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 cu rrently 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 the
most common neurological concerns in childhood,” Dr. Maria
notes, and “Goryeb Children’s Hospital offers a wide range of
options for families tailored to the individual child’s needs.”
Although many children outgrow their epilepsy, Dr.
Mahalingam says, “they can go through phases where seizures
are more frequent, and sometimes require medication and even
surgery. Other times, diet can be an important treatment.”
CHILTON MAGAZINE SUMMER 2015
AtlAntic HeAltH SyStem
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5-year-old’s brain does not know the difference between
a neurologist and a developmentalist. For too long,
medicine has seen them as separate fields, but now things
are finally changing. “For many kids, their health is both developmental and neurological,” says Bernard Maria, MD, MBA,
the director of child neurology and developmental medicine for
Goryeb Children’s Hospital in Morristown. For instance, children
with autism are usually seen by specialists in developmental medicine, while children with epilepsy are mostly seen by neurologists.
“But up to a third of children with autism also have seizures, so
they need a neurologist, too,” Dr. Maria notes.
At Goryeb Children’s Hospital, there is close coordination
between child neurology and developmental specialists. Anchored
at Morristown Medical Center, Goryeb is a member of the
Atlantic Health System which also owns and operates Chilton
Medical Center, Overlook Medical Center and Newton Medical
Center. “Across the country, the average wait to get in to see a
pediatric neurologist is two to four months,” Dr. Maria says. “We
think that’s unacceptable,” he states, adding that with First Visit,
a new program at Goryeb Children’s Hospital currently being
implemented by Dr. Maria, new patients can be seen in 7 to 10
days by working with advanced nurse practitioners in ongoing
follow-up care.