Pediatric Neuroscience | AdventHealth for Children

Hospital room with a view of a lake or river

LP-Circle-Insert-Large-central-pediatrics-neuro-mom-daughter-bedtime-going-to-sleep — Experience World-Class Treatment, **Close to Home**

Our physicians, surgeons, specialists, and nurses have extensive experience treating conditions such as epilepsy, headaches, concussions, Chiari malformations, craniofacial disorders, neurofibromatosis and brain tumors.

Families travel to us from around the world because they know we offer state-of-the-art technology, a Level IV Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, advanced imaging technology, and world-renowned sleep centers, designed especially for our little patients.

The Greatest Care for Our Youngest Patients

At AdventHealth for Children, our skilled and dedicated medical team successfully treats a wide range of conditions using the most advanced tools and the safest possible therapies. Our neuroscience medical directors are early adopters — and even innovators — of the most advanced treatments available.

AdventHealth for Children is also home to a non-invasive and safe brain-mapping procedure called “magnetoencephalography,” which provides the most accurate picture possible of your child’s brain activity. This exciting technology helps doctors identify the source of what is causing your child’s condition.

Craniofacial Disorders

Craniofacial anomalies are deformities that affect a child’s head and facial bones. These disorders are typically present at birth and can range from mild to severe. AdventHealth for Children has a dedicated neurosurgical suite equipped with highly advanced computer-assisted technologies that help guide our skilled surgeons.
Epilepsy

While the causes of epilepsy can vary, it is generally a result of a disruption of electrical signals in the brain. Our goal is to identify what is causing your child’s seizures and to effectively treat them so your child can live a seizure-free life. We are a destination treatment facility for epilepsy — one of the largest and most comprehensive programs in the nation — offering you the most advanced diagnostics, technologies, and treatments available.
Headaches

We know how debilitating headaches can be and how hard their symptoms are to manage. At the Center for Child Neurology, our ultimate goal is to bring comfort and relief to children suffering from frequent headaches of any kind. While both children and adults get headaches, symptoms and causes may differ. Our experts work together to create a comprehensive evaluation and treatment plan for your child.
Neurofibromatosis

Neurofibromatosis is a genetic disorder in which tumors grow on nerve tissues. These tumors may be harmless or may cause serious damage by pressing on nerves and other tissues. Our Neurofibromatosis Clinic is the second-largest in the country, seeing more than 400 patients each year. Our physicians are highly skilled at accurately diagnosing this condition and providing care for the symptoms that typically occur.
Pediatric Neuropsychology

Our experienced pediatric neuropsychologists diagnose and treat complex medical conditions like ADHD, dyslexia, autism spectrum disorders, traumatic brain injuries and more. Our goal is to determine the root cause of your child’s behavioral health issue and use proven treatments, therapies and techniques to give your child the best chance for a happy, healthy life.
Pediatric Neurosurgery

For children with brain and spine health concerns, our team offers leading-edge surgical care with your little one's whole-person health in mind. Our dedicated neurosurgery team uses the most advanced and precise surgical techniques, including 3T MRI, magnetoencephalography (MEG) brain mapping, robotic stereotactic assistance (ROSA) and more to help your child heal.

Download Guide Cover: Children's Neurological Care — We'll Be **Your Guide**

Our team is dedicated to ensuring you have the information and resources you need. For a deeper understanding of the pediatric neurology services we offer and the conditions we treat, download this free guide.

Download Your Guide

We Believe Teamwork Gets Better Results

In the neuroscience department at AdventHealth for Children, doctors and surgeons collaborate across many disciplines. Hear our medical directors discuss the team’s commitment to helping kids overcome their challenges and lead normal, healthy lives.
After receiving an epilepsy diagnosis that would require surgery, Cora’s family trusted our world-class team of pediatric neurosurgeons and epileptologists with her treatment. Watch their story of hope and healing.

