Dr. Mark M. Souweidane

Dr. Mark M. Souweidane, MD, is an internationally recognized pediatric neurosurgeon who has dedicated his career to the surgical treatment of children with brain and spinal disorders. He serves as Vice Chair of the Department of Neurological Surgery, Director of Pediatric Neurological Surgery, and Professor of Neurological Surgery and Pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medical College, in addition to his role as a neurosurgeon at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Dr. Souweidane is known for his deep experience in complex and challenging surgeries, including removal of intraventricular brain tumors, pineal gland tumors, and congenital cysts, as well as surgical correction of Chiari malformation. He performs approximately 300 surgeries each year, with many carried out through minimally invasive approaches.

A specialist in endoscopic surgery, Dr. Souweidane uses small camera-based instruments inserted through tiny incisions or natural body openings to treat conditions including hydrocephalus, colloid cysts, and other brain and spinal disorders in both pediatric and select adult patients. This technique has transformed treatment for many of these conditions by reducing complications and improving recovery while maintaining the effectiveness of traditional open surgery. His research laboratory focuses on improving outcomes for children with brain tumors, studying tumor models and new chemotherapy strategies. A central area of his research is convection-enhanced delivery, a technique using very small catheters to deliver medication directly to areas of the body inaccessible through standard surgery. This work has opened pathways to clinical trials for children who would otherwise have limited treatment options, including a phase I trial he leads evaluating direct drug delivery into diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) tumors in children.

Nationally, Dr. Souweidane chairs the Neurosurgery Committee of the Children's Oncology Group and serves on the editorial boards of several leading peer-reviewed neurosurgery journals. He is driven by the children he treats and the dedication of their families, and he approaches each new patient relationship with a commitment to honesty, integrity, and humility. These principles, he believes, form the foundation of trust and compassionate care that guide everything he does as a physician and surgeon.