Title(s):
Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery
Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
Director, Johns Hopkins Bayview Spine Program
Appointment Phone:
410-955-4424
Primary Location:
The Johns Hopkins Hospital
Expertise:
Aneurysmal Bone Cyst, Back Injuries, Back Pain, Basilar Impression, Basilar Invagination, Cauda Equina Syndrome, Cavernous Angioma, Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease, Cervical Degenerative Disc Herniation, Cervical Disc Herniation, Cervical Myelopathy, Cervical Radiculopathy, Cervical Spine Trauma, Cervical Spondylosis, Chiari Malformations, Chordomas, Chrondrosarcoma, Cranio-cervical Junction Pathology, Degenerative Disc Disease, Degenerative Spine Disease, Disc Pain, Giant Cell Tumor, Hemangioblastoma, Hemangiomas, Kyphosis, Lumbar Degenerative Disease, Lumbar Disc Herniation, Lumbar Radiculopathy, Minimally Invasive Pediatric Surgery, Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Minimally Invasive Surgery, Myxopapillary Ependymoma, Neck Pain, Nerve Sheath Tumor, Neurosurgery, Neurosurgical Oncology, Osteoblastoma, Osteoid Osteoma, Radiculopathy, Sacral Tumors, Sarcoma, Schwannoma, Sciatica, Spinal Column Tumors, Spinal Cord Injury, Spinal Cord Malformation, Spinal Cord Trauma, Spinal Cord Tumors, Spinal Decompression, Spinal Deformity, Spinal Dural Fistula, Spinal Ependymoma, Spinal Fixation, Spinal Fusion, Spinal Infection, Spinal Instability, Spinal Meningioma, Spinal Metastases, Spinal Neurofibroma, Spinal Pain, Spinal Reconstruction, Spinal Schwannoma, Spinal Stenosis, Spinal Trauma, Spinal Tumors, Spine and Spinal Deformities, Spine Surgery, Spine Tumors, Spondylolisthesis, Spondylosis, Cervical, Spondyloysis, Thoracic Disc Herniation
Education and Experience
Training
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (Baltimore MD)/ (1994)
Residencies
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (Pittsburgh PA)/ General Surgery/Neurological Surgery (2001)
Fellowships
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (Pittsburgh PA) / Neurosurgery (2001)
Certifications
- Neurosurgery, American Board of Neurological Surgery (2003)
Locations
The Johns Hopkins Hospital
600 N. Wolfe Street
Meyer Room 7-109
Baltimore, MD 21287
Phone: 410-955-4424
Appointment Phone: 410-955-4424
Fax: 410-502-3399
Location Map
Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
4940 Eastern Avenue
Lord Mason Drive, Building 301 Room Room 2100
Baltimore, MD 21224
Phone: 410-550-0100
Appointment Phone: 410-550-0465
Location Map
Johns Hopkins Medicine - Green Spring Station
10755 Falls Road
Pavilion I
Lutherville, MD 21093
Phone: 410-955-4424
Appointment Phone: 410-955-4424
Location Map
Department / Division
-
Neurosurgery - Spine
Centers/Institutes
Centers / Institutes
- Spine Center
Bio
Biography
Dr. Timothy Witham focuses on complex spinal disorders. His interests include the surgical treatment of degenerative conditions at the cervical and lumbar spine to include instrumented fusion and dynamic stabilization procedures. He has an interest in the treatment of spinal tumors, spinal trauma and complex occipital-cervical junction disorders.
