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Riley Children's Health

Pediatric Neurosurgery

Riley pediatric neurosurgeon examining young patient.

Contact Pediatric Neurosurgery

317.944.6201

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  • On This Page:
  • Why Choose Riley at IU Health?
  • Conditions & Services
  • Doctors & Locations
  • Department Forms & Resources
  • Related Departments & Programs
  • Related Stories
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It can be scary to learn your child has a neurological disorder or injury, but advancements in medicine make it possible for doctors and surgeons to effectively manage and treat many brain, spine and nervous system conditions. Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health is home to a highly-skilled pediatric neurosurgery team that will guide your family from the anxiety of diagnosis through the process of surgery and recovery, delivering comprehensive, seamless care each step of the way.

Our pediatric neurosurgeons and advanced practice providers manage the complete spectrum of complex neurologic problems in children of all ages, from infants to young adults. Our team is one of the largest and most experienced in the United States. We see patients from all over the world. We routinely treat the most complicated issues, including intractable epilepsy, skull and spine deformities, traumatic injuries, congenital conditions, such as spina bifida, and benign and malignant tumors.

Because we are committed to treating any neurological need, our team works side by side with other teams and colleagues at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health, including departmental specialists in:

  • Adolescent Medicine
  • Cleft and Craniofacial Anomalies
  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Interventional Neuroradiology
  • Neonatology
  • Neurology
  • Neuro-oncology
  • Otolaryngology (Ear, Nose & Throat)
  • Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation
  • Urology

Together, our teams have developed several programs and centers of excellence that focus on providing specialized treatment for neurologic disorders in children.

The pediatric neurosurgeons at Riley at IU Health are highly skilled and highly trained having received extra training to become specialized in pediatric neurosurgery. This is just one reason why U.S. News & World Report ranks our pediatric neurology and neurosurgery teams among the top pediatric specialists in the nation.

Same-Day Appointment Program

We are always accessible and available to you and your child. Please ask our receptionist about a same-day appointment.

Best Children's Hospitals, Neurology and Neurosurgery 2022-23, US News & World Report

Indiana's Only Nationally Ranked Program

Riley Children’s Neurosurgery is the only nationally ranked pediatric neurosurgery program in the state by U.S. News & World Report. We offer specialty programs such as a traumatic brain injury program and are the only comprehensive pediatric surgical epilepsy program in Indiana.

Why Choose Riley at IU Health?

Why Choose Riley at IU Health?

When your family comes to Riley Children’s Hospital at IU Health, you have access to a comprehensive health system that cares for a population of more than 1 million children a year. Our pediatric neurosurgery department performs more than 1,000 procedures each year.

  • Superior high-level care. Riley at IU Health is one of a limited number of hospitals across the nation to provide highly-skilled care for children with severe neurologic injuries or illnesses. This level of care requires highly specialized equipment and access to rare procedures and clinical trials.
  • Neurosurgery advancements. Our team is committed to developing and building on the outstanding pediatric neuroscience programs at Riley at IU Health by ensuring neurosurgery care for all who need it while creating a comprehensive program that can be a regional hub and a national destination.
  • Extensive research. The Pediatric Neurosurgery Department is led by a team that is always looking for ways to improve brain, spine and peripheral nerve surgery while making those procedures safer for children. Our discoveries take place in our practices, operating rooms and laboratories and directly affect your child’s health. We are always developing and refining safe minimally invasive techniques as alternatives to traditional, more invasive brain, spine and spinal cord surgeries.
    Surgical Outcomes Callout

    Annual Report

    Read more about our patient outcomes, quality improvements and multidisciplinary programs.

    Conditions & Services

    Conditions Treated

    Our pediatric specialists provide patient- and family-centered care for most related conditions. The links below provide more specific information about some, but not all, of the conditions that we treat.

