Matt El-Kadi, MD, PhD

  • Clinical Professor
  • Vice Chair
  • Chief, Neurosurgery, UPMC Passavant
  • Director, UPMC Passavant Spine Center

Matt El-Kadi, MD, PhD, FACS, joined the Department of Neurological Surgery as a clinical assistant professor in September of 1999. He became clinical associate professor in January 2003 and clinical professor in June 2006. He became vice chairman of the Department of Neurological Surgery in 2010 and has been chief of neurosurgery at UPMC Passavant since 2005. Dr. El-Kadi is also director of the UPMC Passavant Spine Center and is a member of the Tri-State Neurosurgical Associates.

Dr. El-Kadi is board-certified in neurological surgery and has been nominated as one of Pittsburgh’s best doctors in the region since 2012 and as one of the best doctors in America by Castle Connelly since 2009. He has also been honored since 2019 as one of Marquis Who’s Who in America. He specializes in the treatment of complex spine disorders, including spinal fusion and instrumentation, and minimally invasive spinal surgery for both the cervical and lumbar spine, with a special interest in the removal of primary and secondary spinal tumors. He has authored seven books and book chapters and has over 100 publications in circulation. He is an active participant in professional societies.

Before joining UPMC, Dr. El-Kadi received training in complex spinal surgery at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh. He completed his neurosurgery residency training at West Virginia University and a one-year clinical fellowship in neurosurgery at Hartford Hospital, University of Connecticut. Dr. El-Kadi began his surgical career doing brain surgery. The minimally invasive and microscopic techniques used then on the brain have served him well as a spine surgeon for minimally invasive approaches and has been reflected in his patients’ shorter hospital stays and good outcomes.

Dr. El-Kadi's publications can be reviewed through the National Library of Medicine's publication database.

Administrative Office

UPMC Passavant
9100 Babcock Boulevard
2 Main/Room 2096
Pittsburgh, PA 15237

Community Clinic Sites

UPMC Passavant Spine Center, Wexford
12680 Perry Highway, Suite 201
Wexford, PA 15090

Wheeling Hospital
10 Medical Park
Professional Center I
Suite 305
Wheeling WV, 26003

Greenville Medical Center
Lower Level
90 Shenango Street
Greenville, PA 16125

UPMC Monroeville
Suite 210 
600 Oxford Drive
Monroeville, PA 15146

Butler
103 Technology Drive
Butler, PA  16001

Hermitage
1005 Campus Circle
Hermitage, PA 16148

New Castle
Westgate Plaza
2004 West State Street
New Castle, PA 16101

Specialized Areas of Interest

Minimally invasive spine surgery; complex spine disorders; spinal stabilization; spinal tumors.

Board Certifications

American Board of Neurological Surgeons

Hospital Privileges

Grove City Medical Center
Heritage Valley Hospital, Sewickley
UPMC Mercy
UPMC Passavant
UPMC Presbyterian
The Washington Hospital

Professional Organization Membership

Allegheny County Medical Society
American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine
American Association of Neurological Surgeons
American Medical Association
Congress of Neurological Surgeons
International Spinal Injections Society
North American Spine Society
Ohio County Medical Society
Pennsylvania Medical Society
Pennsylvania Neurosurgical Society

Professional Activities

Board of Directors, UPMC Passavant and St. Margaret
Board of Directors, Passavant Foundation

Education & Training

  • MD, Second Moscow State Pirogov Medical Institute, 1983
  • Residency, Neurosurgery, Burdenko Neurosurgical Institute, 1989
  • Fellowship, Brain Tumor Research, LAC + USC Medical Center, 1992
  • Fellowship, Neurosurgery, University of Connecticut, 1994
  • Fellowship, Neurosurgery, Allegheny General Hospital, 1998
  • Residency, Neurosurgery, West Virginia University, 1999

Honors & Awards

  • Pittsburgh’s Best Doctors, Pittsburgh Magazine, 2012-22
  • Marquis Who’s Who in America, 2019-20
  • Castle Connelly Top Doctors, 2009-2020
  • UPMC Passavant Legacy of Caring Award, 20014
  • UPMC Champion of Nursing Award, 2011

Media Appearances

UPMC Spine Center: Restoring Lives With a Comprehensive Approach
North Hills Monthly
January 2023

Coming Back from a Back Injury
UPMC Today Passavant
Spring 2011

Orthopedic and Spine Industry Leader to Know: Dr. Matthew El-Kadi of UPMC Passavant
Becker's Orthopedic, Spine & Pain Management Review
October 19, 2010

The Evolution of Neurosurgery at UPMC Passavant
North Hills Monthly
July 2010

Matt El-Kadi, MD, PhD: His Success in Neurosurgery and the Reason Behind It (pdf)
M.D. News (Greater Pittsburgh Edition)
Fall 2009

Celebrating 25 Years of Bringing the Best in Neurosurgical Care to Our Community
The Point North Magazine
February 2009