Physician Title
Director, Johns Hopkins Bayview Spine Program
Awards and Honors
2007 Top Doctors as featured in Baltimore Magazine
2007 Appointed as AO/ASIF Spine Faculty
2005 Meritorious Service Medal, United States Air Force
2000 University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurological Surgery-Resident Teaching Award
1998 American College of Surgeons (ACS) Resident Research Scholarship of The Warren and Clara Cole Fund
1998 Pittsburgh Foundations Copeland Grant, The Development of Vaccines for Central Nervous System Tumors
1994 Alpha Omega Alpha
1990 Health Professions Officer Indoctrination Course Distinguished Graduate
1990 United States Air Force, Health Professions Scholarship
1990 Student Marshal, College of Science Commencement
1990 Phi Kappa Phi
1990 Phi Beta Kappa
1990 GTE-Cosida First Team at large Academic All-America (swimming), 1990 Ernest B. McCoy Award, Penn States outstanding male student-athlete
1990 Department Honors, Biochemistry, The Isolation, Purification and Characterization of Anti- Carbohydrate Antibodies Using Affinity Chromatography and other Analytical Techniques
1989 Department of Biochemistry Scholarship
1989 Shigley Award, Outstanding junior biochemistry student
1988 Department of Biochemistry Scholarship
1987 Golden Key National Honor Society Scholarship Winner
2007 Appointed as AO/ASIF Spine Faculty
2005 Meritorious Service Medal, United States Air Force
2000 University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurological Surgery-Resident Teaching Award
1998 American College of Surgeons (ACS) Resident Research Scholarship of The Warren and Clara Cole Fund
1998 Pittsburgh Foundations Copeland Grant, The Development of Vaccines for Central Nervous System Tumors
1994 Alpha Omega Alpha
1990 Health Professions Officer Indoctrination Course Distinguished Graduate
1990 United States Air Force, Health Professions Scholarship
1990 Student Marshal, College of Science Commencement
1990 Phi Kappa Phi
1990 Phi Beta Kappa
1990 GTE-Cosida First Team at large Academic All-America (swimming), 1990 Ernest B. McCoy Award, Penn States outstanding male student-athlete
1990 Department Honors, Biochemistry, The Isolation, Purification and Characterization of Anti- Carbohydrate Antibodies Using Affinity Chromatography and other Analytical Techniques
1989 Department of Biochemistry Scholarship
1989 Shigley Award, Outstanding junior biochemistry student
1988 Department of Biochemistry Scholarship
1987 Golden Key National Honor Society Scholarship Winner
Expertise
- Aneurysmal Bone Cyst
- Back Injuries
- Back Pain
- Basilar Impression
- Basilar Invagination
- Cauda Equina Syndrome
- Cavernous Angioma
- Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease
- Cervical Degenerative Disc Herniation
- Cervical Disc Herniation
- Cervical Myelopathy
- Cervical Radiculopathy
- Cervical Spine Trauma
- Cervical Spondylosis
- Chiari Malformations
- Chordomas
- Chrondrosarcoma
- Cranio-cervical Junction Pathology
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- Degenerative Spine Disease
- Disc Pain
- Giant Cell Tumor
- Hemangioblastoma
- Hemangiomas
- Kyphosis
- Lumbar Degenerative Disease
- Lumbar Disc Herniation
- Lumbar Radiculopathy
- Minimally Invasive Pediatric Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Myxopapillary Ependymoma
- Neck Pain
- Nerve Sheath Tumor
- Neurosurgery
- Neurosurgical Oncology
- Osteoblastoma
- Osteoid Osteoma
- Radiculopathy
- Sacral Tumors
- Sarcoma
- Schwannoma
- Sciatica
- Spinal Column Tumors
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Spinal Cord Malformation
- Spinal Cord Trauma
- Spinal Cord Tumors
- Spinal Decompression
- Spinal Deformity
- Spinal Dural Fistula
- Spinal Ependymoma
- Spinal Fixation
- Spinal Fusion
- Spinal Infection
- Spinal Instability
- Spinal Meningioma
- Spinal Metastases
- Spinal Neurofibroma
- Spinal Pain
- Spinal Reconstruction
- Spinal Schwannoma
- Spinal Stenosis
- Spinal Trauma
- Spinal Tumors
- Spine and Spinal Deformities
- Spine Surgery
- Spine Tumors
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spondylosis, Cervical
- Spondyloysis
- Thoracic Disc Herniation
Professional Highlights
See Hopkins Web site and CV
Research
Research and Publications
Dasenbrock HH, Clarke MJ, Bydon A, McGirt MJ, Witham TF, Sciubba DM, Gokaslan ZL, Wolinsky JP. En
Bloc Resection of Sacral Chordomas Aided by Frameless Stereotactic Image Guidance: A Technical Note.
Neurosurgery. 2011 Jul 16.
Dasenbrock HH, Clarke MJ, M D AB, Sciubba DM, Witham TF, Gokaslan ZL, Wolinsky JP. Endoscopic
Image‐Guided Transcervical Odontoidectomy: Outcomes of 15 Patients with Basilar Invagination.
Neurosurgery. 2011 Aug 5. [Epub ahead of print]
Xu R, Bydon M, Sciubba DM, Witham TF, Wolinsky JP, Gokaslan ZL, Bydon A.Safety and efficacy of
rhBMP2 in posterior cervical spinal fusion for subaxial degenerative spine disease:Analysis of outcomes
in 204 patients. Surg Neurol Int. 2011; 2:109. Epub 2011 Aug 13.
Xu R, Ritzl EK, Sait M, Sciubba DM, Wolinsky JP, Witham TF, Gokaslan ZL, Bydon A. A role for motor and
somatosensory evoked potentials during anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for patients without
myelopathy: Analysis of 57 consecutive cases. Surg Neurol Int. 2011; 2:133. Epub 2011 Sep 30.
