Current Environment: Production

Medical Services

Specialties

Programs & Services

Languages

  • English

Education

Medical School

University of Virginia School of Medicine

1984, Charlottesville, VA

Internship

Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital

1985, Cleveland, OH

Residency

Pediatrics

Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital

1988, Cleveland, OH

Residency

Pediatric Neurology

New England Medical Center

1992, Boston, MA

Fellowship

Boston Children's Hospital

1993, Boston, MA

Certifications

  • American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (Child and Adolescent Neurology)

Professional History

I am both a pediatrician and a child neurologist, and my practice specializes in children with cerebrovascular disorders and stroke. I completed residencies in pediatrics and pediatric neurology, followed by a fellowship in neurology at Boston Children's Hospital -- broad training that allows me to treat the whole child.

I founded and direct the Stroke and Cerebrovascular Center at Boston Children's Hospital. This program, novel at its inception at Boston Children’s Hospital, brings together care for these children from clinicians in the disciplines of neurology, hematology, psychiatry, neuropsychology, neuroradiology, neurosurgery, interventional neuroradiology, occupational therapy and physical therapy. In addition, we instituted a fellowship to accompany this new program, which is designed to train pediatric neurologists to evaluate and care for children who have stroke and cerebrovascular disorders.

We are excited to have created Boston Children's Hospital's acute response team for pediatric stroke known as the "Stroke Stat" system. This important service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to assess and treat children who present with symptoms of acute stroke at Boston Children’s Hospital. This system of evaluation is designed to assess these patients rapidly in order to determine if they can be treated with  tissue plasminogen activator or intravascular treatments that have greatest efficacy when instituted early and accurately.

I also established and direct the Neurology Intermediate Care Unit, the only one of its kind. My service provides neurological consultations to patients in affiliated intensive care units, including the NICU and the cardiology ICU. Additionally, I am an attending physician for in-patient general neurology, intensive care neurology and neurologist of the week services. I am experienced in the management of increased cranial pressure, cerebral perfusion and neuroprotection.

Dr. Rivkin serves as an expert for the Department of Neurology for Boston Children's Hospital Precision Medicine Service. For more information about the Precision Medicine Service please visit bostonchildrens.org/precisionmed.

Media

Caregiver Profile

Meet Dr. Michael Rivkin

Publications

  1. Tenecteplase for the Treatment of Pediatric Arterial Ischemic Stroke: A Safety Surveillance Report. Neurology. 2025 Feb 11; 104(3):e210310. View Abstract

  2. Development and Validation of a Postprocedure Stroke Screening Tool in Children With Cardiac Disease. J Child Neurol. 2025 Jan 12; 8830738241302511. View Abstract

  3. Risk Factors for Perinatal Arterial Ischemic Stroke: A Machine Learning Approach. Neurology. 2024 Jun; 102(11):e209393. View Abstract

  4. Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children With Perinatal Ischemic Stroke Varies by Stroke Type. J Child Neurol. 2023 08; 38(8-9):513-517. View Abstract

  5. Thrombotic complications in children with Coronavirus disease 2019 and Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome of Childhood. J Thromb Haemost. 2023 09; 21(9):2313-2326. View Abstract

  6. The development of the pediatric stroke neuroimaging platform (PEDSNIP). Neuroimage Clin. 2023; 39:103438. View Abstract

  7. Development and Validation of a Prediction Model for Perinatal Arterial Ischemic Stroke in Term Neonates. JAMA Netw Open. 2022 06 01; 5(6):e2219203. View Abstract

  8. Safety of Prolonged Inhalation of Hydrogen Gas in Air in Healthy Adults. Crit Care Explor. 2021 Oct; 3(10):e543. View Abstract

  9. Child Neurology: Recurrent Brainstem Strokes and Aphthous Ulcers in a Child With Mutations in the ADA2 Gene. Neurology. 2021 Oct 04; 97(14):696-699. View Abstract

  10. Abnormal Right-Hemispheric Sulcal Patterns Correlate with Executive Function in Adolescents with Tetralogy of Fallot. Cereb Cortex. 2021 08 26; 31(10):4670-4680. View Abstract

  11. Modeling severe functional impairment or death following ECPR in pediatric cardiac patients: Planning for an interventional trial. Resuscitation. 2021 10; 167:12-21. View Abstract

  12. EEG features of brain injury during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in children. Neurology. 2020 09 08; 95(10):e1372-e1380. View Abstract

