Amin B. Kassam
MD, FRCSC
Founder and CEO, Intent Medical Group
Over the past two decades, Dr. Kassam has led five neurosurgery programs, developed and globally taught novel surgical procedures, founded or held leadership roles in several technology companies, and held executive healthcare administration roles needed to translate innovations through integrated service line delivery models.
Intent Medical Group
Dr. Kassam serves as Chairman of Intent Medical Group. Intent Medical Group brings together specialists to provide innovative neurological care and training.
Currently, Dr. Kassam serves as Chair of Neurosciences at the Advanced Neurosciences Center for Endeavor Health and the EVP & Chief Medical Affairs Officer at NCH and leads the multidisciplinary team for Intent Medical Group. Intent Medical Group brings together neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists, otolaryngologists, neuro-interventionalists, neurologists, neuro-oncologists, pain management physicians, and neuro-ophthalmologists, all in one place to provide innovative neurological care and training.
Advocate Aurora Health
Chief Scientific Strategist, VP Neurosciences, and Chairman of Neurological Surgery for Advocate Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin. Established the Aurora Neuroscience Innovation Institute.
Dr. Kassam previously served as the Chief Scientific Strategist, Vice President for Neurosciences, and Chairman of Neurological Surgery for Advocate Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, where he continued to advance innovation in neurosurgical care and established the Aurora Neuroscience Innovation Institute.
The Ottawa Hospital
Dr. Kassam returned to Ottawa as Professor of Surgery at the University of Ottawa (2010–2013) and Chief of the Division of Neurological Surgery at The Ottawa Hospital (2011–2013), continuing to advance minimally invasive techniques.
From 2010 to 2013, Dr. Kassam returned to Ottawa, where he had completed his neurosurgery residency, to serve as Professor of Surgery (Neurological Surgery) at the University of Ottawa. He was appointed Chief and Head of the Division of Neurological Surgery at The Ottawa Hospital in 2011, a role he held until 2013. During this period, he continued advancing the minimally invasive neurosurgical techniques he had pioneered at the University of Pittsburgh.
Saint John’s Health Center
Recruited as Medical Director of the Neuroscience Institute at Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California (2009–2010), developing minimally invasive neurosurgery, neuro-oncology, and neurovascular surgery services.
In 2009, Dr. Kassam was recruited as Medical Director of the Neuroscience Institute at the John Wayne Cancer Institute at Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California. Announced in August 2009, the appointment brought him to the West Coast to develop a new Neuroscience Institute offering minimally invasive neurosurgery, neuro-oncology, and neurovascular surgery services. He worked alongside Dr. Daniel F. Kelly, Medical Director of the Saint John’s Brain Tumor Center, before departing for The Ottawa Hospital in 2010.
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
At the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Kassam served as Chairman of Neurological Surgery and developed the Expanded Endonasal Approach (EEA) alongside ENT colleagues. Under his leadership, UPMC’s neurosurgery program became one of the largest in the nation.
Joining the University of Pittsburgh in 1998, Dr. Kassam rose from Visiting Instructor to Associate Professor with tenure, serving as Chairman of the Department of Neurological Surgery. During this period, he developed the Expanded Endonasal Approach (EEA) alongside ENT colleagues, an entirely new paradigm for removing complex skull base lesions without external incisions. Under his leadership, UPMC’s neurosurgery program became one of the largest in the nation.
Training & Foundation
Medical degree from the University of Toronto. Neurosurgical residency at the University of Ottawa under Dr. Charles Agbi, with additional training in clinical epidemiology.
Dr. Kassam completed his undergraduate studies and medical degree at the University of Toronto, followed by his neurosurgical residency at the University of Ottawa under Dr. Charles Agbi. He pursued additional postgraduate training in clinical epidemiology at the University of Ottawa and completed a surgical internship at Toronto Wellesley Hospital.
Dr. Kassam's work extends beyond clinical practice into technology, economics, and research.
Six technology companies founded, from robotic surgical systems to AI-infused platforms.
ExploreHealthcare EconomicsEconometric modeling, integrated service lines, and the Neeka Health platform ecosystem.
ExploreResearch & PublicationsOver 320 peer-reviewed articles, three textbooks, and an H-index of 83.
ExploreThree Decades of Innovation
MD, University of Toronto
University of Toronto
Completed medical degree with early acceptance from Microbiology/Biochemistry program.
Neurosurgery Residency Complete
University of Ottawa
Completed residency under Dr. Charles Agbi with additional training in clinical epidemiology.
Joined University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
Appointed as Visiting Instructor, Department of Neurological Surgery.
Assistant Professor
University of Pittsburgh
Joint appointment in Departments of Neurological Surgery and Otolaryngology.
Associate Professor
University of Pittsburgh
Tenure awarded February 2007. Developed the Expanded Endonasal Approach.
Expanded Endonasal Approach Published
University of Pittsburgh
Sentinel publications defining the EEA paradigm: the rostrocaudal axis (Part I and Part II).
