Professor
Griffith R. Harsh, III Endowed Chair in Neurosurgery

Areas of Interest
neurovascular diseases of the brain, carotid artery disease, skull base surgery for complex intracranial tumors, peripheral nerves surgery, trigeminal neuralgia, hydrocephalus

Dr. Fisher was born in Highland Park Illinois. He considers himself a Midwesterner, although much of his formative years were spent in the South where he continues to reside.

In high school he was active in both sports and in various leadership capacities including treasurer of his graduating class, and as president of AYCA, a large self-funded community youth group.

After graduating from high school, he attended Duke University where he was a Division I college athlete and lettered in wrestling four years. He attended St. Louis University Medical School after leaving Duke and was voted into the medical school honor society AOA. Dr. Fisher qualified for a military scholarship in medical school and therefore went to Bethesda Naval Hospital upon graduation where he did his internship and neurosurgery training. Thereafter he trained with the world-renowned Charles Drake in vascular neurosurgery in London Ontario. In addition, Dr. Fisher completed a pediatric fellowship at the National Children's Hospital in Washington, DC under the direction of Dr. David McCullough. He received his neurosurgical boards in 1987.

While serving in the US Navy Dr. Fisher was stationed at Bethesda Naval Hospital. During that time Dr. Fisher was intimately involved in the training of residents and developing a neurovascular service. He was affiliated with the Uniformed Services Medical School which was located on the Bethesda campus and participated in various training courses including a novel multidisciplinary microvascular surgical course. He achieved an academic level of associate professor from the department of surgery at the medical school. At the time, Bethesda was one of two ABNS sanctioned military neurosurgical training programs.

Dr. Fisher was the most senior neurosurgeon during the Iraqi freedom portion of the war with Iraq. During that time contingencies were made for neurosurgical care and preparation of a practically brand-new 900 bed hospital ship, the USNS Comfort. Dr. Fisher maintained his military affiliation after separating from active-duty service and retired as a reservist after 23 years. He is a retired captain in the United States Naval Medical Corps.

After completion of his active-duty military time at Bethesda in 1991, Dr. Fisher began his tenure at UAB. He has spent the majority of this time developing a nationally recognized neurovascular service. This has included not only state-of-the art neurosurgical unit, but active participation in intensive care and gamma knife and LINAC therapy. While at UAB he became the head of one of the largest Neuro-intensive care units in the country. He with otolaryngologists Dr. Benjamin McGrew and Dr. Erika Walsh have developed a vigorous skull base service with outstanding surgical results dealing with acoustic neuromas and skull base meningiomas. Dr. Fisher became a full professor in 1997 and became the first holder of the Griff Harsh Endowed chair of Neurosurgery in 2009.

Dr. Fisher has held various leadership responsibilities in the third largest neurosurgical organization, the Southern Neurosurgery Society and in 2006 became the president of that society. He has also been the president of the Alabama Neurosurgical Society. He remains active in both organizations as well as other national neurosurgical organizations.

Dr. Fisher’s involvement in scholarly activities includes efforts as an ad hoc reviewer for multiple neurosurgical journals as well as editor in chief of Perspectives in Neurological surgery from 1997 to 2000. He contributes regularly to the body of neurosurgical literature with continued publications. He has contributed to several textbooks and written multiple chapters. Dr. Fisher is very interested in electronic medical records, databases for neurosurgical diseases, and computer software for facilitating both patient care and diagnosis.

Probably Dr. Fisher's most proud accomplishments have been the training of numerous residents while in both the military and at UAB. Dr. Fisher received the W. Jerry Oakes teaching award in 2012 and again in 2023, an honor bestowed by the residents upon their mentors. His various areas of expertise include: neurovascular diseases of the brain, carotid artery disease, skull base surgery for complex intracranial tumors, peripheral nerves surgery, trigeminal neuralgia, and hydrocephalus.

Dr. Fisher sees patients in the Kirklin Clinic, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Information about appointments and referrals can be obtained by calling 205-934-1430 or emailing Dr. Fisher at wfisher@uabmc.edu.

Education

Medical School
St. Louis University

Internship
National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland

Residency
National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland

Fellowship
University Hospital, London, Ontario, Canada

Contact

Campus Address
FOT 1040

Office Telephone
205-934-1430

Email
wfisher@uabmc.edu