Head, Department of Neurosurgery

University of Minnesota Medical School has appointed Dr. Joseph Neimat as Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery, effective January 29, 2027.

Dr. Neimat currently serves as Chair and Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of Louisville in Kentucky, and previously he was a faculty member at Vanderbilt University where he served in directorships in Functional Neurosurgical Fellowship, Epilepsy Surgery and Neurotrauma. Dr. Neimat has spent his career gaining deep experience in building and leading a thriving department with a focus on clinical excellence, research innovation, and collaborative growth. His clinical practice emphasizes the importance of integrated patience-centered care he has also co-led the creation of nationally recognized centers delivering exceptional care and advancing the field of neurosurgery. Dr. Neimat has also led a strong research laboratory investigating the neurophysiological basis of inhibitory control and emotional regulation.

Dr. Neimat earned his B.S. in Biochemistry from Dartmouth College and his Medical Degree and Master’s in Neurobiology from Duke University. He also earned his M.B.A from the University of Louisville, College of Business. Dr. Neimat completed his residency in Neurosurgery at Massachusetts General Hospital and his fellowship in Functional Neurosurgery from the University of Toronto. He is a board-certified neurosurgeon specializing in neurosurgery for movement disorders and epilepsy.

Jamie Sands and Stephanie Fidel led this search with Erin Schwass and Lily Sethares.