Neonatal Neurology Clinic
(Located at the Center for Advanced Pediatrics, Atlanta, GA)
A newborn’s brain develops in a stepwise, organized manner since early weeks of pregnancy. As the brain develops and matures, behavioral patterns emerge that reflect the integration and communication between complex cerebral networks.
Brain injury sustained during the critical neonatal period can disrupt development of important structural and functional connectivity networks leading to subsequent neurodevelopmental impairment in affected children.
Early identification for management of abnormal motor and coordination symptoms is important as it maybe associated with brain injury. Recognition of at-risk newborns with a plan for timely rational intervention can prevent lifelong disabilities.
At the Pediatric Institute of Emory and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, our dedicated team of pediatric neurologists work together with our physical therapist to identify and maximize the infant’s developmental potential by providing meticulous neurological care and rehabilitation by Early Intervention services. We also offer prenatal consults, a very specialized discipline where our neurologist collaborate closely with the neonatal team in our Fetal Care Center to help in early recognition of brain disorders in an unborn baby, understanding its impact on the child and help in their management.
We use family-centered communication regarding the neurologic course, evaluation and management of the neurological disorder in the infant and facilitate referral to the Early Intervention services.
Our Team:
Monideep Dutt, MD (Pediatric and Fetal Neurology), Medical Director
Sonam Bhalla, MD (Pediatric Epilepsy), Co-Director
Physical Therapist: Kirsten Malerba, PT, DPT, PCS
Referral and Neonatal Coordinator: Gwendolyn Carr, MSN, RN, Email: gwendolyn.carr@choa.org, Office: 404-785-0256
Scheduling Staff: Gloria Watson, Email: Gloria.Watson@choa.org, Phone: 404-785-2780
Criteria for referral (please contact our team during discharge from the NICU)
- Newborn to 4 months of age
- Neonatal conditions like hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), perinatal stroke, intracranial hemorrhage, seizures/genetic epilepsy, brain malformations/dysgenesis, neurogenetic disorders, spinal dysraphisms
- Neonates with an abnormal neurological exam
- Neonates with an abnormal head/spine sonogram or MRI