Hussam Abou-Al-Shaar, MD

  • Chief Resident

Hussam Abou-Al-Shaar, MD, received his medical degree from Alfaisal University College of Medicine in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia where he graduated summa cum laude, valedictorian and the top of his class.

During medical school, Dr. Abou-Al-Shaar spent several years in the neurogenetics lab studying the genetics and novel therapeutic treatments for Parkinson’s disease patients. After graduating from medical school, Dr. Abou-Al-Shaar completed 10 months of post-doctoral research fellowship in the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Utah and a year of neurosurgery internship at Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine in New York.

Dr. Abou-Al-Shaar is an avid researcher with deep interest in skull base and cerebrovascular neurosurgery and stereotactic radiosurgery. To date, he has published over 180 peer-reviewed articles and 28 book chapters and has spoken at several national and international conferences, with over 120 oral and poster presentations. He is also the section editor on two published books, including the tumor section in Neurosurgery Case Review: Questions and Answers, published by Thieme Publishing in January of 2020. He edited The Surgical Handbook, published by Thieme Publishing in July of 2020.

Dr. Abou-Al-Shaar is actively involved in teaching medical students interested in neuroscience and neurosurgery. He was recently selected by the Congress of Neurological Surgeons to serve as the Neurosurgery Publications resident fellow and was also selected as a member of the Council of State Neurosurgical Societies. His hobbies outside of neurosurgery include soccer, tennis, and traveling.

Dr. Abou-Al-Shaar’s publications can be reviewed through the National Library of Medicine’s publication database.

Specialized Areas of Interest

Skull base, cerebrovascular neurosurgery, and stereotactic radiosurgery.

Professional Organization Membership

American Association of Neurological Surgeons
American Medical Association
Congress of Neurological Surgeons
North American Skull Base Society
Skull Base Congress

Education & Training

  • MD, Alfaisal University College of Medicine, 2017

Honors & Awards

  • Lunsford & Leksell Radiosurgery Award, AANS, 2023
  • Neurosurgery Publications resident fellow, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, 2022-23
  • North American Skull Base Society Research Grant, North American Skull Base Society Annual Meeting, 2022.
  • Top Operative Technique Poster Award, Functional Section, Congress of Neurological Surgeons 2021 Annual Meeting, 2021.
  • Finalist, The Virginia Kaufman Pain Research Challenge, 2021
  • Best Resident Teacher Award, Department of Neurosurgery, Hofstra, 2018-19.
  • Summa Cum Laude and Valedictorian, Alfaisal University 2017
  • Academic Dean’s List Scholarship, Alfaisal, 2010-17
  • Best Poster Presentation, Alfaisal University Annual Research Day Poster Competition, 2015 & 2016
  • Teacher of the year, Alfaisal University, 2012

Research Activities

Dr. Abou-Al-Shaar is looking at the outcomes of patients who underwent endoscopic endonasal surgery for pituitary adenomas, chordomas, meningiomas, among other pathologies. Additionally, he is investigating the role of combined transcranial and endoscopic endonasal approaches for various skull base lesions to determine their efficacy and limitation. Dr. Abou-Al-Shaar is investigating the role of a novel imaging tool in determining visual recovery and outcomes following endoscopic endonasal surgery for skull base lesions. He is also interested in studying the effects of hormonal medications of the growth of meningiomas as well as elucidating the role of Gamma Knife radiosurgery in the management of various skull base and cerebrovascular pathologies.