October 7, 2025, Filed Under: carouselUT Health Austin Pediatric Neurosciences at Dell Children’s Ranked 25 by U.S. News & World Report Only six years after the program’s founding, UT Health Austin Pediatric Neurosciences at Dell Children’s was ranked 25 on U.S. News & World Report’s 2025–2026 list of best U.S. pediatric neurology and neurosurgery programs. “The external validation of this ranking mirrors the rapid progress we have made since the program’s founding and underscores our commitment to providing exceptional care for the children who are entrusted to us,” commented neurology chief Dr. Steve Roach. “This milestone reflects the relentless dedication of our team and its leadership,” said neurosurgery chief Dr. Elias Rizk. “I’m deeply honored to now be part of this journey, and I’m immensely grateful for everyone’s hard work in making UT Health Austin Pediatric Neurosciences at Dell Children’s a national leader in pediatric neuroscience care.”
August 1, 2025, Filed Under: carousel, NewsMultidisciplinary Providers Contribute to Scholarly Literature Our program contributes scholarly articles on a variety of topics, and we encourage publications from all members of the team. The featured articles below, for example, include contributions from child neurologists, child neurology residents, a nurse practitioner, and a pediatric neurosurgeon. Kevin Kumar, MD, PhD, assistant professor of neurosurgery at Dell Medical School, was the lead author of a recent Frontiers in Surgery article that analyzed the effectiveness of deep brain stimulation (DBS) and responsive neurostimulation (RNS) in children with drug-resistant epilepsy. DBS was used primarily for palliation of generalized or mixed drug-resistant epilepsy after other therapies failed, and 71% of these patients experienced a 50% or greater seizure reduction. RNS was used for patients with a better-defined seizure focus and no prior epilepsy surgery. Eighty percent of the RNS patients achieved clinical seizure freedom, and 20% had a 90% reduction in seizure burden. RNS also provided valuable data for future interventions. Both DBS and RNS are useful options for children with drug-resistant epilepsy. Child neurology residents Catherine Kronfol, MD, PGY-4, and Aaron Hocher, MD, PGY-3, described a newborn who was transferred from another hospital because of metabolic acidosis, respiratory distress, and suspected seizures. Abnormal facial movements and posturing were initially suspected to represent seizures, but continuous electroencephalography showed no epileptiform discharges during the movements. His initial serum ammonia level was dramatically elevated (1284 μg/dL). Urine organic acids, plasma amino acids, serum pyruvate, and carnitine were normal, but next-generation DNA sequencing of serum confirmed evidence of Ureaplasma urealyticum, an organism that produces copious amounts of ammonia. After treatment with azithromycin, his ammonia level normalized, and when seen at 13 months of age he was developmentally normal. Severe hyperammonemia does not always result from genetic metabolic disorders. Samantha Irwin, MSc, MB BCh BAO, an associate professor of neurology, and Sara Pavitt, MD, an assistant professor of neurology, reviewed the assessment and management of headache in children in the American Academy of Pediatrics’ education journal Pediatrics in Review. The far-reaching review includes typical clinical manifestations, common headache triggers, red flags that could indicate more serious conditions, the epidemiology of headaches in children, symptomatic and preventive medications, and neuromodulation devices for headache. Janet Wilson, MSN, CPNP-PC, has years of experience treating children with drug-resistant epilepsy with the ketogenic diet. She frequently volunteers in Kenya and the Caribbean islands, where the use of the ketogenic diet is often hindered by the cost of nutritional supplements and extensive laboratory monitoring and by the limited availability of the ingredients commonly used to make diet recipes. She has identified locally available ingredients that are suitable for maintaining ketosis and taught people how to implement the diet. In a recent issue of Epilepsy Currents, Wilson teamed with colleagues from the United States, Jamaica, India, and Kenya to discuss optimization of refractory epilepsy care in resource-limited settings, including implementation of dietary therapies. Uchitel J, Lui A, Knowles J, Parker JJ, Phillips HW, Halpern CH, Grant GA, Buch VP, Hyslop A, Kumar KK. Intracranial neuromodulation for pediatric drug-resistant epilepsy: early institutional experience. Front Surg. 2025 Apr 8; 12:1569360. