We are excited to announce the appointment of Elias Rizk, MD, PhD, MSc, as the new chief of pediatric neurosurgery at Dell Children’s Medical Center and co-chief of UT Health Austin Pediatric Neurosciences at Dell Children’s. Rizk previously served as chief of pediatric neurosurgery at Pennsylvania State University and the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania. He is a professor in Dell Medical School’s Department of Neurosurgery.
Rizk earned his medical degree from the American University of Beirut and went on to complete a PhD in neuroscience and a master’s in public health from Penn State College of Medicine. He completed his neurosurgery residency at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, followed by a fellowship in pediatric neurosurgery at Children’s of Alabama. As a postdoctoral fellow, he worked with Bermans Iskandar, MD, at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, focusing on neuro-regeneration.
Specializing in the management of complex clinical conditions such as spina bifida, hydrocephalus, craniosynostosis, and brachial plexus injuries, Rizk led multidisciplinary clinics for spina bifida and craniofacial anomalies at Penn State. He has also made significant contributions to trauma and surgical quality improvement initiatives to enhance outcomes in pediatric care.
In addition to his clinical expertise, Rizk’s research focuses on axonal regeneration, particularly the role of DNA methylation in neuronal repair. He has championed the use of bioprinting technologies for craniofacial reconstruction and advanced treatments for hydrocephalus. With over 150 publications, Rizk is an accomplished academician. Among his many honors at Penn State, he was named Physician of the Year in 2024, received the Barron Leadership Award in 2021, and received the Outstanding Teacher Award in 2020.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Rizk to our team,” said E. Steve Roach, MD, co-chief of Pediatric Neurosciences. “We look forward to his leadership in advancing pediatric neurosurgery at Dell Children’s and UT Health Austin.”
