August 25, 2022, Filed Under: NewsResident Graduates Highlight the Importance of Early Vitamin Replacement Freddie Joseph, MD Congratulations to recent child neurology resident graduates Freddie Joseph, MD, and Damian Campbell, MD, for their Pediatrics in Review article published on August 1, 2022. Joseph and Campbell described a family with hereditary vitamin B12 deficiency. The nine-year-old proband developed progressive ataxia, leg weakness, learning difficulty, and fatigue. Prior to referral he was incorrectly diagnosed with Friedreich ataxia based in part on peripheral nerve conduction velocities and electromyography findings of a sensorimotor axonal neuropathy. However, gene testing did not confirm the diagnosis, and his fatigue, cognitive symptoms, and rapid progression would be atypical of Friedreich ataxia. Discovery of a macrocytic anemia led to the diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency, and genetic testing identified a mutation of the CUBN gene, one of two genes responsible for the cobalamin-intrinsic factor receptor complex in the terminal ileum. Two asymptomatic younger siblings were also affected. All three children began monthly vitamin B12 injections. The proband improved dramatically, but his symptoms did not completely resolve, while his brothers remain asymptomatic. The important lesson is that early treatment of vitamin deficiencies usually prevents permanent neurological impairment, while delayed treatment may not. Pediatrics in Review is an educational journal published by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Joseph FD, Campbell DR, Cohn S, Roach ES. A child with falls, fatigue, and dementia. Pediatr Rev 2022;43:466-468.
August 9, 2022, Filed Under: NewsPediatric Rehab Program Dedicates Panda Cares Center of Hope Glendaliz Bosques, MD, at the ribbon-cutting ceremony On August 8, 2022, the pediatric neurosciences team celebrated the dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Dell Children’s Panda Cares Center of Hope. The pediatric inpatient physical medicine and rehabilitation program received a $3 million pledge from Panda Cares Center of Hope, a collaboration between Panda Express and Children’s Miracle Network that uses Panda Express employee and customer donations to fund specialized hospital spaces and programs designed to address each child’s overall well-being. “Rehab is a place where Dell Children’s patients work to be as independent as possible while reaching their full potential physically, cognitively, and socially,” said Deb Brown, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Dell Children’s. “We are honored that Panda Express is now creating a legacy of giving through Panda Cares Center of Hope.” “I speak for our entire rehab team when I express our gratitude for the Panda Cares Center of Hope in Dell Children’s inpatient rehab program,” said Glendaliz Bosques, MD, Chief of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine. “We share our sincere thanks.” PM&R program coordinator Regina Sorkin, BSN, RN, and Glendaliz Bosques, MD, accepting the Panda Cares check
July 30, 2022, Filed Under: NewsWiNterns Complete 2022 Summer Intensive Dr. Tyler-Kabara with WiNtern Nerisha Pillay preparing to observe stereotactic placement of EEG leads for epilepsy monitoring This summer, 18 interns completed the fifth annual Women in Neuroscience (WiN) Summer Intensive internship program, supported by The University of Texas at Austin Department of Neuroscience and the Department of Neurology at Dell Medical School. The “WiNterns” gave their Final Presentations of Learning on July 27 and July 28 in several focus areas of neuroscience and attended an awards ceremony on July 29. WiN’s eight-week paid internship encourages high school seniors and college women from historically underrepresented backgrounds to pursue careers in neuroscience and neurology. WiNterns from Huston-Tillotson University, Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders, and the UT Austin College of Natural Sciences partner with faculty mentors, attend daily seminars to build professional development skills, gain clinical and lab experience, and present their research at the conclusion of the program. They also receive ongoing mentorship. “This internship made me feel like I had a community,” said WiNtern Aundrea Hodges. “I had people to talk to, people that had the same experience as me. Relatability is important.” Pediatric neuroscience faculty mentors this year included Dr. Audrey Brumback (autism and epilepsy), Dr. Elizabeth Tyler-Kabara (pediatric neurosurgery), and Dr. Dave Clarke (pediatric epilepsy). Dr. Steve Roach taught a half-day course on biomedical writing. “I don’t think I could have done research to this extent during the summer without this program,” said WiNtern Priya Mahbleshwarkar. “I’m just so thankful.”
July 27, 2022, Filed Under: NewsPediatric Neurosciences Program Ranked by U.S. News After just three years since the program’s founding, UT Health Austin Pediatric Neurosciences at Dell Children’s was ranked among the top pediatric neurology and neurosurgery programs by U.S. News & World Report for 2022-23. “This recognition strengthens the reputation and reach of UT Health Austin Pediatric Neurosciences at Dell Children’s,” said Christopher Born, president of Dell Children’s Medical Center. “Dr. Steve Roach and Dr. Elizabeth Tyler-Kabara lead a neuroscience team that has become a top-tier medical center for pediatric neurology services in Central Texas and beyond.” “Dr. Steve Roach and Dr. Elizabeth Tyler-Kabara lead a neuroscience team that has become a top-tier medical center for pediatric neurology services in Central Texas and beyond.”— Christopher Born, president of Dell Children’s Medical Center The ranking represents an external validation of the steady improvement our team sees every day. More important, our improvement reflects our commitment to provide the best possible care for the children entrusted to us. Each team member has played a role in our development, so we are grateful to everyone for helping us reach this milestone.
