Zarina S. Ali, M.D., M.S.
Associate Professor of Neurosurgery at the Presbyterian Medical Center of Philadelphia
Attending physician, Pennsylvania Hospital
Attending physician, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Attending physician, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center
Senior Fellow, Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, University of Pennsylvania
Co-Director, Penn Nerve Center, Penn Medicine University City
Chief of Neurosurgery, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center
Vice Chair for Clinical Operations and Quality Improvement, Perelman School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery
Department: Neurosurgery
Contact information
3737 Market Street, 8th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Office: 215-294-9494
Fax: 215-222-8646
Fax: 215-222-8646
Publications
Education:
BS (Neuroscience )
University of Rochester, 2004.
MS (Neurobiology and Anatomy)
University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 2007.
MD (Medicine)
University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 2009.
Permanent linkBS (Neuroscience )
University of Rochester, 2004.
MS (Neurobiology and Anatomy)
University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 2007.
MD (Medicine)
University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 2009.
Description of Clinical Expertise
neurosurgery, peripheral nerve surgery, spine surgery, brachial plexus surgery, nerve sheath tumorsDescription of Research Expertise
enhanced recovery after surgery, opioid stewardship, quality improvement, nerve regeneration, tissue engineered nerve graftingSelected Publications
Golubovsky JL, Gu BJ, Massaad E, Dagli MM, Crabill GA, Ghenbot Y, Arena J, Shost M, Welch WC, Ali Z, Judy B, Malhotra NR, Shin JH, Ozturk AK: Radiographic Predictors of Lumbar Disc Re-Herniation Requiring Repeat Discectomy or Fusion - A Matched Retrospective Cohort Analysis. Spine J 2, Feb 2026.Wilson TJ, Ali ZS, Davis GA, Dengler NF, Desai K, Garozzo D, Guedes F, Heinen CPG, Hong J, Jacques LG, Jitpun E, Kretschmer T, Mahan MA, Midha R, Pondaag W, Puffer RC, Rasulic L, Ray WZ, Rizk E, Rodriguez-Aceves CA, Saadeh YS, Shapira Y, Socolovsky M, Spinner RJ, Zager EL: Core outcomes in nerve surgery: development of a core outcome set for lateral femoral cutaneous neuropathy. J Neurosurg 9: 1-9, January 2026.
Santangelo G, Sollenberger C, Wathen C, Macaluso D, Dagli MM, Ghenbot Y, Gu B, Malhotra N, Ali Z, Yoon JW, Welch WC, Judy B, Ozturk AK: Patient factors rather than surgical approach are associated with readmission and reoperation for cervical spondylotic myelopathy. J Spine Surg 1(12), Jan 2026.
Laimo FA, Lee HH, Tatarchuk MM, Browne KD, Ali ZS, Cullen DK: Multimodal Predictors of Muscle and Nerve Recovery: A Regression-Based Analysis. American Society for Peripheral Nerve annual meeting January 2026.
Das S, Gordián-Vélez WJ, Dave JR, Ali ZS, Ledebur HC, Cullen DK: The nerve center of organ engineering. Nature Commun 16(1): 9834, Nov 2025.
Turlip RW, Ghenbot Y, Chauhan D, Dagli MM, Ahmad HS, Kincaid J, Kim RJ, Shin J, Judy B, Ali Z, Petrov D, Malhotra N, Ozturk AK, Welch WC, Yoon JW: Endoscopic Decompression and Resection for Complex Spinal Tumors: A Paradigm Shift. Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (SMISS) Annual Forum Oct 2025 Notes: E-poster, Las Vegas, NV.
Ghenbot Y, Turlip RW, Howard S, Arena JD, Dagli MM, Ahmad HS, Petrov D, Shammassian B, Ali Z, Schuster JM: Osteotomy of a Congenital Paracondylar Process: 2-Dimensional Operative Video. Oper Neurosurg Sept 2025.
Hejazi-Garcia C, Howard SD, Gabriel ED, Ferriby L, Rushanan S, McWilliams T, Ali ZS: The association between prehabilitation participation and spine surgery outcomes. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 256, Sep 2025.
Burrell JC, Ali ZS, Zager EL, Rosen JM, Tatarchuk MM, Cullen DK: Engineering the Future of Restorative Clinical Peripheral Nerve Surgery. Adv Healthc Mater 14(20), Aug 2025.
Agarwal AK, Ebert JP, Xiong R, Ali ZS, Lee D, Shofer F, Gitelman Y, Do D, Spencer EA, Grenader EM, Li F, Harhay MO, Delgado MK: Peer and Patient Feedback to Increase Adherence to Postoperative Opioid Prescribing Guidelines: A Stepped-Wedge Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Surg 160(8): 866-874, Aug 2025.