Sean Polster

UChicago Faculty Physicians

Sean P. Polster, MD

Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery Associate Director, Neurovascular Surgery Program
Director, Skull Base and Neurovascular Laboratory

25 Insurance Plans Accepted

Dr. Polster is a fellowship-trained neurosurgeon who specializes in minimally invasive surgery of the brain and spine in both adults and children. Dr. Polster’s practice primarily focuses on treating neurovascular conditions of the head and neck as well as tumors of the brain and skull base. He is an expert in performing complex surgical procedures, including neurovascular surgery, endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) neurosurgery, transorbital neuroendoscopic surgery (TONES) and open cranial neurosurgery are just some of the procedures. Dr. Polster and his clinical team have a robust infrastructure to help patients navigate their healthcare from diagnosis through follow-up. We work as a Center of Excellence in many disease processes and pride ourselves on delivering the very best information and treatment for patients.

As a physician-scientist, Dr. Polster is continuously researching new treatments and techniques to improve care for neurosurgery patients. As the endowed Safadi Faculty Scholar, the Polster laboratory is engaged in pre-clinical research and clinical trials to deliver the most cutting-edge treatments to patients. His work has been published in several, highly respected, peer-reviewed journals, such as Nature Communications, Neurosurgery, Stroke, JNS, Surgical Neurology International, Journal of Stroke & Cerebrovascular Diseases, Neurocritical Care, and more. He also has written numerous textbook chapters on the diagnosis and treatment of neurosurgical diseases.

Dr. Polster is not only committed to delivering the highest quality healthcare to his patients, but he is also invested in teaching and mentoring students and residents, providing guidance and instructions to help them navigate complex neurosurgery topics during their medical careers. Dr. Polster is the director of the skull base laboratory that is a joint effort with multiple surgical departments to teach and develop new surgical techniques and tools to treat diseases of the head and neck.

Contact Information: 

Email: spolster@uchicago.edu 

Specialties

Areas of Expertise

Memberships & Medical Societies

  • North American Skull Base Society
  • American Heart Association
  • American Association of Neurological Surgeons
  • American College of Surgeons
  • Congress of Neurological Surgeons

Practicing Since

  • 2013

Languages Spoken

  • English

Medical Education

  • University of Wisconsin- Madison, School of Medicine and Public Health

Residency

  • University of Chicago - Neurological Surgery

Fellowship

  • University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

News & Research

View Published Papers
  • Aetna HMO (specialists only)
  • Aetna POS
  • Aetna PPO
  • BCBS Blue Precision HMO (specialists only)
  • BCBS HMO (HMOI) (specialists only)
  • BCBS PPO
  • Cigna HMO
  • Cigna POS
  • Cigna PPO
  • CountyCare *see insurance page
  • Aetna Better Health *see insurance page
  • Medicare
  • Multiplan PPO
  • PHCS PPO
  • United Choice Plus POS/PPO
  • United Options (PPO)
  • United Select (HMO & EPO) (specialists only)
  • United W500 Emergent Wrap
  • Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO
  • BCBS Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO
  • Humana Medicare Advantage Choice PPO
  • Humana Medicare Advantage Gold Choice PFFS
  • Humana Medicare Advantage Gold Plus HMO
  • United Choice HMO (specialists only)
  • University of Chicago Health Plan (UCHP)

Our list of accepted insurance providers is subject to change at any time. You should contact your insurance company to confirm UChicago Medicine participates in their network before scheduling your appointment. If your insurance company is not listed here, or if you have any other questions, please contact Managed.Care@uchospitals.edu.

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