Maysaa Basha, M.D., has been appointed chair of the Department of Neurology at the Wayne State University School of Medicine.

Wael Sakr, M.D., dean of the School of Medicine, announced the appointment Aug. 21.

“Dr. Basha has led the department admirably since her appointment as interim chair in 2022,” Dean Sakr said. “I have every confidence that Dr. Basha will provide outstanding leadership for the Department of Neurology and will be a great partner with the faculty and the School of Medicine to ensure its further successes.”

The appointment is effective Aug. 22. 
 
Board certified in Neurology, Clinical Neurophysiology and Epilepsy, Dr. Basha is the director of the Comprehensive Epilepsy Program and has been a recognized leader in the field, serving on the guidelines and accreditation bodies of the American Epilepsy Society and the National Association of Epilepsy Centers. She played key leadership roles in the department, the School of Medicine and the Detroit Medical Center. 

She served as the director of the Neurology Training Program, serving as a mentor and role model for residents and fellows. She also served on the Faculty Senate of the School of Medicine and as a member of the DMC/WSU School of Medicine Joint Committee.
 
A Detroit native, she joined the faculty in 2010. She has closely engaged in departmental administration and has contributed to the weekly department ambulatory meeting, where many important decisions have been made. She has played a vital role in establishing the outreaching clinical services of the department and in supporting the growth of Graduate Medical Education programs.

Dr. Basha earned her undergraduate degree and medical degree, and completed residency training, at WSU. She completed epilepsy training at University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio, before returning to WSU.

Among the recognitions and awards she has received are the A.B. Baker Teacher Recognition Award from the American Academy of Neurology in 2024, the Department of Neurology’s Best Clinical Faculty in 2020, the WSU College Teaching Award in 2014 and the Residents’ Choice in 2012.
 
Dr. Basha’s clinical research interests include the treatment of medically intractable epilepsy, treatment of status epilepticus, EEG and seizure semiology analysis, and seizure safety, receiving foundation and industry support for investigator-initiated trials. She developed a patented seizure detection system.