“I care for my patients akin to how I care for my family – Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
Nitin Agarwal, MD, is an associate professor in the University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurological Surgery with a secondary appointment in the University of Pittsburgh Department of Bioengineering and an affiliate faculty member at the McGowan Institute of Regenerative Medicine. As part of his educational mission, he serves as the associate program director of the UPMC/University of Pittsburgh neurological surgery residency program and co-director of the department’s Complex and Minimally Invasive Spine Deformity Fellowship. On the clinical front, he is director of the department’s Minimally Invasive Spine and Robotics Surgery program.
Dr. Agarwal received his medical degree from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. Afterward, he completed his neurological surgery residency at the University of Pittsburgh. During this time, he also completed an enfolded fellowship in sports medicine and in minimally invasive and complex spine surgery. He then completed an AO Spine and Committee on Advanced Subspecialty Training (CAST) approved minimally invasive and complex spine surgery fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco, with dual training from orthopedic and neurosurgical mentors. Before joining the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Agarwal served as the director of neurotrauma at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis with a clinical focus on spinal deformity surgery. He is currently pursuing an executive MBA at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Agarwal also serves as a director for the Spine Computational Outcomes Learning Institute (SCOLI), a hub for cutting-edge clinical and translational science that enhances neurosurgical patient care. SCOLI has funded investigations in four main domains: neurotrauma outcomes, spine outcomes, socioeconomic research, and patient education.
To date, Dr. Agarwal has published over 300 peer-reviewed articles and has spoken at several regional and national conferences with over 350 oral and poster presentations. His health literacy research has been published in several high-impact factor journals, including JAMA Internal Medicine, and he has also been featured by prominent healthcare-oriented news outlets such as Reuters Health. In addition, he is an editor for the following books:
Neurosurgery Fundamentals, 2nd Edition
Surviving Neurosurgery: Vignettes of Resilience
The Evolution of Health Literacy: Empowering Patients through Improved Education, 2nd Edition
Pre-Medicine: The Complete Guide for Aspiring Doctors
The Infographic Guide to Neurosurgery
Dr. Agarwal also actively participates in organized neurosurgery advocating for medical student and patient education. Locally, under the SCOLI umbrella, he runs a weekly education and research conference for trainees as well as a research internship for undergraduate students who are interested in pursuing medical school. He also runs a quarterly patient support group focused on spine and scoliosis. Moreover, he has pledged his commitment to advancing neurosurgery as a member of the Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation Cushing Circle of Giving.
Outside of neurological surgery, Dr. Agarwal has been deeply dedicated to martial arts, specifically Taekwondo, Krav Maga, and Jiu-Jitsu. For over a decade, he served as a certified instructor, national judge, and school owner. Dr. Agarwal credits martial arts with providing mental and physical discipline as well as adherence to a strict honor code..
Specialized Areas of Interest
Board Certifications
American Board of Neurological Surgeons
Hospital Privileges
Professional Organization Membership
Professional Activities
Education & Training
- BS, Biology, The College of New Jersey, 2010
- MD, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 2014
- Enfolded Fellowship, Sports Medicine, UPMC, 2019-20
- Enfolded Fellowship, Minimally Invasive and Complex Spine Surgery, UPMC, 2018-20
- Neurological Surgery Residency, UPMC, 2014-21
- Fellowship, Minimally Invasive and Complex Spine Surgery, AO Spine/CAST Fellowship, University of California, San Francisco, 2021-22
Honors & Awards
- Research All-Star for Neurosurgery and Spine, Avant-garde Health, 2025
- Implementation Award, Penn Wharton Innovation Fund, 2025
- Emerging Technologies Fellowship, Scoliosis Research Society, 2023
- Faculty Teaching Award, University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurological Surgery, 2023
- Young Surgeon Travel Grant, UPMC Department of Neurological Surgery, 2023
- SpineLine 5th Annual 20 under 40 Class, North American Spine Society, 2022
- Young Surgeon Grant and Educational Track, Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Annual Forum, 2022
- Young Clinician Investigator Award, NREF and the Academy of Neurological Surgeons, 2022
- Thomas A. Zdeblick Best Paper Award, Lumbar Spine Research Society, 2022
- Harold Rosegay Award, San Francisco Neurological Society, 2022
- Educator of the Year Award, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, 2021
- CSRS Resident and Fellow Scholarship, Cervical Spine Research Society Annual Meeting, 2021
- Young Surgeon Grant and Educational Track, Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Annual Forum, 2021
- Resident Teaching Award, University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurological Surgery, 2021
- Branch Research Award, AANS/CNS Joint Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves, 2021
- SRS North American Meeting Scholarship for Residents and Fellows, Scoliosis Research Society, 2021
- Young Surgeon Grant, International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery Annual Conference, 2021
- AO Spine North America Fellowship Award, University of California, San Francisco, Department of Neurological Surgery, 2021
- Distinguished Junior Mentor Award, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 2020
- Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation Travel Grant, European Association of Neurosurgical Societies Spine Training Course, 2020
- Young Surgeon Grant, Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Annual Forum, 2019
- Young Investigator Award, 12th Annual Society of Lateral Access Surgery Meeting, 2019
- First Place History E-poster Award, 87th American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Scientific Meeting, 2019
- Young Surgeon Travel Grant, 16th Annual Meeting: State of Surgery Think Tank, 2019
- Socioeconomics, Health Policy, & Law NEUROSURGERY® Publications Top Paper of the Year, Annual Congress of Neurological Surgeons Meeting, 2018
- Journalistic and Academic Neurosurgical Excellence (J.A.N.E.) Award, 34th Spine Summit, 2018
- First Place Socioeconomic E-poster Award, 85th American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Scientific Meeting, 2017
- Charlie Kuntz IV Scholar Award, 32nd Spine Summit, 2016
- Peter W. Carmel, MD, Award in Neurological Surgery, Outstanding Academic Achievement, 2014
- Kenneth G. Swan, MD, Memorial Award, NJMS Student Affairs, 2014
- Class of 1979 Scholarship, NJMS Alumni Association Grant, 2011
- Armstrong Engineering Scholarship Award, Scholastic Merit Based Grant, 2007
- Oval Society Award, Community Service Distinction, 2007
Research Activities
Dr. Agarwal’s Spine Computational Outcomes Learning Institute (SCOLI) has explored several advanced technologies and methodologies in 2024-25. Among its notable projects is the development of intelligent metamaterial implants in collaboration with Amir Alavi, PhD. These are designed to overcome common surgical complications such as failed fusion.
