Hasan R. Syed, M.D., was born in Morganton, NC and raised outside of Washington, D.C. He graduated as valedictorian of his high school class and attended Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) as a Presidential Scholar in the Honors College. While in Richmond, he majored in Biomedical Engineering and graduated summa cum laude. He remained at VCU to complete his medical degree, where he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. During this time, Dr. Syed was awarded funding through the Office of Research for a master’s degree to investigate cancer stem cell biology at King's College London.
Dr. Syed completed his internship and neurological surgery residency at Georgetown University under Kevin McGrail, M.D. He received numerous awards during his training, including the resident traveling fellowship from the AANS/CNS Section on pediatric neurosurgery, and published manuscripts, book chapters and delivered oral presentations on both adult and pediatric brain and spinal disorders. Following completion of his post-graduate training, he relocated to Chicago to complete a prestigious subspecialty fellowship in pediatric neurosurgery at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital, Northwestern University under renowned pediatric neurosurgeon Tad Tomita, M.D.
After spending three years at the University of Virginia as an assistant professor and associate residency program director, Dr. Syed joined Children’s National Hospital as an associate professor and fellowship director with a focus in pediatric neurosurgery. His clinical interests include brain and spinal tumors, hydrocephalus, craniosynostosis, Chiari malformation, epilepsy, spinal dysraphism, spasticity, craniocervical spinal disorders, peripheral nerve injuries and Moyamoya disease. He also has a strong interest in minimal access surgeries for brain and spinal disorders in pediatric patients. Dr. Syed is certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery (ABNS) and the American Board of Pediatric Neurosurgery (ABPNS). Outside of work, his interests include traveling and spending time with his family in Washington, D.C.