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsurg.2025.1569360 Pavitt S, Irwin SL. Headache care. Pediatr Rev. 46(3):129-138. https://doi.org/10.1542/pir.2024-006402 Kronfol C, Hocher A, Roach ES. Neonatal hyperammonemia due to Ureaplasma sepsis. Ann Child Neurol Soc. 2025;3:57-58. https://doi.org/10.1002/cns3.20107 Yardi R, Radhakrishnan K, Samia P, Wilson J, Ali A. Managing refractory epilepsy in a resource-limited setting—doing more with less. Epilepsy Curr. Published 2025 May 27. https://doi.org/10.1177/15357597251318562
June 24, 2025, Filed Under: carousel, NewsProgram Co-Sponsors Second IMPRES Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Conference Watch the conference recap here! Save the date for IMPRES 2026 Session panelists (L to R) Ahmed T. Abdelmoity, MD, MBA, MS, Jorge Vidaurre, MD, Alison Kukla, MPH, Sandi Lam, MD, MBA, and Dave Clarke, MD The Dell Children’s Comprehensive Pediatric Epilepsy Center in collaboration with the Lurie Children’s Epilepsy Center presented the second annual Innovative Minds: Pediatric Research in Epilepsy Surgery (IMPRES) Conference on the Northwestern University campus in downtown Chicago, Illinois, from June 20–22. The conference kicked off on Friday evening with a reception cruise on Lake Michigan and featured two days of CME sessions, including a neurodiagnostic breakout session. The national IMPRES program focuses on evidence-based research in pediatric epilepsy surgery and highlights collaboration among pediatric epilepsy centers and programs. This year’s conference theme, improving access and health equity in epilepsy, featured prominently in each of the seven conference sessions and 25 presentations. Session topics included the anthropology and history of epilepsy, management of epilepsy, presurgical investigative studies, nontraditional surgical patients, surgical techniques, quality of life and psychosocial outcomes, and neurodiagnostics. Each session concluded with a moderated panel discussion and Q&A. IMPRES is an ongoing collaboration between Dell Children’s Medical Center and Lurie Children’s Hospital. This year’s conference organizers were Dell Children’s pediatric epilepsy chief Dave Clarke, MD, and Sandi Lam, MD, MBA, of Lurie Children’s and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “IMPRES 2025 was an inspiring gathering of innovative minds dedicated to advancing care for children with epilepsy and their families,” said Lam. “This unique interdisciplinary conference fostered remarkable collaboration among neurosurgeons, neurologists, neuropsychologists, social workers, researchers, advocates, and families. Together, we explored new frontiers in epilepsy care, neurosurgery, global health, and health equity to improve outcomes for children with epilepsy.” “Praise for this thought-provoking conference has been far-reaching,” said Clarke. “Planning is already underway for IMPRES 2026 here in Austin.”
June 4, 2025, Filed Under: carousel, NewsProgram Hosts Sixth Annual Practical Pediatric Neuroscience Symposium Pediatric neuroimmunologist Duriel Hardy, MD, speaking on pediatric multiple sclerosis Neurosurgery chief Elias Rizk, MD, PhD, presenting on pediatric neurosurgery for primary care providers Each spring our program hosts a practical pediatric neuroscience symposium designed to enhance knowledge of commonly encountered pediatric neurological conditions among general pediatric practitioners. The sixth annual symposium on May 17 featured presentations by nine pediatric neurosciences faculty members, with topics ranging from functional neurological disorders to updates in migraine treatment. Each interactive presentation provided techniques and evidence-based recommendations for diagnosis and management, including the roles of interprofessional teams in improving quality of life and treatment outcomes. The presentations are available to download and to watch online.
