Matthew B Potts

Matthew B Potts, MD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Neurological Surgery at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, with secondary appointments in Neurology (Ken and Ruth Davee Department) and Radiology. His clinical expertise spans cerebrovascular surgery, neurointerventional/endovascular procedures, and management of brain aneurysms, vascular malformations, stroke, and spinal vascular disease across multiple Northwestern Medicine hospitals including Shirley Ryan AbilityLab.

Dr. Potts completed his BS at MIT (2000) and MD at UCSF (2007), followed by surgical internship (2008), neurological surgery residency (2013), and cerebrovascular fellowship at NYU (2015).

• BS: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2000)
• MD: University of California, San Francisco (2007)
• Internship: University of California-San Francisco Medical Center, Surgery (2008)
• Residency: University of California-San Francisco Medical Center, Neurological Surgery (2013)
• Fellowship: New York University Medical Center, Endovascular/Cerebrovascular Surgery (2015)

His research program centers on chronic subdural hematoma pathophysiology, emergency stroke thrombectomy process optimization, and aneurysm treatment outcomes. He employs clinical-translational approaches to improve cerebrovascular disease management through advanced surgical techniques and rigorous outcomes assessment.

Recent 2025 publications reveal strong focus on hydrocephalus diagnostics, hematoma expansion biomarkers, vertebrobasilar anatomy, and dolichoectatic aneurysm natural history. These works demonstrate multidisciplinary collaboration across neurosurgery, neurology, and radiology to advance diagnostic precision and treatment efficacy in complex cerebrovascular disorders.

Dr. Potts has received exceptional recognition for medical education, including three consecutive Outstanding Teacher Awards (2019-2021) and the John X. Thomas, Jr. Best Teachers Award (2020). His research contributions are honored by the NIH Rush L. Kirschstein Award (2012) and Howard Hughes Fellowship (2005).

• Outstanding Teacher Award, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine (2021)
• Outstanding Teacher Award, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine (2020)
• John X. Thomas, Jr. Best Teachers of Feinberg Award, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine (2020)
• Outstanding Teacher Award, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine (2019)
• Ivan Ciric Resident Teaching Award, Northwestern University Department of Neurological Surgery (2017)
• Best Scientific Presentation, UCSF Department of Neurological Surgery (2013)
• NIH Rush L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award, National Institutes of Health (2012)
• UCSF School of Medicine Alumni Scholarship Award, University of California, San Francisco (2006)
• Howard Hughes Medical Institute Medical Student Research Fellow, Howard Hughes Medical Institute (2005)
• UCSF Quarterly Research Fellowship, University of California, San Francisco (2005)
• MIT-Germany Program Research Fellowship, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2001)

As an educator, Dr. Potts mentors medical students and residents through Feinberg's neurological surgery program, evidenced by his resident teaching award. His research is supported by institutional resources and prior NIH funding, with current industry relationships including ownership in Rhaeos, Inc. He serves as Assistant Editor for Neurosurgery and Associate Editor for Operative Neurosurgery.

He operates within Northwestern's integrated neurovascular team across multiple hospital sites, collaborating with neurologists, neuroradiologists, and rehabilitation specialists to deliver comprehensive care for complex cerebrovascular conditions, with ongoing work focused on improving health equity in stroke treatment and minimally invasive surgical innovation.