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Home > UT Providers > Trauma Surgeons

Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD

(171 Ratings)

Specializes in: Trauma Surgery and Neurosurgery

McGill University Faculty of Medicine

Professional interests include: stroke, pituitary disorders, brain tumor

175 N Medical Drive
Salt Lake City, UT 84112

(801) 585-6065

Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD is a trauma surgeon in Salt Lake City, UT specializing in trauma surgery and neurosurgery. He graduated from McGill University Faculty of Medicine. Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD is affiliated with University of Utah Health.

Office Locations

175 N Medical Drive
Salt Lake City, UT 84112

(801) 585-6065

(801) 585-6087

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University of Utah Health

175 North Medical Drive East
Salt Lake City, UT 84132

(801) 585-7575

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Some issues Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD can help you with:

Stroke

A stroke is a medical emergency that occurs when a blood vessel supplying oxygen and nutrients to the brain is ruptured or blocked. The brain cannot function without a steady supply of oxygen and nutrients, so when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted, even for a brief moment, brain cells begin to die. When a sufficient number of brain cells die, the brain itself can no longer function, meaning that strokes are very dangerous. Strokes can result in impaired movement, speech, cognitive ability, the impairment of important physical functions, and even death.

Anyone can have a stroke, regardless of age and health. Strokes are known to happen at random. However, certain conditions and behaviors can increase one's risk of stroke over time.

Risk factors for stroke include:

Heart disease
Older age
Smoking
Diabetes
High blood pressure
High blood cholesterol and lipids

There are two main types of stroke: ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke. Ischemic stroke occurs more commonly and is when a blood vessel in the brain becomes blocked. Blockages are caused by blood clots and built-up plaque (deposits of fat and cholesterol), which leads to atherosclerosis, a condition where the blood vessels narrow and harden. The resultant restricted blood flow may lead to an ischemic stroke by blocking essential oxygen to the brain, causing the heart to exert more effort to pump blood.

Hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in or around the brain ruptures. The burst vessel leaks blood into surrounding brain tissue, causing irreparable brain damage.

Hemorrhagic strokes are less common and may occur from head injuries, brain aneurysms, brain tumors, and bleeding disorders, amongst other conditions.

Both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes require immediate medical treatment. Medical intervention can prevent severe and life-threatening brain damage. Signs of stroke include:

-Disorientation or confusion

-Difficulty speaking

-Difficulty walking

-Impaired vision

-Weakness in the face, legs, or arms

-Severe headaches

When someone suspected of having a stroke reaches the hospital, the patient will usually receive a CT or other scan that provides an image of the brain. The scan results can reveal clotted or leaking blood in the brain. Physical exams, neurological exams, and blood tests may also be used to check for blood clotting and sugar. Treatment begins generally immediately if a stroke is detected.

Medical treatment for ischemic strokes includes a thrombolytic medicine which breaks up and disperses blood clots. This medicine can greatly improve stroke recovery and long-term health. However, the thrombolytic medicine must be administered as soon as possible to achieve these results. Other treatments for ischemic strokes are blood thinners and thrombectomy, a surgical procedure to remove a blood clot in the brain. Thrombectomy is performed by inserting a catheter (thin needle) into the artery to reach the blood clot and mechanically remove it. With the clot removed, normal blood flow to the brain resumes. Thrombectomy is typically performed at most six hours after a patient shows signs of a stroke.

Hemorrhagic strokes are treated with blood-saving medication and surgery. For a hemorrhagic stroke caused by the rupture of an aneurysm (blood vessel bulges), surgery to stem the bleeding aneurysm and vessel may be used. One surgical technique is stent-assisted coiling, which adds a stent (small wire-meshed tube) into the blood vessel to block the leaking opening of the aneurysm. A non-surgical procedure is endovascular coiling, where a catheter (thin, hollow needle) places a platinum wire coil at the spot of the aneurysm. The coil blocks bleeding and prevents the aneurysm from continuing to leak blood. These procedures are usually combined with blood-thickening medications. Blood transfusions may be administered if substantial blood loss has occurred.

Since stroke patients may have lost some essential functions while the blood flow to their brains was obstructed, both ischemic stroke and hemorrhage stroke patients may receive post-stroke rehabilitation to rebuild their physical and mental abilities. Some restorative treatments include occupational, physical, and speech therapy. Patients may also receive care from neurologists, who can assist patients in recovering certain brain functions and cognitive abilities, and rehabilitation psychologists, who may help patients with their emotional, behavioral, and cognitive recovery. Some stroke patients require lengthy rehabilitation and may never fully regain function, while others may recover more quickly. While the fastest recovery improvements are usually seen in the first three or four months, stroke rehabilitation can last for years.

