Associate Professor of Neurosurgery University of Missouri School of Medicine

Dr. Thorkild Norregaard is an Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Missouri School of Medicine, where he has served on the faculty since 2009. A highly experienced neurosurgeon, Dr. Norregaard specializes in functional, vascular, and spinal neurosurgery, managing a diverse caseload that includes the treatment of pain, movement disorders, and cerebrovascular lesions.

Clinical Expertise Dr. Norregaard’s practice focuses heavily on functional neurosurgery, where he utilizes deep brain stimulation (DBS) and other techniques to manage complex conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, and affective disorders. His vascular practice involves the treatment of aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), as well as revascularization procedures like carotid endarterectomy. He also provides spinal neurosurgical care, utilizing minimally invasive techniques and spinal instrumentation to address lesions and chronic pain.

Education & Training Dr. Norregaard earned his M.D. from Aarhus University in Denmark. His extensive post-graduate training spans two continents, including residencies in neurosurgery, orthopedics, and neurology in Denmark, followed by a Research Fellowship in Neurosurgery at Massachusetts General Hospital. He completed his U.S. residency training in General Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital and in Neurosurgery at the University of Illinois at Chicago, along with a Clinical Fellowship in Surgery at Harvard Medical School.

Academic & Research Leadership Before joining the University of Missouri, Dr. Norregaard served as an Assistant Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School for over a decade (1988–2002) and held active staff positions at prominent Boston institutions, including Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Dana Farber Cancer Institute. He also served as a Visiting Scientist at MIT. His research has contributed to the fields of nerve regeneration and neuromodulation, and he holds a patent for a prosthesis designed to promote nerve regeneration.

Innovation & Service Dr. Norregaard recently served as the Interim Chief of the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Missouri (2021–2022). Beyond clinical medicine, he has made significant contributions to sports safety. Serving as the Safety Director of the United States Polo Association since 2010, he collaborated with researchers to develop the first NOCSAE safety standard for polo helmets and successfully implemented a nationwide mandate for their use.