Meet the Team

Our AdventHealth Medical Group neurologists deliver the latest neuroscience innovations, using forward-thinking techniques and a personalized approach to care. Our team is here for you with convenient locations throughout Central Florida, close to home.

Ammar Hussain, MD

**Ammar Hussain, MD**
Pediatric Epilepsy
Ammar Hussain, MD, is board-certified in neurology and psychiatry, with a special qualification in pediatric neurology. He specializes in helping patients with pediatric epilepsy syndromes, seizures, and other neurological disorders. Dr. Hussain is a member of the American Epilepsy Society and the American Academy of Neurology. He speaks English, Hindi, and Punjabi.

Rajendra Fernando Sawh-Martinez, MD — Rajendra Sawh-Martinez, MD, MHS, FACS

**Raj Sawh-Martinez, MD, MHS, FACS**
Plastic Surgery, Reconstructive Surgery
Raj Sawh-Martinez, MD, MHS, FACS, is the Chief of Pediatric Plastic Surgery at AdventHealth for Children and Medical Director of Craniomaxillofacial Surgery. Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and elected as a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, Dr. Sawh-Martinez treats children and employs the latest innovations in surgical care with an unyielding dedication to putting patient's interests first. Dr. Sawh-Martinez is fluent in English and Spanish.

Ki Hyeong Lee, MD, MS

**Ki Hyeong Lee, MD, MS**
Medical Director, Pediatric and Adult Epilepsy
Ki Hyeong Lee, MD, MS, is a board-certified neurologist and epileptologist with AdventHealth for Children and the Medical Director of AdventHealth for Children's pediatric epilepsy center in Orlando. A noted researcher who regularly presents his work in published articles and international medical forums, he constantly seeks to advance the state of epilepsy patient care through medical breakthroughs and new technologies.

Chenue Abongwa, MD

**Chenue Abongwa, MD**
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology
Chenue Abongwa, MD, is a board-certified pediatric oncologist. After receiving his medical degree from the Universite de Yaounde in Cameroon, Dr. Abongwa completed a pediatric residency at Brookdale University Hospital. A highly experienced clinician, Dr. Abongwa has served as a pediatric neuro-oncologist for more than seven years. He provides patients with professional and compassionate holistic medical care.

Stephanie Jerome, PhD

Stephanie Jerome, PhD
Neuropsychology, Psychology
Stephanie Jerome, PhD, is a neuropsychologist who specializes in working with infants, children and adolescents (birth to 18 years old). Dr. Jerome received her PhD in Counseling, School, and Educational Psychology from SUNY Buffalo. A dedicated practitioner, Dr. Jerome has a passion for working with children and families and connecting them with tailored, evidence-based treatments.

Joo Hee Seo, MD

**Joo Hee Seo, MD, MSC**
Pediatric Epilepsy
Joo Hee Seo, MD, MSC, is a fellowship-trained epileptologist and Director of the Ketogenic Diet Clinic at AdventHealth for Children in Orlando. She provides her patients with the most advanced diagnostics and treatment options along with access to clinical trials and AdventHealth for Children's 24-hour Epilepsy Monitoring Unit.

Cassandra Cespedes, PHD — Cassandra Cespedes Carrasco, PsyD

**Cassandra Cespedes, Psy.D**
Neurophysiology, Psychology
Cassandra Cespedes, Psy.D. provides short-term outpatient therapy to children, adolescents, and young adults presenting with an array of concerns. Commonly treated concerns include adjustment problems related to a medical diagnosis, difficulties with compliance to medical regimen, and co-morbid psychological difficulties such as depression, anxiety, behavioral issues, autism spectrum, and trauma-related disorders. She works closely with patients and their families, providing psychoeducation, evidence-based treatment, and parental support as needed. Cassandra Cespedes is bilingual in English and Spanish.

Chelsie Smyth, PsyD

**Chelsie Smyth, PsyD**
Neuropsychology, Psychology
Chelsie Smyth, PsyD, is a neuropsychologist who earned her doctorate degree from Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona. Dr. Smyth has experience treating a variety of medical conditions, but is passionate about working with patients with epilepsy and seizures. As a researcher, Dr. Smyth has numerous presentations and publications and has researched the effects of video gaming on executive functions.

