David Okonkwo, MD, PhD

• Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh
• Executive Vice President, UPMC Enterprises
• Director, Neurotrauma Clinical Trials Center, University of Pittsburgh
• Director, Scoliosis and Spinal Deformity Program, UPMC
• Beckwith Medical Technology Innovation and Advancement Endowed Chair, UPMC Enterprises

David Okonkwo, MD, PhD, is professor of neurological surgery at the University of Pittsburgh and executive vice president of UPMC Enterprises. Dr. Okonkwo is also director of the Neurotrauma Clinical Trials Center at Pitt, director of neurotrauma at UPMC and director of the scoliosis and spinal deformity program at UPMC Presbyterian. In addition, Dr. Okonkwo is team neurosurgeon for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Dr. Okonkwo completed his undergraduate studies and the University of Virginia and earned both his MD and his PhD from Virginia Commonwealth University. He completed his residency in Neurological Surgery at the University of Virginia and a fellowship at Auckland Public Hospital in New Zealand. He joined UPMC and Pitt in 2006.

Dr. Okonkwo’s clinical interests are sports medicine, traumatic injuries to the brain and spine as well as scoliosis and spinal deformity surgery. His research endeavors involve developing biomarkers and novel therapeutic interventions for brain and spinal cord injury. Through his patents, creativity and advice, Dr. Okonkwo has spent two decades developing technologies and treatments to transform management of concussions, traumatic brain injuries and complex spinal disorders. His innovation and commercialization efforts have yielded several medical devices now in global distribution.

Dr. Okonkwo joined UPMC Enterprises in 2018 with a focus on med-tech and the neurosciences. As Executive Vice President of UPMC Enterprises and member of UPMC’s Health Technology Advancement Program (HTAP), Dr. Okonkwo champions the talent and vision of the UPMC ecosystem to forge strategic industry partnerships that align with UPMC’s clinical excellence and operational mandates.