Chairman, Department of Neurological Surgery
UPMC
Led one of the largest neurosurgery programs in the nation.
Medical Director, Neuroscience Institute
John Wayne Cancer Institute at Saint John’s Health Center — Santa Monica, CA
Recruited to develop a new Neuroscience Institute bringing minimally invasive neurosurgery to Santa Monica.
Chief and Head of Division, Neurological Surgery
The Ottawa Hospital / University of Ottawa — Ottawa, ON, Canada
Returned to Ottawa as Professor of Surgery and led the Division of Neurological Surgery, advancing the techniques he pioneered at Pittsburgh.
Chief Scientific Strategist, VP Neurosciences, Chairman of Neurological Surgery
Advocate Aurora Health
Established the Aurora Neuroscience Innovation Institute.
The White Matter Chassis Published
Sentinel atlas mapping the subcortical white matter network for surgical planning.
Chair of Neurosciences, Advanced Neurosciences Center
Endeavor Health
Leads the multidisciplinary team at Endeavor Health’s quaternary care destination for neurological care.
Founder and CEO
Intent Medical Group — Arlington Heights, IL
Founded Intent Medical Group as a destination practice for complex neurological care.
Continuing Innovation
Leading a multidisciplinary global destination practice. CMO, NHL Alumni Association.
Credentials & Curriculum Vitae
A comprehensive record of academic appointments, certifications, honors, and scholarly impact.
Complete CV document available upon request.
H-Index
Among the highest in the history of neurosurgery
Citations
Peer-Reviewed Articles
Textbooks
Book Chapters
Global Lectures
47.13 RG Impact Score (98th Percentile)
Academic & Clinical Appointments
Current Positions
Chairman and Clinical Leader
Intent Medical Group — Arlington Heights, IL
Executive Vice President, Chief Medical Affairs and Transformation Officer
Endeavor Health — Arlington Heights, IL
Chairman, Department of Neurosciences
Endeavor Health Advanced Neurosciences Center — Arlington Heights, IL
Chief Medical Officer
National Hockey League Alumni Association
Advocate Aurora Health Care (2013–2020)
Chief Scientific Strategist, VP Neurosciences, Chairman of Neurological Surgery
Advocate Aurora Health Care — Milwaukee, WI
The Ottawa Hospital / University of Ottawa (2010–2013)
Chief and Head of Division, Neurological Surgery
The Ottawa Hospital — Ottawa, ON, Canada
Professor of Surgery (Neurological Surgery)
University of Ottawa — Ottawa, ON, Canada
Saint John’s Health Center (2009–2010)
Medical Director, Neuroscience Institute
John Wayne Cancer Institute at Saint John’s Health Center — Santa Monica, CA
University of Pittsburgh (1997–2016)
Professor and Chairman, Department of Neurological Surgery
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine — Pittsburgh, PA
Associate Professor (Tenure awarded February 2007)
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Department of Neurological Surgery — Pittsburgh, PA
Associate Professor (Secondary Appointment), Department of Otolaryngology
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine — Pittsburgh, PA
Assistant Professor (Joint Appointment), Department of Otolaryngology
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine — Pittsburgh, PA
Assistant Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine — Pittsburgh, PA
Visiting Instructor, Department of Neurological Surgery
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine — Pittsburgh, PA
Education & Training
University of Ottawa
Postgraduate Training: Clinical Epidemiology
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
University of Ottawa
Neurological Surgery Residency
Residency Director: Charles Agbi, MD
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Toronto Wellesley Hospital
Surgical Internship
Director: Allan Lossing, MD
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
University of Toronto, Faculty of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine (MD)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
University of Toronto
Undergraduate: Microbiology/Biochemistry
Accepted early to Medical School
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Selected Honors & Awards
Summa Cum Laude Citation
American Society of Neuroradiology, 39th Annual Scientific Meeting
Above & Beyond Program
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center–Presbyterian Hospital
Track Scholarship in Surgery
University of Toronto, Faculty of Medicine
George Brown Memorial Award for Research
University of Toronto, Faculty of Medicine
American Association of Neurology Experimental Research Competition
American Association of Neurology
Gold Medalist, Princeton Model United Nations Competition
Princeton University
Ontario Scholar
Province of Ontario
Canadian Achievement Award
Government of Canada
Aga Khan Academic Scholarship
Aga Khan Foundation
Frederick Urghart Academic Scholarship
University of Toronto
Professional & Scientific Societies
- Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of CanadaFRCSC
- Congress of Neurological Surgeons
- American Association of Neurological Surgeons
- North American Skull Base Society
- Society for Brain Mapping and Therapeutics
Editorial Board Memberships
- Journal of Neurological Surgery Part B: Skull Base
- Operative Neurosurgery
- World Neurosurgery
- Journal of Neurological Surgery Reports
- Neurosurgery Clinics of North America
Patents & Inventions
Patent portfolio details available upon request.