Child Neurology Residency Training Program

Arnold Sansevere, MD: Co-Chief

Training: BS at Salisbury University in Maryland; MD at Drexel University College of Medicine; Pediatric Residency at Schneiders Children’s Hospital in New Hyde Park, NY

Interests: "I became interested in Pediatric Neurology as a third year medical student at Drexel. I found the subject to be very interesting and enjoyed the complexity of each case. I was also inspired at that time by a Pediatric Neurologist who attended at a small children’s hospital in New Jersey. My interests within general neurology include epilepsy and neuro-oncology. I am hoping to focus on one of those areas as I progress.

Outside of the hospital I enjoy staying active. I enjoy jogging, working out, and heading to the beach. Most of my free time is spent with family and good friends. I am very excited to be living in a new city and plan to explore Boston over the next few years."

Lauren Doyle Strauss, DO: Co-Chief

Training: University of Pennsylvania, BAS in Bioengineering; New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, DO; Stephen and Alexandra Cohen Children’s Medical Center, Pediatric Residency

Interests: "I have many interests within pediatric neurology and am still exploring my options within general neurology or a subspecialty. I feel Children’s Hospital Boston is the best place to ensure that I have exposure to all aspects of neurology so that I can find my passion. Some of my current interests include headache and epilepsy, although I don’t want to limit my focus just yet. Although I have only been here for a short time, I find all the attendings truly inspirational and supportive as I learn neurology.

Outside of work, I love cooking and experimenting with new recipes. I’m new to Boston, so I also have been exploring all the great restaurants here. I also love travelling with my husband where we find new places to go hiking and explore. I am an avid football fan and I’m happy to say the New Orleans Saints finally made me proud last year."

Christopher M. Elitt, MD, PhD

Training: Brown University, ScB in Neuroscience; University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, MD; University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, PhD in Neuroscience; Boston Combined Residency Program in Pediatrics (BCRP), Children’s Hospital Boston & Boston Medical Center

Interests: "I envision an active career as a physician-scientist tackling some of the challenging problems in child neurology and ideally helping families with new therapies. At the moment, I’m most interested in neonatal neurology, but Children’s has strengths in so many areas that flexibility exists if my clinical interests evolve with further training.

Before medical school, I worked in the Stonestreet lab at Brown studying the effect of steroids on ischemic brain injuries in developing ovine fetuses. My PhD work in Brian Davis’ lab focused on how growth factors affect the expression/function of TRP ion channels involved in the perception and processing of pain stimuli.

At the end of medical school and during my pediatric residency, I worked in Paul Rosenberg’s lab studying the basic science mechanisms of periventricular leukomalacia. The PVL work is ongoing and something I plan to continue during my neurology training. The support for research during training at Children’s has been remarkable.

My decision to train at Children’s was heavily influenced by the opportunity to learn in a busy clinical environment with a variety of cases. Children’s has experts in nearly every aspect of child neurology and therefore attracts uncommon patients from around the world. However, throughout my time in the BCRP and so far in my neurology training, Children’s has proven to be a supportive environment with approachable attendings and co-residents who are willing to help when things get busy.

When I’m not working in the hospital, I enjoy trying new restaurants around Boston, going to the beach, cooking, and playing ice hockey."

Mark Schomer, MD

Training: Boston University, BA in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Temple University School of Medicine, MD; St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, Pediatric Residency

Interests: I have always been fascinated by the developing brain, which made Child Neurology an easy choice for me. Given the impact that many of the diseases we deal with have on development and behavior, the choice of which subspecialty to choose is a difficult one.

I feel my exposure at Children’s Hospital will be broad enough, that by the end of my training I will feel comfortable choosing the right specialty for myself. Outside of the hospital I enjoy hiking and spending time with my wife and 2 children (yes, they’re named Luke and Leia...and no, my wife has never seen 'Star Wars').

I’m very excited to be here, and I really look forward to seeing as much of Child Neurology before I have to leave."

Claudio M. de Gusmao

Training: Federal University of Brazil, Medical Degree. Pediatrics residency, Federal University of Brazil.  Internship and Neurology residency; University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Soon after I finished my residency training in Brazil, I went on to work on a major rehabilitation hospital where most of my patient population comprised of neurologically impaired kids. There was a strong educational curriculum in neuroscience that sparked an interest in the field dormant since medical school. Together with the rich environment of a multidisciplinary field, it dawned on me that neurology was way more than localizing lesions but even more so about localizing what is healthy  - and potentialize it. It felt very satisfying to be empowered to see the world with different eyes and choosing to pursue this as a career was only natural.

Interests:I plan to become a neurologist able to see both adults and children, and assist in the often difficult transition that lies in between. I am looking for a subspecialty within neurology that can bridge this gap. My interests in neurology are varied…and given my background, likely will continue to be so!! Prior to coming to Children’s I had specific interests in stroke, neuro-inflammatory con

ditions and movement disorders.  More recently, I have developed a curiosity in the relationships between the basal ganglia, cognition and creativeness. As my time here has exposed me to different subspecialties with a world-class faculty, it has been fantastic to realize that my plans and efforts are fully supported! With eclectic interests, I see myself working in an academic and multidisciplinary environment, where diversity brings fruition to novel orderly relationships among different fields.

Outside work, my interests are theater and running, as well as enjoying the fantastic meals my wife cooks!