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
Characterizing intradural spinal metastasis in the metastatic cascade: clinical course, dissemination timing, and molecular features in 69 patients.
Characterizing intradural spinal metastasis in the metastatic cascade: clinical course, dissemination timing, and molecular features in 69 patients. J Neurooncol. 2026 Sep 18; 179(3).
PMID: 42754719
Detailing long-term functional morbidity after resecting mobile spine chordomas across 35 patients.
Detailing long-term functional morbidity after resecting mobile spine chordomas across 35 patients. J Neurosurg Spine. 2026 Jul 24; 1-10.
PMID: 42497460
A prospective, open-label feasibility study protocol of home-based transcranial direct current stimulation for major depressive disorder in elective lumbar spine surgery candidates.
A prospective, open-label feasibility study protocol of home-based transcranial direct current stimulation for major depressive disorder in elective lumbar spine surgery candidates. Front Hum Neurosci. 2026; 20:1860063.
PMID: 42370066
Surgical Management of Spinal Chondrosarcoma: Retrospective Case Series and Systematic Review of the Literature.
Surgical Management of Spinal Chondrosarcoma: Retrospective Case Series and Systematic Review of the Literature. Oper Neurosurg. 2026 Jun 03.
PMID: 42233669
Controlled release of rhBMP-2 from nanoparticle-loaded biomimetic graft promotes bone regeneration in a rat spinal fusion model.
Controlled release of rhBMP-2 from nanoparticle-loaded biomimetic graft promotes bone regeneration in a rat spinal fusion model. Biomater Adv. 2026 Nov; 188:214989.
PMID: 42259233
Presacral meningocele presenting after rupture into the retroperitoneal space with acute debilitating intracranial hypotension: illustrative case.
Presacral meningocele presenting after rupture into the retroperitoneal space with acute debilitating intracranial hypotension: illustrative case. J Neurosurg Case Lessons. 2026 May 25; 11(21).
PMID: 42184427
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 Jun 01; 100(6):942-948.
PMID: 41860348
Age-related differences in surgical outcomes for traumatic central cord syndrome: a multi-institutional causal machine learning analysis.
Age-related differences in surgical outcomes for traumatic central cord syndrome: a multi-institutional causal machine learning analysis. J Neurosurg Spine. 2026 May 08; 45(2):267-276.
PMID: 42102409
Biomarkers in Spinal Metastasis of Breast Cancer: Insights Into Survival and Functional Outcomes.
Biomarkers in Spinal Metastasis of Breast Cancer: Insights Into Survival and Functional Outcomes. J Clin Neurol. 2026 May; 22(3):343-354.
PMID: 42108850
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; 45(1):79-88.
PMID: 42030565
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