Mary Michele Barden, MD

Mary Barden, MD, is a neuro-oncologist who specializes in caring for patients with brain tumors. Part of the Chênevert Family Brain Tumor Center at Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale Cancer Center, Dr. Barden provides comprehensive care that not only addresses the tumor itself but also helps manage the neurological challenges that arise from brain tumors.

"Many patients with brain tumors will, at some point in their disease course, experience a significant change in how they function,” Dr. Barden says. “Depending on which part of the brain is affected, a person’s language, memory, mobility and, more broadly, independence and ability to engage with the world can all be impacted. Our job is not simply to treat the tumor, but to help palliate and navigate the neurologic decline that comes with it."

Dr. Barden encourages patients to engage in open conversations with their doctors about potential participation in clinical trials. She also emphasizes the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to patient care and works closely with a team that includes social workers, oncology care coordinators, and palliative care providers.

"I draw inspiration from many sources, but perhaps my patients and their families most of all,” Dr. Barden says. “Every day I see people facing the diagnosis of a brain tumor. Helping people navigate this journey is endlessly humbling and my greatest privilege."

Dr. Barden received her medical degree at Yale School of Medicine, followed by residency and fellowship training at Yale New Haven Hospital. She is an assistant professor of neurology (neuro-oncology) at Yale School of Medicine and the associate director of the Neuro-Oncology Fellowship Program.