Muhammad "Omar" O. Chohan, MD, FAANS

Muhammad "Omar" O. Chohan, MD, FAANS

Associate Professor

Department:
SOM-Neurosurgery

Email:
mchohan@umc.edu

Work Phone:
(601) 984-5700

Biography

M. Omar Chohan, M.D., a board-certified neurosurgeon subspecializing in neuro-oncology and epilepsy surgery, joined the faculty of the UMMC Department of Neurosurgery in 2020 as an associate professor and has secondary appointments in neurology and radiation oncology. A native of Pakistan, he earned his medical degree from Aga Khan University in Karachi, Pakistan and completed his neurosurgical residency at the University of New Mexico. Following residency, he gained extensive expertise in neurosurgical oncology while completing his fellowship training at the Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center/Weill Cornell Medical College in New York. Before joining UMMC, he was the Director of Neurosurgical Oncology, Co-Leader of the Neuro-Oncology Multidisciplinary Program and surgical director of the Epilepsy Program at UNM. He specializes in modern techniques such as brain mapping and intraoperative fluoroscopy and epilepsy surgery including resective, ablative and neuromodulation techniques. Outside of the hospital, he enjoys hiking, swimming, traveling and spending time with his family.

Education

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center/Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, Fellowship, Neurosurgical Oncology2015
University of New Mexico, Fellowship, NeuroCritical Care2014
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, Resident, Neurosurgery2014
University of New Mexico, Albuquerqueque, NM, Chief resident, Neurosurgery2014
New York State Institute for Basic Research, NY, Research fellow, Neuroimmunology2008
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, Intern, General Surgery2008
New York State Institute for Basic Research, NY, Post-doctoral research fellowship, Neurochemistry2004
Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan, MBBS, Medicine2002

Specialty Certification Licensure

Licensure, New York Medical Licensure 2013-201508/2013 - 07/2015
Licensure, New Mexico Medical Board02/2015 - 07/2024
Licensure, Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure04/2020 - Present
Certification, American Board of Neurological Surgery11/2018 - 12/2028

Current Positions

Director, Neurosurgical Oncology, School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery06/2023 - Present
Associate Professor, School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery09/2020 - Present
The University of Mississippi Medical Center
Jackson, Mississippi 39216

Academic Appointments or Other Previous Appointments

Assistant Professor, University of New Mexico, School of Graduate School in the Health Sciences, Department of Cell Biology & Physiology09/2019 - 08/2020
Director, UNM Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery02/2019 - 08/2020
Assistant Professor, The University of New Mexico, School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery08/2015 - 09/2020
Director, The University of New Mexico, School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery08/2015 - 09/2020
Co-Leader, Neuro-Oncology Program, The University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery08/2015 - 09/2020
Fellow, Neurosurgical Oncology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering cancer Center, NY, School of Medicine07/2014 - 06/2015
Chief Resident, Neurosurgery, The University of New Mexico, School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery07/2012 - 06/2014
Research Scientist, New York State Institute for Basic Research08/2003 - 06/2008
Instructor, Aga Khan University, School of Medicine, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences11/2002 - 06/2003

Sponsored Program Funding

Intramural, Post-Operative Spreading depolarization in Surgery near Eloquent Brain Locations, CTSC (NIH)10/2019 - 09/2020
Extramural, A Phase 1 Dose Escalation Study Evaluating the Safety and Tolerability of PF 06840003 in Patients with Malignant Gliomas, Pfizer & New Mexico Cancer Care Alliance05/2016 - 12/2019
Extramural, A Phase 2b/3, Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled, Multicenter Study to Assess the Efficacy and safety of VX-210 in Subjects with Acute Traumatic Cervical Spinal Cord Injury, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated02/2016 - 01/2020
Extramural, 5-Aminolevulinic Acid (5-ALA) to Enhance Visualization of Malignant Tumor in Patients with Newly Diagnosed or Recurrent Malignant Gliomas: A Safety, Histopathology, and Correlative Biomarker Study, NX Development Corporation12/2015 - 02/2019
Extramural, Clinical real-time resting state fMRI, NIH STTR grant through NeurInsight LLC12/2015 - 05/2018

