John M. Tew, Jr., MD

Bio

John Tew, Jr., MD, is leading the growth of UC Health Integrative Medicine, which helps the whole person achieve overall wellness, and the UC Center for Integrative Health and Wellness, which was established at the College of Medicine in 2012 to educate medical students, fellows and faculty on integrative medicine concepts to improve the way current and future physicians practice medicine. With an integrative medicine physician and a variety of practitioners, patients develop personalized plans for self-care to promote stress reduction, optimize health function, preempt disease and prevent relapse. 

Dr. Tew previously served as the Clinical Director of UC Neuroscience Institute for 15 years and has been a neurosurgeon since 1969. He served for 20 years as the Chairman in the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, and for 19 of those years as the Director of the Division of Cerebrovascular Surgery. Dr. Tew was the Frank H. Mayfield Professor of Neurosurgery from 1993-2002. He has been a neurosurgical pioneer in the areas of microsurgery, lasers, image-guided surgery, and trigeminal neuralgia. In March 2013 the UC Department of Neurosurgery announced the funding of the John M. Tew, Jr., MD, Chair in Neurosurgical Oncology.

Dr. Tew was announced as the UC Foundation Trustee Award recipient in 2011, and was honored as a Great Living Cincinnatian by the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber in 2010.  In 2007, he was recognized with the Health Care Heroes Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as the Boy Scouts of America Eagle Court of Honor.  In his lifetime Dr. Tew has also been an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters at the College of Mount Saint Joseph and Campbell University, and an Honored Guest of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. In addition, he has been awarded with the Daniel Drake Medal from University Hospital, the Leadership Medallion from Xavier University, and the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Medal by Pope John Paul.  

He graduated from Wake Forest University in 1957 and the Wake Forest School of Medicine in 1961.Tew performed his neurosurgical residency at the Harvard University-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital and Boston Children’s Hospital. In 1969, as the recipient of the prestigious Van Wagenen Fellowship, he trained under Gazi Yasargil, MD, the founder of micro-neurosurgery, at the University of Zurich. He has published more than 200 papers and 75 book chapters, has co-authored four books, including the “Atlas of Operative Microneurosurgery,” has trained more than 60 neurosurgeons, and has held more than 60 visiting professorships in the United States and around the world. He is co-chairman of the Acoustic Neuroma Association’s Medical Advisory Board, a member of the Hemifacial Spasm Association’s Medical Advisory Board, and a member of the UC Brain Tumor Center’s community advisory council. 

In addition to his professional achievements, Dr. Tew has also been a vital member of the community serving as a Board Member of the University of Cincinnati Foundation, the Cincinnati Opera, and the Cincinnati Museum Center.  He is also on the Alumni Board of the Wake Forest University School of Medicine, a cabinet member of the United Way of Greater Cincinnati Tocqueville Society, and an Advisory Board Member for Clever Crazes for Kids.