Janesh Karnati, MD

Janesh Karnati, MD, joined the University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurological Surgery residency program on July 1, 2026, after earning his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. He previously completed his undergraduate studies in Medical Humanities at Indiana University, graduating with highest honors.

During medical school, Dr. Karnati developed a strong academic interest in spine outcomes research. He served as Director of the Spine Outcomes and Aging Laboratory under the mentorship of Drs. Owoicho Adogwa and Joseph Cheng, where he led numerous research initiatives utilizing both national and institutional databases to optimize surgical outcomes and improve management of degenerative and complex spinal pathologies. His work included leading a first-of-its-kind randomized controlled trial investigating genotype-guided opioid therapy in spine surgery patients. Additionally, he collaborated with cerebrovascular researchers at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, focusing on the neuropsychological evaluation of pediatric moyamoya disease. His research has resulted in multiple publications in high-impact journals, presentations at national conferences, and contributions to book chapters.

Dr. Karnati was born in Chennai, India, and raised in Greenwood, Indiana. Outside of neurosurgery, he enjoys tennis, rock climbing, photography, weightlifting, and spending time with family and friends.