William Mack, MD

Professor of Neurological Surgery, Physiology & Neuroscience and Neurology (Clinical Scholar)

Chair, Department of Neurological Surgery

Dr. Martin H. Weiss Chair in Neurological Surgery

Director, Neurointerventional Program, Keck Hospital of USC

Director, Neurosurgery Ambulatory Services, Keck Medical Center of USC

Culture and Engagement Champion

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Overview

Dr. Mack’s major areas of clinical interest are stroke, brain aneurysms, subarachnoid hemorrhage, arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), arteriovenous fistulas, cavernous malformations, carotid artery disease, intracranial stenosis, and brain tumors. Dr. Mack performs both open surgery and minimally invasive, endovascular procedures for cerebrovascular disorders.

Dr. Mack is a faculty member of the Neuroscience Graduate Program and is the Principal Investigator and Director of the Cerebrovascular Laboratory in the Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute. He receives NIH R01 funding for his laboratory research. Dr. Mack’s scientific interests are focused on translational efforts to treat ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. Laboratory investigations concentrate on the pathophysiology of cerebral ischemia and inflammatory modulation. Using the information and experience gained in the laboratory, Dr. Mack is working to develop new technologies, techniques, and therapies to directly improve the clinical care administered to stroke patients.

William Mack, MD, received his Bachelor degree with honors from Cornell University. He then attended Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, where he graduated from medical school (Alpha Omega Alpha) and completed Neurosurgical residency training. During residency, he spent one year performing a post-doctoral cerebrovascular research fellowship under Drs. David J. Pinsky and E. Sander Connolly Jr. at Columbia University. Following residency, Dr. Mack completed an Interventional Neuroradiology/ Neuroendovascular Surgery fellowship at UCLA.

Dr. Mack is board certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery (FAANS) and is a fellow of the American Heart Association (FAHA) and. He is a committee member on the executive council of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons/ American Association of Neurological Surgeons’ Cerebrovascular Section. Dr. Mack serves as an Associate Editor of the Journal of Neurointerventional Surgery and on the editorial board of World Neurosurgery.

Research Funding

  • Synergistic white matter injury from diesel exhaust particulate and chronic cerebral hypoperfusion exposures: Interaction between the Nogo/NgR1 receptor pathway and extravascular fibrinogen toxicity
    NIH · RF1NS130681 · Sep 20, 2022 – Aug 31, 2027 · Role: Principal Investigator
  • Activated protein C mechanisms of brain white matter protection and new therapies for brain white matter ischemic injury
    NIH · R01NS117827 · Jul 15, 2020 – Apr 30, 2026 · Role: Principal Investigator
  • Translational potential of the internalization of Nogo-A receptor to enhance axonal regeneration after stroke
    NIH · R21NS116720 · Jul 1, 2020 – Jun 30, 2022 · Role: Co-Principal Investigator
  • USC Neurosurgery Research and Education Training Program
    NIH · R25NS099008 · Jul 15, 2017 – Jun 30, 2027 · Role: Principal Investigator
  • USC Neurosurgery Research and Education Training Program
    NIH · UE5NS099008 · Jul 15, 2017 – Jun 30, 2027 · Role: Principal Investigator
  • Neurotoxicity of Airborne Particles: Role of Chronic Cerebral Hypoperfusion
    NIH · R01ES024936 · Jan 15, 2015 – Nov 30, 2020 · Role: Principal Investigator

Publications

  • Comorbid depression is associated with non-routine discharge following treatment of unruptured cerebral aneurysms. J Clin Neurosci. 2025 Dec; 142:111658.. View in PubMed
  • The Role of Diagnostic Spinal Angiography for Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysms: A Clinical Case Series in Patients Undergoing Staged Complex Endovascular Repairs. Neurosurg Pract. 2025 Dec; 6(4):e000167.. View in PubMed
  • Clinical outcomes and independently adjudicated results of M2 aspiration thrombectomy: a subgroup analysis from the Imperative Trial. J Neurointerv Surg. 2025 Sep 04.. View in PubMed
  • A Bivalent Protease-Activated Receptor-Derived Peptide Mimics Neuronal Anti-Apoptotic Activity of Activated Protein C. Bioengineering (Basel). 2025 Aug 22; 12(9).. View in PubMed
  • Semi-automated tortuosity measurements confirm generalizability of IMPERATIVE trial results to real-world patients with acute ischemic stroke undergoing thrombectomy. Interv Neuroradiol. 2025 Jul 21; 15910199251359089.. View in PubMed
  • A new era in neurosurgery residency applications: the impact of preference signaling on the neurosurgical match. J Neurosurg. 2025 Oct 01; 143(4):1108-1120.. View in PubMed
  • Air pollution decreases postsynaptic PSD-95 and NMDA receptor subunits in synaptosomes from mouse cerebral cortex. Environ Pollut. 2025 Oct 15; 383:126845.. View in PubMed
  • The use of generative artificial intelligence-based dictation in a neurosurgical practice: a pilot study. Neurosurg Focus. 2025 07 01; 59(1):E8.. View in PubMed
  • Hospital procedural volume is inversely linearly associated with complications in endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal resection of pituitary tumors. J Neurosurg. 2025 Nov 01; 143(5):1377-1386.. View in PubMed
  • The effect of temporary CSF diversion modality on shunt-dependency following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: A nationwide assessment. J Clin Neurosci. 2025 Feb; 132:111008.. View in PubMed