Dr. Yonas obtained his medical degree from Ohio State University. He completed internship and residency in Neurosurgery at Case Western Reserve University. Between internship and residency he served in the US Air Force as a flight surgeon. Following residency Dr. Yonas completed fellowships in microsurgery in Zurich, Switzerland and in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Dr Yonas joined the faculty of the University of Pittsburgh in 1978. He became a tenured professor in 1988 and was named the Peter J. Jannetta Professor of Neurosurgery in 1995. Dr. Yonas served as the Vice Chair of the department and the Director of Cerebrovascular Surgery. Dr. Yonas helped create and served as the Co-director of the UPMC Stroke Institute.
Dr. Yonas is actively involved in the development of new technologies for improved understanding and treatmentment of cerebrovascular and traumatic disorders of the brain. He helped develop and implement the use of quantitative cerebral blood flow measurements using the combination of stable xenon inhalation and CT scanning.
As the director of the new UNM Cerebrovascular Center, Dr. Yonas is working to build a strong interdisciplinary stroke team which will focus an innovative combination of invasive and non-invasive technologies designed to improve stroke and trauma care. Dr. Yonas is also the director of the Neuroscience ICU.
Dr. Yonas is a member of multiple medical societies including the Society of Neurological Surgeons. He has authored more than180 articles and edited two books.
