World-class treatment for conditions of the brain and spine The Brain and Spine Center is headed by Philip E.
The Weill Cornell Medicine Brain and Spine Center is a world-class provider of minimally invasive surgical techniques for the treatment of the full spectrum of neurological disease. Stieg, Ph.D., M.D., Professor & Chairman of Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery and Neurosurgeon-in-Chief of NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. The Weill Cornell Medicine Brain and Spine Center provides state-of-the-art care for both adults and children with diseases of the brain and spine. The department leads in the utilization of high-tech computerized diagnostic and treatment tools, from the Gamma Knife and stereotactic radiosurgery to the use of three-dimensional visualization in the operating room. What was once a world of highly intrusive surgery has evolved into a high-tech environment of small incisions, tiny catheters, and minimally invasive endoscopes. The department also serves as a premier training center for neurosurgeons of the future and has achieved remarkable breakthroughs in research.
01/16/2026
On National Without a Scalpel Day, we celebrate the power of minimally invasive and noninvasive approaches to care. Weill Cornell Medicine spine specialists - part of Och Spine at NewYork-Presbyterian - use advanced techniques to treat conditions such as herniated discs, chronic back pain and spinal fractures. These innovations often allow patients to return home the same day, minimizing disruption and helping them get back to their lives sooner.
We’re proud to share that Dr. Heidi Bender, professor of neuropsychology in neurological surgery, has been appointed associate dean for faculty engagement and inclusion at Weill Cornell Medicine, effective January 2. She serves as director of Neuropsychology Services in the Department of Neurological Surgery.
In this inaugural role, Dr. Bender will serve on the Office of Faculty leadership team, focusing on strengthening belonging, engagement and well-being across the academic faculty. She will work closely with colleagues in Medical Education, the Graduate School and the Office of Culture, Inclusion and Employee Engagement to ensure strong alignment across programs. This work will extend across affiliate sites, voluntary faculty and Weill Cornell Medicine Qatar.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Bender on this well-deserved appointment and exciting new chapter.
01/13/2026
Back on the Water at 70
After years of debilitating back pain, Len Porcelli of Hoboken, New Jersey, is living proof that expert spine surgery can restore not just mobility but joy.
Len has always been active. He maintained an impressive athletic resume: high school baseball umpire, basketball official, and marathon runner.
"I ran 12 marathons," Len recalls. "Boston was my final one in 2003. That was on my bucket list.”
But even during his peak athletic years, back problems lurked. "I always had back issues. I wore back braces, especially when I was an umpire. I used to seek chiropractors who would help me get back on the field."
Len's back problems escalated significantly after his Boston Marathon triumph. "It was horrible. I was walking in tiny steps. Afraid to cross the street, I struggled to step off the curb. I would get this stabbing feeling while walking."
His neurologist explained that his L-1 vertebra had fallen into the spinal canal, creating dangerous compression. Len was referred to Dr. Roger Härtl for what would become the first of several life-changing surgeries.
In 2006, Dr. Härtl of Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery and Och-Spine at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital performed Len's first lumbar surgery. "When I had that surgery, Dr. Härtl's team got me out of bed, and I was walking around. It was a great thing. It's so amazing to see that I could do that."
By 2019, Len’s upper body mobility was severely compromised. "I could barely lift my arms. Taking a shower was not easy. I couldn't put on a coat or lift my arms to my shoulders, due to my back pain."
It was then that Len received a successful C2-T2 posterior cervical laminectomy with fusion by Dr. Michael Virk.
Today, Len is back to his passion, fishing in the Newark watershed reservoirs with his jon boat, which he can now load onto his pickup truck using bi-fold ramps. He exercises daily in his basement gym surrounded by decades-old fishing rods.
His message to others: “Do your research. Build trust with your doctor. And when it’s time, commit to recovery.”
01/12/2026
The Cristian Rivera Foundation (CRF) reached a historic milestone in its mission to cure diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) with a $365,000 donation, the largest single gift in the foundation’s history, to support groundbreaking research at Weill Cornell Medicine.
Our team at Weill Cornell Medicine recently performed a lumbar interbody fusion using a custom-designed, patient-specific implant. Leveraging advanced digital technologies and patient data, this approach optimizes surgical workflow and enhances outcomes, another step forward in personalized spine care.
As a unique touch, the company provides an additional implant for patients to take home, giving them a tangible look at what’s inside their body.
