Our People

Thank A Resident Day
Thank A Resident 2024
Peds Neurology Division Social Event 2024
Peds Neurology Social Event 2024
Peds Neurology Division Eastern Iowa Epilepsy Walk 2023
Peds Neurology Division Eastern Iowa Epilepsy Walk 2023
Mary Jeno and Michael Cole Graduation 2023
Mary Jeno and Michael Cole Graduation 2023
Purple Day 2024
Purple Day 2024
Peds Neurology Halloween 2023
Peds Neurology Halloween 2023

It takes a special person to dedicate his or her life to the care and healing of children. At Iowa, you will be exposed to some of the best clinicians, researchers and teachers in our profession. Through formal mentoring programs as well as an open-door philosophy, we provide high-powered opportunities for you to learn career-long lessons from these dedicated professionals.

Current Residents

Recent Graduates

Class of 2024
Spoorthi Jagadish, portrait

Spoorthi Jagadish, MBBS


First Appointment

Pediatric Neurologist at the Mayo Clinic Health System, Eau Claire, WI

 

Why Iowa

One of the many things I loved about the Child Neurology Residency program at University of Iowa was that the faculty members were so diverse. Having trained in different parts of the country everyone had their own unique approach and I got to learn so much from them.  The faculty always had my back, but also gave me autonomy in decision making. I never felt alone or unsupported during my residency. I will forever cherish my residency days as I learnt so much every single day! If I had to do it all again, I would without hesitation choose University of Iowa all over again!! 

Class of 2023
Mary Jeno, portrait

Mary Jeno, MD


First Appointment

Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of California San Francisco Benioff Children's Hospital

 

Why Iowa

Training at the University of Iowa provided an education diverse in patient population, disease pathology, and clinical outcomes. The patients and their families come from across the region to receive care through UIHC, knowing it's the best children's hospital in the area. The staff are trained from around the country, and are always willing to take time to work one on one with residents making for an individualized learning experience. The program allowed for flexibility and more balance of personal life and work life than I could have expected in training, providing opportunities to work with other departments, join resident wellness groups, and work on research projects. 

Class of 2022
Michael Cole, MD

Michael Cole, MD


First Appointment

Neuro-Immunology fellowship at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics.

 

Why Iowa

I'm so grateful for my training experience at Iowa.  I had a great depth and breadth of clinical experiences, but what I most appreciated was the approachability and collegiality of the faculty.  Whether on an adult or pediatric rotation, I always felt that I was welcome to ask questions and always felt supported in my learning.  This not only helped me advance in my training and feel comfortable with the transition to attending, but also inspires the type of teacher I strive to be.

Class of 2021
Sujana Madathil

Sujana Madathil, MBBS


First Appointment

Sleep Medicine Fellowship at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics
 

Why Iowa

As a child neurology resident at the University of Iowa, I got to work with and learn from a wonderful group of people who were kind and supportive. The child neurology faculty were always approachable and eager to answer my questions.  There were plenty of learning opportunities everyday including the patients I saw in the hospital and the academic didactic conferences I got to attend. The training can be customized according to individual subspecialty or research interests, and you will have all the support from the program to make it happen. Iowa City is a beautiful place to live, and It has a lot to offer in terms of outdoor activities, arts, food, and music.

Class of 2019
Katie Lutz, portrait

Katie Lutz, MD


First Appointment

Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics in the Stead Family Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology

 

Why Iowa

The faculty I worked for were always available to answer questions at any time, but I also gained so much from the autonomy I was able to have especially on pediatric neurology call and in my continuity of care clinic.  The autonomy I was able to have in training made it very easy for me to transition to faculty and feel confident in diagnosing and treating the various patients I have seen.

Class of 2018
Hannah Klein, portrait

Hannah Klein, MD


First Appointment

Fellowship in Pediatric Epilepsy at the University of Colorado Children’s Hospital
 

Ioanna Kouri, MD


First Appointment

Fellowship in Sleep Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota

 

Why Iowa

During my time at the University of Iowa, I had the privilege of learning from some of the most knowledgeable and experienced educators in the field of neurology. What attracted me most to the Pediatric Neurology Program was the opportunity to learn about general pediatric neurology and various neurological subspecialties in a welcoming and supportive setting. This environment empowered me to apply for fellowships at prestigious institutions and equipped me with the skills for my current position as a solo practitioner.

