May 29, 2026, Filed Under: NewsBosques and Jülich Promoted Congratulations to our faculty members on their new positions! Effective August 15, the promotions recognize their continuing contributions to Dell Medical School’s broad commitment to exceptional patient care, education, discovery, and service. Glendaliz Bosques, MD, Professor, Department of Neurology Kristina Jülich, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Neurology
May 26, 2026, Filed Under: carousel, Lead Story, NewsProgram Hosts Seventh Annual Practical Pediatric Neuroscience Symposium Lori Xu, MD, presenting on pediatric stroke updates Cindy Hernandez, MD, MS, discussing down syndrome regression disorder Each spring, our program hosts a practical pediatric neuroscience symposium aimed at enhancing general pediatric practitioners’ understanding of pediatric neurological conditions. The seventh annual symposium on May 2 featured presentations from 11 faculty members on topics ranging from pediatric migraine updates to CNS infections associated with vaccine-preventable diseases. Each interactive session offered practical techniques and evidence-based guidance for diagnosis and management, with an emphasis on the role of interprofessional teams in improving patient outcomes and quality of life. This full-day, CE annual event is free and open to anyone who registers. Recorded presentations and slides are posted in the weeks following the symposium.
May 20, 2026, Filed Under: carousel, NewsNeuro-Oncology Program Hosts First Annual Family Night Pediatric neurosurgeons Omar Iqbal, MD (L) and Elias Rizk, MD, PhD (R) with neuro-oncology colleagues at Thinkery In support of Brain Tumor Awareness Month, the Dell Children’s neuro-oncology team, including Dell Medical School neurosurgery faculty members Omar Iqbal, MD, and Elias Rizk, MD, PhD, welcomed patients and families to the first annual Neuro-Oncology Family Night on May 9 at Thinkery, an educational children’s museum in Austin. Families enjoyed an evening of hands-on exhibits, creative play, shared meals, and time together outside the hospital. This event was just one way our growing neuro-oncology program is building a supportive community for children and families facing incredibly difficult diagnoses. A heartfelt thank-you to everyone who helped make the evening possible—your dedication and compassion are making a lasting difference for our patient families every day.
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. Dr. 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 and Translational Science from the National Institutes of Health in 2025 and was recently appointed surgical director of Pediatric Neuro-Oncology at Dell Children’s.
May 16, 2026, Filed Under: News5 Faculty Members Named Texas Super Doctors Glendaliz Bosques, MD Jane Edmond, MD Leah Ferrante, MD Daniel Freedman, DO Louisa Keith, MD Five pediatric neuroscience faculty members—Glendaliz Bosques, MD (pediatric rehabilitation), Jane Edmond, MD (pediatric neuro-ophthalmology), Leah Ferrante, MD (fetal & neonatal neurology), Daniel Freedman, DO (epilepsy and functional disorders), and Louisa Keith, MD (general neurology, NICU and cardiac follow-up)—have been named Texas Monthly magazine’s 2026 Texas Super Doctors, a distinction awarded to physicians who have earned a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Selected through a rigorous nomination and evaluation process, Texas Super Doctors represent approximately 5 percent of physicians across the state who are recognized by their colleagues for excellence in patient care, clinical expertise, research, leadership, and service. Ferrante, Freedman, and Keith were also named Super Doctors Rising Stars, which represent less than 3 percent of Texas physicians. This honor reflects the outstanding contributions of these five faculty members and underscores their commitment to advancing health care and improving outcomes for patients in Texas and beyond.
May 8, 2026, Filed Under: carousel, Lead Story, NewsHardy Receives Dell Children’s Trust Grant Duriel Hardy, MD, at the annual Dell Children’s Trust dinner Assistant neurology professor and pediatric neuroimmunologist Duriel Hardy, MD, was recently awarded a 2026 Dell Children’s Trust grant focused on improving the transition of care for patients with neuroimmune disorders. Dr. Hardy, one of five finalists selected to present at the Trust’s annual dinner in April, established the Dell Children’s neuroimmunology transition of care program and will use the grant funding to expand the program and support related research. This includes ongoing work examining transition-of-care readiness among youth, building on findings published earlier this year in the Journal of Child Neurology. Dell Children’s Trust is a collective of advocates and philanthropic ambassadors who have funded more than $5.4 million in grants supporting over 120 hospital initiatives, touching the lives of millions of children and families throughout Texas.
May 1, 2026, Filed Under: carousel, Lead Story, NewsWelcome, Serena! Serena G. Garcia, PA-C, is a physician assistant in our pediatric neurosurgery program. She received her Master of Arts in biomedical science from Midwestern University Arizona College of Graduate Studies in Glendale, Arizona, and her Master of Science in physician assistant studies from A.T. Still University in Mesa, Arizona. She completed her neurosurgery physician assistant fellowship at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona, where she was an instructor in neurosurgery. Serena enjoys building relationships with her patient families and providing clear patient education, particularly during such a vulnerable time of life.
April 15, 2026, Filed Under: NewsTuberous Sclerosis Clinic Designated Center of Excellence The Tuberous Sclerosis Clinic at UT Health Austin Pediatric Neurosciences at Dell Children’s has officially been recognized as a Center of Excellence by the TSC Alliance. The clinic is one of only three pediatric centers in Texas and the only pediatric center in Central Texas to hold this designation.Earning this distinction highlights the strength of our multidisciplinary approach and our commitment to advancing care for patients with tuberous sclerosis complex. This is an incredible milestone. Congratulations to the entire TSC team on this outstanding achievement!
April 2, 2026, Filed Under: NewsRegister for the 7th Annual Practical Pediatric Neuroscience Symposium UT Health Austin Pediatric Neurosciences at Dell Children’s invites you to the 7th Annual Practical Pediatric Neuroscience Symposium. Designed for pediatricians and other practitioners involved in the care of children, this event will feature interactive presentations by several of our faculty members. Each presentation will provide specific techniques and evidence-based recommendations for diagnosis and management of neurological conditions commonly encountered by the general pediatrician. Registration for this hybrid CME event (in-person or virtual attendance) is free. Register here or scan the code below.
March 24, 2026, Filed Under: NewsPavitt Appointed Chief of Pediatric Neurology Sara Pavitt, MD Join us in congratulating Sara Pavitt, MD, who has been appointed Chief of Pediatric Neurology. Dr. Pavitt will provide strategic and operational leadership for the pediatric neurology service, working closely with pediatric neuroscience co-chiefs Drs. Steve Roach and Elias Rizk to advance clinical excellence, research growth, faculty development, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Dr. Pavitt joined the Dell Medical School Department of Neurology faculty in 2021 after graduating from Chicago Medical School and completing a residency in child neurology at Stanford University and a fellowship in pediatric headache at The University of California, San Francisco. Over the past five years, she has served as Associate Chief of Pediatric Neurology, built a nationally recognized pediatric headache program and fellowship, expanded our program’s clinical trials portfolio, advanced educational innovation, and created a thriving wellness program for the pediatric neurosciences faculty and staff. Dr. Pavitt is the recipient of a Dell Children’s Excellence in Teaching Award and a Dell Med GME Clinical Learning Environment Award. She was named 2025 Clinician of the Year in the category of pediatric leadership by Ascension Medical Group and was elected to the Dell Children’s Pediatric Leadership Board in July 2025.
