Neurology

Pediatric neurology is the study of neurological conditions in neonates, infants, children and teens. A pediatric neurologist is a doctor who takes care of early brain health and treats children who have problems with their nervous system—the brain, spine, nerves and muscles—which can lead to problems like seizures, headaches or developmental delays in kids.

Pediatric Neurological Conditions We Treat

In the Neurology Program at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, our team of specialists provides care for rare and common pediatric neurological conditions, including but not limited to:

• Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis
• Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis
• Complex autism spectrum disorder with a neurological component
  
• Cerebral palsy
  
• Neurodevelopmental disabilities
  
• Epilepsy and seizure disorders
• Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy
• Headaches and migraines
• Infantile spasms
• Leukodystrophy
• Movement disorders
• Multiple sclerosis
• Muscular dystrophy
• Myasthenia gravis
• Myopathies
• Neurocutaneous syndrome
• Neurofibromatosis
• Neurometabolic and neurogenetic disorders
• Neuromyelitis optica
• Neuropathy
• Psychogenic non epileptic events (PNEE)
• Rett syndrome
• Reye syndrome
• Sleep disorders with a neurological component
• Spasticity
• Spells
• Stroke
• Tic disorders
• Tourette syndrome
• Transverse myelitis
• Traumatic brain injury
• Tuberous sclerosis complex
  

Our pediatric neurologists work with other specialists throughout Children’s to provide comprehensive, effective care for each patient. Treatment is tailored to your child’s needs, and we work with you at every stage so you will know what to expect. Our team of specialists combines the latest diagnostic, treatment and neuroimaging technology with a caring, child-friendly approach to deliver unique treatment options based on each child’s condition and needs.

In addition, our Neurology Program offers many multispecialty clinics for patients who need to see several specialists. These clinics improve the patient experience and allow families easier access to the specialized, coordinated, multidisciplinary care their children need.

Our comprehensive programs and clinics, which aim to provide complete, effective care for your child, include:

• Concussion Program: Our goal is to educate the public about the dangers of concussions. We help kids and teens safely return to school and sports after a concussion.
• Developmental Neurology Program: Our interdisciplinary team provides comprehensive care, evaluation and treatment for neurodevelopmental disorders in infants, toddlers, school-age children and adolescents. We provide families with comprehensive feedback on their child’s diagnosis, his strengths and weaknesses, and recommendations for medical or neurological testing and therapeutic interventions. We also manage complex neurological needs in children with developmental delays and autism.
• Epilepsy Center: Our Comprehensive Epilepsy Center is a Level 4 pediatric epilepsy center, according to the National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC)—its highest level of designation. We have an eight bed Epilepsy Monitoring Unit with 24/7 monitoring. We provide neurodiagnostic monitoring, clinical trials, and surgical and nonsurgical treatment options.
• Leukodystrophy Clinic: Our multidisciplinary clinic is made up of providers from neurology, physiatry, physical therapy and social work and provides a care plan specific to each patient. Through education, research, comprehensive care, and overall understanding and support, we hope to improve the lives of the children diagnosed with leukodystrophies and their families.
• Neurogenetic/Metabolic Clinic: We specialize in the evaluation and long-term neurological care of children with suspected genetic and metabolic diseases causing neurologic symptoms. Those symptoms may include developmental delay, hypotonia, macrocephaly, microcephaly, seizures and movement disorders.
• New Onset Seizure Clinic: Our team specializes in providing comprehensive care to children who have experienced one or more seizures. We aim to provide a care plan specific for each patient and provide education and support for patient families.
• Transition to Adult Care: We are dedicated to helping make the transition to adulthood and adult-focused neurological care as smooth as possible. Our goal is to provide our teen neurology patients—starting around age 14—with the education, skills and resources needed for a successful transfer from pediatric to adult healthcare. We want our patients to feel empowered to manage and navitate their own health care to the best of their ability, advocate for themselves, and seek the resources they need during their transition to adult care.
• Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) Clinic: In partnership with the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance, the Children’s Comprehensive Epilepsy Center offers the TSC Clinic. The first of its kind in Georgia, the clinic coordinates an annual visit with up to seven different physicians to help make sure patients with TSC have access to pediatric specialists. This thorough review is then provided to the patient family and the patient’s primary care physician.
• Other multispecialty clinics include:
  • Complex Headache Program
  • Epileptic Encephalopathy Clinic
  • Infantile Spasms Clinic
  • Intractable Epilepsy Clinic
  • Ketogenic Diet Program
  • Neonatal Neurology Clinic
  • Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis Clinic
  • Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizure (PNES) Clinic
  • Stroke and Neurovascular Clinic

Treating the highest volumes of patients with neurological disorders, Children’s is one of the top places for training the next generation pediatric neurologists and sub specialists. We recruit four pediatric neurology residents a year who would go through five years rigorous training from the most experienced faculty in pediatrics, adult neurology and pediatric neurology. We also have pediatric epilepsy fellowship program, training two pediatric epilepsy fellows a year.