Congratulations to our latest BOLT Award recipients Ryley Marston, Nicole Doyle and Lily McLaughlin. Each was recognized for exemplifying balanced leadership, teamwork and dedication to patient care during a period of critical staffing needs. We are proud to celebrate their flexibility, collaboration and commitment to excellence across our neuro units.
Dr. Jared Knopman, Director of Cerebrovascular Surgery and Interventional Neuroradiology and Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine, has been appointed Associate Editor of the Journal of Neurointerventional Surgery, the leading peer-reviewed publication in the field.
As we transition out of the busy holiday season, it’s the perfect time to refocus on mental well-being. Our Neuropsychology Services are dedicated to supporting the cognitive and emotional health of every patient we serve.
12/31/2025
A multidisciplinary team at Weill Cornell Medicine, spanning neurosurgery, neuropsychology and clinical research, published two complementary reviews that together provide a comprehensive look at how Chiari malformation type I (CM-I) affects cognition across patients’ lifespans. The work was led by neurosurgery fellow Dr. Mohammed A. Fouda in collaboration with Drs. Jeffrey P. Greenfield, H. Allison Bender and Amanda Sacks-Zimmerman.
Dr. Mark Souweidane Reaches Milestone of 300 Endoscopic Colloid Cyst Resections
Dr. Mark M. Souweidane, vice chair of the Department of Neurological Surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine and director of pediatric neurological surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian Komansky Children’s Hospital of Children’s Hospital of New York, has achieved a new milestone, completing more than 300 endoscopic resections of colloid cysts – a minimally invasive procedure to remove benign pockets of tissue in the brain.
This accomplishment reflects decades of experience in minimally invasive, endoscopic neurosurgery and a career-long commitment to redefining the best surgical management for these rare brain lesions.
Ukrainian neurosurgeons Dr. Ruslan Aksyonov and Dr. Ihor Tysh, recently visited Weill Cornell Medicine for advanced training with Dr. Roger Härtl, focusing on complex spine surgery techniques and knowledge sharing. The visit highlights the importance of global collaboration in surgical education.
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A leader in high-tech computerized diagnostic and treatment methods, the Weill Cornell Brain and Spine Center receives patients from around the world. Our specialists treat the full spectrum of neurological disease, from brain and spine tumors, stroke, aneurysms, and epilepsy to Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders. At the forefront of emerging technology, our facilities offer the Gamma Knife, stereotactic radiosurgery, frameless stereotaxy, endoscopic surgery, and three-dimensional visualization in the operating room. Many of our patient cases have been covered in the news documenting the success of minimal-access surgery; recent articles told of spinal surgery to prevent paralysis and a giant brain tumor removed through the nasal cavity. (Find out more about our Surgical Services and Surgical Programs.)
Our services don't end after surgery: We have on-staff neuropsychologists who offer testing and treatments for emotional and cognitive issues that may occur after a brain disorder. (Find out more about our CBT groups for pain and our Cognitive Remediation Program.)
Pioneers in the Laboratory
In addition to their clinical work, our neurosurgeons actively pursue new frontiers in research. Advancements include the first gene therapy treatment for Parkinson's; the successful isolation of "human stem cells" from the human brain, both normal and brain tumor-derived; computer mapping of the brain to cure epilepsy through surgery; a cure for one type of eye cancer using tiny catheters; and a cutting-edge approach to treating pediatric hydrocephalus (water on the brain) that eliminates the need for shunts, sparing children from unnecessary infections. (Read more about our Laboratory Research.)
Bridging the distance from the lab bench to the patient bedside, clinical trials are underway for stroke, aneurysms, spinal fusion, and resistant brain tumors. On the horizon: deep brain stimulation for depression and a biological alternative to mechanical spinal disc replacement. (Read more about our Clinical Trials.)
Training the Next Generation
As educators, our staff teaches medical students, residents, and fellows, nationally and abroad. They also design and present specialized training courses in skull base surgery, endonasal surgery, cutting edge pediatric surgery, and minimally invasive approaches to spine surgery. (Find out about our Continuing Medical Educationcourses, residency program, and fellowships.)
Great new vistas exist for the treatment of neurological diseases of the brain and spine. The Weill Cornell Brain and Spine Center is a world leader in the implementation of these new treatment paradigms.
