Biography: Dr. Mark Stephen O’Brien passed away on October 20, 2023. Mark, the eldest son of Mark Peter and Hannah Dempsey O’Brien was born in New Jersey.
 
He graduated from Seton Hall Preparatory School, South Orange, New Jersey. After attending Georgetown University, he spent the next three years in study for the Roman Catholic priesthood at Seton Hall University. It was at this point in his life that Mark decided to emulate his grandfather, Michael Dempsey, and pursue the study of medicine. He graduated from St. Louis University School of Medicine, and after his internship, he served two years on active duty as a medical officer in the United States Navy.
 
He completed his residency in neurological surgery with Dr. Frank Mayfield and Dr. Robert McLaurin at the University of Cincinnati. It was Dr. McLaurin’s influence while at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital that directed his career toward the care of infants and children.
 
Following a two-year National Institute of Neurological Disease and Blindness special fellowship at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Mark accepted a position as Assistant Professor of Surgery (Neurosurgery) at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. In 1971, he became director of the pediatric training of neurosurgical residents and assumed the position as Chief of Neurosurgery at Egleston Children’s Hospital at Emory. In 1979, he was promoted to Professor of Neurosurgery and Associate Professor of Pediatrics.
 
His major neurosurgical interests were in the treatment of hydrocephalus and brain tumors in children. His bibliography lists a multitude of scientific papers and book chapters.
 
His professional memberships included the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, the American Society of Pediatric Neurosurgeons (Founding Member), the Pediatric Section of the AANS (Secretary), the American College of Surgeons, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery (Founding Member), and the Academy of Pediatric Neurosurgeons (Founding Member). He was a Director and Secretary of the American Board of Pediatric Neurological Surgery. He served on the editorial board of the following journals: Neurosurgery, Contemporary Neurosurgery, Journal of Child Neurology, Journal of Pediatric Neurosurgery.
 
Mark served on the Board of Trustees of Egleston Children’s Hospital at Emory and The Elaine Clark Center for Exceptional Children. He was a member of the Medical Advisory Board of the National Foundation March of Dimes, the Professional Advisory Panel of the Spina Bifida Association of America, and the Brain Tumor Foundation for Children.
 
In 2005, he joined the Neurosurgery Department at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in Little Rock, Arkansas. He practiced at Arkansas Children’s Hospital and served as Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery.
 
After his retirement from practice in 2015, Mark continued to participate in conferences and on the resident interview committee at UAMS.
 
Mark is survived by his beloved wife, Karen Marie; his children, of whom he considered his greatest achievement being their father, David O’Brien, Derek O’Brien, Marcia O’Brien (John Liebl), Blythe (Will) Hogan, Blake O’Brien, Lauren-Blair (Lambert) Marshall, and Connor O’Brien; his eight grandchildren; and his brother, Tom O’Brien and family.
 
A memorial service will be held at 11am on Friday, October 27, 2023, at Christ Episcopal Church in Little Rock, with a reception following the service.
 
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Christ Episcopal Church Christ Church (christchurchlr.org), 509 Scott St. Little Rock, AR 72201. Arrangements are under the direction of RuebelFuneralHome.com