Pediatric neurosurgeon David D. Limbrick Jr., MD, PhD, a professor of neurosurgery and of pediatrics at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, has been named the T.S. Park, MD, Chair in Pediatric Neurosurgery at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
The honor, bestowed by St. Louis Children’s through a gift from an anonymous donor, recognizes Limbrick’s expertise in studying and treating neurological conditions caused by disordered cerebrospinal fluid flow around the brain or spinal cord.
Limbrick leads a major clinical trial to assess ways to surgically treat infants with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess fluid accumulates in the brain, causing developmental deficits and severe disability. He also leads the Park-Reeves Syringomyelia Research Consortium, a network of 42 pediatric centers, and the consortium’s randomized clinical trial. The trial studies surgical treatments for children with Chiari I malformation, a developmental abnormality of the base of the brain that is associated with headaches, balance problems and weakness; and syringomyelia, which can cause lifelong pain, weakness, loss of sensation, and spinal deformity.
“At St. Louis Children’s Hospital, we do what is right for kids – Drs. Limbrick and Park are shining examples of a commitment to innovation and patient-centered care,” said Peggy Gordin, the hospital’s acting president. “Their contributions in and beyond St. Louis have changed the lives of thousands of children, and we couldn’t be more grateful to them.”