Publications

Journal Article

Presentations

Regional Invited Seminars/Lectures, Evolution of Modern Glioma Surgery, UMMC Neurology Grandrounds01/2025
Platform Presentations, A Zebrafish Model to Investigate the Invasiveness of Cancer Stem Cells from the Sub-ventricular Zone of Glioblastoma Patients, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Annual Scientific Meeting, Houston, TX10/2024
State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, When is a Headache not a Headache, UMMC Advanced Practice Providers Conference, Flowood, MS09/2024
State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Updates in Modern Glioma Surgery, 2nd Annual Neuro-Oncology Symposium, Hattiesburg, MS08/2024
Poster Presentation, Development of a PD-L1 expression assay for cancer stem cells to predict sensitivity to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy, Congress of Neurological Surgeons Annual Scientific Meeting, Washington DC09/2023
Regional Invited Seminars/Lectures, Towards enlightened moderation: Tracing the Cognitive cost of Neurosurgical Oncology, Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ)& Rutger’s Univeristy Neuro-Oncology Grandrounds, Rutger's Un iversity, New Jersey08/2023
Poster Presentation, "Non-Eloquent" brain regions predict neuropsychological outcome in tumor patients undergoing awake craniotomy, American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Annual Scientific Meeting, San Francisco, CA04/2023
State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Evolution of modern glioma surgery, Annual Neuro-Oncology Symposium, Greenwood, MS11/2022
State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Brain tumor mimicry in clinical practice, Annual Neurology Symposium, Jackson, MS08/2022
From surgery to genomics: dissecting cellular and molecular heterogeneity of human glioblastoma, UMMC CCRI grandrounds, University of Mississippi Medical Center12/2021
Platform Presentations, Rolandic and peri Rolandic tumors, UMMC Neurosurgery Grandrounds, University of Mississippi Medical Center07/2021
Poster Presentation, Presurrgical mapping in brain tumors with high-speed resting state fMRI:comparison with task-based fMRI and intra-operative mapping, International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, Sydney, Australia04/2020
Poster Presentation, Subcortical contributions to higher cognitive functioning in primary brain tumors, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, San Diego, CA10/2019
Poster Presentation, Volume-cognition relationships in a prospective series of consecutive patients undergoing awake surgery for brain tumor, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, San Diego, CA10/2019
Regional Invited Seminars/Lectures, Building a Neuro-Oncology Program: an Effort in Collaboration, Department of Neurosurgery Grandrounds, University of Cincinnati07/2019
Platform Presentations, Structural Correlates of Cognitive Deficits in Brain Tumor Patients, Clinical Neuroscience Grand rounds, University of New Mexico06/2019
Regional Invited Seminars/Lectures, Insular Glioma Surgery, Department of Neurosurgery Grandrounds, Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, PA04/2019
Poster Presentation, Creative Idea Generation Maximized by Reduced Fractional Anisotropy, 5th Meeting of the Society for the Neuroscience of Creativity, San Francisco03/2019
Poster Presentation, Structural Brain Differences Underlying Higher and Lower Creative Achievement, 5th Meeting of the Society for the Neuroscience of Creativity, San Francisco, CA03/2019
Poster Presentation, Default Mode Connectivity Underlying Musical Creativity, 5th Meeting of the Society for the Neuroscience of Creativity, San Francisco, CA03/2019
Poster Presentation, On Presurgical Mapping of Metabolism and Resting-State Connectivity in Patients with Brain Tumors, Gentner-Minerva Symposium on Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy & Molecular Imaging, Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel02/2019
State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Awake Brain Surgery: 100 years of Neurosurgical Oncology and Brain Mapping., New Mexico Medical Society (NMMS) Annual Meeting (plenary session), Albuquerque, NM09/2018
State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Surgical Management of Intractable Epilepsy, First Annual UNM Epilepsy Symposium, Albuquerque, NM07/2018
Poster Presentation, Five-aminolevulinic acid (5ALA) for fluorescence-guided surgery of high-grade gliomas (HGG): U.S. experience interim analysis, American Association of Neurological, New Orleans, LA04/2018
State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Pre-operative and intra operative mapping of eloquent brain for tumor surgery., Annual American Surgical Technology Conference03/2018
Invited Symposia, Cerebral cavernous malformations: Neurosurgical updates and future researc, Annual Angioma Alliance Meeting05/2017
State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Multidisciplinary decision-making for
metastatic spine tumors, Clinical Neuroscience Grand rounds (Neuro-Oncology), The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
08/2016
State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Pre-operative and intra-operative mapping of eloquent brain for tumor surgery, Clinical Neuroscience Grand rounds (Neuro-Oncology), The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM08/2016
