Epilepsy Surgery
For children with seizures uncontrolled by medications alone, a range of surgical options, including focal brain resection, disconnection operations and vagal nerve stimulation, can be used to control and sometimes even eliminate the seizures completely.

Neuro-Oncology
The multidisciplinary Neuro-Oncology team at Children’s Hospital & Research Center Oakland is a unique collaboration between Neurosurgery and eight other Children's Hospital departments to give children with brain tumors the best comprehensive care possible. In the operating room, state-of-the-art equipment and dedicated surgeons provide safe, maximal resection of brain tumors.

Children’s is one of only 42 centers worldwide that participating in the Head Start Consortium for Pediatric Brain Tumors, which through a series of studies, investigates alternative treatments for malignant tumors to protect cognitive development. Head Start studies focus on improving the cure rate and quality of survival for the youngest children (less than 10 years of age) newly diagnosed with all types of malignant brain tumors. We are the only children's hospital in Northern California that is a member of this consortium and is offering this innovative therapy to its patients more >>

Children’s is a member of the Children’s Oncology Group (COG), the world’s largest and most recognized pediatric cancer research collaborative. COG unites the best of the academic and clinical research worlds to move the most promising treatments from the lab into clinical trials. This association includes over 5,000 dedicated experts in childhood cancer research and treatment located at more than 235 leading Children’s Hospitals, the finest University Hospitals and Cancer Centers in the United States. By working together, cure rates are improved at a much faster pace than any one individual or single institution could accomplish alone.

Spine Center for Complex Pediatric Spinal Disorders
When treating children with complex spinal disorders, the team of specialist at Children’s Hospital & Research Center Oakland Spine Center know that collaboration between an orthopedic spine surgeon and a neurosurgeon is required to achieve that the safest and best results. Doctors James Policy, MD and Peter Sun, MD—assisted by clinicians with expertise in clinical neurophysiology and physical therapy—jointly evaluate patients with complex spinal conditions. For referrals to the Spine Center, part of the Neurosurgery division at Children’s Hospital Oakland, please call (800) 550-1529.

Craniofacial Center
Children with head or facial abnormalities require collaborative care from many specialists. Children’s offers comprehensive care to children with craniosynostosis. The multi-disciplinary Craniofacial team includes specialists from:

The team offers an endoscopically-assisted minimally-invasive approach for infants with sagittal synostosis. more >>

Note: Peter Sun, MD of Neurosurgery and Bryant Toth, MD of Craniofacial and Plastic Surgery were featured in the Contra Costa Times/Oakland Tribune article entitled “Oakland Team making skull surgery easier on babies." (11/18/07) The story describes a minimally invasive procedure that corrects the prematurely fused skulls of children. The condition, known as craniosynostosis, affects one in 2,000 infants. Children's performs the number of such operations in Northern California.

Peacock Center for Cerebral Palsy & Movement Disorders
The Peacock Center for Cerebral Palsy & Movement Disorders at Children’s Hospital & Research Center Oakland is the Northern California leader in the treatment of children with cerebral palsy (CP) and spasticity. The center’s team includes physical therapists, occupational therapists, a pediatric orthopedist, pediatric neurosurgeon, and pediatric rehabilitation physicians. Damaged brain pathways in children with cerebral palsy can result in stiff muscles that interfere with walking and other body movements. Neurosurgical procedures, like selective dorsal rhizotomy and Baclofen pump placement, combined with orthopedic surgery and intensive physical rehabilitation therapy, can improve the quality of life for children with cerebral palsy.

Clinical Social Services
The Clinical Social Services department provides social work services, resource counseling, psychosocial assessments, and crisis counseling to patients and families. more >>

Interpreter Services
Medical interpretation services for patients, families, and providers who are non-English speaking, deaf, or hearing-impaired are available 24 hours/7 days a week. Please ask for this service when making an appointment. more >>

Child Life/Pre-Op Play
Child Life Services is a comprehensive therapeutic activities program designed to reduce the impact of stressful or traumatic life events and situations that affect the development, health, and well-being of infants, children, youth and families. Specially trained child life specialists engage children in pre-operative medical play, helping them “perform” the surgery on a doll and explaining step-by-step how the equipment works and what to expect. more >>

ThinkFirst for Kids Program
ThinkFirst is a program developed by the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. The purpose of the program is to provide education to school-age children and adolescents to prevent brain and spinal cord injuries. Recently, a chapter of ThinkFirst was started in the Bay Area. The chapter was initiated by Dr. Peter Sun, the Director of Neurosurgery at Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland and is directed by Sue Ditmyer, RN, PNP, nurse practitioner in the Department of Neurosurgery at Children's.

ThinkFirst has a program for first, second and third graders called ThinkFirst for Kids. It is presented in a classroom format and is fully integrated into the elementary school curriculum. The program for High School students is called ThinkFirst for Teens and is an upbeat program designed to educate young people about personal vulnerability and risk-taking. The message to teens is that you can have a fun, exciting life, and you can do it without hurting yourself if you "ThinkFirst" and use your mind to protect your body.

The ThinkFirst programs for Kids and Teens are presented free of charge in Bay Area elementary schools and high schools by volunteers from Children's Hospital Oakland.

Hours:
Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM– 4:30 PM

Referrals:
For referral information please call:
(510) 428-3319 or (800) 550-1529

Contact:
Appointments: (800) 550-1529
Phone: (510) 428-3319
Fax: (510) 597-7034

Where to find us:*
Main Hospital — Map/Directions
747 52nd St., Oakland, CA 94609

*Appointments are also available at our physicians' offices in Modesto, Walnut Creek and Reno.

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