Pediatric neurology at Maimonides Children’s Hospital is organized around six specialty clinics, covering the full range of neurological needs from premature newborns in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), new-onset seizures, intractable epilepsy, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, or suspected autism. The program integrates directly with acute care services across the NICU and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), supports long-term follow-up in partnership with referring providers, and is backed by research in neurodevelopment, neuroimmunology, and rare genetic disorders.  

Acute and long-term neurological care 

For many children, neurological care doesn’t start with a referral to a specialist. It begins in the NICU, in the first hours or days of life, when a premature birth or brain injury first signals that a child may need long-term neurological support. 

At Maimonides Children’s Hospital, the pediatric neurology program is woven into acute care from the beginning and structured to follow children through every stage.

“Our consultation starts from birth,” said Suman Ghosh, MD, MPA, Clinical Director of Pediatric Neurology at Maimonides. “In some cases, it starts from a maternal–fetal medicine consultation. Or we meet the families in the NICU, because of an underlying neurological need. From there, care transitions to our Early Developmental Assessment Clinic.”

The PICU works the same way. The neurology team sees children admitted with traumatic brain injuries, seizures, or stroke during acute care. Patients move into dedicated outpatient clinics when they’re ready. 

Six specialty programs, one coordinated team 

Maimonides’ pediatric neurology services are organized around six specialty clinics alongside our general pediatric neurology clinic. Each has a defined patient population and referral pathway.

Early Developmental Assessment Clinic 

The Early Developmental Assessment Clinic (EDAC) is the primary follow-up destination for NICU graduates and infants identified at risk for neurodevelopmental delays. The program serves children born prematurely, as well as those with intraventricular hemorrhage or brain bleeds, neonatal stroke, seizures, or hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. “EDAC is primarily a NICU program,” said Dr. Ghosh, “but also open to any newborn or infant at risk for neurodevelopmental delays caused by premature birth, a brain injury as a baby, or early life trauma.” The clinic offers neurodevelopmental testing, early identification and treatment of cerebral palsy, and management of neonatal seizures and epilepsy. EDAC also accepts referrals for infants born at other NICUs whose families live in New York City.

Autism and neurodevelopmental program 

Led by neurodevelopmental specialist Taha Khan, MD, MPH, the newly launching autism and neurodevelopmental program provides neurological and neurodevelopmental testing for children with suspected or confirmed autism. Early diagnosis is one of the main goals because it enables earlier access to services and support that can make a difference in quality of life. Referrals come primarily from outside pediatricians and primary care providers.  

Traumatic Brain Injury Clinic 

The Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Clinic serves children transitioning from the PICU after a traumatic brain injury, as well as outpatients referred by pediatricians or other hospitals following an acute TBI diagnosis. 

Pediatric stroke program 

Launched in response to a growing community need and the increased patient volume through the newly renovated Maimonides Children’s Hospital Emergency Department, the pediatric stroke program is a joint initiative between pediatric and adult neurology. The program was developed with close oversight from Maimonides’ award-winning Jaffe Comprehensive Stroke Center, especially Q. Tony Wang, MD, PhD, Director of the Stroke Center, honing a strong clinical focus on early identification of pediatric stroke, timely intervention, and structured follow-up care.

Neuroimmunology program 

Run by Alexander Jonokuchi, MD, the neuroimmunology program addresses neuroinflammatory diseases in children. These are conditions in which the immune system affects the brain or nervous system, such as multiple sclerosis, autoimmune encephalitis, and neuromyelitis optica. Referrals come primarily from outside pediatricians and are a direct point of access for providers who have identified or suspect a neuroimmunological condition.

Neurospasticity program 

For children with spasticity resulting from neurological conditions such as cerebral palsy or acquired brain injury, the neurospasticity program provides dedicated evaluation and management. Referring providers who identify increased muscle tone, movement limitations, or spasticity-related pain in pediatric patients can refer directly to the program.  

A working partner for referring providers 

Depending on each patient’s unique needs, they may see their neurology specialist less frequently than their general pediatrician or family doctor. Maimonides neurologists partner with primary care providers to address each patient’s needs holistically.

“Our neurology team works alongside referring providers—for children with long-term neurological needs, the model is one of active co-management,” said Dr. Ghosh. “We’re always available by phone or email to talk with pediatricians and discuss their patients’ needs further.”

Administrative support is part of that partnership. The team’s nurse practitioner and support staff follow up with families to make sure that labs, referral forms, and school-related documentation are handled.  

Research that reflects the patients we treat 

Through research and academic initiatives, Maimonides pediatric neurologists stay ahead of the conditions they treat. The team carries out active investigations in three areas directly tied to its clinical work. These include the long-term neurological and neurodevelopmental outcomes of children born to mothers with hypertension disorders of pregnancy, neuroimmunological disorders in pediatric patients, and rare genetic epilepsies, including the identification of new and previously undescribed disorders. 

A neurology resource for Brooklyn’s children 

Pediatric neurology is a field where early identification and consistent follow-up can shape a child’s development for years. For referring providers whose patients include newborns, infants, and children with neurological concerns, Maimonides Children’s Hospital offers a structured program built for exactly that purpose. 

“There are other neurologists within Brooklyn,” said Dr. Ghosh. “However, this level of care—particularly when it comes to brain injury, stroke, and neuroimmunology—is only offered at Maimonides. And even from an early developmental assessment standpoint, our high-risk neonatal program is one of the few in New York City that offers this level of in-depth neurology evaluation and follow-up for children born in the NICU or with brain injury.” 

To refer a patient, call 718-765-7500 or learn more about pediatric neurology services at Maimonides.