National and International Invited Seminars/Lectures, Two-dimensional planar measurements versus three-dimensional volumetric measurements in defining giant adenoma surgery outcomes, North American Skull base Society, Scottsdale, AZ02/2016
Poster Presentation, Long term outcomes of surgical management of metastatic prostate cancer presenting with high grade epidural spinal cord compression, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Annual Scientific Meeting, New Orleans, LA09/2015
Poster Presentation, Long term outcomes in management of recurrent atypical/anaplastic meningiomas., Congress of Neurological, New Orleans, LA09/2015
Invited Symposia, The role of endogenous neurogenesis in brain repair in traumatic brain injury, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, New York, NY06/2014
Grand Rounds, Fanaticism and Realism in Brain Cancer Treatment in the 21st Century, Clinical Neuroscience Grand rounds (Neuro-Oncology), The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque05/2014
Poster Presentation, Single twist drill hole access devise for multimodal intracranial monitoring., American Association of Neurological Susrgeons 82nd Annual Scientific Meeting, San Francisco, CA04/2014
National and International Invited Seminars/Lectures, Localization of eloquent cortex
using a novel high-speed resting state functional MRI for presurgical mapping, European Association of Neurological Surgeons, Tel Aviv, Israel
11/2013
National and International Invited Seminars/Lectures, Enhancement of adult hippocampal
neurogenesis by a neurotrophic peptide in traumatic brain injury, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, San Francisco, CA
10/2013
Platform Presentations, The role of endogenous neurogenesis in
brain repair in traumatic brain injury, Neuroscience Grand rounds (Neurotrauma), The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
09/2013
Poster Presentation, Lack of functional patency of lamina terminalis after fenestration following clipping of anterior circulation aneurysms, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Chicago, IL10/2012
Platform Presentations, Functional imaging in resting human brain: implications for the diseased state, Annual Neuroscience Resident Research Day, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM06/2012
Poster Presentation, The effect of surgical treatment on delayed ischemic neurological deficit(DIND)inpatients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage., American Association of Neurological Surgeons 80th, Miami, FL04/2012
National and International Invited Seminars/Lectures, The effect of surgical treatment on delayed ischemic neurological deficit(DIND)in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, 11th Vasospasm Meeting, Cincinatti, OH07/2011
Platform Presentations, Aggressive surgical therapy in
aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, Annual Neuroscience Resident Research Day, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
05/2011
Platform Presentations, Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis: promises and realities, Neuroscience Grand rounds (Brain plasticity), The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque06/2009
Platform Presentations, Diagnosis of ventriculoperitoneal
shunt infection using [F-18] FDG-PET, Annual Neuroscience Resident Research Day, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
06/2009
Poster Presentation, 2008; Enhancement of dentate gyrus neurogenesis and associated memory by a neurotrophic peptide., 11th ICAD Conference, Chicago, IL07/2008
Poster Presentation, Improvement of cognition with a neurogenic/neurotrophic peptide, 11th International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease & Related Disorders ICAD, Chicago, IL07/2008
Poster Presentation, Association of two Interleukin-1 gene loci with Essential Hypertension in a Pakistani
Pathan population, 17th European Students Conference, Berlin, Germany
10/2006
Poster Presentation, Memantine inhibits I2PP2A induced
hyperphosphorylation of tau by restoring PP2A activity., 10th International Conference on Alzeimer's Disease & Related Disorders., Madrid, Spain
07/2006
Poster Presentation, Enhancement of neurogenesis by
peptides: A promising therapeutic approach., 10th International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease & Related Disorders, Madrid, Spain
07/2006
Poster Presentation, High throughput screen assay to develop
drugs for inhibition of abnormal hyperphosphorylation of tau., 10th International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease & Related Disorder, Madrid, Spain
07/2006
Poster Presentation, Hyperphosphorylation-induced self assembly of murine tau: a comparison with human tau., 9th International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease & Related Disorders, Philadelphia, PA07/2004
Platform Presentations, Hyperphosphorylation of Tau in Neurofibrillary Degeneration of the type seen in Alzheimer’s disease, 3rd Leiden International Medical Students Congress, Leiden, Netherlands03/2003
Poster Presentation, Folinic acid protects against suppression of growth by methotrexate in mice., 2nd Leiden International Medical Students Congress Abstracts, Leiden, Netherlands03/2001
Poster Presentation, Outcome analysis of Intracapsular fractures of the Neck of Femur fixed with internal fixation., XV International Congress of Pakistan Orthopedic Association, Lahore, Pakistan03/2001
Poster Presentation, Diagnosis of ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection using[F-18] FDG-PET., University of New Mexico Annual Neuroscience Resident Research Day, Alburquerque, NM

