Wayne Magazine May 2015 | Page 81

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT Goryeb Children’s Hospital Offers the Best Pediatric Brain Healthcare DEDICATED TUMOR TEAMS Dr. Maria specializes in neuro-oncology, or the treatment of children’s brain tumors. In fact, he is the only pediatric neurooncologist currently practicing in New Jersey. “The tumors that occur in children are very different from those that occur in adults,” observes Dr. Maria. “They require a special team of people huddling together to provide the very best therapy.” Renowned pediatric neurosurgeons and Dr. Maria discuss treatment plans for each patient together, then they meet with the family and explain what will happen and answer their questions. “That’s very reassuring for a family: to get the big picture and to know there is a full team of specialists working jointly so early on,” Dr. Maria says. Another benefit for patients is access to the latest clinical trials and state-of-the-art therapies. “Goryeb is a part of the national Children’s Oncology Group, so our patients have access to the best therapies, as well as the opportunity to try novel treatments developed by members of the team,” explains Dr. Maria. THE LATEST EPILEPSY TREATMENTS Clinical trials are also available for patients with epilepsy at Goryeb. For example, one of Dr. Maria’s colleagues, pediatric neurologist Rajeshwari Mahalingam, MD, is testing a new type of seizure medicine for children who are still having seizures despite the best available therapies. “Seizures and epilepsy are among th B