MDNews - Cleveland-Akron-Canton

Neuro Developmental Science Center: DELIVERING BEST OUTCOMES, IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE By Jennifer L. Carroll Epilepsy is a special interest of Roger Hudgins, MD, who came to Akron Children's more than a year ago from Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, where he served as chief medical offi cer for Neurosciences and Craniofacial Surgery. He also was the chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery and a clinical professor in neurosurgery at Emory University School of Medicine. At Akron Children's, he is clinical director of the NeuroDevelopmental Science Center and director of Neurosurgery. AkronChildren's B RAIN TUMORS, EPILEPSY, mito- chondrial diseases, autism, spina bifi da. These are a few of the neurological disorders diagnosed and treated at the Akron Children's Hospital NeuroDevelopmental Science Center. Led by pediatric neuro- surgeon Roger Hudgins, MD, neurologist Bruce H. Cohen, MD, developmental- behavioral pediatrician John Duby, MD, physiatrist Suneet Sahgal, MD, and neuropsychologist, Lisa Stanford, PhD, the center's multidisciplinary team improves outcomes and quality of life for infants, children and teenagers. Dr. Hudgins is the clinical director of the NeuroDevelopmental Science Center, which brings together the pediatric specialties of neurology, neurosurgery, physiatry, psychology and neuropsy- chology, and developmental-behavioral pediatrics. Combining these specialties in one center allows Akron Children's to offer patients and families a well-rounded treatment model. "In the neurosciences, we deal with diseases that don't necessarily go away," Dr. Hudgins says. "Some cases start treatment in utero and don't fi nish until patients are in their 20s, 30s and beyond. Since we can't cure some conditions, our objective is to improve quality of life and help families cope. With our comprehen- sive team, we address not only physical symptoms but also mental, emotional and behavioral issues." SPECIAL FEATURE PHOTO © JOE SMITHBERGER PHOTOGRAPHY, NORTH CANTON

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