Salem El-Zuway, MD

  • Clinical Assistant Professor

Salem El-Zuway, MD, FRCSC, FAANS, FACS, is a board-certified neurosurgeon by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. He received his medical degree from the University of Garyounis in Libya and completed his neurosurgery residency training at McMaster University in Canada followed by a neuro spine fellowship at Hamilton Health Sciences, Canada, with additional year of complex spine/trauma fellowship at Sunnybrook Hospital at University of Toronto. Before joining UPMC, Dr. El-Zuway attended at St. Michael’s hospital in Toronto and completed a three-year term of clinical associateship in neuro trauma, open cerebrovascular surgery and skull base surgery with the renown doctors R. Loch Macdonald, MD, PhD and Michael Cusimano, MD, PhD.

Dr. El-Zuway has a wide scope of neurosurgery training experience managing complex cranial and spinal conditions. He is also involved in clinical research with interest focused in cranial neurotrauma and spine focusing on cervical spondylotic myelopathy. He is also interested in advancement of medical education and medical student teaching programs including problem-based medicine.

Specialized Areas of Interest

Neuro oncology; complex spinal surgery; open cerebrovascular surgery; neuro-trauma; neuro-endoscopy; minimally invasive spinal surgery; Chiari malformation; hydrocephalus, pseudotumor cerebri.

Board Certifications

Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

Hospital Privileges

UPMC Hamot

Professional Organization Membership

American Association of Neurological Surgeons
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario
Congress of Neurological Surgeons
Ontario Medical Association
Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine
Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Canada

Education & Training

  • MD, Garyounis University, 2000
  • Residency, Hamilton Health Sciences, McMaster University, 2006-12
  • Fellowship, neurospine, Hamilton Health Sciences, McMaster University, 2012-13
  • Fellowship, complex spine/trauma, Sunnybrook Hospital, University of Toronto, 2013-14
  • Clinical Associate, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, 2014-17

Honors & Awards

  • Surgical Foundations Research Award, third rank, McMaster University, 2008
  • The Libyan National Assembly of High Achievers and Talent Award, 2001
  • Undergraduate Academic Excellence Award, University of Benghazi, 2000