May 3, 2025, Filed Under: carousel, NewsRegister for the 6th Annual Practical Pediatric Neuroscience Symposium The sixth annual Practical Pediatric Neuroscience Symposium will be held this Saturday, May 17, at Dell Children’s with virtual access. The target audience is general pediatric practitioners who care for children with a wide range of neurological disorders. This free event will feature several interactive presentations by pediatric neurosciences faculty members on a broad range of topics. Each presentation will provide specific techniques and evidence-based recommendations for diagnosis and management. Register online now or scan the QR code below.
October 4, 2024, Filed Under: carousel, NewsWelcome, Dr. Kevin Kumar Join us in giving a warm Texas welcome to Kevin Kumar, MD, PhD, pediatric neurosurgeon and assistant professor of neurosurgery at Dell Med. Dr. Kumar specializes in the treatment of pediatric brain and spine tumors, vascular malformations, developmental anomalies, and epilepsy. Dr. Kumar graduated cum laude with distinction in research from Cornell University and received his MD and PhD from Vanderbilt University’s National Institutes of Health–funded Medical Scientist Training Program. His dissertation focused on investigating neuronal manganese regulation in Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease using high-throughput screening, induced pluripotent stem cells, and chemical biology approaches. He was a member of Aaron Bowman’s laboratory in the Vanderbilt Brain Institute. Dr. Kumar completed his neurosurgery residency at Stanford University, where he served as chief resident. He completed an NIH NINDS R25-funded research fellowship in the laboratory of Marius Wernig in the Stanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, where he developed a platform to replace microglia in the brain as a novel therapy for neurodevelopmental disorders. He completed his pediatric neurosurgery fellowship at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford. At Dell Med, Dr. Kumar launched his research laboratory to develop novel cellular-based therapeutics for pediatric neurological disorders. He has published over 35 peer-reviewed scientific articles and given over 30 presentations at national and international meetings. He has received multiple awards, including the Donald O. Quest Medical Student Basic Science Award by the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, the Elaine Sanders-Bush Neuroscience Research Prize from the Vanderbilt Brain Institute, the John G. Coniglio Prize in Biochemistry from Vanderbilt University, the Edwin Boldrey Young Investigator Award from the San Francisco Neurological Society, the Philip L. Gildenberg Resident Award from the AANS, and the Resident Basic Science Research Award from Stanford University. He is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, the American Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, the North American Neuromodulation Society, and the Society for Neuroscience. Welcome to Austin, Dr. Kumar!
August 29, 2024, Filed Under: carousel, News16 Faculty Members Receive 2024 Dell Med Teaching Awards Rosario DeLeon, PhD Congratulations to our very own Rosario DeLeon, PhD, pediatric neuropsychologist and assistant professor of neurology, for winning this year’s Susan M. Cox, M.D. Academy Teaching Health Equity Award! This award recognizes Dell Med faculty members who have excelled in teaching about health equity. Additionally, many of our pediatric neuroscience faculty members received a GME Clinical Learning Environment Award from Dell Med. These 15 individuals received near-perfect (4.9 or 5.0) cumulative resident teaching scores for the year based on their ability to create a positive environment for learning and the patient experience: Kristen Arredondo, MD Glendaliz Bosques, MD Cliff Calley, MD Sireesha Chinthaparthi, MD Stephen R. Deputy, MD Daniel Freedman, DO Duriel Hardy, MD Samantha Irwin, MSc, MB BCh BAO Kristina Jülich, MD Manikum Moodley, MD Sara Pavitt, MD Steve Roach, MD Ashley Stanley-Copeland, MD Vandana Vedanarayanan, MD Vettaikorumakankav “Veda” Vedanarayanan, MD Dell Med will honor these recipients in an awards ceremony on September 30, with a keynote address presented by Dean Claudia Lucchinetti, MD. Thank you for your outstanding contributions to medical education!
