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

  • Interleaved flow-sensitive dephasing (iFSD): Toward enhanced blood flow suppression and preserved T1 weighting and overall signals in 3D TSE-based neuroimaging. Magn Reson Med. 2025 May; 93(5):1911-1923.. View in PubMed
  • The value of a neurosurgeon: is neurosurgical compensation proportional to value added? A systematic review of the literature and an update on a changing healthcare economy. J Neurosurg. 2025 Apr 01; 142(4):1163-1175.. View in PubMed
  • Adjunctive Middle Meningeal Artery Embolization for Subdural Hematoma. N Engl J Med. 2024 Nov 21; 391(20):1890-1900.. View in PubMed
  • In vivo neuroprotection in ischemic stroke by activated protein C requires β-arrestin 2. Blood Vessel Thromb Hemost. 2025 Feb; 2(1).. View in PubMed
  • Multidisciplinary Approach to Direct Segmental Artery Revascularization to Prevent Spinal Cord Ischemia Associated With Endovascular Thoracoabdominal Aortic Repair. J Endovasc Ther. 2026 Jun; 33(3):1254-1262.. View in PubMed
  • Triple Vessel Extracranial-Intracranial Bypass and Distal Clip Occlusion for Giant, Partially Thrombosed Pediatric Fusiform Middle Cerebral Artery Aneurysm: 2-Dimensional Operative Video. Oper Neurosurg. 2024 Nov 04; 29(2):304-305.. View in PubMed
  • Design considerations for Factorial Adaptive Multi-Arm Multi-Stage (FAST) clinical trials. Trials. 2024 Sep 12; 25(1):608.. View in PubMed
  • Procedural volume is linearly associated with mortality, major complications, and readmissions in patients undergoing malignant brain tumor resection. J Neurooncol. 2024 Nov; 170(2):437-449.. View in PubMed
  • Combined endovascular embolization and decompressive craniectomy for microsurgical resection of giant ruptured distal anterior cerebral artery aneurysm. Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2024 08; 243:108383.. View in PubMed
  • Federal and foundational research funding trends for cerebrovascular neurosurgeons: the decline of the cerebrovascular surgeon-scientist? J Neurosurg. 2024 11 01; 141(5):1244-1253. Pugazenthi S, Srien . View in PubMed