The Mount Sinai Children’s Brain and Spinal Tumor Center provides the most advanced diagnostic and treatment modalities in a child-friendly environment in NYC, one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse cities in the world. Importantly, the coordinated care between the Children's Brain and Spinal Tumor Center and the outstanding pediatric subspecialists at Kravis Children’s Hospital provides a unique setting that allows for the most comprehensive care for patients from diagnosis through treatment and beyond so that affected children can maximize their full potential.

Nearly all of our team members are heavily involved in translational, clinical, and/or basic research related specifically to pediatric brain and spinal tumors and it is this expertise that we complement our clinical care efforts to help our patients and push the boundaries of the pediatric neuro-oncology field.

Meet the Directors

Under the leadership of Drs. Oren Becher, Saadi Ghatan, and Praveen Raju, the Mount Sinai Children’s Brain and Spinal Tumor Center collaboratively seeks to translate ground-breaking research into delivery of enhanced clinical care. Our team approach with specialists from a diverse set of disciplines related to pediatric neuro-oncology promotes the bench-to-bedside (and back) approach needed to make advances for our patients.

Oren Becher, MD
Co-Director

Oren Becher, MD, is chief of the Jack Martin Fund Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology at the Mount Sinai Kravis Children's Hospital's Children's Cancer Program in the Jack and Lucy Clark Department of Pediatrics at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where he is an attending physician. Dr. Becher is a board-certified Pediatric Hematologist/Oncologist. He has been active in academic medicine since 2007 and runs an NIH-funded research laboratory that focuses on DMG/DIPG. He treats blood disorders and cancer in children, adolescents, and young adults.

Saadi Ghatan, MD
Co-Director

Dr. Saadi Ghatan is a Professor of Neurosurgery and Pediatrics at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Chair of Neurosurgery at Mount Sinai West and Mount Sinai Morningside for the Mount Sinai Health System. He also serves as Director of the Health System's Pediatric Neurosurgery Program. Dr. Ghatan is board certified in neurosurgery and pediatric neurosurgery, fellowship trained in pediatric neurosurgery, and treats neonates, children, adolescents, and adults at the Mount Sinai Hospital, Mount Sinai West, and Mount Sinai Beth Israel.

Praveen B Raju, MD, PhD
Co-Director

Praveen B. Raju, MD, PhD is a pediatric neurologist with board certification in Neurology with Special Qualifications in Child Neurology. Dr. Raju completed his MD at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, where he also completed his PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology & Genetics. He served as a resident in Pediatrics at Babies & Children's Hospital of New York / Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center and subsequently finished his Pediatric Neurology Fellowship training at Boston Children's Hospital / Harvard Medical School where he served as Chief Fellow during his final year. Dr. Raju runs an NIH-funded research laboratory that focuses on medulloblastoma and novel drug delivery approaches past the blood-brain barrier. He treats children with brain tumors and neurofibromatosis as well as neurological complications of cancer including seizures, strokes, headaches, and neuropathy.