Naoum Issa, MD, PhD is a neurologist specializing in the treatment of epilepsy. He works closely with patients to control their seizures and is passionate about offering advanced options for epilepsy that is resistant to anti-seizure medications.
Dr. Issa is the director of epilepsy research and the section chief of clinical neurophysiology at the University of Chicago. His research focuses on detecting and diagnosing neurologic disorders using painless, electrophysiological techniques. He and his co-workers are developing ways to identify seizure footprints in deep brain structures without having to implant electrodes. Through collaborations with neuromuscular specialists, he is applying some of the same techniques used for seizure diagnosis to detect other neurological disorders like ALS.
Dr. Issa has published over 75 scientific papers and book chapters and is a reviewer for multiple neurology and neuroscience journals. His work has appeared in journals such as Neurology, Epilepsia, Journal of Neuroscience, Nature Protocols, and Neuron.
Dr. Issa has taught extensively at the Pritzker School of Medicine and has been recognized for excellence in teaching with the L.D.H. Wood Preclerkship Teaching Award, the Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism and Excellence in Teaching Award, an A.B. Baker Teacher Recognition Award from the American Academy of Neurology, and he was a faculty honoree of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society for clinical teaching.
University of Chicago
Chicago
- Epilepsy (CNP) Fellowship
2016
University of Chicago
Chicago
- Neurology Residency
2015
University of Chicago
NorthShore
- Internship (Medicine)
2012
University of California
San Francisco
- Postdoctoral Fellowship, Physiology
2001
University of Texas -- Southwestern
Dallas
MD - Medicine
1997
University of Texas -- Southwestern
Dallas
PhD - Neuroscience
1997
Southern Methodist University
Dallas
BS, BA - Chemistry, Biology
1989
Closed-loop control of theta oscillations enhances human hippocampal network connectivity.
Closed-loop control of theta oscillations enhances human hippocampal network connectivity. Nat Commun. 2025 Apr 30; 16(1):4061.
PMID: 40307237
Clinical Implications of Small Sharp Spikes in Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy: Controversies and Opportunities.
Clinical Implications of Small Sharp Spikes in Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy: Controversies and Opportunities. J Clin Neurophysiol. 2025 Apr 30.
PMID: 40302021
A Systematic Review of EEG and MRI Features for Predicting Long-Term Neurological Outcomes in Cooled Neonates With Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE).
A Systematic Review of EEG and MRI Features for Predicting Long-Term Neurological Outcomes in Cooled Neonates With Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE). Cureus. 2024 Oct; 16(10):e71431.
PMID: 39539899
Significance of small sharp spikes in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.
Significance of small sharp spikes in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. Clin Neurophysiol. 2024 Sep; 165:180-181.
PMID: 39047670
Intermuscular coherence as an early biomarker for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: The protocol for a prospective, multicenter study.
Intermuscular coherence as an early biomarker for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: The protocol for a prospective, multicenter study. PLoS One. 2024; 19(5):e0303053.
PMID: 38776297
Depth versus surface: A critical review of subdural and depth electrodes in intracranial electroencephalographic studies.
Depth versus surface: A critical review of subdural and depth electrodes in intracranial electroencephalographic studies. Epilepsia. 2024 Jul; 65(7):1868-1878.
PMID: 38722693
Added load increases the peak frequency of intermuscular coherence.
Added load increases the peak frequency of intermuscular coherence. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2024 Jun; 76:102881.
PMID: 38574588
Novel EEG Metric Correlates with Intracranial Pressure in an Animal Model.
Novel EEG Metric Correlates with Intracranial Pressure in an Animal Model. Neurocrit Care. 2024 Jun; 40(3):918-930.
PMID: 37940837
Interstitial laser ablation for epilepsy: beauty lies in the eye of the beholder.
Interstitial laser ablation for epilepsy: beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2023 12; 94(12):973-974.
PMID: 37852745
Intermuscular Coherence in Spinocerebellar Ataxias 3 and 6: a Preliminary Study.
Intermuscular Coherence in Spinocerebellar Ataxias 3 and 6: a Preliminary Study. Cerebellum. 2024 Apr; 23(2):601-608.
PMID: 37428409
A.B. Baker Teacher Recognition Award
American Academy of Neurology
2021
L.D.H. Wood Preclerkship Teaching Award – Pritzker School of Medicine
University of Chicago
2019
Faculty Honoree; Alpha Omega Alpha – Beta Chapter, Class of 2019
University of Chicago
2018
American Epilepsy Association EpiPORT Fellowship
American Epilepsy Society
2015 - 2016
Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism and Excellence in Teaching Award
University of Chicago
2015
Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow
University of Chicago
2003 - 2005