Oct;25(10):1576-1588. doi: 10.1038/s41591-019-0590-4. Epub 2019 Oct 7.PMID: 31591603.

Spinal Cord Stimulation for Neurogenic Claudication Associated with Lumbar Spinal Stenosis. Awad AJ, Jex B, Kirchen G, Peterson S, Endrizzi SA, Pahapill PA. Pain Physician. 2021 Dec;24(8):E1247-E1253.PMID: 3479365.

Radiological Imaging Transmission via Smartphones by Neurosurgery Residents in the United States. Awad AJ, Walker L, Lew SM.World Neurosurg. 2021 Oct;154:e437-e442. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2021.07.052. Epub 2021 Jul 17.PMID: 34280543.

Low Rate of Intrathecal Baclofen Pump Catheter-Related Complications: Long-Term Study in Over 100 Adult Patients Associated With Reinforced Catheter. Feller CN, Awad AJ, Nelson MES, Ketchum N, Pahapill PA.Neuromodulation. 2021 Oct;24(7):1176-1180. doi: 10.1111/ner.13412. Epub 2021 May 11.PMID: 33974333

CT Perfusion collateral index in assessment of collaterals in acute ischemic stroke with delayed presentation: Comparison to single phase CTA. Nael K, Sakai Y, Larson J, Goldstein J, Deutsch J, Awad AJ, Pawha P, Aggarwal A, Fifi J, Deleacy R, Yaniv G, Wintermark M, Liebeskind DS, Shoirah H, Mocco J. J Neuroradiol. 2021 Nov 17:S0150-9861(21)00166-8. doi: 10.1016/j.neurad.2021.11.002. Online ahead of print.PMID: 3480056

Management and survival trends for adult patients with malignant gliomas in the setting of multiple primary tumors: a population based analysis. Nguyen, HS, Doan, NB, Gelsomino, M, Shabani, S, Awad, AJ, Kaushal, M, Mortazavi, MM.J. Neurooncol. 2019;141 (1):213-221. doi: 10.1007/s11060-018-03028-4. PubMed PMID:30397742.

Glioblastoma in the setting of prior lower grade gliomas - insights from SEER database. Nguyen, HS, Best, B, Doan, NB, Gelsomino, M, Shabani, S, Awad, AJ, Kaushal, M, Mortazavi, MM.Oncotarget. 2018;9 (70):33271-33277. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.26014. PubMed PMID:30279958 PubMed Central PMC6161794.

Subependymal Giant Cell Astrocytoma: A Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program-Based Analysis from 2004 to 2013. Nguyen, HS, Doan, NB, Gelsomino, M, Shabani, S, Awad, AJ, Best, B, Kaushal, M, Mortazavi, MM.World Neurosurg. 2018;118 :e263-e268. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2018.06.169. PubMed PMID:29966782.

Intracranial hemangioblastoma - A SEER-based analysis 2004-2013. Nguyen, HS, Doan, NB, Gelsomino, M, Shabani, S, Awad, AJ, Kaushal, M, Mortazavi, MM.Oncotarget. 2018;9 (46):28009-28015. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.25534. PubMed PMID:29963258 PubMed Central PMC6021332.

Molecular Markers of Therapy-Resistant Glioblastoma and Potential Strategy to Combat Resistance. Nguyen, HS, Shabani, S, Awad, AJ, Kaushal, M, Doan, N.Int J Mol Sci. 2018;19 (6):. doi: 10.3390/ijms19061765. PubMed PMID:29899215 PubMed Central PMC6032212.

Mechanism for the Rapid Spontaneous Resolution of an Acute Subdural Hematoma and Transformation into a Subdural Hygroma. Gelsomino, M, Awad, AJ, Gerndt, C, Nguyen, HS, Doan, N, Mueller, W.World Neurosurg. 2018;115 :282-284. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2018.04.029. PubMed PMID:29660550.

Molecular Targeting of Acid Ceramidase in Glioblastoma: A Review of Its Role, Potential Treatment, and Challenges. Nguyen, HS, Awad, AJ, Shabani, S, Doan, N.Pharmaceutics. 2018;10 (2):. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics10020045. PubMed PMID:29642535 PubMed Central PMC6027516.

Stereotactic laser ablation of amygdala and hippocampus using a Leksell stereotactic frame. Awad, AJ, Nguyen, HS, Arocho-Quinones, E, Doan, N, Mueller, W, Lew, SM.Neurosurg Focus. 2018;44 (VideoSuppl2):V1. doi: 10.3171/2018.4.FocusVid.17712. PubMed PMID:29570385.

