Ammar H. Hawasli, M.D., Ph.D.

About Ammar H. Hawasli, M.D., Ph.D.

 Ammar H. Hawasli, M.D., Ph.D.

Board-Certified Neurosurgeon
Fellowship-trained Neurosurgeon 
Dr. Ammar H. Hawasli is a board-certified and fellowship-trained neurosurgeon with expertise in the care of patients with brain and spine tumors, diseases of the cervical spine (neck), complex spinal surgery and general neurosurgery. 

Dr. Hawasli received a medical degree and a PhD in neuroscience from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical center in 2009. After finishing internship and neurosurgery residency at Washington University, he completed a dual neurosurgery and orthopedic complex spinal surgery fellowship Washington University in 2017. 

Following his fellowship, he became an Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Biomedical Engineering and Neuroscience at Washington University, where he built a surgical practice performing complex spine surgery, neurosurgical oncology and general neurosurgery. During this time, he was the principal investigator in a functional spine surgery laboratory, was awarded numerous research grants and was senior author on several major medical studies and patents. While on faculty at Washington University, he trained numerous residents.

Dr. Hawasli joined Meritas Health Neurosurgery in 2020 and practices at North Kansas City Hospital. Dr. Hawasli brings his academic and tertiary-care level experience and expertise to the Northland Community.
He offers comprehensive neurosurgical expertise to the Northland community including treatment of brain and spinal tumors, disorders of the neck/cervical spine, complex spine surgery and general neurosurgery. 
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During his free time, Dr. Hawasli spends time with his family, explores the outdoors, exercises, and cooks.  When is not taking care of patients, he spends his time exercising and playing the piano and guitar.

Experience

Certification
  • Diplomate, American Board of Neurological Surgeons 2019-present
Licensure
  • Missouri | Kansas
Fellowship
  • 2016-2017 | Spine Surgery, Departments of Neurosurgery and Orthopedic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 
International Training
  • 2015 | Specialist Registrar, Neurological Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
Residency
  • 2009-2016 | Neurological Surgery, Department of Neurosurgery, Washington University School of Medicine, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis Children's Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri
Medical and Graduate School 
  • 2002-2009 |Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas - Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy (Neuroscience)
Undergraduate
  • 1998-2002 | Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri - Bachelor of Arts, Chemistry

Professional Affiliations

Missouri State Medical Association
Kansas City Medical Society
Kansas Medical Society
Congress of Neurological Surgeons
Spine Section - American Association of Neurological Surgery/ Congress of Neurological Surgeons Section on Disorders of the Spine
Diplomate, American Board of Neurological Surgeons

MEDIA AND LINKS


Ammar H. Hawasli MD, PhD - Meritas Health Neurosurgery

5-ALA Fluorescence Guides Neurosurgeons for More Complete Resections of Brain Tumors 

On Top of the World After Recovering From A Spinal Cord Injury
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Dr. Ammar Hawasli studies alternative to spinal fusion: 4 insights

Neurosurgeons perform first navigated robotic-assisted spine surgery in Missouri

​Clinical study hopes to find alternative to spinal fusion surgery

​Don't Ignore that Headache as It Can Be Only Sign of Brain Tumor

Expertise in Delivering Pain Relief Through Spinal Cord Stimulation
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Academic Contributions and Patents

PATENTS
  • Bibb JA, Hawasli AH. Methods for assessing Cdk5 activation and function. United States of America Patent US 20110065128. Filed 5 Oct. 5, 2010; Issued 17 Mar 2011.
  • Leuthardt EC, Wright NM, Moran D, Genin G, Hawasli AH, Krengel O, Chang U. Device and method for monitoring pain. United States of America. US20160007878. Filed 13 July 2015; Issued 14 Jan 2016.
  • Ray WZ, Hawasli AH, Cashin J. Remotely operated automated cranial fixation device. United States of America.  62429811. Provisional Patent Filed  4 December 2016.
  • Hawasli AH, Lamichhane B, Jayasekera J, Ray W, Leuthardt E. Predicting Core Phenotyping Domains of Low Back Pain with Multimodal Brain Imaging Metrics. United States of America.  Patent 2021