July 27, 2022, Filed Under: NewsGettig Awarded Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree Kelly Gettig, APRN, MSN, CPNP-PC/AC Kelly Gettig, APRN, MSN, CPNP-PC/AC, successfully presented her Doctor of Nursing Practice project, “Program Evaluation of a New Initiative in an Interdisciplinary Pediatric Concussion Clinic: Active Rehabilitation Following Sports Concussion,” on July 26, 2022, and was awarded her DNP degree from Duquesne University School of Nursing. Gettig, Co-Director of the Pediatric Neurosciences Traumatic Brain Injury/Concussion Clinic and the lead nurse practitioner for Pediatric Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, also serves as a health professional specialist and an advance practice nurse in the Department of Neurology and as a clinical instructor for UT Austin’s Graduate School of Nursing. She is passionate about providing evidence-based clinical care to children in and out of the hospital setting and ensuring optimal outcomes for her patients. Congratulations, Kelly!
July 1, 2022, Filed Under: NewsPediatric Vascular Autonomic Lab Opens Q-Sweat measurement system in the newly opened lab. Tilt table in the lab. The Pediatric Neurosciences Program recently opened a vascular autonomic laboratory at Dell Children’s Medical Center. The lab offers tilt-table testing with simultaneous electroencephalography, video, electrocardiography, and quantitative sudomotor axon reflex testing (QSART) for evaluating children with suspected positional orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), syncope, pseudosyncope, and other autonomic disorders. It is one of only two pediatric autonomic labs in the Southwest. The laboratory is jointly overseen by Manikum Moodley, MD, who previously served as the director of the pediatric vascular autonomic lab at the Cleveland Clinic, and Veda Vedanarayanan, MD, who oversaw the Electromyography and Autonomic Laboratory at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
June 25, 2022, Filed Under: NewsHardy Named to the Editorial Board of Pediatric Neurology Duriel Hardy, MD Congratulations to Duriel Hardy, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology at Dell Medical School, who was recently appointed to the Editorial Board of Pediatric Neurology. “Dr. Hardy’s expertise in the neuroimmunologic conditions of children and young adults is exceptional,” said Yasmin Khakoo, MD, Editor-in-Chief of Pediatric Neurology. “I look forward to working with him as the newest member of our editorial board.” Hardy joined the Pediatric Neurosciences Program in 2021 after completing his pediatric neurology residency and a fellowship in pediatric neuro-immunology at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. “Dr. Hardy’s expertise in the neuroimmunologic conditions of children and young adults is exceptional. I look forward to working with him as the newest member of our editorial board.”—Yasmin Khakoo, MD, Editor-in-Chief of Pediatric Neurology
May 31, 2022, Filed Under: NewsPediatric Neurosciences Program Welcomes Several New Colleagues Welcome to our newest team members! Raynah Lobo, MS, LCGC, is a licensed certified genetic counselor in the Pediatric Neurosciences Program and in the Dell Medical School Department of Neurology. She received her master’s in genetic counseling from the University of Pittsburgh and her master’s in microbiology at The Institute of Science, Mumbai. Her clinical and research interests include inborn errors of metabolism, genetic epilepsies, and neurocutaneous disorders. She is certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling and is a member of the National Society of Genetic Counselors. Prior to joining our program, she served as a biochemical laboratory genetic counselor at Quest Diagnostics. Christina Roth is the editor of the Pediatric Neurosciences Program. Roth joins the program with 15 years of experience in editing books, journal articles, web content, and government documents. Previously, she was an editor for a dental marketing company and the production manager for a book publisher, where she worked on multiple New York Times Best Sellers and was instrumental in a Wiley acquisition of over 1,000 titles. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English from Lipscomb University. Yingchao Yuan is senior biostatistician in the Pediatric Neurosciences Program. Yuan received his Master of Arts in statistics at the University at Albany, SUNY. Before coming to Austin, he was a researcher for the New York State Department of Health and in data analytics for the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services. Stephen Deputy, MD, Professor of Neurology at Dell Medical School, focuses on Tourette syndrome, tics, and other movement disorders. He received his medical degree from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago and completed residency training in pediatric neurology at the University of California, San Francisco. Deputy joins the Dell Medical School faculty after several years at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, where he won numerous student and resident teaching awards.
May 25, 2022, Filed Under: NewsDeputy Named Section Editor of Pediatric Neurology Stephen Deputy, MD Stephen Deputy, MD, Professor of Neurology at Dell Medical School, has been appointed as a section editor of Pediatric Neurology, with expertise in pediatric movement disorders, neuroembryology, and medical education. Deputy joined the Dell Medical School faculty in early 2022 after several years at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. Congratulations, Dr. Deputy!
May 23, 2022, Filed Under: NewsDell Children’s Medical Center Hosts Third Annual Pediatric Neuroscience Symposium Pediatric practitioners care for children with a wide range of neurological disorders, but a lack of extensive training in these conditions can make managing and treating them challenging. The Practical Pediatric Neuroscience Symposium was created to enhance knowledge of common and uncommon pediatric neurological conditions, with the goal of helping providers improve care for children with these conditions. The third annual symposium, held on May 21, 2022, at Dell Children’s Medical Center, featured presentations by 10 Dell Medical School faculty members within the Pediatric Neurosciences Program. Topics ranged from primary care issues in neuromuscular disease to behavioral pain management for pediatric headache. Each interactive presentation provided specific techniques and evidence-based recommendations for diagnosis and management, including the roles of interprofessional teams in improving quality of life and treatment outcomes.
