February 13, 2025, Filed Under: NewsJoin Us for the Sixth Annual Practical Pediatric Neuroscience Symposium Save the date! The sixth annual Practical Pediatric Neuroscience Symposium will be held on 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 faculty members of the pediatric neurosciences program on a broad range of topics. Each presentation will provide specific techniques and evidence-based recommendations for diagnosis and management. Details on registration and CME forthcoming.
February 13, 2025, Filed Under: NewsRegister for the 2nd Annual Innovative Minds: Pediatric Research in Epilepsy Surgery (IMPRES) Conference The Lurie Children’s Epilepsy Center in collaboration with the Dell Children’s Comprehensive Pediatric Epilepsy Center present the second annual IMPRES: Improving Access & Health Equity in Epilepsy. The conference will take place June 20-22, on the campus of Northwestern University in downtown Chicago, Illinois. IMPRES is designed to provide evidence-based research on pediatric epilepsy surgery as well as highlight collaboration between pediatric epilepsy centers and programs. Workup and process of identifying surgical patients will be discussed, including medical and dietary management. Register now!
February 8, 2025, Filed Under: NewsFerrante & Ortman Selected to Editorial Board of Seminars in Pediatric Neurology Leah Ferrante, MD, assistant professor of neurology and co-director of the Dell Children’s neuro-neonatal intensive care unit program, and Chelsey Ortman, MD, assistant professor of neurology, were recently appointed to the editorial board of Seminars in Pediatric Neurology. Ferrante and Ortman guest edited the journal’s October 2024 and December 2024 issues, both on neurocutaneous syndromes in the pediatric population. Congratulations, Drs. Ferrante and Ortman!
February 5, 2025, Filed Under: NewsWelcome, Dr. Karen Evankovich We are pleased to welcome Karen D. Evankovich, PhD, a clinical associate professor of neurology and a pediatric neuropsychologist, to our program. Her research interests include the cognitive and psychosocial effects of pediatric epilepsy as well as the cognitive and psychosocial difficulties in children and adolescents with demyelinating disorders and the relationships of these issues to disease-related factors. Dr. Evankovich joins us from Houston, Texas, where she was the clinical program director of pediatric neuropsychology at Texas Children’s Hospital and an associate professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Stanford University followed by her master’s in clinical psychology and PhD in clinical neuropsychology from the University of Houston. She completed both her internship in clinical child psychology and postdoctoral fellowship in pediatric neuropsychology at Yale University School of Medicine. Dr. Evankovich is a member of the American Psychological Association, the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology, and the International Neuropsychological Society.
February 3, 2025, Filed Under: NewsElias Rizk Appointed Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery and Co-Chief of Pediatric Neurosciences Elias Rizk, MD, PhD, MSc 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.”
January 31, 2025, Filed Under: NewsFerrante Featured in Austin American-Statesman for Neuro-NICU Care Leah Ferrante, MD, was featured in an Austin American-Statesman article on a newborn who was treated for multiple strokes and seizures in the neuro-NICU, one of the only multidisciplinary, subspecialty neuro-NICU programs in the country. “It’s phenomenal,” said Dr. Ferrante of the baby’s current development. “Not only does he look typical, he’s actually developmentally advanced.” Read the full story.
January 30, 2025, Filed Under: NewsNeuropsychology Fellow & Faculty Examine Contribution of Preinjury Factors to Course of Concussion in Adolescents Laura Winstone-Weide, PhD Kelly Gettig, DNP, APRN Cynthia Austin, PhD, ABPP The concussion literature has increasingly shown that preinjury factors influence the course of concussion recovery. In a recent Annals of the Child Neurology Society article, neuropsychology fellow Laura Winstone-Weide, PhD, with colleagues Kelly Gettig, DNP, APRN, and Cynthia Austin, PhD, ABPP, used structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine the contribution of preinjury factors, baseline symptoms, and first-visit symptoms to the time required to return to baseline following injury. SEM is an advanced statistical technique that allows simultaneous consideration of multiple variables as well as mediation analysis to test direct and indirect effects. The study analyzed prospectively collected data from 642 adolescents who were assessed in the Dell Children’s concussion clinic. Preinjury variables included a history of headache, anxiety, depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, learning disability, previous concussions, and female gender. A particular strength of the study was the diversity in patient ethnicity (54% Hispanic), insurance status (41% Medicaid), and mechanism of injury (54% sports-related concussion), facilitating broader generalization across adolescent concussion populations. Preinjury headaches, depression, and anxiety had the strongest direct effects on baseline symptoms. Adolescents with preinjury depression and/or anxiety took an average of four to six additional days to clearance for high-risk activities. Notably, a history of prior concussions or learning disability did not influence symptom reporting or recovery when considered simultaneously with other risk factors. The study emphasizes the unique, additive effects of preinjury factors on symptom reporting and concussion recovery. The authors concluded that preinjury risk factors should be viewed as a constellation, with particular attention to mental health factors in concussion management. The Traumatic Brain Injury and Concussion Program at Dell Children’s Medical Center was established in 2018 and has evaluated over 2,000 patients. Its complex concussion clinic focuses on children and adolescents with risk factors for prolonged recovery time. In addition to collecting data to support evidence-based guidance on concussion management and recovery expectations, clinic staff members provide annual concussion management education to hundreds of school nurses, athletic trainers, and coaches. Their work recently led to modification of the Texas High School Coaches Association’s required return-to-play education to include active rehabilitation. Winstone-Weide LK, Gettig K, Austin CA. Postconcussive symptom severity, risk factors for prolonged recovery, and mental health history: pathways of influence in a diverse pediatric sample. Ann Child Neurol Soc. 2024;2:281-289, doi.org/10.1002/cns3.20094.