BIBLIOGRAPHY
  1. Hawasli AH, Saifee O, Liu C, Nonet ML, Crowder CM. Resistance to Volatile Anesthetics by Mutations Enhancing Excitatory Neurotransmitter Release in Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics. 2004 Oct; 168(2):831-43.
  2. Hawasli, AH, Benavides DR, Nguyen C, Kansy JW, Hayashi K, Chambon P, Greengard P, Powell CM, Cooper DC, Bibb JA. Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 governs learning and synaptic plasticity via control of NMDAR degradation. Nature Neuroscience. 2007 Jul;10 (7):880-6
  3. Hawasli AH, Bibb JA. Alternative roles for Cdk5 in learning and synaptic plasticity. Biotechnol J. 2007 Aug; 2(8):941-8.
  4. Hawasli AH. Regulation of excitatory neurotransmission, synaptic plasticity, and learning by Cyclin-dependent kinase 5.  Ph.D. dissertation. Division of Basic Sciences, Department of Neuroscience. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas. July 2007.
  5. Benavides DR, Quinn JJ, Zhong P, Hawasli AH, DiLeone RJ, Kansy JW, Olausson P, Yan Z, Taylor JR, Bibb JA. Cdk5 modulates cocaine reward, motivation, and striatal neuron excitability. J of Neuroscience 2007 Nov 21;27(47):12967-76.
  6. Sahin B, Hawasli AH, Greene RW, Molkentin JD, Bibb JA. Negative regulation of Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 targets by protein kinase C. Eur. J. of Pharmacology. 2008 Mar 10;581(3):270-5.
  7. Hawasli AH, Cayce R, Luong T, Taiwo E, Feliciano MN, Reimold SC, DiMaio JM, Haley BH. Metastatic pleomorphic sarcoma to the left atrium. Rare Tumors, Vol 1, No 1 (2009)
  8. Hawasli AH, Koovakkattu D, Hayashi K, Anderson AE, Powell CM, Sinton C, Bibb JA, Cooper DC. Regulation of hippocampal and behavioral excitability by Cyclin-dependent kinase 5. PLoS One. 2009 Jun 4;4(6):e5808.
  9. Xu J, Kurup P, Zhang Y, Hawasli AH, Bibb JA, Lombroso P.  Striatal-Enriched Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase is Neuroprotective against Excitotoxicity. J Neurosci. 2009 Jul 22;29(29):9330-43.
  10. Pahys JM, Pahys JR, Cho SK, Zebala LP, Kang MM, Hawasli AH, Sweet FA, Lee DH, Riew KD. Methods to Decrease Post-operative Infections Following Posterior Cervical Spine Surgery.  The Spine Journal. 2011 Oct 31; 11(10):s136.
  11. Hawasli AH, Ray WZ, Murphy RK, Dacey RG Jr, Leuthardt EC. MRI-guided focused laser interstitial thermal therapy for subinsular metastatic adenocarcinoma: Technical Case Report. Neurosurgery. 2012 Jun;70(2 Suppl Operative):332-7
  12. Hawasli AH, Rubin JB, Tran DD, Adkins DR, Waheed S, Hullar TE, Gutmann DH, Evans, J, Chicoine MR. Anti-angiogenic agents for non-malignant brain tumors.  Journal of Neurological Surgery: Part B. 2012 Feb 10;74(S1):14.
  13. Reynolds MR, Hawasli AH, Murphy RKJ, Ray WZ, Simpson JR, Drzymala RE, Rich KM. Acute Hemorrhage Following Gamma Knife Radiosurgery to a Clival Meningioma. J Spine Neurosurg. 2013, 2:2
  14. Hawasli AH, Rubin JB, Tran DD, Adkins DR, Waheed S, Hullar TE, Gutmann DH, Evans J, Leonard JR, Zipfel GJ, Chicoine MR. Anti-angiogenic agents for non-malignant brain tumors.  Journal of Neurological Surgery: Part B. 12 Mar 2013
  15. Pahys JM, Pahys JR, Cho SK, Kang MM, Zebala LP, Hawasli AH, Sweet FA, Lee DH, Riew KD. Methods to Decrease Post-operative Infections Following Posterior Cervical Spine Surgery. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2013 Mar 20;95(6):549-54