May 4, 2024, Filed Under: carousel, NewsClarke Honored as Kozmetsky Family Endowed Chair Dave F. Clarke, MD Dave F. Clarke, MD, is the inaugural recipient of the Kozmetsky Family Endowed Chair in Pediatric Epilepsy in recognition of his years of leadership, service, and research in the field of epilepsy. The position is funded by the Kozmetsky Family Foundation, a philanthropic investor whose trustees established it after their son benefited directly from Dr. Clarke’s care. This is the first endowed chair within our program. Dr. Clarke was honored with a dinner awards ceremony on April 4 in downtown Austin. Read the official announcement.
April 13, 2024, Filed Under: carousel, NewsRegister for the 5th Annual Practical Pediatric Neuroscience Symposium Saturday, May 18, 20248:30 a.m – 2:50 p.m. CT (check-in at 8 a.m.)Dell Children’s Medical CenterSigne Auditorium4900 Mueller Blvd.Austin, TX 78723 UT Health Austin Pediatric Neurosciences at Dell Children’s invites you to the 5th Annual Practical Pediatric Neuroscience Symposium. Designed for general pediatric practitioners, this event will feature interactive presentations by our faculty members, with topics ranging from concussion to emerging gene therapies for neuromuscular disease. Each presentation will provide specific techniques and evidence-based recommendations for diagnosis and management of neurological conditions commonly encountered by the general pediatrician. Registration is available for in-person or virtual attendance. Information on continuing medical education credits, conflicts of interest, and all other event details are available on the registration site. Agenda Topics How Do We Serve the Less Well Served? Epilepsy Outreach, Dave Clarke, MDInfantile Spasms: Recognition and Management Updates, Kristen Arredondo, MDPediatric Neurosurgery for the General Practitioner, Elizabeth Tyler-Kabara, MD, PhDMigraine in the Pediatric Population: Emerging Treatment, Sara Pavitt, MDPrematurity: Neurodevelopmental Outcomes and Management, Leah Ferrante, MDIdentifying Psychotherapy Needs for Children with Neurological Disorders, Lindsey Elliott, PhDClinical Pearl: When Flintstones Aren’t Enough, Emily Ramirez, DOClinical Pearl: Late-Onset Dyslexia?, E. Steve Roach, MDPediatric Concussion, Cynthia Austin, PhDIntroduction to Adaptive Sports, Faheem Mahomed, MDDoes My Patient Have Neuromuscular Disease?, Vettaikorumakankav “Veda” Vedanarayanan, MD
March 2, 2024, Filed Under: carousel, NewsPediatric Neurosciences Hosts First Annual IMPRES Conference IMPRES panel discussion moderated by Dave Clarke, MD, with panelists (L to R) Ahmed Abdelmoity, MD, Priscilla Duong, PhD, and Sandi Lam, MD, MB The Comprehensive Pediatric Epilepsy Center, in collaboration with Lurie Children’s Hospital and Corewell Health, presented the first Innovative Minds: Pediatric Research in Epilepsy Surgery (IMPRES) Conference held February 16-18 at the Hotel Van Zandt in downtown Austin. The IMPRES program focused on evidence-based research on pediatric epilepsy surgery and highlighted collaboration between pediatric epilepsy centers and programs. The national conference featured six sessions and 25 presentations on topics including the process of identifying surgical patients, surgical techniques, medical and dietary management, and adult transition. Each session concluded with moderated panel discussions. Rick Boop, MD, emeritus chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, former chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and a member of the St. Jude Global Program, delivered the keynote lecture on the history of epilepsy surgery. This year’s conference organizers were pediatric neurosciences faculty members Dave Clarke, MD, and Elizabeth Tyler-Kabara, MD, PhD; Sandi Lam, MD, MBA, of Lurie Children’s Hospital and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine; and Daniel Arndt, MD, of Corewell Health. Planning is now underway for the second IMPRES conference. M. Omar Iqbal, MD, Rick Boop, MD, and Sandi Lam, MD, MBA, at an IMPRES reception