  13. Spectrum of cerebral arteriopathies in children with arterial ischemic stroke. Neurology. 2020 06 09; 94(23):e2479-e2490. View Abstract

  14. ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Cerebrovascular Disease-Child. J Am Coll Radiol. 2020 May; 17(5S):S36-S54. View Abstract

  15. Predicting Recovery and Outcome after Pediatric Stroke: Results from the International Pediatric Stroke Study. Ann Neurol. 2020 06; 87(6):840-852. View Abstract

  16. Prevalence of Symptoms of Anxiety, Depression, and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in Parents and Children Following Pediatric Stroke. J Child Neurol. 2020 06; 35(7):472-479. View Abstract

  17. Abnormal Left-Hemispheric Sulcal Patterns Correlate with Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Subjects with Single Ventricular Congenital Heart Disease. Cereb Cortex. 2020 03 21; 30(2):476-487. View Abstract

  18. Risk of Intracranial Hemorrhage Following Intravenous tPA (Tissue-Type Plasminogen Activator) for Acute Stroke Is Low in Children. Stroke. 2020 02; 51(2):542-548. View Abstract

  19. Serial vessel wall MR imaging of pediatric tuberculous vasculitis. Neurol Clin Pract. 2019 Dec; 9(6):459-461. View Abstract

  20. A Stroke Alert Protocol Decreases the Time to Diagnosis of Brain Attack Symptoms in a Pediatric Emergency Department. J Pediatr. 2020 01; 216:136-141.e6. View Abstract

  21. Survey of practice patterns and preparedness for endovascular therapy in acute pediatric stroke. Childs Nerv Syst. 2019 12; 35(12):2371-2378. View Abstract

  22. Stroke After Cardiac Catheterization in Children. Pediatr Neurol. 2019 11; 100:42-48. View Abstract

  23. Characteristics and Outcome in Children With Craniectomy Following Acute Ischemic Stroke in the International Pediatric Stroke Study. J Child Neurol. 2019 10; 34(12):765-769. View Abstract

  24. Arterial Ischemic Stroke Secondary to Cardiac Disease in Neonates and Children. Pediatr Neurol. 2019 11; 100:35-41. View Abstract

  25. Pediatric CNS-isolated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm. 2019 05; 6(3):e560. View Abstract

  26. Ascending Aorta Size at Birth Predicts White Matter Microstructure in Adolescents Who Underwent Fontan Palliation. J Am Heart Assoc. 2018 12 18; 7(24):e010395. View Abstract

  27. Disrupted N-linked glycosylation as a disease mechanism in deficiency of ADA2. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2018 10; 142(4):1363-1365.e8. View Abstract

  28. Altered White Matter Microstructure Correlates with IQ and Processing Speed in Children and Adolescents Post-Fontan. J Pediatr. 2018 09; 200:140-149.e4. View Abstract

  29. Diffusion-Weighted Imaging Changes in a Child With Posterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy. Pediatr Neurol. 2018 07; 84:49-52. View Abstract

  30. Whole Exome Sequencing Reveals a Monogenic Cause of Disease in ˜43% of 35 Families With Midaortic Syndrome. Hypertension. 2018 04; 71(4):691-699. View Abstract

  31. Transient regional cerebral hypoperfusion during a paroxysmal hemiplegic event in GLUT1 deficiency syndrome. Eur J Paediatr Neurol. 2018 May; 22(3):544-547. View Abstract

  32. Placental Pathology in Neonatal Stroke: A Retrospective Case-Control Study. J Pediatr. 2018 04; 195:39-47.e5. View Abstract

  33. Graph theory analysis of cortical thickness networks in adolescents with d-transposition of the great arteries. Brain Behav. 2018 02; 8(2):e00834. View Abstract

  34. Moyamoya Disease in Children: Results From the International Pediatric Stroke Study. J Child Neurol. 2017 Oct; 32(11):924-929. View Abstract

  35. Workup for Perinatal Stroke Does Not Predict Recurrence. Stroke. 2017 08; 48(8):2078-2083. View Abstract

  36. Transient Focal Neurologic Symptoms Correspond to Regional Cerebral Hypoperfusion by MRI: A Stroke Mimic in Children. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2017 Nov; 38(11):2199-2202. View Abstract

  37. Psychiatric Disorders and Function in Adolescents with Tetralogy of Fallot. J Pediatr. 2017 08; 187:165-173. View Abstract