If someone begins to show signs of stroke, contact emergency services and call 9-1-1 immediately since blood flow must be restored as soon as possible to help avoid significant brain damage. If an ambulance takes the person to the hospital, paramedics can initiate stroke treatment as soon as the patient enters the ambulance, allowing for more prompt medical intervention and care.

In The News (see more mentions in the news)

“A neurosurgeon at the University of Utah, Dr. William Couldwell, said "It was like doing archaeology.”—"Robotic Brain Surgery Drill Performs Operations 50 Times Faster Than Human", Breitbart, May 2017

“William Couldwell, a neurosurgeon who worked on the device, said: "We knew the technology was already available in the machine world, but no one ever applied it to medical applications."”—"This Robot Can Perform 2 Hour Brain Surgery In Just 2.5 Minutes", Huff Post, May 2017

“"We expect that all board-certified neurosurgeons would be quite familiar with this," said Dr. William T. Couldwell, president of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons.”—"Basic Precautions Would Have Stopped Brain Disease Exposure", NBC News, February 2014

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2012 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	52

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2013 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	47

2013 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD.

**Gender**
Male	30
Female	46

**Age**
From 65 to 74	36
From 75 to 84	19
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD in 2013

Hypertension	71
High Cholesterol	41
Stroke	21
Ischemic Heart Disease	26
Depression	30
Chronic Kidney Disease	16
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	29
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2014 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD treated as a trauma surgeon in Salt Lake City, UT during 2014 were microsurgery, removal of lesion (e.g. growth), open surgery and endocrine surgery.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD for Medicare patients.

cranial surgery	15
doctor visit	24
endocrine surgery	15
microsurgery	15
open surgery	15
removal of lesion (e.g. growth)	15

2014 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD.

**Gender**
Male	28
Female	41

**Age**
From 65 to 74	36
From 75 to 84	17
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD in 2014

Hypertension	72
High Cholesterol	55
Stroke	38
Ischemic Heart Disease	26
Depression	52
Chronic Kidney Disease	0
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	38
Dementia	0
Cancer	16

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2015 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	24

2015 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD.

**Gender**
Male	54
Female	62

**Age**
From 65 to 74	66
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD in 2015

Hypertension	64
High Cholesterol	53
Stroke	26
Ischemic Heart Disease	31
Depression	24
Chronic Kidney Disease	26
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	19
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	26
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD treated as a trauma surgeon in Salt Lake City, UT during 2016 were microsurgery, removal of lesion (e.g. growth), open surgery and endocrine surgery.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD for Medicare patients.

cranial surgery	12
doctor visit	14
endocrine surgery	12
microsurgery	12
open surgery	12
removal of lesion (e.g. growth)	12

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD.

**Gender**
Male	25
Female	28

**Age**
From 65 to 74	36
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD in 2016

Hypertension	72
High Cholesterol	55
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	30
Depression	38
Chronic Kidney Disease	26
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	25
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD treated as a trauma surgeon in Salt Lake City, UT during 2017 were reconstructive surgery, implant surgery, cranial surgery and tissue transfer.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD for Medicare patients.

bone surgery	16
cranial surgery	16
implant surgery	16
reconstructive surgery	16
tissue transfer	16

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD.

**Gender**
Male	25
Female	26

**Age**
From 65 to 74	29
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD in 2017

Hypertension	65
High Cholesterol	57
Stroke	25
Ischemic Heart Disease	27
Depression	41
Chronic Kidney Disease	25
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	33
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD.

**Gender**
Male	16
Female	31

**Age**
From 65 to 74	32
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD in 2018

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	60
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	38
Depression	49
Chronic Kidney Disease	40
Asthma	23
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	36
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	53

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD.

**Gender**
Male	41
Female	39

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	69
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	46
From 75 to 84	18
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD in 2019

Hypertension	63
High Cholesterol	48
Stroke	15
Ischemic Heart Disease	23
Depression	38
Chronic Kidney Disease	31
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	14
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	34
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD treated as a trauma surgeon in Salt Lake City, UT during 2020 were cranial surgery, reconstructive surgery, implant surgery and tissue transfer.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD for Medicare patients.

bone surgery	15
cranial surgery	29
doctor visit	29
implant surgery	15
open surgery	14
reconstructive surgery	15
tissue transfer	15

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD.

**Gender**
Male	32
Female	40

**Age**
From 65 to 74	35
From 75 to 84	24
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD in 2020

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	51
Stroke	28
Ischemic Heart Disease	31
Depression	38
Chronic Kidney Disease	42
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	15
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	32
Dementia	19
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	15

2021 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD.

