Elected: 2011

Richard William Byrne was born in Chicago in 1965. He attended the University of Illinois for undergraduate studies in biology, graduating Phi Beta Kappa. He attended Northwestern University Medical School, graduated in 1991. He completed residency training at Rush University Medical Center where he remained as faculty after additional training in brain tumor and epilepsy surgery. In 2005, Dr. Byrne became acting Chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery at Rush and in 2007, became Professor and Chairman of the Department. He also served as Residency Program Director from 2006-2009. Then in 2013 he was named the Roger C. Bone, M.D., Presidential Professor of Rush University.

Dr. Byrne is a board-certified neurosurgeon who specializes in brain tumor surgery, surgical treatment for epilepsy, skull base surgery, pituitary surgery, trigeminal neuralgia and radiosurgery. He has authored more than 150 peer reviewed publications and book chapters as well as 2 books on these subjects.Dr. Byrne has served a leadership role in numerous professional societies. He has served as President of the Rush Surgical Society, President of the Chicago Neurological Society, President of the Illinois State Neurosurgical Society, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Interurban Neurosurgical Society, member of the FDA Neurological Devices Panel, National Course Director of the Society of Neurological Surgeons resident courses, SNS CoRE chairman, member SNS Council, member of the Executive Committee of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Scientific Program Chair for the AANS Annual Meeting and President of the Neurosurgical Society of America.

Dr. Byrne is married to Armita Bijari, MD, a neurologist in practice in Hinsdale Illinois. He enjoys triathlons, fishing, and travel with his 2 daughters, Nika and Kayla.