May 18, 2026, Filed Under: carousel, Lead Story, NewsKumar Recognized as Austin Under 40’s Medicine & Healthcare Winner Join us in congratulating pediatric neurosurgeon Kevin Kumar, MD, PhD, the 2026 Medicine & Healthcare winner for Austin Under 40. Kumar joined the faculty of Dell Medical School as an assistant professor of neurosurgery in 2024 after completing his MD and PhD at Vanderbilt University’s National Institutes of Health-funded Medical Scientist Training Program, his residency in neurological surgery at Stanford University, and his pediatric neurosurgery fellowship at Stanford. His research lab at UT Austin is dedicated to advancing the field of pediatric neurosurgery, with a primary focus on brain tumor research and development of cellular therapeutics. He was awarded a K12 in Clinical & Translational Science in 2025 and was recently appointed surgical director of Pediatric Neuro-Oncology at Dell Children’s.
January 6, 2026, Filed Under: carousel, NewsRegistration Open: Third Annual IMPRES Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Conference The Dell Children’s Comprehensive Pediatric Epilepsy Center is hosting its third Innovative Minds: Pediatric Research in Epilepsy Surgery (IMPRES) Conference in collaboration with the Lurie Children’s Epilepsy Center from Friday, June 26, to Sunday, June 28, 2026, at Hotel Van Zandt in downtown Austin. Register now by scanning or clicking on the QR code below. For additional information, visit the event website or email dcmcepilepsy@ascension.org. Featured Speakers Keynote Speaker: Carter Snead III, MD, Professor Emeritus, University of Toronto; Scientist Emeritus, SickKidsDave Clarke, MD, Dell Children’s Medical CenterJim Riviello, MD, Texas Children’s HospitalZachary Grinspan, MD, MS, NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical CenterAhmed Abdelmoity, MD, Children’s MercyBernice Martin Lee, CEO, Epilepsy Foundation of AmericaIlene Miller, Director, Rare Epilepsy NetworkM. Omar Iqbal, MD, Dell Children’s Medical CenterRosalia Costello, PsyD, Dell Children’s Medical CenterHoward Weiner, MD, Texas Children’s HospitalMonika Jones, JD, CNP, Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery AllianceRana Said, MD, Children’s Health/UT SouthwesternDaniel Arndt, MD, Specialists in Pediatric Neurology PLLCSteven Wolf, MD, Boston Children’s Health PhysiciansDaniel Freedman, DO, Dell Children’s Medical CenterJorge A. Vidaurre, MD, Nationwide Children’sRosario DeLeon, PhD, Dell Children’s Medical CenterElysa Widjaja, MD, Lurie Children’sLiberty Hamilton, PhD, University of California, BerkeleyGabrielle Conecker, MPH, SCN8A Alliance, DEE-P Connections, and The Inchstone ProjectAlison Kukla, MPH, CURE EpilepsySandi K. Lam, MD, MBA, Lurie Children’sSookyong Koh, MD, Children’s NebraskaRaheel Ahmed, MD, PhD, University of Wisconsin–MadisonJorge Gonzalez-Martinez, MD, PhD, University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterDhruve Jeevan, MD, Dell Children’s Medical CenterChelsey B. Ortman, MD, Dell Children’s Medical CenterKaren Evankovich, PhD, Dell Children’s Medical CenterJanet Wilson, APRN, CPNP-PC, Dell Children’s Medical CenterAllie Melendez-Zaidi, MD, PhD, El Paso Children’s HospitalEmily Ramirez, DO, Dell Children’s Medical Center
December 2, 2025, Filed Under: carousel, NewsBiobank Collection Advances Pediatric Neurological Research Despite decades of research, our understanding of the pathophysiology of many central and peripheral nervous diseases and disorders remains limited. Analysis of histology, biomarkers, and genetic markers is needed to enhance our understanding of the mechanisms of neurological-related diseases. Furthermore, cell lines derived from these diseased tissues are needed to create animal models and other in vitro testing. The Neurosurgery Biobank at Dell Medical School is a repository of biological specimens collected from adult and pediatric patients undergoing neurosurgical procedures at Dell Children’s Medical Center, Dell Seton Medical Center at The University of Texas, and Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin. The biobank allows researchers to better understand the biochemical, genetic, and biomechanical mechanisms behind neurological diseases and paves the way for innovative genetic treatments and breakthroughs. This is particularly important for children, who are often underrepresented in research and therapeutic innovation for many of these conditions. Led by Vincent Wang, MD, PhD, of the Department of Neurosurgery with contributions by pediatric neurosurgeon Kevin Kumar, MD, PhD, the biobank has received thousands of samples from more than 200 patients, primarily consisting of various central nervous system tumor specimens. The specimens, including tissues used to generate tumor cell lines, are processed and stored in the Department of Neurosurgery. “The biobank highlights our commitment to advancing research and improving patient care,” said Pierrick Millet, MD, biobank senior research program coordinator who works in the Kumar lab at UT Austin. “Its growth will allow us to contribute to the scientific community and further solidify Dell Medical School as a leader in this field.”