**Gender**
Male	34
Female	30

**Age**
From 65 to 74	42
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD in 2021

Hypertension	72
High Cholesterol	52
Stroke	28
Ischemic Heart Disease	31
Depression	36
Chronic Kidney Disease	38
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	25
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2022 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	19

2022 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD.

**Gender**
Male	21
Female	31

**Age**
From 65 to 74	24
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD in 2022

Hypertension	71
High Cholesterol	60
Stroke	33
Ischemic Heart Disease	0
Depression	40
Chronic Kidney Disease	0
Asthma	21
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	27
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2012 - 2022

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD treated as a trauma surgeon in Salt Lake City, UT were cranial surgery, reconstructive surgery, implant surgery and tissue transfer.

bone surgery	15
cranial surgery	18
doctor visit	30
endocrine surgery	13
implant surgery	15
microsurgery	13
open surgery	13
reconstructive surgery	15
removal of lesion (e.g. growth)	13
tissue transfer	15

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2012 - 2022

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD.

**Gender**
Male	27
Female	34

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	0
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	6
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Hispanic	0
Other	0

**Age**
75 to 84	7
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0
65 to 74	34

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD From 2012 - 2022

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, depression and diabetes.

Hypertension	63
High Cholesterol	48
Stroke	19
Ischemic Heart Disease	23
Depression	35
Chronic Kidney Disease	22
Asthma	4
Osteoporosis	1
Heart Failure	3
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	27
Atrial Fibrillation	0
Dementia	1
Cancer	1

Education & Training

Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD graduated from McGill University Faculty of Medicine. He completed residency at University of Southern California (USC) Affiliated Hospitals. He is certified by the National Board of Medical Examiners and has a state license in Utah.

Medical School: McGill University Faculty of Medicine

Residency: University of Southern California (USC) Affiliated Hospitals

Board Certification: National Board of Medical Examiners

Licensed In: Utah

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

University of Utah Health

Ratings & Reviews

Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 4.91 out of 5 stars based on 171 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD from all over the web to help you find the right in Salt Lake City, UT.

4.91

Overall Rating

(171 Ratings)

Leave a Review

Reviews Left On DocSpot

Overall Rating: 5.0 2024-07-01

I cannot say enough positive things about Dr. William and the experience I had with him and his team. He and his team were extremely attentive and caring from the moment I was wheeled through the doors. He made sure that we did all the appropriate testing.

Overall Rating: 5.0 2024-06-02

Very modern office. Front office are friendly and competent. Dr William spent an hour talking to me and explaining everything in detail and offered his opinions. You will be well taken care of here.

Overall Rating: 5.0 2024-05-26

Dr Couldwell seems to know his stuff and goes directly to what the problem is and does not beat around the bush and tell you how it is. I was pleased all around.

Overall Rating: 5.0 2024-05-14

Their expertise, professionalism, and unwavering dedication to patient care were evident throughout his entire journey. Dr. William thoroughly explained the procedure, patiently answered all of our questions, and ensured that we felt comfortable and confident every step of the way.

General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

**Payments by Company**
B. Braun Medical UK Ltd.	$10,016 $10,016
Stryker Corporation	$1,935 NEURO/SPINE/ENT $1,699	Core $86	Target $57	ADHERUS AUTOSPRAY ET DURAL SEALANT $49	SONOPET IQ $28	Other $16
DePuy Orthopaedics Inc.	$1,305 Neuromodulation $833	CMF $306	Cranial ReconstructionFixation $167
Medtronic Sofamor Danek USA, Inc.	$121 $121
Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.	$110 1.5mm Neuro $110
Other	$98 Spine $56	CODMAN HAKIM Precision Valve $28	CERTAS $14

**Types of Payments**
Travel and Lodging	$10,857
Honoraria	$1,000
Food and Beverage	$895
Compensation for serving as faculty or as a speaker for a non-accredited and noncertified continuing education program	$833

Research Payments

Dr. William Tupper Couldwell, PhD, FACS, MD has received 1 research payments totaling $489.

Biography

Dr. William Couldwell specializes in neurosurgery and trauma surgery and practices in Salt Lake City, UT. His areas of expertise consist of pituitary disorders, stroke, and brain tumor. On average, patients gave him a rating of 5.0 stars (out of 5). Before performing his residency at a hospital affiliated with the University of Southern California (USC), Dr. Couldwell attended McGill University Faculty of Medicine for medical school. He speaks French. He is professionally affiliated with the University of Utah Health.