IU School of Medicine names new chair to lead Department of Neurological Surgery

INDIANAPOLIS—The Indiana University School of Medicine has named a nationally-recognized neurosurgeon and one of its longtime faculty leaders as the next chair of the Department of Neurological Surgery.

Mitesh V. Shah, MD, FAANS, has been named the new chair, after serving as interim chair of the department since April 2022. He also serves as co-director of the IU School of Medicine/IU Health Neuroscience Institute.

Shah joined the IU School of Medicine faculty in 1994 as the only fellowship-trained skull base surgeon—specializing in the technique that is widely applied for treating brain tumors. He was recruited to the school to grow the subspeciality of neurovascular and skull base surgery. In those efforts, he played a pivotal role in forming a strong collaboration between subspecialties—creating a multidisciplinary team that has transformed the program from a small group to a nationally-recognized powerhouse.

“Throughout his tenure at the IU School of Medicine, Dr. Shah has been a transformative leader and educator who has played a pivotal role in growing the Department of Neurological Surgery’s strength across our three mission areas,” said Jay L. Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA, dean of the IU School of Medicine and Executive Vice President of University Clinical Affairs for IU. “As we look to build on the strength of our neuroscience programs across disciplines, Dr. Shah’s commitment to collaboration will be critical in driving that growth.”

Over the course of his career, Shah has demonstrated a passion for education—serving as a mentor for medical students, residents, fellows, undergraduates and nursing students. Under his guidance as the department’s director of education, the IU School of Medicine students regularly are among the highest ranked in the country for placement into neurosurgery training programs. With an eye always on innovation, Shah developed a multimedia platform to teach the neurologic exam for medical students and residents.

Shah has had extensive involvement in the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, serving on its executive committee, as well as the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. In 2021, he was named the 74th president of the Neurosurgical Society of America.

“Collaborative, innovative and multidisciplinary approaches should be the hallmark of any great neurosurgical department. The School of Medicine is poised to truly move the needle in this very important area of research and clinical care,” said Shah. “I am honored by the opportunity to serve as chair of the Department of Neurological Surgery, and eager to continue leading this world-class group of researchers and physicians.”

A 1983 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh with a bachelor’s in biochemistry, Shah received his MD in 1987 from Temple University School of Medicine. He completed an internship in general surgery and a residency in neurological surgery at the University of Minnesota Medical School. He later completed a fellowship in cranial base surgery at George Washington University School of Medicine. He joined the faculty at the IU School of Medicine in 1994, and is currently the Paul B. Nelson Professor of Neurological Surgery.

About IU School of Medicine

IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.