UPMC Affiliated Provider
Nitin Agarwal, M.D.
Neurosurgeon
Associate Professor, Neurological Surgery and Bioengineering
Director, Minimally Invasive Spine and Robotics Surgery
Associate Program Director, Neurological Surgery Residency
Co-Director, Complex and Minimally Invasive Spine Deformity Fellowship
Contact Information
Departments
Neurological Surgery
Location
Pittsburgh, PA
Languages
English
For existing patients
Send a secure message via myUPMC
For new patients
Call 412-755-2269 to schedule an appointment
Interests
- Minimally invasive spine surgery
- Artificial disc replacement
- Robotic spine surgery
- Navigation-assisted surgery
- Endoscopic spine surgery
- Awake outpatient surgery
- Brain and spine trauma
- Sports Medicine
- Cervical deformity
- Scoliosis surgery
Education and Training
- BS, Biology, The College of New Jersey, 2010
- MD, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 2014
- Enfolded Fellowship, Sports Medicine, UPMC, 2019-20
- Enfolded Fellowship, Minimally Invasive and Complex Spine Surgery, UPMC, 2018-20
- Neurological Surgery Residency, UPMC, 2014-21
- Fellowship, Minimally Invasive and Complex Spine Surgery, AO Spine/CAST Fellowship, University of California, San Francisco, 2021-22
PITT Neurosurgery Spotlight
Biographical Summary
Dr. Nitin Agarwal joined the University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurological Surgery as an associate professor on February 1, 2023. As part of his educational mission, he serves as the associate program director of the UPMC/University of Pittsburgh neurological surgery residency program and co-director of the department’s Complex and Minimally Invasive Spine Deformity Fellowship. On the clinical front, he is director of the department’s Minimally Invasive Spine and Robotics Surgery program. Dr. Agarwal specializes in minimally invasive spine surgery, artificial disc replacement, robotic spine surgery navigation-assisted surgery, endoscopic spine surgery, awake outpatient surgery, brain and spine trauma, sports medicine, cervical deformity, and scoliosis surgery.
Dr. Agarwal received his medical degree from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. Afterwards, he completed his neurological surgery residency at the University of Pittsburgh. During this time, he also completed an enfolded fellowship in sports medicine as well as in minimally invasive and complex spine surgery. He then completed an AO Spine and Committee on Advanced Subspecialty Training (CAST) approved minimally invasive and complex spine surgery fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco with dual training from orthopedic and neurosurgical mentors. Prior to joining the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Agarwal served as the director of neurotrauma at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis with a clinical focus in spinal deformity surgery.
Dr. Agarwal also maintains an active role in organized neurosurgery advocating for medical student and resident education. Moreover, he has pledged his commitment to advancing neurosurgery as a member of the Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation Cushing Circle of Giving.
Outside of surgery, Dr. Agarwal has been deeply dedicated to martial arts, specifically the disciplines of Taekwondo, Krav Maga and Jiu-Jitsu. For over a decade, he served as a certified instructor, national judge, and school owner. Dr. Agarwal credits martial arts with providing mental and physical discipline as well as adherence to a strict honor code.