Mariel Szapiel, MD, FAANS - Neurosurgery

Dr. Mariel Szapiel, MD, FAANS, is a board-certified neurosurgeon and director of functional neurosurgery with the Orlando Health Neuroscience Institute.

Dr. Szapiel earned her medical degree from the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, where she also completed a surgical internship with the Department of Surgery. She completed a neurological surgery residency followed by a stereotactic and functional neurosurgery fellowship at The Ohio State University, Columbus. 

Dr. Szapiel’s expertise in Functional neurosurgery includes placement of deep brain stimulators for movement disorders; neuromodulation for medically refractory epilepsy including: vagal nerve stimulators and responsive neurostimulation devices; and placement of stimulators for pain. She also performs general neurosurgery procedures including spine surgery of cervical, thoracic and lumbar regions and removal of brain tumors.

Prior to joining Orlando Health, Dr. Szapiel practiced in Denver, Colorado where she was in charge of the functional neurosurgery program at Swedish Medical Center. She is member of the American Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, the North American Neuromodulation Society, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. Additionally, she is fluent in both English and Spanish.