Pediatric Neurocritical Care Program
Pediatric Neurocritical Care Program
Welcome to the Pediatric Neurocritical Care Program at the University of Rochester Medical Center and Golisano Children’s Hospital. Our mission is to improve neurological outcomes and survival for children with neurocritical illness in our community, region, and beyond.
About Us
Established in 2018 as a joint venture between the Department of Pediatrics and the Department of Neurology, the Pediatric Neurocritical Care Program was created to address the unique needs of infants, children, and adolescents with life-threatening neurological and neurosurgical conditions. Recognizing that special care was needed for our patients in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (PCICU), and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), we developed a dedicated multidisciplinary team to provide specialized, family-centered care.
Our program is one of the leading centers in the state for comprehensive neurocritical care. We collaborate closely with our nationally recognized adult neurointensive care program and bring together expertise from:
- Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
- Child Neurology
- Pediatric Neurosurgery
- Neuroradiology
- Neonatology
- Pediatric Orthopaedics
- Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
We are housed within a 28-bed pediatric intensive care floor and an 80-bed NICU, both located at Golisano Children’s Hospital and connected to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, NY.
Our Services
We provide advanced care for a wide range of critical neurologic conditions, including:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Post-cardiac arrest care
- Epilepsy and status epilepticus
- Stroke and cerebrovascular disease
- Central nervous system (CNS) autoimmune disorders
- Spinal cord injuries
Our program offers cutting-edge technology and evidence-based therapies, such as:
- Continuous EEG monitoring and other advanced neuromonitoring
- State-of-the-art neuroimaging
- Targeted temperature management using the Arctic Sun system
- Neurorehabilitation services
- Surgical epilepsy procedures
Whether you are a patient, family member, or healthcare professional, our goal is to provide the most comprehensive care possible, guided by the latest research and best practices in pediatric neurocritical care.
For Healthcare Providers
We are committed to supporting healthcare professionals with the most up-to-date guidelines, protocols, and resources. To access our secure clinical guidelines via PolicyStat, please ensure you are logged in:
Meet the Team
Our team comprises pediatric neurologists, neurointensivists, neurosurgeons, and other pediatric specialists dedicated to delivering expert neurocritical care with compassion and respect for each family’s unique needs.
- Jake Deines, M.D.
- Rob Stone, M.D.
- Inna Hughes, M.D., Ph.D.
- Howard Silberstein, M.D.
- Melissa LoPresti, M.D., M.P.H.
- Debra Roberts, M.D., Ph.D.
- Jamie Capal, M.D.
- Jill Cholette, M.D.
Core Pillars
Clinical Care
Providing the best possible care for our patients is at the heart of our mission. Our multidisciplinary approach ensures that each child receives individualized treatment based on the latest research and clinical guidelines.
Education
We share our specialized knowledge with providers, residents, nurses, transport specialists, therapists, patients, and families. Through comprehensive educational programs, we aim to improve recognition and management of neurocritical illness at every level of care.
Training
We offer New York State’s only Pediatric Neurocritical Care Fellowship program, with customized curricula for various training pathways, including child neurologists, pediatric intensivists, and neurosurgical residents. This ensures that future leaders in pediatric neurocritical care receive hands-on experience and expert mentorship.
Research
Our commitment to advancing pediatric neurocritical care is supported by active participation in local and national research efforts such as P-ICECAP, BOOST-3, shivering management trials, and the ECMO-Neuro follow-up study. By engaging in groundbreaking studies and multi-institutional collaborations, we strive to continually refine best practices and improve patient outcomes.
Regional Outreach
We collaborate with transport teams and regional hospital networks to provide pediatric neurocritical care (pNCC) training to community providers who often deliver initial medical care for many of our patients. Our publicly available Golisano Children’s Hospital guidelines on stroke, TBI, post-cardiac arrest care, and status epilepticus reflect our commitment to sharing knowledge and elevating care standards across the region.
Equity
We are dedicated to ensuring every child receives equitable, compassionate neurocritical care—regardless of background, identity, or circumstance. Through ongoing education, inclusive policies, and active community engagement, we strive to reduce health disparities and foster a culture of inclusion that enhances our clinical practice, research, and education.