Class of 2017
Megan Rohlf, MD

Megan Rohlf, MD


First Appointment

Fellowship in Clinical Neurophysiology at the University of Iowa

 

Why Iowa

There were three main things that drew me to Iowa: the location, the unique patient population and the people. Iowa City is so special when compared to other midwestern Pediatric Neurology training program locations, as you get the benefit of a smaller town (safety and lack of traffic!), but still get the benefits of a larger city (great food, music and arts) due to the proximity to the University of Iowa. The patient population is a wonderful mix of “bread and butter” (as we draw from the entire state of Iowa and often from neighboring states as well) and “zebras” (as we are the highest acuity hospital in the state, so all the weird and interesting things are sent to us!). Finally, the people here are wonderful. They are truly “Iowa nice” and the faculty have a genuine interest in training the next generation of Pediatric Neurologists. It’s a wonderful place to train, and a great place to raise a family!

Class of 2016
Dimah Saade, MD

Dimah Saade, MD


First Appointment

Fellowship in Neuromuscular at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics

 

Why Iowa

Through my training at the university of Iowa I first encountered pediatric neuromuscular medicine, learned about clinical research and met my mentor. The rich exposure, exceptional training and mentorship helped develop my career goals and guided me through fellowship. In addition to sparking my sub specialty interest, residency at Iowa provided me with a well rounded child neurology education. I made lasting friendships and found great teachers and mentors. 

Class of 2014
Himali Jayakody, portrait

Himali Jayakody, MBBS


First Appointment

Fellowship in Neurophysiology at the University of South Florida
 

Class of 2013
Satsuki Matsumoto, MD

Satsuki Matsumoto, MD


First Appointment

Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics

 

Why Iowa

My experience training in Child Neurology at the University of Iowa has been truly rewarding. As the state's premier referral center, we get to see a wide range of pathologies, with referrals coming in from Iowa and neighboring states. The faculty here are diverse and genuinely eager to teach, creating a supportive environment where residents can grow while enjoying the right amount of autonomy. The program also prioritizes resident wellness, fostering a culture that encourages both personal and professional development. Living in a safe and vibrant college town added to the experience. Overall, this training has prepared me well for independent practice after graduation, giving me the confidence and skills I need to succeed. I highly encourage medical students to consider our program for their Child Neurology training.

 

Residency Program Staff

Leah Zhorne, MD
Leah Zhorne, MD │Program Director
Katie Lutz, MD
Katie Lutz, MD │ Associate Program Director
Kati Jumper
Kati Jumper │Program Coordinator

Welcome to the Stead Family Department of Pediatrics

Alexander Bassuk, MD, PhD

Chair and Department Executive Officer

Welcome to the University of Iowa's Stead Family Children's Hospital. We are proud to showcase our extraordinary clinical care, dedication to the education of students and young physicians, and our world-class research programs.

Our comprehensive medical, surgical, and nursing services span the full spectrum of pediatric care. The consistently high rankings we receive on national and international benchmarks attest to the exceptional quality of care we provide. With more than 127,000 annual outpatient visits and more than 10,000 admissions to the 165 beds at University of Iowa's Stead Family Children's Hospital, we draw patients regionally, nationally, and internationally. Our commitment to family-centered care and our outstanding facilities have been praised for their innovative and patient-friendly design.

We are dedicated to excellence in the education of medical students, residents, and fellows, as reflected by a competency-based curriculum that is designed to provide practitioners with comprehensive knowledge and outstanding skills. The clinical and research efforts of trainees are closely mentored and nurtured. Our graduates move on to successful careers in clinical practice and academic pediatrics.

From genomics to cancer biology, from clinical trials to outcomes research, the department consistently ranks among the top National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded Pediatric Departments nationally. Our faculty and staff are engaged in cutting edge basic science and patient-oriented research in our unwavering quest to improve the health and well-being of all children.

Meet Our Faculty

We have a diverse faculty with wide-ranging clinical and research interests. Many are internationally known and have been in the department for many years. We also have bright young faculty who bring new interests and enthusiasm to the practice and teaching of neurology. All clinical faculty participate in resident training, clinical practice, and research. Learn more about our faculty.

