Georgios A. Zenonos, MD

  • Assistant Professor
  • Neurosurgical Co-Director, Center for Cranial Base Surgery
  • Neurosurgical Co-Director, Pituitary Center for Excellence
  • Director, Cranial Nerve Program
  • Director, Clinical Operations, UPMC Presbyterian
  • Co-Director, Neurosurgery Skull Base Fellowship

Georgios A. Zenonos, MD, joined the University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurological Surgery as associate director of Center for Cranial Base Surgery in July of 2019 after having received extensive formal sub-specialization in the field. He is one of a handful of neurosurgeons to have completed two fellowships in skull base surgery, one focusing on endoscopic and minimally invasive approaches at the University of Pittsburgh, and another focusing on complex cranial neurosurgery and cerebrovascular neurosurgery at the University of Miami with the renown Jacques J. Morcos, MD, and Roberto C. Heros, MD.

Dr. Zenonos completed his internship, residency and chief residency in neurosurgery at the University of Pittsburgh from 2011-18. During this time, he received several distinctions and awards, including an award for achieving the highest score in the nation on the American Board of Neurological Surgery written exam. Other awards include the Robert J. Dempsey Award by the CNS/AANS Joint Cerebrovascular Section, the University of Pittsburgh Stuart N. Rowe Research Award, first place in the North American Skull Base Society knowledge competition, and four Walter L. Copeland Awards for cranial research. In addition, Dr. Zenonos has published extensively, has given numerous presentations nationally and internationally, and has been frequently invited as a scientific reviewer by prominent neurosurgical journals.

Before residency, Dr. Zenonos, a native of Greece, graduated as valedictorian from the University of Athens School of Medicine in Greece, which he attended with a scholarship from the Ministry of Education. Winning the Alexander S. Onassis Award, he then pursued a basic science post-doctoral research fellowship at Harvard Medical School to study the mechanisms of programmed cell death.

“I understand that having to see a neurosurgeon, or needing a neurosurgical procedure has to be one of the most frightening experiences in someone’s life,” Dr. Zenonos says. “My goal is to always to provide the best care possible for each and every one of my patients, one that utilizes the latest technologies and techniques, and one that is founded by evidence-based medicine – the same care I would want for my family, my friends, or myself. Putting myself in the patient’s shoes and understanding the unique difficulties they are facing is always step one.”

Dr. Zenonos' publications can be reviewed through the National Library of Medicine's publication database.

Specialized Areas of Interest

Endoscopic endonasal neurosurgery; minimally invasive neurosurgery; skull base tumors; skull base pathology; neuro-oncology; cerebrovascular neurosurgery; cranial nerve disorders; radiosurgery.

Board Certifications

American Board of Neurological Surgery

Hospital Privileges

UPMC Altoona
UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh
UPMC Hamot
UPMC Mercy
UPMC Presbyterian
UPMC Shadyside

Professional Organization Membership

American Association of Neurological Surgeons
AANS/CNS Tumor Section
AANS/CNS Cerebrovascular Section
Congress of Neurological Surgeons
North American Skull Base Society
Alexander S. Onassis Scholars Society
SWOG Cancer Research Network

Professional Activities

Director, Neurosurgery Preceptorship Program, University of Pittsburgh
Director, Integrated Life Sciences Neurosurgery ENT Course, University of Pittsburgh
Grant Reviewer, University of Pittsburgh
Designated Physician, Pituitary Center of Excellence

Education & Training

  • MD, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Medicine, 2002-08
  • Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship, Harvard Medical School, 2009-10
  • Residency, neurological surgery, UPMC, 2011-18
  • Fellowship, Minimally Invasive, and Open Skull Base Neurosurgery, University of Pittsburgh, 2015-17
  • Fellowship, Complex Skull Base and Cerebrovascular Neurosurgery, University of Miami, 2019

Honors & Awards

  • Best Basic Science Abstract, NASBS meeting, 2021 (senior author)
  • Best Neurosurgical Fellow Teacher Award, University of Miami, 2019
  • First Place, North American Skull Base Society Jeopardy Knowledge Competition, 2018
  • p clinical abstract presentation shortlist, North American Skull Base Society Annual Meeting, 2018
  • The Walter L. Copeland Award for Cranial Research, 2012-13, 2015, 2017
  • Runner-Up Presentation Award, Stuart N. Rowe Society Lectureship, 2017
  • Best Presentation Award, Stuart Rowe Society Lectureship, 2016
  • Award for achieving the highest score in the nation, ABNS Primary Examination, 2016
  • Chordoma Foundation Travel Scholarship, 2016
  • Robert J. Dempsey Joint AANS/CNS Cerebrovascular Section Award, 2015
  • 3rd Best Abstract – Stereotactic and Functional Section, American Association of Neurological Surgery Annual Scientific Meeting, 2014
  • Alexander S. Onassis Award, 2010
  • Valedictorian, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine, 2008
  • National Scholarship Foundation Award: 2003-08
  • Baronos Award for Excellence in Pharmacology, 2005
  • Ministry of Education Scholarship, 2002-08
  • First ranking graduate, Military Officer Academy, 2001
  • National Physics Olympiad Prize, 2000