Nitzmari Melendez Vazquez, MD

**Nitzmari Melendez-Vazquez, MD**
Pediatric Neurology
Dr. Melendez-Vazquez is a general neurologist who specializes in treating young patients with an array of neurological issues ranging from headaches to movement disorders, peripheral neuropathy, seizures and more. She is a headache specialist providing various treatment options for headaches and migraines including Botox injections and nerve block injections.

James Edmund Baumgartner, MD

**James Baumgartner, MD**
Pediatric Neurosurgery
James Baumgartner, MD, is a board-certified pediatric neurosurgeon with more than two decades of experience providing minimally invasive surgical procedures to help children who experience seizures associated with epilepsy or other neurosurgical disorders. Dr. Baumgartner has extensive experience in epilepsy patient care and a continued commitment to research and training in robotic surgery.

Julia Henry, MD

**Julia Henry, MD**
Pediatric Neurology
Dr. Henry is a highly experienced pediatric neurologist with board-certification in child neurology and epilepsy. Dr. Henry has published articles on a variety of neurology topics and has a special interest in neurological conditions affecting newborns, tuberous sclerosis and epilepsy surgery.

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Helping You Navigate Your Child's Care

AdventHealth for Children is an extensive pediatric care network that includes pediatricians, 250+ pediatric specialists practicing 35 pediatric specialties, pediatric emergency departments and Centra Care Kids urgent care locations.

Our children's health navigators are specially trained nurses who can guide you through this vast network of specialists and services. As your family's advocates, your navigators can answer your questions, offer expert clinical assistance, and support you emotionally and spiritually, too. Count on your health navigator for help with:

Answering your health care questions
Coordination of care among multiple providers and facilities
Finding the right providers for your child
Scheduling annual office visits and screenings

We're on a Mission to Advance Pediatric Care

At AdventHealth for Children, we have been nationally recognized for our leadership in advanced treatments, breakthrough research, and the compassionate care of children and their families.

Highest Level for Epilepsy Care in Central Florida

AdventHealth has the only epilepsy center in Central Florida designated Level IV, the highest designation from the National Association of Epilepsy Centers, for both adult and pediatric epilepsy.
National Designation for Tumor Care

The Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance has designated AdventHealth for Children as a Tuberous Sclerosis Clinic. TSC clinics can play an important role in improving the lives of those affected with these non-malignant tumors. There are only 40 of these clinics in the United States.
Gold Standard in Nursing

For a second time, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) has granted AdventHealth for Children Magnet® recognition, which establishes the hospital as a national leader in nursing and patient care. Only 7% of the nation’s hospitals have received this recognition.
Central Florida's Only Certified EEG Lab

Our EEG Lab has been accredited by ABRET, which encourages and promotes quality technical and clinical standards world-wide for neurodiagnostic laboratories through certification and accreditation. We are the only lab certified in Central Florida for both adults and children.
Leader in Cleft and Craniofacial Care

AdventHealth for Children is an ACPA Approved Team and has met the Standards of Team Care for Cleft and Craniofacial Teams set by the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (ACPA). The ACPA Commission on the Approval of Teams has determined that AdventHealth for Children is capable of providing cleft and craniofacial care in a coordinated and consistent manner, that care provided by AdventHealth for Children follows the proper sequence and takes place within the framework of the patient’s overall developmental, medical and psychological needs.
Top 6% in the Nation for Patient Safety

AdventHealth for Children was awarded the Top Children’s Hospital award by The Leapfrog Group as one of the nation's safest children’s hospitals — an honor earned by only eight U.S. children's hospitals.
Florida’s #1 Kids’ Neuro Care

AdventHealth for Children has been recognized as the #1 program in Florida for pediatric neurology and neurosurgery by Newsweek.