Dr. Mark Souweidane
Weill Cornell Neurologist Recognized for Work to Find a Cure for Brain Tumors
Dr. Mark M. Souweidane, vice chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery, director of the Pediatric Brain and Spine Center, professor of neurological surgery and professor of neurological surgery in pediatrics, was honored Sept. 13 with the Vision of Hope Award, presented during the fourth-annual Cristian Rivera Foundation Celebrity Gala. The award was given for Dr. Souweidane's "steadfast determination to find a cure for Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (a type of brain tumor) and alleviate the suffering of children across the country" affected by the disease.
The gala is hosted each year to mark the birthday of Cristian Rivera, who died in 2009 at age 6 after a two-year battle with this type of brain tumor. The Cristian Rivera Foundation, begun by Cristian's father, John Rivera, has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to fund the research work of Dr. Souweidane, who was Cristian's neurosurgeon.
In May, Dr. Souweidane began an innovative Phase I clinical trial testing the safety of a groundbreaking new treatment delivery method for DIPG. The proceeds from the annual gala help support that trial as well as other research of the Weill Cornell Pediatric Brain and Spine Center.
Additional Awards and Honors
Dr. Curtis Cole, associate professor of clinical medicine and associate professor of clinical public health, was elected a Fellow of the American College of Physicians effective Nov. 1. The American College of Physicians, the largest medical-specialty organization and second-largest physician group in the United States, is a national organization of internists — physicians who specialize in the prevention, detection and treatment of illnesses in adults.
Dr. John Leonard, associate dean for clinical research, the Richard T. Silver Distinguished Professor of Hematology and Medical Oncology and professor of medicine, was selected Sept. 11 to serve as co-director of the American Society of Hematology's Clinical Research Training Institute for 2013-2014. The ASH Clinical Research Training Institute is a year-long education and mentoring program for hematology fellows and junior faculty at academic medical centers and offers a broad education about clinical research methods, research collaborations, statistical analysis and managing the demands of family and career. The goal of the Clinical Research Training Institute is to produce a group of researchers armed with ideas for clinical hematology research and the tools and access to resources to make their ideas a reality.
The American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnsotic Medicine certified The Methodist Hospital Neurological Institute EMG and Motor Control Laboratory, which is directed by Dr. David B. Rosenfield, professor of neurology at Weill Cornell.
Dr. Gail Solomon, professor of clinical neurology in pediatrics, professor of clinical neurology and professor of clinical neurology in psychiatry, is a recipient of the American Medical Association's Physician's Recognition Award in Continuing Medical Education. The Association established the award in 1968 and for more than 40 years has recognized physicians who earn at least an average of 50 credits per year from educational activities that meet the Association's standards.
Tracey Van Kempen, a neuroscience graduate student in the lab of Dr. Teresa Milner, received the Neuroscience 2012 Graduate Student Travel Award to attend the Society for Neuroscience meeting in October in New Orleans to present, "Changes in NMDA receptor density in corticotropin releasing factor type 1-containing paraventricular neurons following slow-pressor angiotensin II hypertension."
Weill Cornell Internal Medicine Associates and Weill Cornell Internal Medicine Associates at The Irving S. Wright Center on Aging both achieved National Committee for Quality Assurance Level 3 Patient-Centered Medical Home status accreditation. The Committee's Patient-Centered Medical Home status is an innovative program for improving primary care.