Chief of Neurological Surgery, NewYork-Presbyterian Queens
Professor of Clinical Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine
Dr. John Park’s path into neurosurgery began long before he ever stepped into an operating room. As a neuroscience major in college, he was fascinated by the complexity of the brain and driven toward a field where he could make a meaningful impact. His father, a physician, modeled a life dedicated to patient care, and a college professor sparked the research curiosity that would eventually shape his academic career. By the time he entered medical school, neurosurgery felt inevitable.
During those years, Dr. Park met Dr. Philip Stieg, a connection that would influence the direction of his career decades later. More than 30 years after that first meeting, the two crossed paths again at a neurosurgical conference. Dr. Stieg mentioned that NewYork-Presbyterian Queens was establishing a new neurosurgery department and needed a chief. Dr. Park interviewed, felt aligned with the mission to expand access to world‑class neurosurgical care in Queens’ diverse and underserved communities, and was offered the role.
Today, Dr. Park describes leading the neurosurgery service at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens as an honor and a responsibility. His vision is simple: to ensure the people of Queens have access to the same high-level care available in any major academic medical center.
Under his leadership, the team provides what he calls “compassionate, state of the art, world class care,” with a commitment to patients from underserved communities. Queens’ cultural diversity deeply shapes that care. The team is attentive to cultural norms, language needs and community preferences, including adjusting surgical scheduling around cultural holidays such as Lunar New Year. For Dr. Park, respecting and understanding these nuances is essential to delivering meaningful care. Queens is one of the most diverse counties in the nation, 47.3% of Queens residents were born outside the United States in 2023, more than 1.1 million people.
His message to patients and referring physicians is clear: they can receive advanced neurosurgical treatment locally, “in your backyard,” without traveling for world-class expertise.
Dr. Park’s clinical interests span brain tumors, spinal tumors and complex spine surgery, but one of his most rewarding areas of focus is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak repair. Many of these patients arrive after years of misdiagnosis, often unable to sit or stand comfortably due to severe headaches.
He describes the impact of treating these patients as immediate and profound. Many experience relief the moment the underlying problem is addressed, a transformation he finds deeply gratifying. “I feel like I can make a real difference in their quality of life,” he reflects.
He brings the same commitment to patients with low-grade gliomas and other brain tumors, emphasizing function, recovery and the ability to return to valued activities and relationships.
Advancements in spine surgery have also shaped his practice. Modern image-guided systems allow his team to perform minimally invasive procedures with smaller incisions and faster recovery.
Multidisciplinary collaboration is core to his approach. Brain tumors and CSF leaks often require complex decision making that involves multiple specialists, including neuro-oncologists, radiation oncologists, neurologists and neuroradiologists. Working within the broader Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian system allows him to integrate these perspectives seamlessly and provide coordinated, comprehensive care.
When asked what he finds most meaningful about neurosurgery, Dr. Park answers without hesitation: improving a patient’s quality of life. Whether helping someone return to favorite hobbies, spend more time with family or simply live without chronic pain, he sees each outcome as deeply significant.
His philosophy of care is one he applies consistently: “I treat every patient the way I would want another doctor to treat my family member.” He hopes patients feel confident, supported and reassured from the moment they meet him.
Though neurosurgery demands precision and dedication, Dr. Park maintains an active life beyond medicine. A former NCAA Division I wrestler, he carries that discipline into marathon running and his love of golf. To date, Dr. Park has run 14 marathons. These activities give him balance and space to reflect amid the demands of clinical leadership.
Dr. Park’s vision for the future is both ambitious and community centered. He hopes to further grow the neurosurgery department at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens so more patients can access high-level care close to home. He also aims to increase the department’s role in clinical research, building a stronger academic footprint that supports innovation and advances patient outcomes.
His career reflects a blend of technical expertise, compassion, cultural awareness and commitment to excellence, qualities that continue to shape neurosurgical care in one of the most diverse communities in the nation.
If you or a loved one would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. John Park, please visit his clinical profile to request an appointment:
Book an appointment with Dr. Park: https://weillcornell.org/john-park-md-phd