  38. Reduced cortical volume and thickness and their relationship to medical and operative features in post-Fontan children and adolescents. Pediatr Res. 2017 Jun; 81(6):881-890. View Abstract

  39. Psychiatric Disorders in Adolescents With Single Ventricle Congenital Heart Disease. Pediatrics. 2017 Mar; 139(3). View Abstract

  40. O-003 The Brain as Extraintestinal IBD Manifestation: Are Brain and Cognitive Differences in Pediatric Crohn's Disease Associated with Immune Gene Expression? Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2017 Feb; 23 Suppl 1:S1-S2. View Abstract

  41. Pathways for Neuroimaging of Neonatal Stroke. Pediatr Neurol. 2017 04; 69:37-48. View Abstract

  42. Pathways for Neuroimaging of Childhood Stroke. Pediatr Neurol. 2017 04; 69:11-23. View Abstract

  43. White Matter Volume Predicts Language Development in Congenital Heart Disease. J Pediatr. 2017 02; 181:42-48.e2. View Abstract

  44. Stroke in Neonates and Children. Pediatr Rev. 2016 Nov; 37(11):463-477. View Abstract

  45. Stroke in Acquired and Congenital Heart Disease Patients and Its Relationship to Hospital Mortality and Lasting Neurologic Deficits. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2016 10; 17(10):976-983. View Abstract

  46. Early-Term Birth in Single-Ventricle Congenital Heart Disease After the Fontan Procedure: Neurodevelopmental and Psychiatric Outcomes. J Pediatr. 2016 12; 179:96-103. View Abstract

  47. Corrigendum to 'Guidelines for Urgent Management of Stroke in Children' [Pediatric Neurology 56 (2016) 8-17]. Pediatr Neurol. 2016 11; 64:105. View Abstract

  48. Epilepsy as the 'echo' of acute stroke in children. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2017 01; 59(1):6. View Abstract

  49. Organizational topology of brain and its relationship to ADHD in adolescents with d-transposition of the great arteries. Brain Behav. 2016 08; 6(8):e00504. View Abstract

  50. Arterial Spin Labeling Perfusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging Performed in Acute Perinatal Stroke Reveals Hyperperfusion Associated With Ischemic Injury. Stroke. 2016 06; 47(6):1514-9. View Abstract

  51. O-018 New Evidence for Structural Brain Differences in Pediatric Crohn's Disease: Impact of Underlying Disease Factors. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2016 Mar; 22 Suppl 1:S6-7. View Abstract

  52. Guidelines for Urgent Management of Stroke in Children. Pediatr Neurol. 2016 Mar; 56:8-17. View Abstract

  53. Fatal Central Nervous System Disease Following First Infliximab Infusion in a Child With Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Pediatr Neurol. 2016 Apr; 57:91-4. View Abstract

  54. Neuropsychological Status and Structural Brain Imaging in Adolescents With Single Ventricle Who Underwent the Fontan Procedure. J Am Heart Assoc. 2015 Dec 14; 4(12). View Abstract

  55. Preparing for a "Pediatric Stroke Alert". Pediatr Neurol. 2016 Mar; 56:18-24. View Abstract

  56. The Way Forward: Challenges and Opportunities in Pediatric Stroke. Pediatr Neurol. 2016 Mar; 56:3-7. View Abstract

  57. Predictors of Stroke After Transient Ischemic Attack in Children. Stroke. 2016 Jan; 47(1):88-93. View Abstract

  58. Altered Gray Matter in Adolescents with d-Transposition of the Great Arteries. J Pediatr. 2016 Feb; 169:36-43.e1. View Abstract

  59. Infection, vaccination, and childhood arterial ischemic stroke: Results of the VIPS study. Neurology. 2015 Oct 27; 85(17):1459-66. View Abstract

  60. The diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) component of the NIH MRI study of normal brain development (PedsDTI). Neuroimage. 2016 Jan 01; 124(Pt B):1125-1130. View Abstract

  61. Reversible vasoconstriction syndrome involving the basilar artery in an adolescent: imaging and clinical features. Pediatr Neurol. 2015 Jun; 52(6):635-7. View Abstract

  62. Relationship of white matter network topology and cognitive outcome in adolescents with d-transposition of the great arteries. Neuroimage Clin. 2015; 7:438-48. View Abstract