November 27, 2025, Filed Under: carousel, NewsPavitt Appears as Guest on WebMD Podcast Sara Pavitt, MD, chief of our pediatric headache program and co-director of the pediatric neurosciences program, was the guest on WebMD Health Discovered Podcast on November 26. Pavitt was interviewed by Neha Pathak, MD, WebMD’s Chief Physician Editor for Health and Lifestyle Medicine, on how to recognize the signs and symptoms of migraine in children, when to seek medical attention, and how to manage chronic and acute migraine. Listen to the episode, “Headaches or Something More? Understanding Childhood Migraine.”
November 18, 2025, Filed Under: carousel, NewsKumar Awarded Research Grants to Study Pediatric Brain Tumors Gliomas are the most common type of pediatric brain tumor, and median survival for children with high-grade gliomas is only one to two years. Due to the paucity of research on pediatric gliomas, most therapies are based on adults and have limited efficacy. Recent studies of pediatric microglia have demonstrated the critical role these resident immune cells of the central nervous system play in tumor growth and progression and have prompted research into microglia replacement as a promising therapeutic for patients with gliomas. Pediatric neurosurgeon Kevin Kumar, MD, PhD, who joined the Dell Medical School faculty as an assistant professor of neurosurgery in 2024, is pioneering innovative microglia replacement protocols to deliver therapeutics designed to limit tumor progression, thereby reducing the adverse effects of more traditional therapies such as radiation and improving outcomes for children. Kumar recently received a K12 award from the National Institutes of Health to study this novel therapeutic approach for pediatric gliomas. The award will help to launch his independent research career under the guidance of his senior mentoring team: Kimberly Nixon, PhD, professor of pharmacology and toxicology; Amy Brock, PhD, associate professor of biomedical engineering; Tom Yankeelov, PhD, director of the Center for Computational Oncology and director of cancer imaging research within the Livestrong Cancer Institutes; and Marius Wernig, MD, PhD, professor of pathology and chemical and systems biology at Stanford University. Additionally, Kumar will receive funds for ongoing professional development and will be supported for a third year by the Department of Neurosurgery. Kumar also received a 2025–27 Dell Medical School Health Transformation Research Institute and Cain Foundation Award of $175,000 to develop predictive modeling of neurocognitive outcomes in pediatric brain tumor patients. Kumar and co-awardee Sage Green, DO, a pediatric neuro-oncologist at Dell Children’s Medical Center, will collaborate with Paul Rathouz, PhD, professor of population health and founding director of Dell Medical School’s Biomedical Data Science Hub, and Rachel Bridges, PhD, pediatric neuropsychologist and assistant professor of neurology who specializes in evaluating children with brain and spinal cancers. Kumar’s mission to provide new hope to these medically complex children would not be possible without the commitment and expertise of his Austin colleagues. “By leveraging the incredible resources at The University of Texas at Austin and Dell Children’s Medical Center, we can integrate basic science research and clinical expertise to develop novel approaches to pediatric brain tumors,” said Kumar. “This unique collaborative environment enables us to ask important scientific questions that could improve patient care.”
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.
