Meet The Medical Team
Meet The Medical Team
The The Fly A Kite Foundation will provide funds for laboratory research, medical research, clinical trials and not-for-profit organizations directly impacting the search for a cure for pediatric brain cancers. A team of medical professionals has been hand selected to serve on our medical advisory board. They will write grant criteria, evaluate requests for research funding and make medical referrals. The Medical Advisory Board includes:
- Katherine Warren, M.D., Head, Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute
- Michelle Monje, M.D., Assistant Professor of Pediatric Neurology, Stanford School of Medicine
- Mark M. Souweidane, M.D., Vice Chairman, Neurological Surgery, New York Presbyterian / The Weill Cornell Brain and Spine Center
- Oren J. Becher, M.D., Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Ann & Robert H, Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Northwestern University
- Sharon L Gardner, M.D., Associate Professor; Department of Pediatrics (Oncology), NYU Pediatric Hematology Oncology, NYU Langone Medical Center
- Tricia Kearney, MBA, OTR/L, Supervisor
Katherine Warren, M.D.
Head, Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Section
Center for Cancer Research
National Cancer Institute
Medical Specialties
Brain tumors, Pediatric clinical trials, Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), Drug delivery, Multipara metric imaging, Pharmacokinetics
Background
Dr. Warren heads the Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Section and leads preclinical and clinical efforts in developing new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of children with tumors of the central nervous system. She has extensive experience in drug development for children with CNS tumors, including preclinical pharmacokinetic studies, and early phase clinical trials in children. Her research entails a multifaceted approach in efforts to develop clinical trials with biologic and pharmacologic rationale and includes:
- Experimental therapeutics and noninvasive analysis of individual patients, including multipara metric imaging.
- Utilization of preclinical models to study CNS pharmacology of agents and alternate delivery methods.
- Study of tumor biology to identify potentially druggable targets
Education & Medical Training
1982 – B.S. in Medical Technology 1990 – M.D. from Tufts University School of Medicine Children’s National Medical Center/George Washington University Residency, Pediatrics Tufts University School of Medicine Medical School She completed a residency in pediatrics at Children’s National Medical Center, followed by a fellowship in Pediatric Oncology at the National Cancer Institute. She is board certified in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.
Michelle Monje, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Pediatric Neurology
Stanford School of Medicine
Background
Michelle Monje, MD PhD joined the faculty at Stanford University in 2011 as an Assistant Professor of Neurology and Neuro-Oncology. Following her undergraduate degree in biology at Vassar College, Dr. Monje received her MD and PhD in Neuroscience from Stanford University. She then completed neurology residency at the Massachusetts General Hospital/Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School program. She subsequently returned to Stanford for a clinical fellowship in pediatric neuro-oncology and a postdoctoral fellowship. The scope of her research program encompasses the molecular determinants of neural precursor cell fate, neuronal-glial interactions, and the role of neural precursor cells in oncogenesis and repair mechanisms. As a practicing neurologist and neuro-oncologist, Dr Monje is dedicated to understanding the neurodevelopmental origins of pediatric brain tumors and the neurological consequences of cancer treatment.
Boards, Advisory Committees, Professional Organizations
Chair, Brainstem Glioma Working Group, Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium (2013 – Present)
Member, Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium Translational Biology Committee (2012 – Present)
Institutional Co-PI, Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium (PBTC) (2012 – Present)
Member, Children’s Oncology Group (COG) (2011 – Present)
Professional Education
Subspecialty Board Certification, United Council for Neurological Subspecialties, Neuro Oncology (2013)
Fellowship: Stanford University – Dept of Neurology (06/30/2010) CA
Board Certification: Neurology, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (2008)
Residency: Brigham and Women’s Hospital Harvard Medical School (06/30/2008) MA
Residency: Massachusetts General Hospital (06/30/2008) MA
Internship: Stanford University (06/30/2005) CA
Medical Education: Stanford University (06/13/2004) CA
PhD, Stanford University, Neuroscience (2004)
MD, Stanford University (2004)
Mark M. Souweidane, M.D.
