Top neurologist recruited

A world-renowned neurologist has been recruited to Alberta.

Starting Aug. 1, Dr. Jong Rho will lead research and clinical care for thousands of children facing injury and illness of the brain and spinal cord every year at Calgary’s Alberta Children’s Hospital.

He wants Alberta to become a global leader in pediatric neurological care and research.

“In the area of clinical care, I would like it so no one in the City of Calgary and the province of Alberta has to go anywhere else for the most sophisticated, state-of-the-art care that they could receive,” Rho said at the April 22 event to announce him as the first holder of the Dr. Robert Haslam Chair in Child Neurology and new division chief for pediatric neurosciences in Calgary.

“In the area of teaching and training, we hope to attract the top talent and the brightest minds to Calgary, and also to conduct research that will rapidly bring improvements to care at the bedside.”

Rho’s recruitment is good news for parents like Brenda Wood, whose four-year-old daughter, Sienna, was born with a cyst that covers the left side of her brain. Wood says Rho will help the hospital’s already-excellent pediatric neurology team provide the best care possible to her daughter and thousands of children like her.

“To have someone of his calibre lead in this area is one of the most important things we can ever do,” Wood says.

“It’s huge for us, absolutely massive. (Alberta Children’s Hospital) already has some of the best minds in the world here and this just adds to it.”

Alberta Children’s Hospital treats about 5,700 neurology patients annually. It is the only children’s hospital in Canada that provides comprehensive care in neurology, neuro-surgery, neuro-oncology and neuro-rehabilitation in one facility – a factor that attracted Rho to Alberta.

“It’s a phenomenal and unique institution with family-centred care – a concept I believe is absolutely critical to the successes we hope to achieve and the quality care we hope to deliver,” says Rho.

He was recruited from Phoenix, Ariz., where he is a senior staff scientist and director of pediatric epilepsy research at the Barrow Neurological Institute, and associate director of child neurology at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center.

He has published more than 100 research publications, reviews and edited books, and is a world leader in pediatric epilepsy research.

“We are thrilled that such an internationally recognized expert has agreed to join our team,” says Dr. Jim Kellner, head of pediatrics for both Alberta Health Services in Calgary and the University of Calgary.

The Dr. Robert Haslam Chair in Child Neurology is funded through donations to the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation.  It is named in honour of Dr. Robert Haslam, the first pediatric neurologist in Calgary, the first chief of pediatrics at the Alberta Children’s Hospital and a highly respected, internationally recognized advocate for children with developmental and neurological disabilities.