Division Director – Neurology

DIVISION DIRECTOR – NEUROLOGY, CHILDREN’S MERCY KANSAS CITY, MO

The Department of Pediatrics at Children’s Mercy (CM) seeks to recruit a creative and scholarly leader to serve as Division Director of Neurology. The Division of Neurology is a nationally recognized leader in comprehensive pediatric neuroscience care, education, and research. The ideal Division Director will bridge the Division’s past and present successes with the possibilities that await its future, forging a bold vision for the years to come. 

The Division of Child Neurology has experienced a decade of significant growth and anticipates continued expansion. Over the past 18 years, the division has grown from a five-provider, epilepsy-focused service into a vibrant, multidisciplinary program comprising 25 physicians, 20 nurse practitioners, 23 staff nurses, and two nurse coordinators. The Division has substantial expertise in a broad range of neurological subspecialties, delivering expert, evidence-based care to a growing regional and national patient population. In 2024, our team completed over 22,000 patient visits, including nearly 7000 new patient evaluations. We are proud to be ranked #21 nationally by U.S. News & World Report in pediatric neurology and neurosurgery, underscoring our focus on clinical excellence, innovation, and access to care.

Specialized Clinical Programs and Procedures

Division of Pediatric Neurology Mission Statement:  Through innovation, collaboration, and unwavering commitment to excellence, the Division of Neurology at Children’s Mercy continues to redefine what’s possible in pediatric neuroscience.

We operate nationally accredited and recognized centers and subspecialty clinics, including:

• Level 4 Epilepsy Center: 

• As a member of the National Association of Epilepsy Centers, we offer high-volume epilepsy surgery, ketogenic diet therapy, vagal nerve stimulation (VNS), and intracranial EEG monitoring. We are one of the largest pediatric neuromodulation centers in the U.S., with over 2,000 children with VNS devices. We actively engage in data mining efforts to evaluate efficacy, side-effect profiles, and programming best practices for VNS.
• Epilepsy patients are evaluated in one of two Epilepsy Monitoring Units, depending on acuity. Our surgical EMU prioritizes patients undergoing SPECT, PET, or other evaluations needed to determine next steps in care for refractory epilepsy.
• Multidisciplinary clinics provide coordinated care for first-time seizures, tuberous sclerosis and neurofibromatosis, Dravet syndrome, and ketogenic diet treatment.

• Comprehensive Movement Disorder & Spasticity Program:
• Multidisciplinary spasticity and tone clinic involving neurology, rehabilitation, neurosurgery, orthopedics, pharmacy, and nurse coordinators.
• Evaluation and procedural planning for selective dorsal rhizotomy, intrathecal baclofen pump placement, and orthopedic interventions.
• Active Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) program, which includes a pre-surgical multidisciplinary DBS clinic and ongoing programming follow-ups.
• Headache and Pain Program:
• Six advanced practice providers credentialed in procedures such as basic and advanced acupuncture, occipital and pericranial nerve blocks, and botulinum toxin for migraine.
• Two board-certified headache medicine physicians with comprehensive procedural privileges across all headache interventions.

• Neonatal Neurology Program:
  • A team of four pediatric neurologists, with expertise in epilepsy and stroke, see consults in the NICU for a broad range of conditions including hypoxic ischemic injury, structural brain abnormalities, and genetic differences.
  • Collaborative care is provided to families being seen in the Fetal Health Center as part of a multidisciplinary team.
  • Patients seen by the Neuro/NICU team in the hospital are followed in a specialized clinic for one year, ensuring excellent continuity of care.

 Research Vision and Active Projects

We have transformed into a research-active division, aligning clinical innovation with scientific discovery. Over the last five years, we secured over $6M in extramural funding and implemented a strategic vision supporting physician-scientists and clinically focused faculty.

