Awais Riaz MD MA, PhD, FAAN, FAES

Epilepsy, Neurophysiology

Director, Intraoperative Neurophysiologic Monitoring, University of Utah

50 N Medical DrSalt Lake City, UT 84132
Phone+1 801-585-6387

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Summary

Dr. Awais Riaz is a Professor of Neurology (Clinical) at the University of Utah, School of Medicine in Salt Lake City. He specializes in Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology and serves as the Director of the Intraoperative Neurophysiologic Monitoring Services. After his medical education at King Edward Medical University, Pakistan, he completed Neurology residency at Southern Illinois University and Epilepsy/Clinical Neurophysiology fellowship at Washington University, St. Louis, MO. Dr. Riaz also holds a Master’s in Bioethics and Public Policy from Loyola University Chicago and PhD in Neuropharmacology from Southern Illinois University.

Throughout his career, he has held various leadership roles, including Chief, Epilepsy Division and Interim Director of the Comprehensive Epilepsy Program at the University of Utah. He served as the Physician liaison to implement Epic EMR in the ambulatory clinics across the entire University of Utah Health System. As Co-Director, he has developed and taught several Medical Humanities courses and electives.

At the national level, he has served as the Chair of the General Neurology Section of the American Academy of Neurology and Chair of the Curriculum Committee of the American Epilepsy Society. He is a graduate of the Palatucci Advocacy Leadership Forum and one of the founding members of the BrainPAC, visiting Capitol Hill annually to advocate for issues important to Neurology and patients with neurological disorders.

Dr. Riaz has contributed to multiple publications including the textbook “The Treatment of Epilepsy”, the American Academy of Neurology, Neuro Self-Assessment and the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology Committee for MOC for Epilepsy Boards.

He has received several honors, including the Regional Top Doctor award from Castle Connolly in 2014.

Education & Training

Loyola University ChicagoMasters, Bioethics and Public Policy, 2020 - 2023
WashU MedicineEpilepsy/Clinical Neurophysiology, 1995 - 1995
Southern Illinois UniversityResidency, Neurology, 1990 - 1994
Southern Illinois UniversityPh.D., Neuropharmacology, 1987 - 1993
King Edward Medical UniversityClass of 1984

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Certifications & Licensure

UT State Medical License 2004 - 2028
WY State Medical License 2013 - 2027
VA State Medical License 2016 - 2026
ID State Medical License 2019 - 2025
MD State Medical License 2016 - 2025
MT State Medical License 2019 - 2025
NV State Medical License 2020 - 2025
WA State Medical License 2021 - 2024
CO State Medical License 2020 - 2023
IL State Medical License 1990 - 2005
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology Neurology
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology Epilepsy
American Board of Clinical NeurophysiologyEpilepsy Monitoring
American Board of Clinical NeurophysiologyGeneral Central Clinical Neurophysiology
American Board of Clinical NeurophysiologyIntraoperative Monitoring
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Awards, Honors, & Recognition

Regional Top Doctor Castle Connolly, 2014
Dissertation Research Award Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, 1990
Pharmacology Fellow Southern Illinois University, Springfield, IL, 1987

Publications & Presentations

PubMed

40 citations
Ethanol withdrawal induces increased firing in inferior colliculus neurons associated with audiogenic seizure susceptibility.
Carl L. Faingold, Awais Riaz
Experimental Neurology. 1995-03-01
41 citations
Seizures during ethanol withdrawal are blocked by focal microinjection of excitant amino acid antagonists into the inferior colliculus and pontine reticular formation.
Awais Riaz, Carl L. Faingold
Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research. 1994-12-01
23 citations
Increased responsiveness of pontine reticular formation neurons associated with audiogenic seizure susceptibility during ethanol withdrawal
Carl L. Faingold, Awais Riaz
Brain Research. 1994-11-07

Journal Articles

Ethanol and neurotransmitter interactions--from molecular to integrative effects.
Faingold CL, N'Gouemo P, Riaz A, Prog Neurobiol
Glutamate in the inferior colliculus plays a critical role in audiogenic seizure initiation.
Faingold CL, Naritoku DK, Copley CA, Randall ME, Riaz A, Anderson CA, Arneric SP, Epilepsy Res
Ethanol withdrawal induces increased firing in inferior colliculus neurons associated with audiogenic seizure susceptibility.
Faingold CL, Riaz A., Exp Neurol, 1/1/1995

Books/Book Chapters

The Treatment of Epilepsy
Chapter: Lamotrigine
Page 498 - 513Riaz, A and Matsuo, FEditors: Shorvon S, Perucca E, Engel J.Blackwell Publishing , Oxford Edition 4th,2016
Neuronal Networks in Brain Function: CNS Disorders, and Therapeutics
Chapter: Neuronal Network Plasticity and Network Interactions are Critically Dependent on Conditional Multireceptive (CMR) Brain Regions
Page 387 - 402Carl L. Faingold, Awais Riaz and James StittsworthEditors: Faingold, CL and Blumenfeld, H.ElsevierEdition 1st,2014
Virtual Epilepsy Academy (VIREPA)
Chapter: Treatment in Newly Diagnosed Patients.
Benbadis, S and Riaz, A.International League Against Epilepsy2012

Abstracts/Posters

Activation of GABA receptors in the brainstem reticular formation blocks audiogenic seizures during ethanol withdrawal.
Faingold CL, Bowen DJ, Riaz A., Alcohol Clin Exp Res, 1/1/1993
Corticobasal ganglionic degeneration with white matter changes and positive oligoclonal bands in CSF.
Riaz A, Manyam BV, Annual Meeting of American Neurological Association, 1/1/1993
Effects of microinjection of excitant amino acid antagonist or GABA agonists into the brainstem reticular formation on audiogenic seizures during ethanol withdrawal.
Riaz A, Chakravarty DN, Faingold CL., Soc Neurosci Abstr, 1/1/1992

Committees

Chair, e-Learning Committee, American Epilepsy Society 2016 - Present
Member, Self-Assessment Examination (NeuroSAE) Workgroup, American Academy of Neurology 2011 - Present
Founder Member, Brain PAC (Political Action Committee), American Academy of Neurology 2007 - Present
Chair, General Neurology Section, American Academy of Neurology 2010 - 2012
Chair, Student & Resident Education Subcommittee. American Epilepsy Society 2009 - 2012