ACE-WS Welcomes New Medical Director, Dr. Mark Levin

We are honored to welcome Dr. Mark Levin as the new Medical Director of the Armellino Center of Excellence for Williams Syndrome (ACE-WS)! Beginning July, 2025, Dr. Levin will bring his extraordinary WS clinical expertise, research interests, and leadership to our Center. A nationally recognized authority in the care of individuals with Williams syndrome (WS), Dr. Levin has dedicated his career to advancing both clinical care and research in WS, with a particular focus on the cardiac manifestations of WS.

Dr. Levin joins us from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where he has served as an attending cardiologist and research clinician in the Translational Vascular Medicine Branch of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). In this role, Dr. Levin has been a driving force in the WS community—providing compassionate, expert care and investigating the underlying mechanisms of disease in WS.

We are delighted to welcome Dr. Levin back to the Penn and CHOP communities. From 2001 to 2009, he completed fellowships in clinical cardiology and molecular cardiology research here on campus, laying the foundation for his distinguished career. He looks forward to reuniting with former colleagues and forging new collaborations across our institutions.

Dr. Levin is adored by the individuals with WS and their families that he has met throughout his career, particularly those involved in the long-running WS study at the NIH. His unwavering commitment to patient care is evident in the time and energy he dedicates to each family. Known for his ability to see the person first, before the syndrome, Dr. Levin is exceptional at communicating complex medical findings and recommendations with clarity and compassion. Many families have already expressed their intention to travel to Philadelphia to continue to see “Dr. Mark” —a testament to the profound trust and connection he fosters.

In his new role as ACE Medical Director, Dr. Levin will oversee ACE-WS clinical programs across the lifespan and continue to provide direct patient care for individuals of all ages. He will also expand his robust translational research program, from research in mouse models of WS through clinical research in patients with WS. Dr. Levin has a deep interest in understanding the cause of increased rates of sudden death—a rare but frightening occurrence for families and clinicians alike. This remains a top research priority for the WS community, and we are committed to supporting Dr. Levin’s efforts to advance this essential life-saving research.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Levin to ACE-WS and the Penn and CHOP community!