Flagship Research Projects:

• Pharmacogenomics of Dystonia Treatment (NIH K23HD114899-01A1): A five-year study, led by Dr. Gelineau-Morel, investigating genetic influences on trihexyphenidyl metabolism in children with dystonia and cerebral palsy. This project aims to develop a precision dosing model to personalize treatment.
• Diagnostic Biomarkers for Dystonia in Cerebral Palsy (Pediatric Epilepsy Research Foundation): Focused on creating an imaging registry and performing lesion network mapping to validate brain networks implicated in acquired dystonia.
• Development of R-Trihexyphenidyl for Pediatric Dystonia (Mercy Research Partners): A translational project collaborating with pharmaceutical partners to bring a more targeted form of trihexyphenidyl to clinical trials.
• Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy and Acquired Dystonia (HEAD): Ongoing imaging research into the brain networks affected in children with acquired dystonia.
• Angelman Syndrome Research Platform (Angelman Syndrome Foundation and the Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics):
• Accredited Angelman Syndrome Clinic
• Collaborative movement disorder study with Boston Children’s, Rush, and Vanderbilt, supported by an Angelman Syndrome Foundation grant.
• Participation in multiple ASO phase II and III trials for various genotypes.
• Development of brain organoid models and single-cell whole genome sequencing of cortical dysplasia tissue to identify surgical and pharmacologic biomarkers (multi-divisional and -departmental collaboration across CM)
• Tuberous Sclerosis MO (Missouri Dept. of Mental Health): Collaborative project with Washington University in St. Louis.

Quality Improvement in Epilepsy Care (HRSA) :

• The REACT, REACT extension and TRACT studies are quality improvement research projects aimed at children with epilepsy living in Kansas and Missouri.

Education and Training Excellence

Our training programs are a cornerstone of our division. Each year we train 12 fellows in child neurology and one fellow each in epilepsy, headache, and neuropsychology. We emphasize scholarly productivity, expecting national presentations and supporting peer-reviewed publications from all fellows. Our graduates have consistently passed board exams and joined academic institutions nationwide.

A major area of emphasis for the next Division Director will be to continue to innovate in the field of Child Neurology. Building on a busy clinical program and growing research profile, the Division Director will advance the academic growth of the faculty, recruit aspiring investigators and foster an environment that encourages world class clinical care and new discoveries that advance the field. Current areas targeted for future emphasis include:

• Developing a neuropsychiatry clinic with emphasis on Tourette syndrome, psychogenic epilepsy, and neuromodulation for refractory psychiatric disorders.
• Developing a neuromuscular program.
• Continuing to support research with utilization of internal funding mechanisms to lead to competitive extramural proposals
• Expanding our national reputation through research output, high-quality care, and additional subspecialty clinic accreditations.

About Children’s Mercy

Children’s Mercy is a nationally recognized, free-standing children’s hospital founded in 1897 to provide care for poor and ill children of Kansas City. As a freestanding, independent children’s hospital, CM provides comprehensive pediatric care across the spectrum of primary to quaternary care delivered by 750 doctors in more than 40 subspecialties. Our primary service area encompasses 150 counties in Missouri and Kansas. In 2023, CM conducted nearly 600,000 total visits, including 55,000 telemedicine visits, almost 204,000 emergency and urgent care visits, and 20,000 surgical cases. CM is one of only ten centers in the nation verified as a Level 1 Children’s Surgery Center by the American College of Surgeons and the only pediatric Level I Trauma Center in the region. CM has been ranked consistently by U.S. News & World Report in the top 50 of all ten assessed pediatric subspecialties. We enthusiastically complement our nationally-ranked subspecialty care with robust community support programs that keep kids safe and healthy.

Education

CM is the pediatric clerkship site for both UMKC and KU medical students. Graduate medical education supports over 1,400 trainees annually, with accredited residencies in pediatrics, med/peds, child neurology, pediatric dentistry, pediatric optometry and pharmacy. We have over 40 fellowship programs, provide training for psychology interns and post-doctoral fellows, and have post-doctoral PhD scientists in clinical and laboratory-based research programs.