  16. Hawasli AH, Buckley R, Limbrick DL, Smyth MD,  Leonard JR, Santiago P, Stewart TJ, Park TS, Grubb RL,  Dowling JL, Leuthardt EC,  Rich KM, Zipfel GJ, Dacey RG,  Chicoine MR. Open brain biopsies: predictors of efficacy and outcomes.  Neurosurgery. 2013 Aug;73(2):224-32
  17. Hawasli AH, Haydon DH, Dahiya S, Smyth MD. Pontine Extraventricular Neurocytoma in a Child. Pediatric Neurosurgery. 2012;48(5):319-23
  18. Hawasli AH, Swapnil B, Shimony JS, Miller-Thomas M, Leuthardt EC. Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Guided Focused Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy for Intracranial Lesions: Single-Institution Series. Neurosurgery. 2013 Dec; 73(6):1007-17.
  19. Plattner F, Hernandez A, Kistler TM, Pozo K, Zhong P, Yuen EY, Tan T, Hawasli AH, Cooke SF, Nishi A, Guo A, Wiederhold T, Yan Z, Bibb JA. Memory Enhancement by Targeting Cdk5 Regulation of NR2B. Neuron. 2014 Mar 5; 81(5):1070-83
  20. Leuthardt EC, Hawasli AH. Commentary-Journal Club: Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Guided Focused Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy for Intracranial Lesions: Single-Institution Series. Neurosurgery. 2014 May; 74(5):565.
  21. Hawasli AH, Beaumont, Vogel T, Woo A, Leonard JR. Acalvaria. Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics. 2014 Jun; 13:1-3.
  22. Mohammadi AM, Hawasli AH, Rodriguez A, Schroeder JL, Laxton AW, Elson P, Tatter S, Barnett GH, Leuthardt EC. The Role of Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy in Enhancing Progression Free Survival of Difficult-to-Access High Grade Gliomas: a Multi-Center Study. Cancer Medicine. 2014 Aug; 3(4):971-9
  23. Hawasli AH, Ray WZ, Wright NM.  Idiopathic Spinal Cord Herniation: Single Institution Series and Technical Report. Neurosurgery. 2014 Sep; 10 Suppl 3:E498-504
  24. Bandt SK, Bundy DT, Hawasli AH, Ayoub KW, Sharm M, Hacker CD, Pahwa M, Leuthardt EC.  The role of resting state networks in focal neocortical seizures.  PLoS One.  2014 Sep 23;9(9):e107401.
  25. Hawasli AH, Bandt SK, Hogan E, Werner N, Leuthardt EC.   Laser Ablation as an Effective Treatment Strategy for Medically Refractory Dominant Insular Epilepsy. Stereotactic & Functional Neurosurgery.  2014 Oct 29;92(6):397-404.
  26. Hawasli AH, Chicoine MR, Dacey RG. Choosing Wisely: A Neurosurgical Perspective on Neuroimaging for Headaches. Neurosurgery. 2014 Sep 24.
  27. Hawasli AH, Kim AH, Dunn G, Tran D, Leuthardt EC.  Stereotactic laser ablations for high-grade gliomas. Neurosurgical Focus. 37 (6):E1, Dec 2014
  28. Hawasli AH, Chang J, Reynolds MR, Ray WZ. Brachialis to Anterior Interosseous Nerve Transfer for Cervical Spinal Cord Injury: Technical Note. Global Spine Journal. 2015 Apr;5(2):110-7. doi: 10.1055/s-0034-1396760.
  29. Hawasli AH, Hullar T, Dorward I. Idiopathic Scoliosis and the Vestibular System. European Spine Journal. 15 Feb;24(2):227-33. doi: 10.1007/s00586-014-3701-4. 
  30. Sun SQ, Hawasli AH, Huang J, Chicoine MR, Kim AH. Decision Points in the Management of Atypical and Anaplastic Meningiomas: A Treatment Algorithm. Neurosurgical Focus. 2015 Mar;38(3):E3. doi: 10.3171/2015.1.FOCUS14757.
  31. Hawasli AH, Leuthardt EC.  Response to Letters to the Editor: Stereotactic laser ablations for high-grade gliomas. Neurosurgical Focus. 39 (2):E20, Aug 2015. 10.3171/2015.3.FOCUS1566
