Patrick C. Hsieh given endowed professorship

Patrick C. Hsieh, MD, has been named the Edwin M. Todd/Trent H. Wells Jr. Professor of Neurological Surgery at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. Hsieh, who is professor of clinical neurological surgery at the Keck School, is a board-certified neurosurgeon who specializes in minimally invasive spine surgery, complex spine surgery and spine tumor surgery. He also is a distinguished research scholar and has conducted research in the field of neurogenetics and neurosciences at the National Institutes of Health and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Hsieh’s research interests include prospective outcome studies on spinal oncology surgery, spinal deformity surgery and minimally invasive spine procedures. He is particularly interested in clinical trials on the management of chordomas and other primary spinal tumors. Hsieh also studies spinal biomechanics and the application of osteobiologics and nanoparticles for spine reconstructions. Additionally, his expertise and interests include chordoma and sacral tumors and scoliosis.

“Dr. Hsieh demonstrates extraordinary leadership in the field of spinal neurosurgery,” said Laura Mosqueda, MD, dean of the Keck School. “As holder of the Edwin M. Todd/Trent H. Wells Jr. Professorship of Neurological Surgery, he plays a major role in advancing the Keck School’s clinical and research contributions in this field.”

Hsieh joined USC in 2008 as an assistant professor and led efforts to establish the multidisciplinary comprehensive USC Spine Center. He has published more than 70 peer-reviewed publications and has traveled nationally and internationally to present his current research at major spine societies and conferences.

Hsieh earned his medical degree at the Keck School and completed his surgical internship and neurosurgery residency at McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University, where he also received specialized training in spinal deformity surgery and advanced minimally invasive spine surgery. He conducted specialized training in spinal oncology and complex spinal reconstructive surgery at Johns Hopkins University.

He recently was appointed to the Board of Directors of the North American Spine Society, the leading academic spine society worldwide, and leads the NASS international council as it advances collaborative spine research and education internationally.

Hsieh serves as a neurotrauma consultant for the National Football League and NFL Players Association. He was named one of America’s Top Doctors by Castle Connolly in 2017.

The Edwin M. Todd/Trent H. Wells Jr. Professorship of Neurological Surgery was established by the late Edwin M. Todd, former clinical professor of neurosurgery at the Keck School, and engineer, inventor and philanthropist Trent H. Wells Jr., who together designed and manufactured groundbreaking stereotactic neurosurgical instruments.