Timothy Witham, MD
Timothy Witham, MD
Professor of Neurological Surgery
Chief, Section of Spine Surgery
Specialties
- Neurosurgery
- Spine Surgery
Locations
- Chicago - Hyde Park
- Orland Park
- About
- Specialties & Areas of Expertise
- Locations & Patient Information
- Education & Research
- Accepted Insurance
- External Professional Relationships
Timothy Witham, MD, is a neurosurgeon who specializes in spine surgery, treating conditions affecting the neck, back and spine. He treats patients with a wide range of spine conditions that can affect movement and comfort, including herniated discs, spinal stenosis, tumors, spinal infections, deformities, fractures/trauma and spinal instability.
When surgery is needed, Dr. Witham performs spine procedures, including spinal fusion and other techniques, to stabilize the spine, relieve pain, protect nerve function and help patients move more comfortably. Dr. Witham has pioneered the use of Augmented Reality (AR) to help make spine surgeries more precise and safe. His focus is on helping patients move more comfortably and return to daily activities with improved strength and mobility.
He understands that spine problems and surgery can feel overwhelming. Dr. Witham takes time to explain each condition and treatment option clearly, working closely with patients to create a plan that feels thoughtful, personalized and manageable.
Dr. Witham’s research interests include finding ways to promote bone healing in the setting of spinal fusion surgery. Failed bone healing and bone growth are common reasons why spinal fusions may fail. He studies novel and innovative ways to promote bone healing and bone growth in experimental models of spinal fusion.
Specialties
Areas of Expertise
- Degenerative Spine Disorders
- Repair of Spine Fracture & Spondylolisthesis
- Spinal Deformities
- Spinal Stenosis
- Spinal Trauma
- Spondylolisthesis
Board Certifications
- Neurological Surgery
Languages Spoken
- English
Medical Education
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Internship
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Residency
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Fellowship
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Spine Division
Awards & Distinctions
- Chairman's Award for Teaching (Johns Hopkins)
- Resident's Award for Teaching (Johns Hopkins)
Memberships & Medical Societies
- American Association of Neurological Surgeons
- American College of Surgeons
- Congress of Neurological Surgeons
- Lumbar Spine Research Society
- Society of Neurological Surgeons
News & Research
Insurance
- Aetna Better Health *see insurance page
- Aetna HMO (specialists only)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO
- Aetna POS
- Aetna PPO
- BCBS Blue Precision HMO (specialists only)
- BCBS HMO (HMOI) (specialists only)
- BCBS Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO
- BCBS PPO
- Cigna HMO
- Cigna POS
- Cigna PPO
- CountyCare *see insurance page
- Humana Medicare Advantage Choice PPO
- Humana Medicare Advantage Gold Choice PFFS
- Humana Medicare Advantage Gold Plus HMO
- Medicare
- Multiplan PPO
- PHCS PPO
- United Choice Plus POS/PPO
- United Choice HMO (specialists only)
- United Options (PPO)
- United Select (HMO & EPO) (specialists only)
- United W500 Emergent Wrap
- 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.
*Click Here to visit our insurance page and learn more.
Some of our physicians and health professionals collaborate with external pharmaceutical, medical device, or other medical related entities to develop new treatments and products to improve clinical outcomes for patients. In some instances, the physician has ownership interests in the external entity and/or is compensated for advising or speaking about the entity’s products or treatments. These payments may include compensation for consulting and speaking engagements, equity, and/or royalties for products invented by our physicians. To assure objectivity and integrity in patient care, UChicago Medicine requires all physicians and health professionals to report their relationships and financial interests with external entities on an annual basis. This information is used to review relationships and transactions that might give rise to potential financial conflicts of interest, and when considered to be significant a management plan to mitigate any biases is created.
If you are a patient at UChicago Medicine and would like more information about your physician’s external relationships, please talk with your physician. You may also visit the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Open Payments website at https://openpaymentsdata.cms.gov/ . CMS Open Payments is a national disclosure program that promotes a more transparent and accountable health care system. It houses a publicly accessible database of payments that reporting entities, including drug and medical device companies, make to covered recipients like physicians and hospitals.
Information in the CMS Open Payments database could potentially contain inaccurately reported and out of date payment information. All information is open to personal interpretation, if there are questions about the data, patients and their advocates should speak directly to their health care provider for a better understanding.