Veeravagu A, Ponnusamy K, Jiang B, Bydon M, McGirt M, Gottfried ON, Witham T, Gokaslan ZL, Bydon
A. Renal osteodystrophy: Neurosurgical considerations and challenges. World Neurosurg. 2011 Nov 1.
[Epub ahead of print]
Sciubba DM, Gokaslan ZL, Black JH 3rd, Simmons O, Suk I, Witham TF, Bydon A, Wolinsky JP. 5‐Level
spondylectomy for en bloc resection of thoracic chordoma:case report. Neurosurgery. 2011 Dec; 69(2
Suppl Operative):onsE248‐55; discussion onsE255‐6.
Molina CA, Sarabia‐Estrada R, Gokaslan ZL, Witham TF, Bydon A, Wolinsky JP, Sciubba DM. Delayed
onset of paralysis and slowed tumor growth following in situ placement of recombinant human bone
morphogenetic protein 2 within spine tumors in a rat model of metastatic breast cancer. J Neurosurg
Spine. 2012 Jan 20. [Epub ahead of print]
Dasenbrock HH, Wolinsky JP, Sciubba DM, Witham TF, Gokaslan ZL, Bydon A. The impact of insurance
status on outcomes after surgery for spinal metastases. Cancer. 2012 Jan 31. doi: 10.1002/cncr.27388.
[Epub ahead of print]
Dasenbrock HH, Pradilla G, Witham TF, Gokaslan ZL, Bydon A. The impact of weekend hospital
admission on the timing of intervention and outcomes after surgery for spinal metastases.
Neurosurgery. 2012 Mar; 70(3):586‐93.
Laufer I, Sciubba DM, Madera M, Bydon A, Witham TF, Gokaslan ZL, Wolinsky JP. Surgical management
of metastatic spinal tumors. Cancer Control. 2012 Apr; 19(2): 122‐8
Dasenbrock HH, Juraschek SP, Schultz LR, Witham TF, Sciubba DM, Wolinsky JP, Gokaslan ZL, Bydon A.
The efficacy of minimally invasive discectomy compared with open discectomy: a meta‐analysis of
prospective randomized controlled trials. J Neurosurg Spine. 2012 May; 16(5): 452‐62.
Dasenbrock HH, Clarke MJ, Witham TF, Sciubba DM, Gokaslan ZL, Bydon A. The impact of provider
volume on the outcomes after surgery for lumbar stenosis. Neurosurgery. 2012 Jun;70(6): 1346‐54
McGloughlin GS, Sciubba DM, Chaichana KL, McGirt MJ, Bettagowda C, Wolinsky JP, Fourney DR,
Gokaslan ZL, Witham TF. Postoperative infection of the instrumented spine: a review of 1,332
procedures over 5 years. J Neurosurg Spine, In Press.
Bloc Resection of Sacral Chordomas Aided by Frameless Stereotactic Image Guidance: A Technical Note.
Neurosurgery. 2011 Jul 16.
Dasenbrock HH, Clarke MJ, M D AB, Sciubba DM, Witham TF, Gokaslan ZL, Wolinsky JP. Endoscopic
Image‐Guided Transcervical Odontoidectomy: Outcomes of 15 Patients with Basilar Invagination.
Neurosurgery. 2011 Aug 5. [Epub ahead of print]
Xu R, Bydon M, Sciubba DM, Witham TF, Wolinsky JP, Gokaslan ZL, Bydon A.Safety and efficacy of
rhBMP2 in posterior cervical spinal fusion for subaxial degenerative spine disease:Analysis of outcomes
in 204 patients. Surg Neurol Int. 2011; 2:109. Epub 2011 Aug 13.
Xu R, Ritzl EK, Sait M, Sciubba DM, Wolinsky JP, Witham TF, Gokaslan ZL, Bydon A. A role for motor and
somatosensory evoked potentials during anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for patients without
myelopathy: Analysis of 57 consecutive cases. Surg Neurol Int. 2011; 2:133. Epub 2011 Sep 30.
Veeravagu A, Ponnusamy K, Jiang B, Bydon M, McGirt M, Gottfried ON, Witham T, Gokaslan ZL, Bydon
A. Renal osteodystrophy: Neurosurgical considerations and challenges. World Neurosurg. 2011 Nov 1.
[Epub ahead of print]
Sciubba DM, Gokaslan ZL, Black JH 3rd, Simmons O, Suk I, Witham TF, Bydon A, Wolinsky JP. 5‐Level
spondylectomy for en bloc resection of thoracic chordoma:case report. Neurosurgery. 2011 Dec; 69(2
Suppl Operative):onsE248‐55; discussion onsE255‐6.
