Treating Pediatric Neurological Conditions
Our Neurosciences Center at CHRISTUS Children's is critical in evaluating, diagnosing, and treating various neurological conditions. Patients ranging from newborns to teens can benefit from the technology and professional skill set available.
Our Neurology Programs
Our specialists offer a Neuromuscular Program, an Epilepsy Program, and a Comprehensive Autism Program. Learn About Our Neurology Programs.
CHRISTUS Children's Neurology Team
Our neurology team specializes in diagnosing, treating, and managing complex neurological disorders like autism, epilepsy and multiple sclerosis. Learn About Our Neurology Care.
CHRISTUS Children's Neurosurgery Team
Our neurosurgery team specializes in performing surgical procedures on the brain and nervous system, such as removing tumors, repairing spinal cord injuries, and treating head trauma. Learn About Our Neurosurgery Care.
Neurological Programs to Treat Children
Our Neurosciences Center at CHRISTUS Children's provides our patients and families with compassionate care, expertise, and resources for neurological conditions.
Neuromuscular Program
Our Neuromuscular Program takes a multidisciplinary approach to diagnose and treat neuromuscular disorders, which affect the nerves that control voluntary muscles. This may include conditions such as muscular dystrophy, spinal muscular atrophy, neuropathy, myopathy, and other related disorders.
Epilepsy Program
At CHRISTUS Children’s, we provide the highest level of evidence-based epilepsy treatment and support to you and your child. With a tailored treatment plan designed for your child, our team is with you every step of the way to answer your questions and help your child.
Autism Program
CHRISTUS Children's Comprehensive Autism Program has partnered with the Autism Treatment Center and UTSA's Department of Educational Psychology to provide Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) therapy.
Neurosciences Center Offers Comprehensive Approach
Leading The CHRISTUS Children’s Neurosciences Center are Dr. Melissa Svoboda and Dr. Mark Lee. Their teams work together to diagnose and treat children with conditions that affect their brain, spinal cord, nervous system, and muscles.
The neurology team diagnoses neuro disorders and when warranted will refer patients to Dr. Lee and his team to determine if neurosurgery is warranted. Dr. Lee specializes in procedures that can actually alleviate the symptoms of epilepsy and other seizure disorders.
Medical Director of CHRISTUS Children's Autism Program
Dr. Melissa Svoboda is the medical director of CHRISTUS Children's Autism Program and Division Chief of the Department of Neurology at CHRISTUS Children's.
The neurology department specializes in the following:
- Autism
- Cerebral palsy
- Developmental delay
- Other neurodevelopmental disabilities
CHRISTUS Children's Virtual ECHO Autism Clinic
CHRISTUS Children’s has joined Project ECHO to engage in a worldwide professional learning community focused on sharing best practices, knowledge and evidence-based research on autism. ECHO stands for Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes. The overall goal of Project ECHO is to help solve the world’s greatest challenges by delivering the right knowledge to the right place at the right time.
ECHO utilizes virtual, interactive sessions to mentor and guide community practitioners, educators and advocates, creating expertise and increasing access for individuals with autism and their families. Through ECHO, CHRISTUS Children’s autism hub team shares their knowledge and expertise with other health care providers, especially those working in underserved, remote and rural communities.
ECHO Contact Information
Email: projectechoautism@bcm.edu
Phone: 512-203-9225
Learn more: ECHO Autism » Bringing the Best Autism Care to Local Communities
CHRISTUS Children's ECHO Autism Hub Team
Heather Davis
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Neurosurgery for Children in San Antonio
Our Neurosciences Center at CHRISTUS Children's in San Antonio is critical in evaluating, diagnosing, and treating various neurological conditions. Patients ranging from newborns to teens can benefit from the technology and professional skill set available.
Given the complex nature of many pediatric neurosurgical conditions, we collaborate closely with other pediatric subspecialists at CHRISTUS Children's in the fields of neurology, urology, endocrinology, orthopedic surgery, plastic surgery, oncology, rehabilitation medicine, ENT, genetics and general surgery, to provide care that is comprehensive and compassionate.
Chief of Neurosurgery
Dr. Mark Lee leads our team of neurosurgical subspecialists at CHRISTUS Children’s. This highly skilled and experienced team provides outstanding care to children from newborns to teens with neurological conditions that may require surgical intervention.
CHRISTUS Children’s Leukodystrophy Care Program
The Leukodystrophy Care Clinic at CHRISTUS Children’s Hospital is a multidisciplinary clinic that provides patient centered care and supports families with special health care needs related to leukodystrophies. Leukodystrophies are a group of rare genetic disorders that affect the central nervous system, which is made up of the brain and spinal cord.
Conditions treated:
- Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD)
- Alexander disease
- Krabbe disease
- Metachromatic leukodystrophy
- Canavan disease
- Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease
- Vanishing white matter disease
- Peroxisomal biogenesis disorder
- Other leukodystrophies
The core team includes:
Director:
Sreenivas Avula, MD
Pediatric Neurology
Assistant Professor, Baylor College of Medicine
Assistant Director:
John Odom, MD
Medical Biochemical Genetics
Assistant Professor, Baylor College of Medicine
Clinic Coordinator:
Angela Childers, RN
Leukodystrophy.Care.Network@christushealth.org
Tel: 210-704-4841
Fax 210-704-4952
Certified Genetic Counselors:
Rebecca Littlejohn, MS, CGC
Melyssa Garner, MS, CGC
CHRISTUS Children’s is a Leukodystrophy Care Network (LCN) Certified Center, meeting or exceeding LCN certification criteria. The Hunter’s Hope Leukodystrophy Care Network (LCN) is a community of affected families, organizations and medical providers committed to revolutionizing the health and quality of life of individuals affected by leukodystrophies with proactive, innovative and comprehensive medical care standards and specialized centers.