Appointment of William J. Mack, MD, MBA, as chair of the department of neurological surgery

I am delighted to announce the appointment of William J. Mack, MD, MBA as Chair of the Department of Neurological Surgery of the Keck School of Medicine of USC, effective September 1, 2024. Dr. Mack was selected from an impressive cohort of candidates following a comprehensive national search. He will report directly to me as the dean.

As chair, Dr. Mack will lead the research, clinical care, and education programs of the Department of Neurological Surgery. He will oversee day-to-day operations of the department while advancing the department’s local and global prominence and impact. He will be nominated to hold the Dr. Martin H. Weiss Chair in Neurological Surgery.

Dr. Mack joined USC in 2010 as assistant professor of neurological surgery, and was promoted to professor of neurological surgery and physiology and neuroscience (clinical scholar) in 2022. He has held numerous leadership roles at the Keck School including vice chair of academic affairs, director of the neurointerventional program, program director of the neuroendovascular surgery fellowship, and chair-elect of the Faculty Council of the Keck School of Medicine of USC. A champion of diversity, equity, and inclusion, Dr. Mack has chaired the Annual Leadership Conference for the Keck School’s Center for Gender Equity in Medicine and Science (GEMS) for the past two years.

As a leader in his field, Dr. Mack is an elected member of the Society of Neurological Surgeons and the American Academy of Neurological Surgery. He has served as president of the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery, Chair of the Cerebrovascular Section of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons/ American Association of Neurological Surgeons, and a charter member of an NIH study section. His NIH-funded translational research in cerebrovascular disease has yielded more than 220 peer-reviewed publications.

Dr. Mack earned a BA in neurobiology and behavior from Cornell University and an MD degree from Columbia University of College of Physicians and Surgeons where he also completed neurosurgery residency. He completed a neurointerventional fellowship at UCLA. Dr. Mack received both a Masters in clinical and biomedical investigation and an MBA from USC.

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Mack. We look forward to his vision, leadership, and impact.

We are also grateful for the extraordinary leadership of Dr. Steven Giannotta who has elevated the field and practice of neurosurgery at USC during his 20-year tenure as department chair.

Carolyn C. Meltzer, MD
Dean, Keck School of Medicine of USC