Clinical Divisions >
CHILD NEUROLOGY

The Division of Child Neurology is dedicated to treating children with neurological disorders – both developmental and acquired neurological diseases. Vanderbilt’s child neurologists are an integral part of both the Pediatric and Neurology departments. Faculty members are actively engaged in research and the application of new knowledge to children’s health issues. In fulfilling their obligation to children and families, the faculty interacts with school systems and public health organizations.

Vanderbilt’s child neurologists and trainees work in the new Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt – an 8-story, 616,785-square-foot hospital designed specifically for the needs of children. With all private rooms, family sleeping areas, multiple playrooms, a food court, and various other child- and family-friendly elements, the hospital is built with the understanding that children are not small adults and require a different kind of care. To learn more about the new hospital, visit www.vanderbiltchildrens.com.

Along with caring for the special needs of children, the Vanderbilt Child Neurology faculty is actively seeking better ways to manage neurological disorders. The Division of Child Neurology is dedicated to research in disorders of the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and muscles, as well as toward training the next generation of child neurologists.

Faculty

All faculty members are jointly appointed in the Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics.

Gregory N. Barnes, M.D., Ph.D., at Vanderbilt since 2004, specializes in epilepsy.

Ramon F. Cuevas, M.D., on the faculty since 2005, specializes in sleep disorders.

Gerald M. Fenichel, M.D., the Division Director and Neurologist-in-Chief at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, started the Division in 1969 and specializes in neuromuscular diseases.

Robert R. Holcomb, M.D., Ph.D., has more than 30 years of experience in Pediatrics and his laboratory interest is in pain management.

Anthony W. Kilroy, M.D., at Vanderbilt since 1969, specializes in electromyography and his clinical interests include metabolic degenerative disorders, epilepsy, headache, and seizures.

Eric Pina-Garza, M.D., who came to Vanderbilt in 1991 from the University of Texas, leads clinical trials in drug treatments for epilepsy and headaches, and has special expertise in ADHD.

Care
Vanderbilt pediatric neurologists care for children with neurological disorders. Consultation is commonly provided for children with migraine and other headache patterns, epilepsy, developmental disorders, cerebral palsy, movement disorders, and muscular dystrophies. The neurology group interacts with other pediatric specialists in the care of metabolic and degenerative disorders, learning disabilities, attention deficit disorders, and disturbances of balance, gait, and coordination. The Pediatric Neurology Clinic will move into the new Outpatient Tower of the Monroe Carell, Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt in 2005.

Headache
Parents are accustomed to taking their children to several physicians, from eye specialists to allergy doctors, before finding effective headache treatment. Proper diagnosis is often delayed and children given unnecessary treatments. Migraine headaches are as common in children as in adults, and the Monroe Carell, Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt is one of few places where children with recurring headaches can be diagnosed quickly and treated comprehensively. Other common headaches of childhood are caused by caffeine, over-use of common analgesics, stress, and increased pressure in the brain.

Epilepsy
Dr. Pina-Garza is currently leading an international pharmaceutical study on epilepsy. This study mainly involves drugs that are currently used in adults but not approved for use in children. The pediatric neurology clinic is the only regional facility that provides a complete spectrum of treatment options: drugs, vagal nerve stimulator, ketogenic diet, and surgery. For more information about epilepsy, visit the American Epilepsy Society's Web page at www.aesnet.org.

Neuromuscular Disorders
The neuromuscular clinic is sponsored by the Muscular Dystrophy Association and provides comprehensive care for children with muscular dystrophy, myasthenia gravis, peripheral neuropathies, and spinal muscular atrophies. Clinic staffing includes physician specialists, physical therapists, speech therapists, nutritionists, and equipment specialists.

Education
As the only comprehensive child neurology clinical and research practice in the region, Vanderbilt medical students and residents have the opportunity to care for, and learn from, the full spectrum of disorders encountered in pediatric neurology. The Division is accredited to provide training that satisfies the requirements of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology for certification in Neurology with special competence in Child Neurology.