Additionally, SCOLI employs advanced neuroimaging to detect occult neurotrauma that standard imaging techniques might miss, in collaboration with Sheng-Kwei Song, PhD. This paves the way for early intervention and better patient outcomes.
The laboratory also investigates molecular signaling mechanisms within the musculoskeletal system, focusing on tailored therapeutics for elderly patients with degenerative conditions, enhancing procedural success and long-term recovery.
More recently, SCOLI has begun developing and validating blood-based biomarkers for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM), with the goal of enabling timely diagnosis and improving surgical outcomes through earlier intervention.
Media Appearances
Slap fighting is ‘barbaric’... and built for social media
The Telegraph (London, England)
May 18, 2025
Campeonato de Tapa na Cara de dono do UFC resulta em danos cerebrais nos lutadores, aponta estudo
Estadão (Brazil)
October 19, 2024
Exclusive: Neurosurgeons React to Power Slap & Respond to Dana White
si.com
October 18, 2024
Video Analysis of Concussion Among Slap Fighting Athletes
NYU Doctor Radio
Sirius-XM Channel 110
October 10, 2024
Medical Experts Raise Red Flags Over Dana White's Power Slap
si.com
October 6, 2024
'It's barbaric': Pitt study quantifies concussions in slap fighting
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
September 27, 2024
Competitive slap fighting exposed: First study finds 78% show signs of brain injuries
StudyFinds.org
September 26, 2024
Study Says Almost 80% of Slap Fighting Contenders at Risk of Brain Damage
Men's Health
September 25, 2024
Slap Fighting Study Raises Concerns Over Brain Injuries - Muscle & Fitness
Muscle & Fitness
September 25, 2024
Neurosurgeons sound alarm over concerning levels of brain trauma in slap fighting matches
ZME Science
September 24, 2024
Slap fighting causes high risk of brain injury, doctors call for safeguards over alarming concussion rates
msn.com
September 23, 2024
Medics fear that slap fighting will lead to brain damage
Female First
September 20, 2024
'They're soft': Local 'slap fighter' brushes off concerns raised by Pitt neurological researchers
WTAE-TV
September 20, 2024
Inside bizarre world of slap fighting: How 'ultimate test of toughness' has gained millions of followers and celebrity fans - as competitors are warned they risk brain damage
dailymail.com (London, England)
September 19, 2024
First academic study on slap fighting highlights risks to participants' neurological health
ScienceDaily
September18, 2024
Pittsburgh researchers publish study to record signs of concussion in slap fighters
KDKA-TV
September 18, 2024
Face it, slap fighters told, your brains are taking a beating too
The Times (London, England)
September 18, 2024
Concussion warning over face-slap fighting
BBC
September 18, 2024
Slap fighting may be fun to watch but it's not great for the participants' brains
consumeraffairs.com
September 18, 2024
Spine Surgeons Younger than 45 to Know
Becker’s Spine Review
September 13, 2023
Transition to Practice: Taking the Next Step, Pearls and Pitfalls
AANS/CNS Spine Section Early Career Neurosurgeons Committee Webinar Series
August 21, 2023.
Scoliosis Dialogues - Episode 66
Scoliosis Research Society Podcast
June 14, 2023
The UFC’s Dana White is Creating a Slap Fighting League. Doctors Have Concerns
The Washington Post
November 12, 2022
hysician Memoirs that Offer Inspiring Accounts of Life in Medicine
AMA “Shadow Me” Specialty Series
October 27, 2022
What It’s Like in Neurological Surgery: Shadowing Dr. Agarwal
AMA “Shadow Me” Specialty Series
February 3, 2022
NeurosurgeryPAC: Nonpartisan Support of Candidates Advocating for Neurosurgeons
Young Neurosurgeons News
February 2019
Update for Young Neurosurgeons from the CSNS Spring 2018 Meeting
Young Neurosurgeons News
Summer/Fall 2018
Increased Physician Awareness May Decrease Infection Incidence, Implant Cost.
Orthopedics Today
September 13, 2018
Physician Mentorship: Why It’s Important, and How to Find and Sustain Relationships
NEJM CareerCenter
February 28, 2018
Interview with Manish N. Shah, MD, Winner of the YNC Public Service Citation
Young Neurosurgeons News
Summer 2017
Chapter Profile: Pitt Neurosurgery Interest Group
Young Neurosurgeons News
Winter 2016
ATA Martial Arts of Flemington Donates $500 to Breast Cancer Program
Hunterdon County Democrat
January 15, 2014.
Health Sites too Complex, Full of Clichés: Study
Reuters Health
May 20, 2013