Molina CA, Sarabia‐Estrada R, Gokaslan ZL, Witham TF, Bydon A, Wolinsky JP, Sciubba DM. Delayed
onset of paralysis and slowed tumor growth following in situ placement of recombinant human bone
morphogenetic protein 2 within spine tumors in a rat model of metastatic breast cancer. J Neurosurg
Spine. 2012 Jan 20. [Epub ahead of print]
Dasenbrock HH, Wolinsky JP, Sciubba DM, Witham TF, Gokaslan ZL, Bydon A. The impact of insurance
status on outcomes after surgery for spinal metastases. Cancer. 2012 Jan 31. doi: 10.1002/cncr.27388.
[Epub ahead of print]
Dasenbrock HH, Pradilla G, Witham TF, Gokaslan ZL, Bydon A. The impact of weekend hospital
admission on the timing of intervention and outcomes after surgery for spinal metastases.
Neurosurgery. 2012 Mar; 70(3):586‐93.
Laufer I, Sciubba DM, Madera M, Bydon A, Witham TF, Gokaslan ZL, Wolinsky JP. Surgical management
of metastatic spinal tumors. Cancer Control. 2012 Apr; 19(2): 122‐8
Dasenbrock HH, Juraschek SP, Schultz LR, Witham TF, Sciubba DM, Wolinsky JP, Gokaslan ZL, Bydon A.
The efficacy of minimally invasive discectomy compared with open discectomy: a meta‐analysis of
prospective randomized controlled trials. J Neurosurg Spine. 2012 May; 16(5): 452‐62.
Dasenbrock HH, Clarke MJ, Witham TF, Sciubba DM, Gokaslan ZL, Bydon A. The impact of provider
volume on the outcomes after surgery for lumbar stenosis. Neurosurgery. 2012 Jun;70(6): 1346‐54
McGloughlin GS, Sciubba DM, Chaichana KL, McGirt MJ, Bettagowda C, Wolinsky JP, Fourney DR,
Gokaslan ZL, Witham TF. Postoperative infection of the instrumented spine: a review of 1,332
procedures over 5 years. J Neurosurg Spine, In Press.
Research Interests
- Improving spinal fusions, Instrumentation in the Aging Spine, Spinal Oncology
More Info
Languages
- English
Memberships
American Association of Neurological Surgeons Sergent at Arms Committee, 1996, 1997, 1999
Congress of Neurological Surgeons Registration Committee, 1997
Congress of Neurological Surgeons Sergent at Arms Committee, 1997
Scientific review committee for AANS/CNS Spine Section, 2009
Scientific review committee for AANS/CNS Spine Section, 2010
Local/state
Member, The Johns Hopkins Medical and Surgical Society, 1994-present
National
Resident Member, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, 1995-2001
Resident member, American Association of Neurological Surgeons, 1995-2001
Member, American Association of Neurological Surgeons, 2001-present
Member, American Association of Neurological Surgeons/Congress of Neurological Surgeons Joint Section on Tumors, 1998-present
Member, American Association of Neurological Surgeons/Congress of Neurological Surgeons Section on Neurotrauma and Critical Care, 1998-present
Candidate and Associate Fellow, American College of Surgeons, 1998-2005
Fellow (F.A.C.S.), American College of Surgeons, October 16, 2005- present
American Medical Association, 1994-present
Member, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, 2001-present
Member, The North American Spine Society, 2009-present
Congress of Neurological Surgeons Registration Committee, 1997
Congress of Neurological Surgeons Sergent at Arms Committee, 1997
Scientific review committee for AANS/CNS Spine Section, 2009
Scientific review committee for AANS/CNS Spine Section, 2010
Local/state
Member, The Johns Hopkins Medical and Surgical Society, 1994-present
National
Resident Member, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, 1995-2001
Resident member, American Association of Neurological Surgeons, 1995-2001
Member, American Association of Neurological Surgeons, 2001-present
Member, American Association of Neurological Surgeons/Congress of Neurological Surgeons Joint Section on Tumors, 1998-present
Member, American Association of Neurological Surgeons/Congress of Neurological Surgeons Section on Neurotrauma and Critical Care, 1998-present
Candidate and Associate Fellow, American College of Surgeons, 1998-2005
Fellow (F.A.C.S.), American College of Surgeons, October 16, 2005- present
American Medical Association, 1994-present
Member, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, 2001-present
Member, The North American Spine Society, 2009-present
Clinical Trials
- Lumbar Disc Herniation
Additional Resources
Facebook
Twitter
Sharecare
Blogs
YouTube
RSS
Podcasts