header-logo
Staff Collaborate Conference Room
Karin Swartz, MD
Medical College of Wisconsin Logo

Karin Swartz, MD

Assistant Dean, Continuing Professional Development; Professor, Neurosurgery

Locations

  • Office of Continuing Professional Development

Biography

Dr. Swartz joined MCW as Associate Professor of Neurosurgery in 2015.

Dr. Swartz graduated from the University of Illinois Champagne-Urbana in 1992 and received her MD degree from the Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine in 1996. She completed her internship in general surgery and residency in neurological surgery at the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics (Madison, WI) from 1996-2003 and completed fellowship training in spinal disorders at the Institute for Spinal Disorders, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (Los Angeles, CA) from 2003-2004.

Dr. Swartz began her academic medical career at the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center (Lexington, KY). She was an Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery from 2004-2010 and named Associate Professor in 2010. Dr. Swartz also was an Associate Faculty of the Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Center from 2004-2015 and Chief of Neurosurgery at the Lexington VA from 2004-2011.

Dr. Swartz’s educational administrative appointments at the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center included: Director of Medical Student Clerkships for Neurosurgery (2004-2015); Co-director of the first year Neurosciences Course for the medical school curriculum (2012-2015); member of the Student Progress and Promotions Committee (2011-2015); and member of the Surgery Education Committee (2005-2015).

On a national level, Dr. Swartz serves on and has chaired numerous committees for various Neurosurgery and Spine organizations. She is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons; Congress of Neurological Surgeons; AANS and CNS Joint Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves; Women and Science; and North American Spine Society. She also served as Secretary/Treasurer of The Neurological Society of Kentucky in 2010 and as President in 2011-2012.

Dr. Swartz’s awards from the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center included the Department of Surgery Teaching Award; Ward O. Griffin Teaching Award for Excellence in Education, Department of Surgery; and four Abraham Flexner Master Educator Awards for Outstanding Teaching Contribution or Mentorship. At MCW, Dr. Swartz was named Outstanding Medical School Teacher (2017-2018).

Publications

Publications of Karin R. Swartz MD from the Faculty Collaboration Database

© 2025 Medical College of Wisconsin.  All rights reserved.  | Terms and Privacy | Web Accessibility Statement

Non-Discrimination, Anti-Harassment, and Legal Compliance Statement
The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is committed to fostering a diverse community of outstanding faculty, staff, and students, as well as ensuring equal educational opportunity, employment, and access to services, programs, and activities, without regard to an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristic, military status, or other legally protected classification. MCW maintains full compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations in pursuit of our missions. Consistent with federal guidance, we affirm our commitment to individual merit, fairness, and equal treatment in all aspects of academic and institutional decision-making.

MCW's policies, federal and state laws, and regulations prohibit unlawful discrimination and harassment. Employees, learners, students, applicants, or other members of the MCW community (including but not limited to vendors, visitors, and guests) may not be subjected to harassment that is prohibited by law or treated adversely or retaliated against based upon a protected characteristic.