Michael G. Kaplitt, M.D., Ph.D.
Neurological Surgery
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Michael G. Kaplitt, M.D., Ph.D.

Neurological Surgery

Profile Photo of Michael G. Kaplitt, M.D., Ph.D.
Accepts New Patients
Gender: Male
Language: English

About

Specialties and Expertise

Specialties

  • General Neurosurgery
  • Neurological Surgery

Expertise

  • Trigeminal Neuralgia
  • Molecular Medicine
  • Parkinson's Disease
  • Movement Disorder
  • Spasticity
  • Parkinson's Surgery
  • Spinal Cord Stimulator Implants
  • Spinal Cord Stimulator
  • Trigeminal Neuralgia Surgery
  • Tremor
  • Spinal Opiate Catheter Implants
  • Epilepsy Surgery
  • Hydrocephalus
  • Spinal Opiate Catheter Implant
  • Brain Surgery
  • MRI Guided Focused Ultrasound Surgery
  • Dystonia
  • Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)

Biography

Michael Kaplitt, PhD, MD specializes in neurosurgical treatment of movement disorders, including Parkinson's disease, essential tremor and dystonia, using various surgical approaches including deep brain stimulation. He also specializes in surgery for intractable pain and spasticity, implanting devices such as spinal cord stimulators and spinal infusion pumps. He is also an expert in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia and hydrocephalus, and performs general neurosurgery as well. In 2016 Dr. Kaplitt became the first in New York to use high-intensity focused ultrasound for the treatment of essential tremor, just weeks after the procedure received FDA approval.  He works with a team of specialists, including neurologists, neurophysiologists, neuropsychologists, brain imaging experts, physiatrists/therapists, and pain management specialists to provide superior care in all of these areas before, during and after surgery. Dr. Kaplitt is also an internationally recognized expert in gene therapy and molecular neurobiology, and he is a leading figure in the development of new technologies for improving or restoring brain function.

Michael Kaplitt graduated Magna Cum Laude from Princeton University in 1987 with a degree in Molecular Biology and Russian Studies. He enrolled in the Tri-Institutional M.D.-Ph.D. Program and received his Ph.D. in Molecular Neurobiology in 1993 from The Rockefeller University and his M.D. in 1995 from Cornell Medical College. Following his Neurosurgery residency and chief residency at Cornell, he completed a fellowship in Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery with Dr. Andres Lozano at the University of Toronto prior to joining our staff as Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery in July 2001.

His clinical activities focus upon using minimally invasive, stereotactic techniques for the treatment of functional disorders such as Parkinson's disease, essential tremor and epilepsy. He also uses surgical methods to implant devices such as spinal cord stimulators and opiate pumps to treat complex pain, and he is also an expert in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia and hydrocephalus. Dr. Kaplitt has pioneered the use of gene therapy in the brain. He has published over 40 papers and has edited two books on this subject. He recently completed the first clinical trial of gene therapy for Parkinson's Disease for FDA approval, and his laboratory is actively researching mechanisms of cell death in diseases such as Parkinson's and Huntington's. Dr. Kaplitt is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Young Investigator Award from the American Society for Gene Therapy and he was named to Crain's 40 under 40 list for 2004.

He currently serves on the editorial boards of several journals, and is Editor of the World Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery Web Site. He is also a member of the Weill Cornell Medical School Committee on Admissions. He is also Adjunct Assistant Professor at The Rockefeller University and Clinical Assistant Surgeon at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

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Dr. Kaplitt sees patients at: 1305 York Avenue (at 70th Street) Brain and Spine Center, 9th Floor New York, NY 10065

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For more information about Dr. Kaplitt's Book, Gene Therapy of the Central Nervous System: From Bench to Bedside, please visit:https://www.elsevier.com/books/gene-therapy-of-the-central-nervous-system-from-bench-to-bedside/kaplitt/978-0-12-397632-1

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If you have advanced Parkinson’s disease and are experiencing dyskinesia symptoms or motor fluctuations that are not responding to medicines, you may be eligible for a clinical trial examining a new minimally invasive method to treat your symptoms. Please visit http://weillcornellbrainandspine.org/et

Research

Honors and Awards

Honors and Awards

1992 Albert Cass Traveling Fellowship
1994 Saul R. Korey Award for Experimental Neurology, American Academy of Neurology
Distinguished Housestaff Award, The New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center
Fellowship Award, Medical Research Council of Canada
2002 Elsberg Fellowship, The New York Academy of Medicine
2002 Ellison Foundation, New Scholar in Aging Research
2004 New York Magazine, "Best Doctors in New York" feature
2004 Crain's "40 Under 40" Award
2005 American Society for Gene Therapy Young Investigator Award
2015 American Society for Clinical Investigations
2016 Society of Neurological Surgeons
2009-2019 New York Super Doctors

 

Top Doctors
Michael G. Kaplitt, M.D., Ph.D. has been named one of America's Top Doctors by Castle Connolly. Across 65 medical specialties, 404 Weill Cornell Medicine physicians have been awarded this designation.

Learn more

Credentials

Board Certifications

  • American Board of Neurological Surgery

Clinical and Academic Positions

  • Attending Neurological Surgeon - NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
  • Professor of Neurological Surgery - Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University
  • Professor of Neurological Surgery in Neurology - Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University
  • Professor of Neurological Surgery in Otolaryngology - Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University
  • Professor of Neuroscience - Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University

Education and Training

  • M.D., Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, 1995
  • Ph.D., The Rockefeller University, 1993

Insurance

Insurance Plans Accepted

The following represents most of the managed care plans accepted by this doctor. If your insurance carrier does not appear here please contact the doctor’s office as they may have individual contracts not included on this site.

* indicates this doctor is no longer accepting new patients with this insurance plan.

  • AETNA - HMO
  • AETNA - PPO
  • AETNA - Medicare
  • Aetna Weill Cornell Employee Managed Care Plan
  • Aetna Weill Cornell Employee PPO Plan
  • Aetna-NYP - EPO/POS
  • Affinity Access
  • Affinity Health Plan
  • CIGNA
  • Emblem Select Care
  • Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield - Mediblue (Senior)
  • Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield - PPO
  • Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield - Blue Access
  • Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield - Blue Connection
  • Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield - EPO
  • Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield - HMO
  • Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield HealthPlus
  • Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield HealthPlus - CHP
  • Fidelis Care
  • GHI - CBP
  • Health First
  • Health Insurance Plan of NY (HIP)
  • Health Insurance Plan of NY (HIP) - Medicaid
  • Health Insurance Plan of NY (HIP) - Medicare
  • Medicaid
  • Medicare
  • Oxford Health Plans - Freedom
  • Oxford Health Plans - Liberty
  • Oxford Health Plans - Medicare Advantage
  • Oxford Health Plans - Metro/Core/Charter
  • Rockefeller University - Trustmark
  • United Empire
  • United Healthcare
  • United Healthcare - Community Plan
  • United Healthcare - Medicare
  • United Healthcare Compass
  • VNSNY CHOICE - HMO
  • VNSNY CHOICE - Medicare
  • WellCare of NY
  • WorldWide Medical

Locations and Appointments

External Relationships

External Relationships

Relationships and collaborations with for-profit and not-for profit organizations are of vital importance to our faculty because these exchanges of scientific information foster innovation. As experts in their fields, WCM physicians and scientists are sought after by many organizations to consult and educate. WCM and its faculty make this information available to the public, thus creating a transparent environment.

Consultant:
MeiraGTx, LLC
Ownership:
MeiraGTx, LLC; Redpin Therapeutics
Proprietary Interest:
MeiraGTx, LLC