Mark G. Malkin, M.D., F.R.C.P.C., F.A.A.N.

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Professor of Neurology and Director of the Neuro-Oncology Program
The William G. Reynolds Jr. Chair in Neuro-Oncology

On the MCV Campus, you’ll find all the pieces in place for a strong neuro-oncology program: neurosurgery, neuropathology, medical and radiation oncology and basic science. With Malkin’s arrival, the final piece is in place. As the region’s only board-certified neuro-oncologist, he’ll pull the components together into a unified program.

It’s a small subspecialty — only about 0.5% of neurologists are board certified in neuro-oncology — but it’s crucial to understanding and treating brain tumors, the neurological complications that can accompany chemotherapy (including chemobrain) and cancer metastatic to the nervous system. “Compared to other neurological diseases, brain tumors are relatively uncommon, so many doctors in training don’t get exposure to those patients,” Malkin says. The same is true of oncologists, as the incidence of primary brain tumors is far less than breast, prostate, lung or colon cancer.

In addition to seeing patients and starting a fellowship program, Malkin will spend nearly half of his time on translational research, trying to develop novel ideas into better treatment options. “There’s a lot of really innovative basic science research here just begging to be tested in phase 1 and phase 2 trials,” he says. That’s exactly what he plans to do.