Dr. Russell Margraf

What we specialize in at The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center is compassionate care – we take care of our patients. It’s complete care. The patients don’t have to go out and find a radiologist. We have the radiation oncologist, the chemotherapy, the surgery, the radiology, we have all kinds of nursing people as well as help getting physical therapy and getting in-the-home assistance. Patients also can expect cutting-edge care because we run such a terrific science program here. I really like working with the patients. No question about it. It’s not that I’m doing some trivial procedure six times a day. When someone comes in with a brain tumor, there’s usually some bonding, and instead of running away from that, I really enjoy it. Dr. Friedman is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Brain Stem Cancer. His top areas of expertise are Glioma, Astrocytoma, Glioblastoma, Awake Craniotomy, and Laminectomy.

My primary focus is patient care and clinical research. My clinical research focuses on providing innovative and aggressive therapies to adults with primary brain tumors. I always keep the patient's quality of life foremost in my practice. I completed my residency in adult neurology at the University of Sherbrooke in Quebec. I finished a two-year fellowship in neuro-oncology at The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke. Upon completion of my fellowship in 2005, I joined the Center as faculty. I am a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada. Dr. Desjardins is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Brain Stem Cancer. Her top areas of expertise are Glioblastoma, Gliosarcoma, Embryonal Tumor with Multilayered Rosettes, and Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumor (ATRT).

I am a neurosurgeon with a passionate interest in taking care of patients with brain tumors. I am committed to providing both excellent clinical care, ensuring that I am doing everything I can to better understand brain tumors, and finding better ways to treat them through laboratory research. From a surgical perspective, I believe in having a strong grounding in traditional techniques such as microsurgery and using cutting-edge methods and minimally invasive approaches to give patients the best outcomes with less risk. I also believe that being diagnosed with a brain tumor is the hardest thing a patient and their family can go through, and it is my role to help guide them through this process step by step, making sure they are as knowledgeable and comfortable with the situation as possible. Nothing makes me happier than when patients and their families tell me that they are relieved and reassured after our visit together. Dr. Patel is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Brain Stem Cancer. His top areas of expertise are Glioblastoma, Astrocytoma, Glioma, Awake Craniotomy, and Gamma Knife Radiosurgery.