    • Brain & Spinal Cord Tumors
    • Cerebrovascular Malformation
    • Chiari Malformation
    • Concussion
    • Congenital Spine Abnormalities
    • Epilepsy & Seizures
    • Head & Spine Injuries
    • Head Shape Abnormalities
    • Hydrocephalus
    • Infantile Hemangiomas
    • Moyamoya Disease
    • Neurofibromatosis
    • Spina Bifida
    • Vascular Anomalies

    Services Offered

    We offer a number of different Pediatric Neurosurgery services. Below are some, but not all, of the services that we provide. If you have a question about a specific service that is not listed here, please contact our department.

    • Epilepsy Surgery
    • Trauma Surgery
    • Vagal Nerve Stimulator (VNS)

    Doctors and Locations

    Doctors

    Learn more about the experienced pediatric neurosurgeons at Riley at IU Health.

    10 Results
    Laurie L. Ackerman, MD profile image
    Laurie L. Ackerman, MD

    4.7 out of 5 stars

    (197 ratings)

    Score is an average of all responses to care provider related questions on our nationally-recognized NRC Health Patient Experience Survey.

    Learn About Survey

    Neurosurgery, Pediatric Neurosurgery, Spine Surgery

    317.944.6201
    Denise M. Ash, NP profile image
    Denise M. Ash, NP

    4.7 out of 5 stars

    (57 ratings)

    Score is an average of all responses to care provider related questions on our nationally-recognized NRC Health Patient Experience Survey.

    Learn About Survey

    Pediatric Neurosurgery

    317.944.6201
    Kelsey M. Knight, NP, MSN,APRN,CPNP,MLS profile image
    Kelsey M. Knight, NP, MSN,APRN,CPNP,MLS

    4.7 out of 5 stars

    (57 ratings)

    Score is an average of all responses to care provider related questions on our nationally-recognized NRC Health Patient Experience Survey.

    Learn About Survey

    Pediatric Neurosurgery

    317.944.6201
    Meredith L. Koontz, NP, AC-PNP profile image
    Meredith L. Koontz, NP, AC-PNP

    4.7 out of 5 stars

    (48 ratings)

    Score is an average of all responses to care provider related questions on our nationally-recognized NRC Health Patient Experience Survey.

    Learn About Survey

    Pediatric Neurosurgery, Neurosurgery

    317.944.6201
    Rabia Qaiser, MD, FAANS profile image
    Rabia Qaiser, MD, FAANS

    Pediatric Neurosurgery

    317.944.6201
    Natasha V. Raman, NP profile image
    Natasha V. Raman, NP

    4.7 out of 5 stars

    (117 ratings)

    Score is an average of all responses to care provider related questions on our nationally-recognized NRC Health Patient Experience Survey.

    Learn About Survey

    Pediatric Neurosurgery

    317.944.6201
    Jill K. Schulten, PA-C profile image
    Jill K. Schulten, PA-C

    Pediatric Neurosurgery

    317.944.6201
    Anna M. Schultheis, NP profile image
    Anna M. Schultheis, NP

    Pediatric Neurology

    317.948.7450
    Jignesh K. Tailor, MD, PhD profile image
    Jignesh K. Tailor, MD, PhD

    4.4 out of 5 stars

    (37 ratings)

    Score is an average of all responses to care provider related questions on our nationally-recognized NRC Health Patient Experience Survey.

    Learn About Survey

    Pediatric Neurosurgery

    317.944.6201
    Saul Wilson, MD profile image
    Saul Wilson, MD

    Pediatric Neurosurgery

    317.944.6201

    Specialties:

    Accepting New Patients

    Primary Location:

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    Locations

    Locations

    In addition to our primary hospital location at the Academic Health Center in Indianapolis, IN, we have convenient locations to better serve our communities throughout the state.

    Sort through 3 facilities offering Neurosurgery care by entering your city or zip below.

    See all facilities →

    Department Forms & Resources

    Department Forms & Resources

    The Pediatric Neurosurgery Department at Riley at IU Health has curated relevant resources from other websites and provided links with brief descriptions of the information that is available.

    Forms

    • Riley Physicians Pediatric Neurosurgery New Patient Form 863.458 KB

    Resources

    • Guide to Surgery (Riley at IU Health) 311.083 KB

      View our Guide to Surgery to ease anxiety and prepare you and your child before surgery.

