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Kalil Abdullah, MD, Neurosurgery, Pittsburgh, PA, William P. Clements, Jr. University Hospital

KalilGAbdullahMDMSc

Neurosurgery • Pittsburgh, PA

Brain & Spinal Tumor

Assistant Professor

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Summary

  • Kalil G. Abdullah, M.D., M.Sc., is a neurosurgeon and scientist at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (as of 3/1/2022). He specializes in the treatment of adult brain tumors.

    Dr. Abdullah treats brain tumors using microsurgery techniques and awake craniotomies to map intricate regions of the brain during surgery. He also uses endoscopic and tubular approaches, intraoperative fluorescence, and laser therapy to provide minimally invasive surgery options to his patients.

    Dr. Abdullah is an NIH R01-funded investigator and runs a research laboratory that develops new drug and treatment targets for brain cancers. He has been the principal investigator for numerous clinical trials for glioma and is actively involved in bringing promising brain tumor drugs from the laboratory to early stage clinical trials. He has published more than 100 research articles and co-edited Glioblastoma, a seminal textbook on malignant gliomas.

    Dr. Abdullah earned his medical degree at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, where he was an NIH/Howard Hughes Medical Institute Scholar. He completed neurosurgery residency in neurological surgery at the University of Pennsylvania and then received advanced training in open and endoscopic neurosurgical oncology through a fellowship at the Wellington Hospital in New Zealand. He completed an additional postdoctoral research fellowship in stem cell biology at the University of Pennsylvania, and holds a master’s degree from the London School of Economics.

Education & Training

  • University of Pennsylvania Health System
    University of Pennsylvania Health SystemResidency, Neurological Surgery, 2012 - 2019
  • Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine
    Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of MedicineMD, 2007 - 2012
  • Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
    Case Western Reserve University School of MedicineClass of 2012
  • Clinical Center at the National Institutes of Health
    Clinical Center at the National Institutes of HealthFellowship, Fellow, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 2009 - 2010
  • Arizona State University
    Arizona State UniversityB.S., Molecular Bioscience and Biotechnology, Summa Cum Laude, 2005 - 2007

Certifications & Licensure

  • PA State Medical License
    PA State Medical License 2014 - 2024
  • TX State Medical License
    TX State Medical License 2019 - 2024
  • American Board of Neurological Surgery Neurological Surgery

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

  • Emerging Investigator Award Academy of Neurological Surgery, 2020
  • The Alfred P. Maschke Award for Excellence in the Art and Practice of Medicine Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, 2012
  • TEDMED Scholarship Award and Attendee TED, 2012
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Publications & Presentations

PubMed

Journal Articles

  • Quality of Life Outcomes Following Resection of Adult Intramedullary Spinal Cord Tumors  
    Xiao R, Miller J, Lubelski D, Mroz TE, Benzel EC, Neurosurgery, 1/20/2015
  • A systematic review of lumbar fusion rates with and without the use of rhBMP-2  
    Galimberti F, Lubelski D, Torre-Healy A, Nowacki A, Benzel E, Mroz TE, Spine, 1/7/2015
  • Reducing surgical site infections following craniotomy: Examination of the use of topical vancomycin  
    Attiah MA, Olsen, AS, Richardson A, Lucas TH, Journal of Neurosurgery, 1/1/2015
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Books/Book Chapters

  • Glioblastoma 
    Steven Brem, MD and Kalil G. Abdullah, MDElsevier, PhiladelphiaEdition 1e,2016
  • Netter’s Anatomy: The Musculoskeletal System 
    Chapter: The Cervical Spine 
    Abdullah KG and Mroz TEElsevierEdition 2nd,2014
  • Spine Surgery- Techniques, Complication Avoidance, and Management 
    Chapter: Intraoperative Crisis Management in Spine Surgery: What to Do When Things Go Bad 
    Tsai E, Benzel EC, Steinmetz MPElsevierEdition 3rd,2012
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Abstracts/Posters

  • Acute Postoperative Sialadenitis after Retrosigmoid Craniotomies
    Phillips HW, Learned KO, Lee JYK, American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, 1/1/2015
  • Cost benefit estimates of the use of topical vancomycin to prevent surgical site infection after craniotomy
    Attiah M, Ramayya A, Richardson A, Lucas TH, American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, 1/1/2015
  • Long-term Utility and Complication Profile of Open Craniotomy for Biopsy in Patients with Idiopathic Encephalitis
    Li Y, Bohman LE, Macyszyn L, Thawani JP, Balu R, Lucas TH, American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, 1/1/2015
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Lectures

  • Cost benefit estimates of the use of topical vancomycin to prevent surgical site infection after craniotomy 
    Washington, DC - 1/1/2015
  • Fusion for Lumbar Facet Cyst 
    1/1/2015
  • Propensity analysis of patients receiving prothrombin complex before emergent neurosurgical procedures 
    Hershey, PA - 1/1/2015
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Authored Content

  • The Effect of Underlying Liver Disease on Perioperative Outcomes Following Craniotomy for Tumor: An American College of Surgeons National Quality Improvement Program AnalysisApril 2018
  • The Effect of Underlying Liver Disease on Perioperative Outcomes Following Craniotomy for Tumor: An American College of Surgeons National Quality Improvement Program AnalysisApril 2018

Press Mentions

  • Vulnerability in Brain Tumors May Open Door to New Treatments
    Vulnerability in Brain Tumors May Open Door to New TreatmentsSeptember 26th, 2022
  • UTSW Receives New CPRIT Funding to Advance Cancer Research
    UTSW Receives New CPRIT Funding to Advance Cancer ResearchNovember 19th, 2021
  • A Pathogenic UFSP2 Variant in an Autosomal Recessive Form of Pediatric Neurodevelopmental Anomalies and Epilepsy
    A Pathogenic UFSP2 Variant in an Autosomal Recessive Form of Pediatric Neurodevelopmental Anomalies and EpilepsyJanuary 20th, 2021
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Grant Support

  • T32 Postdoctoral GrantNational Institutes of Health2016–Present
  • American Medical Association Foundation Seed GrantAmerican Medical Association Foundation2016–2017

Professional Memberships

Hospital Affiliations

Dr. Kalil Abdullah, Dr. Kalil Abdullah, MD, Dr. K Abdullah, Dr. Kalil G Abdullah