Neurosurgery

Neurosurgery is a medical specialty that focuses on the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of medical conditions that affect any portion of the nervous system, which includes the brain, spinal cord, and central and peripheral nervous systems, as well as the cerebrovascular system.

Our pediatric neurosurgery team works with other specialists throughout Children’s to provide comprehensive, effective care for each patient. Treatment is tailored for your child’s needs, and we work with you at every stage so you 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 Neurosurgery 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 cutting-edge pediatric neurosurgery equipment

At Children’s, we understand that operating on a child or teen is different from operating on an adult. Our skilled team of neurosurgeons is pediatric-trained and fully equipped to diagnose, treat and support your child. Additionally, we use specialized, cutting-edge equipment and techniques tailored to provide the care kids need to thrive. These include:

• Awake craniotomy
• CO2 laser
• Neuro-endoscopy
• Intra-operative image guidance system for frameless stereotactic surgery
• Intra-operative MRI (iMRI)
• Intra-operative neuromonitoring
• Microsurgery equipment
• Ultrasonography and ultrasonic tissue aspirator
• Gamma knife for brain tumor and arteriovenous malformation (AVM)
• Interventional neuroradiology for AVM/vascular abnormalities
• Intracranial pressure monitoring and continuous cerebral oximetry for head injuries
• Stereotactic radiosurgery and radiotherapy
• Robotic-assisted steretotactic EEG (SEEG)
• Laser ablations
• Deep brain stimulation, responsive neurostimulation (RNS) and vagal nerve stimulator
• WADA testing and functional MRI

The Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta neurosurgery team has experience with neurosurgical conditions ranging from the most common to extremely rare and have had the highest neurosurgical volumes in the country the last 10 years. Our multidisciplinary team treats infants, children and teens, and we are trained to understand their physical and emotional needs.

Specific conditions we treat include:

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 neurosurgery, 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.

We have one of the largest pediatric neurosurgery teams in the country. Our neurosurgeons are board eligible in neurosurgery and pediatrics, which means they completed additional training in order to care for pediatric patients. We are actively involved in research that we hope will lead to cures for pediatric diseases and are highly focused on the needs of children with diseases of the spine, brain and nervous system. Our Neurosurgery Program is led by Joshua J. Chern, MD, PhD, Division Chief of Neurosurgery.

Neurosurgeons

• William Boydston, MD, PhD, MD, PhD, Neurosurgeon
• Barunashish Brahma, MD, Clinical Leader, Pediatric Neurosurgery Fellowship
• Joshua J. Chern, MD, PhD, Division Chief of Neurosurgery and Director of Quality
• Jacob Lepard, MD
• Nealen Laxpati, MD, Director of Neurosurgical Outcomes
• Andrew Reisner, MD, Elaine & John C. Carlos Chair for Neuro Trauma; Director, Neurotrauma Program
• Michael Sawvel, DO, OR Committee
• David Wrubel, MD, Program Director, Pediatric Neurosurgery Fellowship; Surgery Director, Arthur M. Blank Hospital

Advanced practice providers

• Taylor Daniel, CPNP
• Calista Filmer, PA-C
• Corinne Gilmer, CPNP
• Blaire Holbrook, CPNP
• Rachel Mitts, PA-C
• Caroline O'Rourke, CPNP
• Jennifer Wheelus, CPNP

Arthur M. Blank Hospital
2220 N Druid Hills Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30329

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

Medical Office Building at Children's Scottish Rite Hospital
5461 Meridian Mark Road NE, Suite 520
Atlanta, GA 30342

Athens
In Resource Medical Center
1500 Oglethorpe Ave., Building 600EF
Athens, GA 30606

Columbus 
In Regional Pediatric Center
705 17^th St., Suite 406
Columbus, GA 31901

Thomasville 
In Archbold Specialty Clinic
100 Mimosa Drive
Thomasville, GA 31792