Osmond Wu, MD

About Dr. Wu “Medicine is a humbling career and you never stop learning and growing,” says Osmond C. Wu, MD. He decided to pursue this field while he was in high school, but it wasn’t until medical school that he said he began to understand what it meant to be a physician.  He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology, with a concentration in Neurobiology and Behavior, from Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. His Medical Degree is from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, and his Neurological Surgery Residency and Enfolded Spine Fellowship, were both completed at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. In basic terms he operates on the brain, spine, and nerves. This ranges from treatment of brain tumors and traumatic brain injuries to spinal cord tumors and neck/back pain. “I was drawn to neurosurgery by its challenging and wide breadth of pathologies,” he says. “It is gratifying that neurosurgical procedures often yield immediate and life changing results for the patient.” Dr. Wu says he likes to apply a conservative approach to his practice of medicine and approaches treatment in a multi-disciplinary fashion. “The role of pain management and physical and occupational therapy in the management and treatment of spinal degenerative disease cannot be overstated,” he says. The treatment of his patients involves listening to them and tailoring possible treatments and management techniques to each person. “What management may work well for one person may not be the best for another,” he says. “I find it important to work as a team with the patient and discuss the options that will fit them the best.” In his own words… Who is or was the most influential people/role models in your life?  My mother, who I love and respect very much. She has shown an enormous amount of strength raising our family and building a career. I owe so much to her and hope I will continue to make her proud. What was your first job growing up? What do you remember about it?  My first “job” was volunteering at a children’s science center. I remember training rats to perform various tricks. What is your favorite food?  A nice cheeseburger.  What was your best/worst subjects in school growing up?  My best subject growing up was science and biology. My worst subject was foreign language. If you could sit down to dinner with anyone (alive or deceased) who would it be and why?  Harvey Cushing. It would be fascinating hearing stories from the early days of neurosurgery. In addition to medicine, what are you passionate about?  My family dogs and cat. While I do not have any pets currently, I hope to when the time is right.