  32. Janjua MB, Yarbrough CK, Gamble P, Zhang A, Mengzuan T, Ghenbot R, Hawasli AH, Kelly M, Dorward I, Santiago P, Wright N, Ray WZ. Patient demographics, insurance status, and race predict mortality after spinal cord injury.  Journal of Neurosurgery. 2015 Aug:123(2):A520-1.
  33. Ray WZ, Chang J, Hawasli A, Wilson TJ, Yang L. Motor Nerve Transfers: A Comprehensive Review. Neurosurgery. 2016 Jan;78(1):1-26.
  34. Leuthardt EC, Allan M, Kamran M, Hawasli AH, Snyder AZ, Hacker CD, Mitchell TJ, Shimony JS. Resting State BOLD fMRI – A Paradigm Shift in Preoperative Brain Mapping. Stereotactic & Functional Neurosurgery. 2015;93(6):427-39.
  35. Yarbrough CK, Bommarito KM, Gamble PG, Hawasli AH, Dorward IG, Olsen MA, Ray WZ. Population-based approaches to treatment and readmission after spinal cord injury. J Neurosurg Sci. 2016 Mar 3. 
  36. Hawasli AH, Chang J, Yarbrough CK, Steger-May K, Dorward IG. Interpedicular height as a predictor of radiculopathy in adult degenerative scoliosis. The Spine Journal. 2016 May 2. pii: S1529-9430(16)30067-5. 
  37.  Yarbrough CK, Gamble PG, Janjua MB, Tang M, Ghenbot R, Zhang AJ, Juknis N, Hawasli AH, Kelly M, Ray WZ. Readmission after spinal cord injury: analysis of an institutional cohort of 795 patients. J Neurosurg Sci. 2016 May 6.
  38. Hawasli AH, Kim D, Ledbetter NM, Dahiya S, Barbour DL, Leuthardt EC. Dissecting Human Cortical Oscillations with Surgical Transections. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 2016 Jun 28;10:330. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2016.00330. eCollection 2016.
  39. Hawasli AH, Chacko R, Szrama NP, Bundy DT, Pahwa M, Yarbrough CK, Dlouhy BJ, Limbrick D, Barbour DL, Smyth MD, Leuthardt EC.  Electrophysiological Sequelae of Functional Hemispherotomy in Ipsilateral Human Cortex. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 2017 Mar 30;11:149
  40. Hawasli AH, Khalifeh J, Chatrath A, Yarbrough CK, Ray WZ. Radiological Analysis of Expandable versus non-expandable cages for Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion. Neurosurgical Focus. 2017 Aug;43(2):E10. doi: 10.3171/2017.5. FOCUS17197.
  41. Hawasli AH, Rutlin J, Roland J, Murphy RKJ, Leuthardt EC, Shimony JS, Ray WZ. Spinal Cord Injury Disrupts Resting-State Networks in the Human Brain. Journal of Neurotrauma. 2018 Jan 11. doi: 10.1089/neu.2017.5212.
  42. Kamath AA, Friedman DD, Hacker CD, Smyth MD, Limbrick DD, Kim AH, Hawasli AH, Leuthardt EC. MRI-Guided Interstitial Laser Ablation for Intracranial Lesions: A Large Single Institution Experience of 133 Cases. Stereotactic & Functional Neurosurgery. 2017;95(6):417-428. doi: 10.1159/000485387.
  43. Hawasli AH, Cashin, JL, Wright NM. Modular Cervical Plate System for Adjacent Segment Disease. J Neurosurgical Sciences. 2018 Feb 23. doi: 10.23736/S0390-5616.18.04172-3.
  44. Shen SQ, Sinha N, Perrin RJ, Ghoshal N, Hawasli AH, Womer FY. Acquired mania associated with a left temporal meningioma. Bipolar Disord. 2018 Dec;20(8):774-777.
  45. Khalifeh JM, Dibble CF, Hawasli AH, Ray WZ. Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System physical function and pain interference in spine surgery. J Neurosurg Spine. 2019 Apr 26:1-10
  46. Hawasli AH, Ray WZ, Goad M, Frank T, Ellis E, Schmidt M, LaMartina P. “Project Management for Developing a Spine ‘Enhanced Recovery After Surgery’ Program in a Large University-Affiliated Hospital. J Neurosurg Sci. 2019 Jun 12.  
