Costas G. Hadjipanayis, MD, PhD, is a board-certified neurosurgeon who has devoted his entire career to the treatment of brain tumor patients. He completed his neurosurgical residency and graduate PhD training at the University of Pittsburgh with additional neurosurgical oncology training at the University of California, San Francisco.
Dr. Hadjipanayis is executive vice chair for the University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurological Surgery and has succeeded L. Dade Lunsford, MD—his mentor—as director of the UPMC Center for Image-Guided Neurosurgery. He is also co-director of the newly formed UPMC Brain Tumor Center at the Hillman Cancer Center. Dr. Hadjipanayis also directs the Brain Tumor Nanotechnology Laboratory in the Hillman Cancer Center and has been the principal investigator of multiple clinical trials and university, foundation, and NIH-funded grants focused on brain tumors.
He was recently recruited back to the University of Pittsburgh from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City where he served as the chair of neurosurgery at Mount Sinai Union Square/Beth Israel and the director of neurosurgical oncology for the Mount Sinai Health System.
Dr. Hadjipanayis has focused much of his career on innovation, translational research, and intraoperative technology development. In 2011, Dr. Hadjipanayis was the first to use 5-ALA (Gleolan) and perform fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS) in the United States and helped lead the FDA approval of Gleolan for glioma surgery in June 2017. He has also led the development of a voice-controlled robotic-assisted exoscope for neurosurgery.
He is an elected member of the American Academy of Neurological Surgeons and the Society of Neurological Surgeons (SNS). Dr. Hadjipanayis has been a tireless brain tumor advocate serving on the nonprofit boards of the Southeastern Brain Tumor Foundation (SBTF) and StacheStrong.
Dr. Hadjipanayis' publications can be reviewed through the National Library of Medicine's publication database.
Specialized Areas of Interest
Board Certifications
American Board of Neurological Surgery
Hospital Privileges
Professional Organization Membership
Professional Activities
Education & Training
- BA, Medical Scholar’s Program, University of Delaware, 1994
- MD, Sydney Kimmel Jefferson Medical College, 1998
- General Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 1999
- Gamma Knife Radiosurgery Fellowship, University of Pittsburgh 2004
- PhD, Biochemistry/Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, 2005
- Neurological Surgery Residency, University of Pittsburgh, 2006
- Surgical Neuro-oncology Fellowship, University of California, San Francisco, 2006
Honors & Awards
- Top Doctor for Neurosurgery, Castle Connolly, 2018-22
- Super Doctor, superdoctor.com, 2021-22
- Leica Award, AANS Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, 2022
- Cullman Family Award For Excellence in Physician Communication, Mount Sinai Health System, 2019
- Distinguished Physician of the Year, Hellenic Medical Society, 2019
- Inaugural Brain Tumor Biotech Young Innovator Award, Weill Cornell Medicine, 2013
- Health Care Hero Award Winner, Atlanta Business Chronicle, 2013
- Young Investigator Award, American Brain Tumor Association, 2011
- Translational Research Award, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, 2010
- Robbins Scholar Award, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, 2010
- Robert Ginsberg Surgical Oncology Award, Radiation Therapy Oncology Group, 2009
- Philip Jory Award, Southeastern Brain Tumor Foundation, 2009
- Distinguished Cancer Clinician and Scientist, Georgia Cancer Coalition, 2007
- Basic Research Fellowship Award, American Brain Tumor Association, 2006
- Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award (K08), National Institute of Health, 2005
- Inaugural Stuart Rowe Society Presentation Award, University of Pittsburgh, 2005
- Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (T32), National Institutes of Health, 2003
- Resident Teacher of the Year Award, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, 1999
- Alpha Omega Alpha, Jefferson Medical College, 1997
- Benjamin and Mary Siddons Measey Award, Jefferson Medical College, 1997
- Hobart Amory Hare Medical Student Honor Society, Jefferson Medical College, 1996
- Honor Society Award, Association of Pathology Chairs, 1996
- Bernard B. Rotko Scholarship, Jefferson Medical College, 1996
- Nicholas T. Padis Award, Hellenic University Club of Philadelphia, 1995
- Golden Key National Honor Society, University of Delaware, 1994
- Phi Beta Kappa, University of Delaware, 1994