Vice Chairman, Neurological Surgery
New York Presbyterian / The Weill Cornell Brain and Spine Center
Medical Specialties
Pediatric Surgery, Pediatric Neurological Surgery, Pediatric Neurosurgery, Neurological Surgery, Pediatric Neuro-Oncology
Medical Expertise
Tethered Cord, Pediatric Brain Tumors, Stereotactic Surgery, Laser Surgery, Minimally Invasive (Endoscopic) Neurosurgery, Chiari Malformation, Endoscopy, Hydrocephalus, Spinal Cord Tumor, Craniofacial Disorders, Endoscopic Neurosurgery, Pineal Tumor, Arnold-Chiari Malformation, Moyamoya Syndrome, Colloid Cyst of Third Ventricle, Craniofacial Abnormalities, Pediatric Seizures, Minimally Invasive Surgery Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery
Background
Mark M. Souweidane, MD has dedicated his career to the surgical treatment of children with brain and spinal disorders. His talents as a surgeon are paralleled by a caring attitude and time commitment to patients and their families. That the Weill Cornell Medical College is a recognized leader in Pediatric Neurosurgery is a direct result of his recruitment in 1995 and his ongoing devotion to contemporary surgical techniques and investigative endeavors. Specialized surgical skills have gained him international reputation for specific procedures, including removal of intraventricular brain tumors, management of pineal region tumors, treatment of congenital cysts, and surgery for Chiari malformation. In addition to the development of a world-class Pediatric Neurosurgery service, he has championed minimal access neurosurgery. His publications, clinical case volume, and practical courses continue to draw patients and practitioners that benefit from his endoscopic talents. His commitment to the education of future pediatric neurosurgeons is reflected in his participation on the Committee of Admissions for the medical college, his lectures to medical school students, his role as resident advisor, and resident mentoring at one of the country’s premier training programs. Surgical areas of expertise include:
- Removal of intraventricular brain tumors
- Endoscopic intracranial surgery
- Tumors (colloid cyst, benign astrocytoma)
- Hydrocephalus (endoscopic third ventriculostomy)
- Congenital cysts (endoscopic fenestration)
- Treatment for Chiari malformations and syringomyelia
- Management of pineal region tumors
- Removal of intramedullary spinal cord tumors
- Correction of craniofacial disorders
- Multidisciplinary treatment of pediatric vascular abnormalities (arteriovenous malformations, Moyamoya disease, and cavernous malformations)
Dr. Souweidane currently serves as the Vice Chairman of the Department of Neurological Surgery and the Director of Pediatric Neurological Surgery at the Weill Cornell Medical College and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. He is an associate professor in Neurological Surgery and Pediatrics.
Education
Education – M.D., Wayne State University School of Medicine 1988
B.S., University of Michigan 1983
Residencies – NYU Medical Center; University of Michigan Medical Center
Fellowships – The Hospital for Sick Children (Toronto)
The North Shore-LIJ Rehabilitation Network
Transitions of Long Island
Oren J. Becher, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University
Research Interests
My laboratory interests are to apply genetic mouse models of pediatric brain tumors to prioritize the translation of novel agents into clinical trials. In particular, my laboratory is using a genetic mouse model of Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Gliomas to determine therapeutic targets, mechanisms of resistance to targeted agents, unravel new ways to bypass the blood-brain-barrier, and investigate region-specific differences between gliomagenesis in the brainstem and the cortex. My laboratory is also developing improved genetic mouse models of Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG).
Clinical Interests
Central nervous system tumors in children and teenagers; new treatment regimens for children and young adults with gliomas; interest in discovering novel, highly targeted, potent, and less toxic molecular inhibitors to treat brain tumors, and in testing novel drugs in genetic models of brain-stem gliomas or DIPGs
Training
MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (Maryland), 2000
Residency
Pediatrics, Children’s National Medical Center (Washington, DC), 2003
Fellowship
Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Cornell/Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (New York), 2006
Pediatric Neuro-Oncology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (New York), 2007
Sharon L Gardner, M.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Pediatrics (Oncology Division)
NYU Pediatric Hematology Oncology
NYU Langone Medical Center
Medical Specialties
Hematology, Cancer, Pediatrics, Pediatric Hematology-Oncology
Medical Expertise
Bone Marrow Transplantation, Stem Cell Transplant, Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Neuroblastoma, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Pediatric Neuro-Oncology, Childhood Cancers, Brain Tumors, Brain Cancer, Neuro-Oncology, Leukemia, Lymphoma, Brain/Spinal Cord Tumors.
Background
Dr. Sharon Gardner is a pediatric hematologist-oncologist in New York, New York and is affiliated with NYU Langone Medical Center. She received her medical degree from Drexel University College of Medicine and has been in practice for 28 years. Dr. Gardner accepts several types of health insurance, listed below. She is one of 8 doctors at NYU Langone Medical Center who specialize in Pediatric Hematology-Oncology.
Education & Medical Training
1986 — Hahnemann University, Medical Education
1986-1989 — St. Christopher’s Hosp. for Child. (Pediatrics), Residency Training
1989-1993 — Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (Pediatric Hem/onc), Clinical Fellowships
Tricia Kearney, MBA, OTR/L, Supervisor
Background
Tricia has over 10 years of experience as an Occupational Therapist. She has a Bachelor of Science in occupational therapy from Scranton University and a Masters in Business Administration from Hofstra University in health services administration.
Tricia is certified in Saeboflex, Bioness H200 and physical agent modalities (PAMPCA certified).
Tricia is the coordinator of the student fieldwork program at Transitions. Her training includes advances in neuromuscular reeducation, environmental and home modifications, visual perceptual and cognitive retraining
