William E. Thorell, MD

Professor, UNMC Department of Neurosurgery
Program Director, UNMC Department of Neurosurgery
Co-director, Stroke and Neurovascular Center, Nebraska Medicine

William (Bill) Thorell, MD is the neurosurgery residency program director, co-director of the Stroke and Neurovascular Center at Nebraska Medicine and professor of neurosurgery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Dr. Thorell received his bachelor of arts with distinction from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He earned his doctor of medicine from the University of Nebraska Medical Center with highest distinction, where he also completed his internship and residency in Neurosurgery. He completed two years of fellowship at the prestigious Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio in Endovascular Neurosurgery.

In addition to maintaining a general neurosurgery practice encompassing the management of patients with trauma, tumors, and peripheral disorders, Dr. Thorell is one of the most experienced and respected neurosurgeons specializing in complicated vascular disorders of the central nervous system.  He has trained several of the neurosurgeons in this region.  His expertise encompasses disorders, such as acute stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage from cerebral aneurysms, vascular malformations (i.e. arteriovenous malformations, cerebral cavernous malformations), and occlusive disease of the carotid and vertebral arteries.  Dr. Thorell also helps care for children with vascular diseases of the brain and spinal cord.  

His clinical interests also include Chiari malformation, hydrocephalus, and idiopathic intracranial hypotension (also known as pseudotumor cerebri), tumors of the skull base (such as pituitary tumors) and minimally invasive brain operations.

Dr. Thorell has been instrumental in the development of The Stroke and Neurovascular Center, an inter-disciplinary medical team at the University of Nebraska Medical Center/Nebraska Medicine.  Nebraska Medicie in the home to the first and only Comprehensive Stroke Center in Nebraska and the surrounding region.  

An avid Nebraska Cornhuskers fan, despite growing up in Denver, CO, Dr. Thorell enjoys spending time with his wife and boys.