Harsh P. Shah, MD

Dr. Harsh Shah practices functional and restorative neurosurgery with IU Health, specializing in the surgical treatment of movement disorders, epilepsy, facial pain, peripheral nerve disorders and brain tumors.

Dr. Shah’s passion for neurosurgery stems from a lifelong fascination with how the brain gives rise to every aspect of the human experience. Functional neurosurgery sits at the intersection of this curiosity and his belief in the transformative potential of technology to improve patients’ lives. He finds immense fulfillment in helping patients and their families understand their conditions and the treatment options available to them before embarking on a course of care. He believes every encounter should be approached with grace and humility, integrating the best available evidence with each patient’s individual goals and values to develop a treatment plan tailored to the person rather than simply the disease.

Research and Innovation

Dr. Shah’s research focuses on understanding the brain as a dynamic network and harnessing electrophysiology, advanced neuroimaging and computational modeling to improve neurosurgical care. His work integrates intracranial electrophysiology, functional and structural imaging and quantitative measures of cognition to understand how surgery and neuromodulation alter brain networks. His long-term goal is to develop personalized approaches that predict how an individual patient’s brain will respond to resection, ablation, or electrical stimulation, using those predictions to improve symptom control while preserving and/or restoring neurological and cognitive function.

Dr. Shah’s research has resulted in numerous peer-reviewed publications, book chapters and presentations at national conferences. He also has a strong interest in brain-computer interfaces and restorative neurotechnology. During his residency, he completed a Master of Product Innovation to develop the skills needed to translate scientific discoveries and unmet clinical needs into practical solutions designed with patients and clinicians in mind.

Outside of Work

Outside of work, Dr. Shah enjoys exploring Indiana with his fiancé, traveling, attending live music, rock climbing and running.

Training and Background

Dr. Shah grew up in India and the Chicagoland area. He studied biomedical physics at Northwestern University before earning his medical degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine. He completed his neurosurgical residency and functional fellowship training at Virginia Commonwealth University, followed by additional fellowship training in advanced neurosurgical oncology at Washington University in St. Louis.