Children’s has teamed up with Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology and Morehouse School of Medicine to form the Children’s Center for Neurosciences Research. The shared goal of this consortium is to find leading-edge therapies for children with brain and spine conditions to transform care and improve outcomes.

As one of the largest pediatric neurology programs in the country, paired with some of the brightest minds in pediatric neurosciences research, Children’s is dedicated to seeking preventive, diagnostic and wellness strategies for children with serious medical illnesses or challenges. Caring for more pediatric neurological patients than any other hospital in the country, we are committed to the study of brain tumors and traumatic injuries as well as the psychological and cognitive aspects of disease and injury.

Our dedication to pediatric neurology, developing innovative treatments for tomorrow and improving outcomes for kids are just a few of the many reasons why our neurology program continually ranks among the top in the nation.

Having a child diagnosed with a neurological condition can be an emotional and overwhelming experience. At Children’s, our No. 1 priority is to support you and your family. Whether treating a toddler during an emergency or helping a teen through recovery after surgery, we make it our mission to provide the best care—and best experience—for every child. Family is a big part of your child’s well-being. Not only are you a vital member of your child’s healthcare team; you are a source of security and comfort.

U.S. News & World Report ranks us among the top pediatric neurology and neurosurgery programs in the country. 

Our doctors work closely with neurologists in the community to help ensure multi-disciplinary, comprehensive care is delivered seamlessly at our hospitals.  Our Neurology Program is led by the following:

Physician Leadership

• Jasmine Forte, MD, Medical Director for Complex Headache
• Stephanie Keller, MD, Medical Director for Neurogenetics 
• Bryan L. Philbrook, MD, Medical Director, Cerebrovascular Services
• Lauren Albor, MD, Medical Director, Neurology Quality
• Sumit Verma, MD, Medical Director, Neuromuscular Program
• Jamika L Hallman-Cooper, MD, Associate Program Director, Pediatric Neurology Residency Program
• David S. Wolf, MD, Division Chief, Neurology; Program Director, Pediatric Neurology Residency Program
• Tim Gershon, MD, Director of Children’s Center for Neurosciences Research

Children's Physician Group

Neurologists

• Lauren Albor, MD
• Sonam Bhalla, MD
• Moira Black, MD
• Marleny Cabrera, MD
• Monideep Dutt, MD
• Jasmine Forte, MD
• Timothy Gershon, MD
• Grace Gombolay, MD
• Jamika L Hallman-Cooper, MD
• Philip J. Holt, MD
• Stephanie R. Keller, MD
• Emily Kern-Smith, MD
• Jun Ho Kim, MD
• Fiza Laheji, MD
• Jenny Lin, MD
• Manisha Malik, MD
• Prabhu Patil, MD
• Bryan L. Philbrook, MD
• Neal Sankhla, MD
• Ekta Shah, MD
• Michelle Tutmaher, DO
• Saila Upadhyayula, MD, MPH
• Sumit Verma, MD
• Kishore Vedala, MD
• Barbara M. Weissman, MD
• David S. Wolf, MD, PhD
• Guojun Zhang, MD

Developmental Behavioral Pediatrician

• D. David O'Banion, MD

Advanced Practice Providers

At Children’s, we have Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) on our care teams. Advanced Practice Providers are nurse practitioners and physician assistants who are licensed, board-certified, highly educated healthcare professionals who have obtained a master’s degree from an accredited academic program. All APPs can evaluate, diagnose, and treat a variety of health conditions.

• Taylor Bartz, PA-C
• Amanda Carlton, PNP-BC
• Lynnfield M. Eaton, CPNP
• Kristina Lowe, PA-C
• James Ludemann, CPNP
• Laura Lynch, PA-C
• Shawna McCullough, PNP
• Corinne Oliver, CPNP
• Sophia Philip, CPNP
• Margaret Parker, CPNP-BC
• Sandra Milena Philip, CPNP
• Heather H. Post, CPNP 
• Beth Rosengrant, PNP
• Kathryn L. Sawyer, CPNP
• Kathryn Zimmerman, CPNP

Community Providers

• Gerald Silverboard, MD

Arthur M. Blank Hospital
2220 North Druid Hills Road, NE
Atlanta, GA 30329

Scottish Rite Hospital
1001 Johnson Ferry Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30342

Hughes Spalding Hospital
35 Jesse Hill Jr Dr SE
Atlanta, GA 30303

Center for Advanced Pediatrics
2174 North Druid Hills Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30329

Northside Professional Center
975 Johnson Ferry Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30342-4735
(moving to Children's Medical Office Building on Jan. 7, 2025)