Research

Children’s Mercy is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of children through engagement in world-class, collaborative translation research. Through the generosity of two substantial philanthropic gifts, in 2020 CM opened a nine story, 375,000 square foot facility providing scientists access to state-of-the-art technology with ample dry and wet lab spaces. These generous gifts and many others support enhancement of scientific programs and targeted recruitment. Research conducted today includes basic, translational and clinical research across many pediatric subspecialties. Areas of strength include Precision Therapeutics, Genomic Medicine, Population Health, Emerging Infections, and Innovations in Health Care Delivery. CM holds a T32 training grant in Pediatric Clinical Pharmacology and is an impactful member of the Frontiers Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) at the University of Kansas. This regional CTSI program comprises four universities (including three medical schools) and three health systems on both sides of the Missouri-Kansas state line.

 About Kansas City:

The Kansas City Metropolitan Area is an affordable and comfortable place to live and raise a family. The metro’s anchor city, Kansas City, Missouri, is the largest city in Missouri and has many great museums, a busy downtown, multiple professional sports franchises, an exciting music scene and many charming neighborhoods. The metro area includes four of the seven largest cities in Kansas, including Kansas City (Kansas), Overland Park, and Olathe. Kansas City is large enough to provide the features of a metropolitan area, but still allows for easy commutes, assessable amenities and a very high quality of life with highly ranked public schools, great parks and other green spaces, and lots of amazing people.

Ideal Qualifications and Experience

• An MD or equivalent and board certification in Child Neurology
• A strong record of clinical and academic achievement
• Demonstrated commitment to advancing patient care and medical education
• A commitment to the CM True North pillars: quality and safety, people, patient experience & family, delivery, and stewardship
• Fosters and models the CM values: kindness, curiosity, inclusion, team and integrity
• A history of success with integrating clinical and research missions
• A deep dedication to fostering and supporting programs that address equity, inclusion, and diversity
• A track record of partnership with academic medical centers
• Strong interpersonal skills and enthusiasm to pursue productive collaborations within Children’s Mercy and with our partner institutions

This is a clinical faculty position offering an academic appointment at the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Medicine, rank to be commensurate with experience. CM is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Division Director of Neurology reports to the Chair of Pediatrics. We are committed to increasing the diversity of our faculty and staff and fostering their success when hired. Members of underrepresented groups are welcome and strongly encouraged to apply. For additional information, please visit our website at www.childrensmercy.org.

 Nominations and applications (cover letter and curriculum vitae) should be submitted via e-mail to the Search Committee Co-Chairs:

Dr. Geoff Allen (gallen@cmh.edu)

Dr. Ross Newman (renewman@cmh.edu)

CC to physicianjobs@cmh.edu

All materials will be treated as confidential.

Children’s Mercy Kansas City is an independent, non-profit, 390-bed pediatric health system, providing over half a million patient encounters each year for children from across the country. Children’s Mercy is ranked by U.S. News & World Report in nine specialties. We have received Magnet® recognition five times for excellence in nursing services. In affiliation with the University of Missouri-Kansas City and the university of Kansas School of Medicine, our faculty of more than 800 pediatric specialists and researchers is actively involved in clinical care, pediatric research and educating the next generation of pediatricians and pediatric subspecialists. 

The Children’s Mercy Research Institute (CMRI) integrates research and clinical care with nationally recognized expertise in genomic medicine, precision therapeutics, population health and health care innovation. In 2021 the CMRI moved into a nine story, 375,000 square foot space emphasizing a translational approach to research in which clinicians and researchers work together to accelerate the pace of discovery that enhances care. We invite you to visit Children’s Mercy Hospital virtually at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtlXT3xK-bI

Kansas City is a thriving cultural and economic city with more than 2 million residents. Our city’s long list of attractions includes world class museums, a vibrant arts scene, professional sports, superb shopping, great jazz clubs, and the best places to enjoy barbeque! The city offers low cost-of-living, excellent commute times, and a vibrant downtown, eight-block dining, entertainment and shopping district.  Kansas City offers excellent opportunities for both public and private school venues and is home to several colleges and universities. It’s a community with a heart – friendly, easy-going and forward-thinking – a great place to live and pursue a career. For more information about activities in Kansas City go to www.visitkc.com

 For more information about Children’s Mercy Kansas City and about Kansas City itself, visit childrensmercy.org/careers/take-your-place/

EEO Employer/Disabled/Vet