    • Guía para la cirugía (Riley at IU Health) 124.137 KB

      Creamos esta guía como un recurso para ayudarlo a comprender mejor nuestro proceso y para aliviar un poco la ansiedad que pueda estar experimentando.

    • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

      The CDC's HEADS UP to Youth Sports program provides information about concussion and concussion prevention to parents, youth, coaches and sports officials.

    • American Association of Neurological Surgeons

      This organization provides the latest information about numerous pediatric neurosurgical conditions, including Chiari malformation, spina bifida and spasticity.

    • Spina Bifida Association

      This national group provides extensive information about living with spina bifida.

    • Safety Store

      The Safety Store at Riley at IU Health sells child safety products and provides free injury prevention education and on-site helmet and car seat fittings. Indiana residents can order products from the store's webpage.

    Related Programs & Departments

    Related Programs & Departments

    We provide multispecialty care for a number of conditions. Below are links to our related programs & departments.

    • Adolescent Medicine
    • Pediatric Cancer & Blood Disorders
    • Cleft & Craniofacial Anomalies Program
    • Developmental Medicine
    • Ear, Nose & Throat
    • Comprehensive Epilepsy Program
    • Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM)
    • Movement Disorders Program
    • Neonatology (NICU)
    • Comprehensive Neuro-Oncology Program
    • Pediatric Neurology
    • Pediatric Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
    • Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy
    • Plastic Surgery
    • Spina Bifida Program
    • Trauma
    • Pediatric Urology

    Related Stories

    Related Stories

    Blog Quaiserweb1

    New Riley neurosurgeon found her calling at a young age

    09/01/22

    Dr. Rabia Qaiser has been interested in the intricacies of the brain since she was barely a teenager. At Riley, she will focus on pediatric cerebrovascular diseases.

    Continue reading
    Blog Newsroom

    Riley earns national distinction from U.S. News & World Report

    06/14/22

    #1 pediatric hospital in Indiana

    Continue reading
    Blog Veldaweb1

    She has earned her time in the sun

    01/20/22

    “It’s been such a huge part of my life,” Velda Green says of working with the Riley neurosurgery team for decades as practice manager, mentor, confidant and friend.

    Continue reading
    Blog Weisenbach web 1

    After tractor accident, child’s pain became her constant companion

    06/15/21 Patient Stories

    Jenna Weisenbach talks about suffering Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: “I went through an identity crisis where ‘it’ was all I was. I wasn’t a person, I was a disease.”

    Continue reading
    Blog Oroko web main

    Far from home, father and son find help for epilepsy

    05/18/21 Patient Stories

    They traveled 8,000 miles to seek treatment for ongoing seizures that medication could no longer control.

    Continue reading
    Blog Addjisonwebmain

    Teen gets “pacemaker for the brain” to control epilepsy

    02/21/21 Patient Stories

    Neurosurgeon Jeffrey Raskin implanted tiny electrodes in his patient’s brain with help from a new breed of robot.

    Continue reading

    Health Professionals

    For Health Professionals

    Refer A Patient

    Refer A Patient

    Riley at IU Health works with referring physicians in Indiana and beyond. If you are a physician and would like to consult with us on a case or make a referral, call IMACSOneCall.

    Phone: 800.622.4989

    Refer A Patient

    Education

    We play an important role in training future neurosurgeons through our partnership with Indiana University School of Medicine. Medical students, residents and fellows in the IU School of Medicine Department of Neurological Surgery are mentored by our experienced surgeons and experience the full breadth of pediatric neurosurgical cases. The school’s one-year fellowship in pediatric neurosurgery allows fellows to focus on neurovascular, neuro-oncology, spine or epilepsy/functional subspecialties and prepares them for independent practice and an academic career.

    Education Resources:
    • Medical Students
    • Residents
    • Pediatric Neurosurgery Fellowship
    Riley Children's Health Indiana University School of Medicine
    Designated as Best Children's Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report, Ranked in 10 Specialties in 2020-21

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    Indiana University Health
    Find adult services at iuhealth.org

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    Designated as Best Children's Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report, Ranked in 10 Specialties in 2020-21

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