Alexander Bassuk, portrait

Alex Bassuk, MD, PhD investigates a wide-range of diseases including epilepsy, autism, retinal disease, retinal inflammation, retinitis pigmentosa (RP), bone inflammation and traumatic brain injury. His laboratory focuses on the molecular biology, protein biochemistry, and genetic mechanisms in human diseases and in animal models. Along with a diverse cross-disciplinary team of researchers at the University of Iowa, he is pursuing a collaborative and innovative approach to use proteomics, stem cells, fruit flies, zebrafish, and mice to rapidly translate basic science findings into clinical treatments.

​Aaron Boes, MD, PhD directs an interdisciplinary program in noninvasive brain stimulation. In addition to his time as a clinical child neurologist, he utilizes transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to treat medically refractory depression in adults. His laboratory focuses on neuroimaging and brain stimulation, with a special interest in how focal brain injuries have functional effects in areas of the brain that are not directly injured.  His ultimate goal is to develop novel therapeutic strategies for brain disorders through the combined use of advanced neuroimaging techniques and noninvasive brain stimulation.

Michael Ciliberto, MD

Michael Ciliberto, MD is a fellowship trained pediatric epileptologist who is dedicated to the treatment and, where possible, cure of epilepsy for the children of Iowa and surrounding states. He is comfortable with all modalities of diagnosis and treatment of medically intractable epilepsy including dietary and surgical treatments including laser interstitial thermal ablation (LITT) and deep brain (DBS) and responsive neurostimulation (RNS). He is enthusiastic about our participation in experimental drug trials including the use of anti-sense oligonucleotides in the treatment of Dravet syndrome, allowing the newest pharmaceutical agents to be brought to bear in the treatment of epilepsy in his patients. He also is the medical director of the multidisciplinary tuberous sclerosis clinic which brings together practitioner in multiple fields to optimize the care of these complex patients and their families.

Theresa Czech, MD is a child neurologist and epileptologist with a special interest in neonatal neurology and genetics. She is co-director of the neonatal neurocritical care program at the University of Iowa. The neonatal neurocritical care program is a multidisciplinary collaboration aimed at improving the neurological outcomes of our tiniest patients. Dr. Czech enjoys following these patients in clinic and watching them thrive. Dr. Czech takes care of patients with complex epilepsy including infantile spasms. She has a ketogenic diet clinic and also collaborates with Neurosurgery when a patient is a good candidate for a surgical treatment option. Dr. Czech is a transplant (read "captive") to Iowa. She enjoys the friendly and collaborative nature of the hospital. Outside of work, she tags along with Dr. Sprigg to the farmers market and is slowly teaching everyone in the division how to knit.

Anna Dabrowski, MD, PhD

Anna Dabrowski, MD, PhD is a pediatric epileptologist and physician scientist. She splits her time between clinic and research. Her research focuses on understanding neural circuit changes that occur in genetic epilepsies. She is thrilled to join the University of Iowa Healthcare community.

Joseph Glykys, MD, PhD is a physician-scientist who conducts research on the cellular processes of the inhibitory system and the connection between neuronal swelling and changes in chloride and calcium ion concentration during different pathological conditions. His lab focuses on seizures and hypoxia, particularly in the neonatal brain. He earned his Medical Degree from Universidad de Carabobo in Valencia, Venezuela, pursued a Ph.D. at UCLA, and completed postdoctoral studies and a residency in Child Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School.

Katie Lutz MD is a pediatric neurologist and neuromuscular specialist who enjoys improving lives of children and their families with a wide spectrum of neurological diseases.  In addition to her general neurology clinic, she participates in several multidisciplinary clinics at the university.  She serves as neuromuscular faculty in the weekly pediatric MDA clinic providing multidisciplinary clinic for children with diagnoses including muscular dystrophy, spinal muscular atrophy and other neuromuscular disorders and providing state of the art care including gene therapy and RNA mediated therapies.  She is the pediatric component of the University of Iowa's CMT clinic with Dr. Michael Shy.  She is also now participating in a recently established neuromotor clinic at the CDD providing multi-disciplinary care for children with cerebral palsy and other diagnoses with physical medicine and rehab, developmental pediatrics, physical therapy and occupational therapy.  She has also joined the child neurology residency program as assistant program director organizing the weekly didactic curriculum for pediatric neurology residents.

