UCSF neurosurgeon Mitchel S. Berger, MD

Mitchel Berger, MD

Neurosurgeon

Director, Brain Tumor Center

Specialties: Adult brain tumors, including gliomas and meningiomas

Dr. Berger's main clinical interests are the treatment of brain tumors in adults and children and of epilepsy related to brain tumors. He is a pioneer of intraoperative mapping of the brain to identify the sites of motor, sensory, and language function and thereby avoid their involvement or injury during surgery.

His current research interests involve identifying molecular markers in gliomas as correlates of tumor progression and prognosis. He also works in conjunction with Dr. Krystof Bankiewicz to test small molecule inhibitors in brain tumors using the drug delivery technique of convection-enhanced delivery.

Dr. Berger is currently the Principal Investigator of UCSF's SPORE Brain Tumor Program, funded by the National Cancer Institute and NINDS. He was also named to the Blue Ribbon Panel for the National Cancer Moonshot Initiative.

Read Q&A with Dr. Berger >

 

 

Education and Training

1974: BA, Harvard College, Cambridge, Massachusetts
1979: MD, University of Miami School of Medicine
1979-1980: Internship, UCSF
1980-1985: Residency in Neurological Surgery, UCSF
1985: Clinical Fellowship in Neuro-oncology, Brain Tumor Research Center at UCSF
1986: Fellowship in Pediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital for Sick Children of the University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Academic Positions

1986: Assistant Professor, Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle/Concomitant appointments as Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgical Oncology at the Children's Hospital and Medical Center in Seattle and Chief of the Northwest Neuro-Oncology Research & Therapy Section at the University of Washington
1990: Associate Professor at the University of Washington
1996: Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of Washington
1997-2020: Chair of the UCSF Department of Neurological Surgery
1997-Present: Director of the UCSF Brain Tumor Center

Selected Awards

2016: Charles B. Wilson Award, AANS/CNS Joint Section on Tumors
2015: President, American Academy of Neurological Surgery
2012: President, American Association of Neurological Surgeons
2011: President Elect, American Association of Neurological Surgeons
2010: Vice President, American Association of Neurological Surgeons
2010-2013: Secretary, American Academy of Neurological Surgery
2009: Winn Prize, Society of Neurological Surgeons
2009: Elected Member, UCSF Institute of Molecular Medicine
2007-2010: Director, American Board of Neurological Surgery
2007-2010: Board of Directors, American Association of Neurological Surgeons
2006: UCSF Medical Center THANKS Star Award for exceptional contribution
2006: Ronald L. Bittner Lecturer, Tumor Section, AANS Annual Meeting
2006: Jeannette and Bernard S. Post MD Endowed Lecturer, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine
2006: Farber Award, AANS Annual Meeting
2005-2006: Appointed Chairman of the Scientific Program Committee, AANS Annual Meeting
2004: UCSF Medical Center THANKS Star Award for exceptional contribution
2002-present: America's Top Doctors, Castle Connolly Medical Ltd.
1999: Appointment to the Board of Directors of the California Division of the American Cancer Society (ACS)
1997-1999: President of the Society for Neuro-Oncology
1997-1998: Vice President of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons