About
We believe in delivering the best possible care today, while leading the path toward future innovative care solutions. We also strongly believe that patient care requires a holistic approach that is individualized for each patient and their family.
Collaborative, patient-centered care
The NorthShore Neurological Institute (NNI) at Northwest Community Healthcare (NCH) matches each and every patient with the right specialists, technologies and treatment options for your unique condition and needs.
‘Patient-centered’ means you are the boss. You are the chairperson, your family is the board and our leading team of neurological experts serve as your executive team. What makes our approach special is that our neurological experts come to YOU – at the same time and during a single visit – to work together with you and your family to create the best care plan for you. This allows us to better understand your needs, answer any questions you may have and make decisions together in real time while we are all in the room together.
We prioritize collaboration. Our world-class specialists, surgeons, nurses and clinical staff partner with our patients to provide unparalleled support and achieve the best possible outcomes.
Diverse team of board-certified experts
Our team is made up of a diverse team of board-certified specialists with extraordinary academic backgrounds, recognized globally for innovation in the treatment of brain, head and neck disorders and conditions.
Depending on your needs and condition, your care team may include:
- Brain surgeons
- Neurologists
- Oculoplastic surgeons
- Oncologists
- Otolaryngologists / ear, nose and throat (ENT)
- Radiologists
This team works collaboratively to provide the highest quality care for our patients.
A global destination for neurological care
Our neurosurgery program is a global destination for patient care and physician training. Our team has gained international recognition through a comprehensive track record of research publications, in addition to pioneering and completing several first-in-human recorded procedures such as transnasal removal of the upper spine, optical robotic surgery, deep brain trans-sulcal port brain surgery and expanded endonasal skull base surgery.
More recently, our focus has led to developing personalized road maps of the networks below the brain surface using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine-learning algorithms. This allows us to create personalized approaches for each individual patient, protecting the most important functions, such as memory, thought and consciousness. We have termed this approach conscious surgery (an advancement beyond the traditional awake surgery).
Dr. Amin Kassam
The NNI at NCH is led by Dr. Kassam, a global pioneer and leader in minimally invasive neurosurgery. He has performed many first-in-human trials and remains a global destination surgeon.
In addition to being a practicing physician, Dr. Kassam has also led neurosurgery programs, including previously Chairing the Neurosurgical Program at the University of Pittsburgh and Aurora Healthcare. Dr. Kassam has pioneered and taught novel surgical procedures globally, and founded several technology start-up companies that were specifically developed to drive the next generation of care for patients worldwide.
He is not only a sought after global destination surgeon, but also an educator, having published more than 320 peer-reviewed articles and presented over 250 lectures globally, with a Hirsch index of 75. (The Hirsch index represents an impact score of a scientist’s publications on world literature; an h-index score of 75 represents one of the most significant impact scores in the history of neurosurgery.)