Mobile Interventional Stroke Teams Lead to Faster Treatment Times for Thrombectomy in Large Vessel Occlusion. Wei, D, Oxley, TJ, Nistal, DA, Mascitelli, JR, Wilson, N, Stein, L, Liang, J, Turkheimer, LM, Morey, JR, Schwegel, C, Awad, AJ, Shoirah, H, Kellner, CP, De Leacy, RA, Mayer, SA, Tuhrim, S, Paramasivam, S, Mocco, J, Fifi, JT.Stroke. 2017;48 (12):3295-3300. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.117.018149. PubMed PMID:29146873.

A step-down unit transfer protocol for low-risk aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Chartrain, AG, Awad, AJ, Sarkiss, CA, Feng, R, Liu, Y, Mocco, J, Bederson, JB, Mayer, SA, Dangayach, NS, Gordon, E.Neurosurg Focus. 2017;43 (5):E15. doi: 10.3171/2017.8.FOCUS17448. PubMed PMID:29088946.

Endovascular management of fusiform aneurysms in the posterior circulation: the era of flow diversion. Awad, AJ, Mascitelli, JR, Haroun, RR, De Leacy, RA, Fifi, JT, Mocco, J.Neurosurg Focus. 2017;42 (6):E14. doi: 10.3171/2017.3.FOCUS1748. PubMed PMID:28565985.

Novel and emerging technologies for endovascular thrombectomy. Chartrain, AG, Awad, AJ, Mascitelli, JR, Shoirah, H, Oxley, TJ, Feng, R, Gallitto, M, De Leacy, R, Fifi, JT, Kellner, CP.Neurosurg Focus. 2017;42 (4):E12. doi: 10.3171/2017.1.FOCUS16518. PubMed PMID:28366058.

Deep brain stimulation of the ventralis intermedius nucleus for the treatment of essential tremor. Chartrain, AG, Awad, AJ, Rasouli, JJ, Rothrock, RJ, Kopell, BH.Neurosurg Focus. 2017;42 (VideoSuppl2):V3. doi: 10.3171/2017.4.FocusVid.16512. PubMed PMID:28366025.

Gravity-Dependent Supine Position for the Lateral Supracerebellar Infratentorial Approach: An Alternative to the Prone and Sitting Positions: Operative Nuance. Awad, AJ, Zaidi, HA, Albuquerque, FC, Abla, AA.Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown). 2016;12 (4):317-325. doi: 10.1227/NEU.0000000000001327. PubMed PMID:29506276.

Impact of Neurosurgery Medical Student Research Grants on Neurosurgery Residency Choice. Awad, AJ, Sarkiss, CA, Kellner, CP, Steinberger, J, Mascitelli, JR, Oermann, EK, Pain, M, De Leacy, R, Shrivastava, R, Bederson, JB, Mocco, J.World Neurosurg. 2016;92 :349-352. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2016.05.029. PubMed PMID:27216922.

Contemporary Hospitalization Rate Among Adults With Complex Congenital Heart Disease. Cedars, A, Benjamin, L, Vyhmeister, R, Harris, K, Bradley, EA, Wadia, S, Awad, AJ, Novak, E.World J Pediatr Congenit Heart Surg. 2016;7 (3):334-43. doi: 10.1177/2150135116639541. PubMed PMID:27142401.

Modified Antiplatelet Regimen Trial for Elective Coil Embolization for Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms. Awad, AJ, Kellner, CP, Mascitelli, JR, Fifi, JT, Bederson, JB, Mocco, J.World Neurosurg. 2016;90 :684. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2016.04.076. PubMed PMID:27133093.

Radiation-induced brain injury: low-hanging fruit for neuroregeneration. Burns, TC, Awad, AJ, Li, MD, Grant, GA.Neurosurg Focus. 2016;40 (5):E3. doi: 10.3171/2016.2.FOCUS161. PubMed PMID:27132524.

Use of Intramedullary K-Wire to Enhance Fibular Graft Placement in 4-Level Thoracolumbar Corpectomy for Pott Disease: Case Report and Review of Literature. Forbes, JA, Williams, J, Awad, AJ, Tiger, M, Anderson, B, Finnan, R.World Neurosurg. 2016;89 :404-11. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2016.02.026. PubMed PMID:26875650.

No Early Mobilization After Stroke: Lessons Learned from the AVERT Trial. Awad, AJ, Kellner, CP, Mascitelli, JR, Bederson, JB, Mocco, J.World Neurosurg. 2016;87 :474. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2016.01.043. PubMed PMID:26828459.

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