January 14, 2025, Filed Under: NewsCerebral Palsy Clinic Co-Hosts First Annual Symposium Symposium presenters Glendaliz Bosques, MD, John Heydemann, MD, and Elizabeth Tyler-Kabara, MD, PhD On January 11, the Dell Children’s Comprehensive Cerebral Palsy Clinic co-hosted the first annual Pediatric Cerebral Palsy Symposium with Central Texas Pediatric Orthopedics. Held at Dell Children’s, the half-day conference educated community therapists on the treatment and management of spasticity, dystonia, and movement disorders across the continuum of care. Dell Med faculty presentations included “Surgical Management of Movement Disorders” by pediatric neurosurgeon Elizabeth Tyler-Kabara, MD, PhD, and “Cerebral Palsy Mimickers” by pediatric rehabilitation medicine chief Glendaliz Bosques, MD. “The inaugural symposium marked a significant step toward enhancing care for children and youth with cerebral palsy in Austin and the surrounding areas,” said Bosques. “Our goal is to make this a recurring event—creating a platform for continuous learning and partnership, ensuring we can provide the best possible care for the children and families we serve. Together, we can grow, learn, and make a lasting impact.” Glendaliz Bosques, MD “This was a fantastic opportunity to engage with our community occupational and physical therapists who care for our patients with CP,” said Dell Children’s Pediatric Rehabilitation Center therapy program manager Catherine Harrison, PT, DPT. “This course allowed for open communication and collaboration between our medical providers and our community partners. It highlighted the medical pathway and procedures a lot of these children will undergo while under the care of their community therapists.” Catherine Harrison, PT, DPT, moderating the Q&A panel discussion “Together, we can grow, learn, and make a lasting impact.” —Glendaliz Bosques, MD
January 7, 2025, Filed Under: News12 Faculty Members Named Austin Monthly’s Top Doctors of 2025 Twelve of our pediatric neuroscience physicians were recently recognized among Austin Monthly’s Top Doctors. Each year the magazine asks area physicians to nominate up to three physicians in their field whom they would trust to care for their own family. The top-rated physicians from over 50 medical fields are then verified to be in good standing with the appropriate medical boards. Congratulations to these 12 physicians and all our doctors for exemplifying the highest standards of care. Kristen Arredondo, MD, Pediatric epilepsy Glendaliz Bosques, MD, Pediatric rehabilitation Dave Clarke, MD, Pediatric epilepsy Jane Edmond, MD, Pediatric neuro-ophthalmology Daniel Freedman, DO, Epilepsy and functional disorders M. Omar Iqbal, MD, Pediatric neurosurgery Louisa Keith, MD, General neurology, NICU and cardiac follow-up Faheem Mahomed, MD, Pediatric rehabilitation Sara Pavitt, MD, Headache in children E. Steve Roach, MD, Genetic disorders, stroke Elizabeth Tyler-Kabara, MD, PhD, Pediatric neurosurgery Veda Vedanarayanan, MD, Neuromuscular disorders
December 4, 2024, Filed Under: NewsRoach Interviewed by Neurology Today on Infantile Epileptic Spasm Therapy E. Steve Roach, MD, was interviewed for a recent Neurology Today article about a study comparing vigabatrin and ACTH as second-line therapy for infantile epileptic spasms. Read the article.