Sjuana Madathil, MBBS

Sujana Madathil, MBBS, MHSc is a general Pediatric Neurologist and Sleep Medicine Specialist. She sees patients in Sleep medicine clinic, general pediatric neurology clinic and is also part of the neurocritical care follow up clinic. Her special interests include sleep disorders in children with neuro developmental disabilities and epilepsy.

Katherine Mathews, MD is a neuromuscular specialist with additional fellowship training in genetics. She runs the Iowa Neuromuscular Program and Muscular Dystrophy clinic.  She conducts clinical research directed to improving outcomes for children and adults with neuromuscular diseases.  She has served on NIH and CDC working groups to define the direction of research on neuromuscular disease in the future and has become increasingly involved in collaborative clinical research efforts, many of which are laying a groundwork for clinical trials. She is the PI a project to better understand the natural history of a group of muscular dystrophies known as dystroglycanopathies through the Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, http://www.medicine.uiowa.edu/mdcrc/   and follows patients with Friedreich ataxia in a similar collaborative project. Dr. Mathews is co-PI for the Iowa MDSTARnet project, a CDC sponsored, multi-center muscular dystrophy surveillance and epidemiology project http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/musculardystrophy/research.html. As part of her commitment to improving care for patients with rare neuromuscular diseases, she leads several industry-sponsored clinical trials at the University of Iowa (see clinicaltrials.gov).   She is excited about the progress that has been made in understanding and managing neuromuscular diseases and is looking forward to being able to offer more effective treatments in the future.

Satsuki Matsumoto, MD

Satsuki Matsumoto, MD is a general child neurologist with a special interest in brain tumors. She sees patients in the general child neurology clinic and also collaborates with neuro-oncologists, radiation oncologists, neurosurgeons, pediatric ophthalmologists, and psychologists to deliver comprehensive care to pediatric patients with brain tumors.

James Owens, MD, PhD is a pediatric epilepsy specialist who enjoys partnering with families in the diagnosis and management of childhood seizure disorders. He is delighted to have joined the team at Iowa Health Care both because of the wonderful clinical team here as well as the amazing patients he is able to serve. 

Megan Rohlf, MD

Megan Rohlf, MD is a general child neurologist who is fellowship trained clinical neurophysiology. In addition to her general child neurology clinic, she reads EEGs and runs the new onset seizure clinic. 

Dimah Saade, MD

Dimah Saade, MD is a pediatric neurologist and neuromuscular specialist dedicated to diagnosing and treating children with neuromuscular conditions. She is part of the Iowa neuromuscular program and muscular dystrophy clinic. Her diagnostic skills include performing EMG/NCS. Dr. Saade also participates in clinical research studies to improve treatment of children and adults with neuromuscular disorders.

Brittany Sprigg, MD is a pediatric neurologist and epileptologist with clinical interests in neurocritical care, particularly EEG in the ICU, and in the genetics of pediatric epilepsy. In addition to her epilepsy and new onset seizure clinics, she leads projects to improve the quality of our care for neurology patients in the hospital and the clinic. Outside the hospital, she enjoys outdoor activities of all kinds, frequenting the Iowa farmers markets and bookstores, and living her best Little House on the Prairie life through crafting and inexpert but enthusiastic attempts at growing vegetables.

Thati Ganganna~Sreenath, MBBS, MD

Sreenath Thati Ganganna, MBBS, MD is a pediatric epileptologist with a special interest in management of patients with intractable epilepsy, including presurgical evaluation, vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) and ketogenic diet. "I feel privileged to be working at University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital which is one of the best children’s hospitals in the country. What I like the most about University of Iowa is the amazing colleagues that I work with and the amazing patients and families that I get to serve in my neurology practice. At Stead Family Children’s, professionally enriching experiences are a part of everyday life for both the faculty as well as the trainees."

Leah Zhorne, MD is general child neurologist with a special clinical interest in headache disorders.  She is passionate about improving the quality of patient care in her role as director of the comprehensive headache clinic and in the neurocritical care follow up clinic. She also participates in clinical research, serving as the site PI for the International Pediatric Stroke Study, and as a site sub-investigator in  a Gaucher Type 3 Disease clinical trial. Leah also has a special interest in resident education.  In her role as Program Director, she continually works to adapt and update the child neurology resident experience to fit the ever-changing needs of our learners.