  47. Khalifeh JM, Akbari SHA, Khandpur U, Johnston W, Wright NM, Hawasli AH, Dorward I, Santiago P, Ray WZ. Validation of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand in Patients Undergoing Cervical Spine Surgery. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2019 Dec 1;44(23):1676-1684
  48. Khalifeh JM, Dibble CF, Stecher P, Dorward I, Hawasli AH, Ray WZ. Transfacet Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion With an Expandable Interbody Device-Part II: Consecutive Case Series. Oper Neurosurg. 2020 Oct 15;19(5):518-529. doi: 10.1093/ons/opaa144.PMID: 32433773
  49. Khalifeh JM, Dibble CF, Stecher P, Dorward I, Hawasli AH, Ray WZ. Transfacet Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion With an Expandable Interbody Device-Part I: 2-Dimensional Operative Video and Technical Report. Oper Neurosurg. 2020 Oct 15;19(5):E473-E479. doi: 10.1093/ons/opaa100.PMID: 32433755
  50. Lamichhane B, Jayasekera D, Jakes R, Glasser MF, Zhang J, Yang C, grimes D, Frank TL, Ray WZ, Leuthardt EC, Hawasli AH. Multi-modal biomarkers of low back pain: A machine learning approach. Neuroimage Clinical. 2020 Dec 8;29:102530.  doi: 10.1016/j.nicl.2020.102530.
  51. Zhang JK, Dibble CF, Cashin J, Hajji S, Dorward I, Hawasli AH.Br J Neurosurg. Treatment of sacroiliac joint laxity-induced coronal imbalance with the kickstand rod technique 2021 Feb 20:1-6. doi: 10.1080/02688697.2021.1887452.  
  52. Lamichhane B, Jayasekera D, Jakes R, Ray WZ, Leuthardt EC, Hawasli AH. Functional Disruptions of the Brain in Low Back Pain: A Potential Imaging Biomarker of Functional Disability.Front Neurol. 2021 Jul 14;12:669076. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2021.669076. eCollection 2021.​

Research Grant Awards

  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute.  Washington University in Saint Louis, Department of Biology. 1999
  • Medical Scientist Training Program. National Institutes of Health.  University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. 2002-2004       
  • National Research Service Award. National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse. 2004-2006     
  • Medical Scientist Training Program.  National Institutes of Health. 2006-2007
  • Pfizer, Inc. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Scientist Training Program. 2007-2009       
  • National Research Service Award. National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. 2013-2014
  • Cervical Spine Research Society. Research Award. 2014-2017
  • Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation Post-Residency Clinical Fellowship Program. 2016-2017
  • Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation Research Award. 2015-2018
  • AANS/CNS Joint Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves Apfelbaum Award. 2015-2018
  • Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation Young Clinician Investigator Award. 2018-2019
  • BJH Foundation Spinal Cord Injury Fund.  2019-2020
  • Cervical Spine Research Society Seed Starter Grant. 2019-2020
  • LimiFlex Clinical Trial for the Treatment of Degenerative Spondylolisthesis with Spinal Stenosis site. 2018-2020

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