Dr. Kandel graduated from Yale University in 1981, and from the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Columbia University in 1985. She received her general surgical training at the Massachusetts General Hospital, during which time she also completed a two-year pediatric surgical research fellowship at the Boston Children's Hospital. Dr. Kandel completed her pediatric surgical fellowship at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in 1995; she joined the surgical faculty of the College of Physicians & Surgeons. She is Board-Certified in both General Surgery and Pediatric Surgery. Dr. Kandel is currently an Associate Professor of Surgery in the Institute for Cancer Genetics of Columbia University.

Dr. Kandel directs the Pediatric Tumor Biology Laboratory with Dr. Darrell Yamashiro of Pediatric Oncology. Their research focuses on the mechanisms which control the growth of the blood vessels (angiogenesis) which supply pediatric solid tumors (Wilms tumor, neuroblastoma, and hepatoblastoma) and vascular anomalies of childhood. Their work is funded by the National Cancer Institute, has been presented at national and international meetings, and has been published in scientific and clinical journals.

Dr. Kandel's special clinical interests include oncology and vascular anomalies of childhood (including hemangiomas and vascular malformations). She is the Surgical Principal Investigator for Columbia University for the national Children's Oncology Group (COG), and serves on the Renal Tumors Committee of the Children's Oncology Group and the National Wilms Tumor Study Group.