William F. Chandler

2008, Orlando, FL

Dr. William Chandler is the Richard C. Schneider Professor of Neurological Surgery at the University of Michigan. He is co-director of the Multidisciplinary Pituitary and Neuroendocrine Clinic at the University of Michigan and Professor of Internal Medicine. Dr. Chandler has had a long standing clinical and research interest in disorders of the pituitary. Along with these interests, he has maintained interest and expertise in cerebrovascular neurosurgery, brain tumor surgery and general neurosurgery.

In 1980 Dr. Chandler and colleagues published one of the landmark articles on the use of intraoperative ultrasound for brain tumor localization. Subsequent articles detailed the use of intraoperative ultrasound for spinal cord tumors and intracranial vascular lesions. He was involved in the early work with intra-arterial radiosensitization for the treatment of malignant brain tumors. He was among the first surgeons at the University of Michigan to perform the microvascular bypass procedure and reported several innovative uses of these techniques. Dr. Chandler has worked closely with basic scientists to study the pathophysiology of pituitary tumors, including work with in situ hybridization and regulation of gene expression. He has worked with endocrinology colleagues to develop and test new drugs for the treatment of acromegaly.

A native of southeast Michigan, Dr. Chandler received his BA from Northwestern University. He received his medical degree from the University of Michigan and is member of AOA. He completed his internship and neurosurgery residency training at the University of Michigan. He received the VanWagenen Fellowship from the AANS in 1977 and spent 6 months at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. He worked there with Dr. Nicolas Zwetnow doing research in the field of elevated intracranial pressure. During this time he also traveled to Paris to observe pituitary surgery by Dr. Gerard Guiot. He returned from Sweden to become an Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery at Louisiana State University, with Dr. David Kline as the chairman. In 1979 he returned to the University of Michigan and rose through the ranks to become Professor of Neurosurgery. In 2003, due to his continued efforts in training Fellows in Endocrinology, Dr. Chandler was appointed Professor of Internal Medicine. He did a sabbatical in 1986 with Dr. Alex Landoldt in Zurich, Switzerland, and also had the opportunity to work with Professor Yasergil.

In 1996 Dr. Chandler, along with Dr. Ariel Barkan from Endocrinology, started the Multidisciplinary Pituitary and Neuroendocrine Clinic. This clinic has been successful in attracting patients with a variety of pituitary related diseases. The clinic has also serves as a valuable opportunity for teaching both neurosurgery residents and endocrine fellows the intricacies of pituitary disorders. Dr. Chandler has operated on nearly 2,000 patients with pituitary and parasellar tumors. He has participated in numerous practical courses on pituitary surgery at the major national neurosurgery meetings. Dr. Chandler has authored over 130 peer reviewed publications, 3 books and numerous book chapters.

Dr. Chandler is very proudly a Past President of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. He also served as Annual Meeting Chairman and Scientific Program Chairman for the CNS. He was on the Board of Directors of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and was Annual Meeting Chairman and Scientific Program Chairman for the AANS. Dr. Chandler was Chairman of the AANS/CNS Joint Section on Tumors. He was a Director on the American Board of Neurological Surgery and served as Chairman of the Board in 2006. He served as chairman of the written examinations committee for the Board. He continues to serve on the Board of Directors of the American Board of Medical Specialties, representing the ABNS. He was Vice President and Scientific Program Chairman for the American Academy of Neurological Surgery. Dr. Chandler was President of the Michigan Association of Neurological Surgery. He is a member of the Society of Neurological Surgeons and of the International Society of Pituitary Surgeons. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

Dr. Chandler has been very happily married to Susan Chandler for 38 years and has two sons. Their son Scott recently completed a JD-MBA program and is working in the San Francisco area. Their son Jesse is training in orthopaedic surgery at the University of North Carolina and is married to a medical school classmate who just finished her training in pediatrics. They have a beautiful one year old daughter – the first grandchild. Dr. Chandler has enjoyed family ski trips over the years and plays tennis all year round.