Honors, Awards, and Recognition

President's Invited Lecture (deferred due to pandemic), International Society for Intelligence Research2020
Invited Plenary session, New Mexico Medical Society2018
Visiting professor, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities2014
Best Scientific Paper, Annual Neuroscience Research Day, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM2014
Outstanding Resident Leadership Award, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM2014
Clinical Research Travel award, European Association of Neurological Surgeons/ AANS/CNS Tumor Section meeting, Tel Aviv, Israel2013
Runner up, Annual Neuroscience Research Day, University of New Mexico, Department of Neurosurgery2012
Invited Guest editor, “Novel Approaches to Alzheimer’s Disease Therapeutics", Journal of Alzheimer Disease (special issue)2008
World Association of Alzheimer Disease Scientists (WAADS) Award, World Association of Alzheimer Disease Scientists2005
Neurobiology of Stem Cell stimulation, Scientific Recognition, New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, Albany, NY2004
Research Travel Award, 4th Leiden International Medical Students Congress, Leiden, Netherlands2003
Research Travel Award, 2nd Leiden International Medical Students Congress, Leiden, Netherlands2001

Professional Membership and Service

Pakistan Academy of Neurological Surgery, Member2022 - Present
Mississippi State Medical Association, Member2022 - Present
Mississippi Neurosurgical Society, Member2022 - Present
Society for Neuro-Oncology, Member2015 - Present
AANS/CNS Section on Tumors, Member2015 - Present
North American Skullbase Society, Member2015 - 2016
American College of Surgeons, Member2008 - 2007
Society for Neuroscience, Member2005 - 2007
Federation of American Society for Experimental Biology, Member2005 - 2007
American Society for Investigative Pathology, Member2005 - 2007
American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Fellow
Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Fellow

Committee Service

SCHOOL OF MEDICINE-FACULTY APPOINTMENTS, PROMOTIONS AND TENURE, Member2023 - Present
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE-RESIDENCY REVIEW SUBCOMMITTEE, Member2020 - Present
Access to Critical Care and Emergency Support Services (ACCESS) Telemedicine Program, Task Force Member2016 - 2019
Surgical Site Infection Committee, Task Force Member2016 - 2018
University of New Mexico, Physician Advisory Group, Member2016 - 2018
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE-RESIDENCY REVIEW SUBCOMMITTEE, Steering Committee Member2015 - 2019

Community Service

Neurosurgeons for Humanity, Founding member12/2023 - Present
Brain Mapping, Mississippi Business Journal interview08/2022 - Present
Awake brain surgery, Daily Journal Newspaper interview01/2021 - Present
New Mexico Medical Review Commission, Ad hoc expert witness2020 - Present
Advances in Neurosurgery, KOB4 News TV Interview06/2017 - Present
Advances in Neurosurgery, KOB4-Eyewitness News TV interview04/2017 - Present

Other Service

Syndicate of Pakistani International Neurosurgeons Workshop (Neurosurgical Oncology)04/2024 - 04/2024
Neuro-Oncology Webinar Series05/2021 - Present
Clinical Neuroscience Grand rounds (Neuro-Oncology)2015 - 07/2020
Biomed Central Neurology-Neuro-Oncology section2015 - 12/2020
Journal of Alzheimer Disease2008 - 12/2010
Journal of Alzheimer Disease2006 - 12/2008
Journal of Neuro-Oncology
Journal of Neurotrauma
Aging
Pituitary
Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology
Acta Neuropathologica (Berlin)
Neurobiology of Aging
Clinical and Experimental Metastasis
World Neurosurgery
Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology

Teaching Experience

Medicine, Lecture, Lecturer, The Neurological System & Human BehaviorAnnual 2025
Medicine, Course, Lecturer, Gamma Knife Icon Stereotactic Radiosurgery WorkshopAnnual 2022
Lab, Lab Presenter, Neurosurgery Cadaver Lab trainingAnnual 2021
Medicine, Course, Lecturer, Gamma Knife Icon Stereotactic Radiosurgery WorkshopAnnual 2020

Directed Student Learning

Supervised Research, Neural Network Predictors of outcomes in survivors of penetrating traumatic brain injury
Advised: Tiwaniya Tyler
2024 - Present
Supervised Research, A Zebrafish Model to Investigate the Invasiveness of Cancer Stem Cells from the Sub-ventricular Zone of Glioblastoma Patients
Advised: Royce Swayze
2024 - Present
Directed Individual/Independent Study, Dissecting Intra-tumor Heterogeneity in the Glioblastoma Microenvironment Using Fluorescence-Guided Multiple Sampling
Advised: Michael Ziemke
2022 - 2023
Directed Individual/Independent Study, Negative Pressure Wound Therapy in Facilitating Wound Healing After Surgical Decompression for Metastatic Spine Disease
Advised: Somtochukwu Ngwudike
2021 - 2022
Directed Individual/Independent Study, Negative Pressure Wound Therapy in Facilitating Wound Healing After Surgical Decompression for Metastatic Spine Disease
Advised: Martin McCandles
2021 - 2022
Supervised Research, Advised: Zoya Veronovich2019 - 2020
Supervised Research, Imaging correlates of Cognitive dysfunction in patients with Brain Tumors
Advised: Christopher Wertz
2019 - Present
Directed Individual/Independent Study, Advised: Laila Mohammad2018 - 2020

Residency Training

UMMC Neurosurgery, Training Faculty2020 - Present
University of New Mexico Neurosurgery, Training Faculty2015 - 08/2020