The Division of Child Neurology's mission is to provide optimal care for children with neurological disorders and establish excellence in education and research through diverse programs in clinical and basic neurosciences.

Beliefs

1. Medical education requires intellectual curiosity, sharing knowledge, and continued learning.
2. All individuals deserve quality care.
3. Academic medical institutions should facilitate academic and service opportunity for medical staff, residents and trainees.
4. Medical education requires participation and responsibility.
5. Patients with subspecialty disorders coming to a tertiary institution should have early involvement of the appropriate
subspecialty.

Some facts about Child Neurology

Child neurologists diagnose, treat, and manage diseases, disorders, or dysfunction of the central and peripheral nervous system (brain, spinal cord, nerves, and muscles).

These diseases include epilepsy, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, muscular dystrophy, headaches, metabolic and genetic diseases of the nervous system, learning , behavioral disorders, as well as nervous system complications of systemic diseases or infections (e.g meningitis and encephalitis), in infancy, childhood, and adolescence.

Child neurologists often work with neurosurgeons and multidisciplinary teams to jointly manage patients.

How to tell if there is a problem

Symptoms are either acute, subacute, or chronic, and may indicate loss of previous functioning, or delay in obtaining normal functioning, like walking, talking, and social interaction. Loss of motor function can manifest as weakness or paralysis, loss of balance or fine motor coordination, or the development of abnormal, involuntary movements.

Loss of mental/behavioral function can appear as decline in school work, loss of previously acquired speech and language, memory or social behavior. Loss of vision or hearing may indicate a neurologic problem. Loss of consciousness might indicate a seizure disorder. Delays in development may occur in motor, mental, behavioral or social realms.

Parents with concerns about their child's neurological development are advised to first discuss their concerns with their pediatrician, who can determine if consultation with a neurologist is necessary.

Precautions

Measures to prevent neurologic disease by preventing accidents--"safe" toddler-proof kitchens and bathrooms to prevent accidental poisoning that can affect the brain; helmets for bicyclists, motorcyclists, skiers and snow boarders; proper use of seat belts and/or car seats to prevent serious head or spinal cord injury; no driving when drinking; life jackets when canoeing or boating to and proper supervision when swimming to prevent brain damage from drowning.

Many serious infections that might affect the brain and nervous system can be prevented by following recommended vaccination/immunization schedules. There is no medical evidence that immunizations cause autism. AIDS-Dementia Complex and the infectious complications of HIV that affect brain can be prevented by safe sex. Meningitis vaccines in vulnerable places and times--epidemics in school or college-age children are recommended--can prevent meningococcal meningitis. Lyme Disease and mosquito-borne summer encephalitides can be prevented by appropriate clothing in high risk endemic areas, mosquito repellent, and avoiding evening exposure.

Adolescent or young adult epileptic patients taking antiepileptic drugs who contemplate conceiving children can take folic acid supplements to reduce the risk of brain and spinal cord malformations in infants. Many instances of "cerebral palsy" may be prevented by prompt and continuous prenatal care.

What can we do as a community? Know your family's medical history well. This is particularly important in genetic diseases, which is an area that has rapidly developed because of DNA biotechnology and the Human Genome Project. Be aware of potential environmental toxins, such as houses with lead paint, pesticides, contaminated water, wildlife, or food, or industrial chemical dumping sites. Advocate for universal access to prenatal care and child care--a primary care physician for every child. If your child has a neurologic disorder or neurodevelopmental disability, become active in the voluntary organizations for those disorders, such as the Epilepsy Foundation, the Learning Disabilities Association, Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder (CHADD), the Tourette Syndrome Association, the Association for Retarded Citizens (ARC) or the National Organization of Rare Disorders (NORD). Support community Early Intervention Programs and public school pre-school handicapped programs.

Faculty

There are four full-time academic faculty in child neurology:

Program Director:

David E. Mandelbaum, MD, PhD: Professor of Clinical Neurosciences and Pediatrics

Other faculty:

John Gaitanis, MD
        Assistant Professor of Clinical Neuroscience and Pediatrics
Gita Harappanahally, MD
        Assistant Professor of Clinical Neuroscience and Pediatrics
Chalamani Harini, MD
        Assistant Professor of Clinical Neuroscience and Pediatrics

Associated faculty members include:

Pediatric Neurology
William D. Brown, MD

Pediatric Neurorehabiliation:
Karen Kerman, MD

Pediatric Neurosurgery:
Stephanie Greene, MD

Child Psychiatry:
Gregory Fritz, MD

Neuropthalmology:
Marjorie Murphy, MD
David Robbins-Tien, MD

Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics:
Pamela High, MD
Yvette Yatchmink, MD

Subspecialty Programs: Child Neurology Program

Mission Statement