  63. Thrombolysis in pediatric stroke study. Stroke. 2015 Mar; 46(3):880-5. View Abstract

  64. White matter microstructure and cognition in adolescents with congenital heart disease. J Pediatr. 2014 Nov; 165(5):936-44.e1-2. View Abstract

  65. Perinatal arterial ischemic stroke: presentation, risk factors, evaluation, and outcome. Pediatr Neurol. 2014 Dec; 51(6):760-8. View Abstract

  66. Psychiatric disorders and function in adolescents with d-transposition of the great arteries. J Pediatr. 2014 Oct; 165(4):760-6. View Abstract

  67. Emergence of the primary pediatric stroke center: impact of the thrombolysis in pediatric stroke trial. Stroke. 2014 Jul; 45(7):2018-23. View Abstract

  68. Adolescents with tetralogy of Fallot: neuropsychological assessment and structural brain imaging. Cardiol Young. 2015 Feb; 25(2):338-47. View Abstract

  69. Adolescents with D-transposition of the great arteries repaired in early infancy demonstrate reduced white matter microstructure associated with clinical risk factors. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2013 Sep; 146(3):543-9.e1. View Abstract

  70. Intrapartum temperature elevation, epidural use, and adverse outcome in term infants. Pediatrics. 2012 Feb; 129(2):e447-54. View Abstract

  71. Symptomatic neonatal arterial ischemic stroke: the International Pediatric Stroke Study. Pediatrics. 2011 Dec; 128(6):e1402-10. View Abstract

  72. Adolescents with d-transposition of the great arteries corrected with the arterial switch procedure: neuropsychological assessment and structural brain imaging. Circulation. 2011 Sep 20; 124(12):1361-9. View Abstract

  73. Intracranial artery dissection in an adolescent with Marfan syndrome. Pediatr Neurol. 2011 Jul; 45(1):39-41. View Abstract

  74. Postnatal-onset microcephaly: pathogenesis, patterns of growth, and prediction of outcome. Pediatrics. 2011 Apr; 127(4):665-71. View Abstract

  75. Developmental fMRI study of episodic verbal memory encoding in children. Neurology. 2010 Dec 07; 75(23):2110-6. View Abstract

  76. 16p11.2-related paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia and dopa-responsive parkinsonism in a child. Neurology. 2009 Aug 11; 73(6):479-80. View Abstract

  77. T(2) relaxometry of normal pediatric brain development. J Magn Reson Imaging. 2009 Feb; 29(2):258-67. View Abstract

  78. Volumetric MRI study of brain in children with intrauterine exposure to cocaine, alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana. Pediatrics. 2008 Apr; 121(4):741-50. View Abstract

  79. Changes in cerebral cortex of children treated for medulloblastoma. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2007 Jul 15; 68(4):992-8. View Abstract

  80. The NIH MRI study of normal brain development (Objective-2): newborns, infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Neuroimage. 2007 Mar; 35(1):308-25. View Abstract

  81. Regional brain development in serial magnetic resonance imaging of low-risk preterm infants. Pediatrics. 2006 Jul; 118(1):23-33. View Abstract

  82. Complementary aspects of diffusion imaging and fMRI; I: structure and function. Magn Reson Imaging. 2006 May; 24(4):463-74. View Abstract

  83. X-linked creatine transporter defect: a report on two unrelated boys with a severe clinical phenotype. J Inherit Metab Dis. 2006 Feb; 29(1):214-9. View Abstract

  84. Everyday cognitive function after craniopharyngioma in childhood. Pediatr Neurol. 2006 Jan; 34(1):13-9. View Abstract

  85. Prolonged T*2 values in newborn versus adult brain: Implications for fMRI studies of newborns. Magn Reson Med. 2004 Jun; 51(6):1287-91. View Abstract

  86. Early experience alters brain function and structure. Pediatrics. 2004 Apr; 113(4):846-57. View Abstract

  87. Biochemical and molecular analyses of infantile free sialic acid storage disease in North American children. Am J Med Genet A. 2003 Jul 01; 120A(1):28-33. View Abstract

  88. Opening the window into brain development in children more widely with magnetic resonance imaging. Pediatrics. 2003 Jun; 111(6 Pt 1):1432-3. View Abstract

  89. A functional magnetic resonance imaging study of paced finger tapping in children. Pediatr Neurol. 2003 Feb; 28(2):89-95. View Abstract

  90. Practice parameter: neuroimaging of the neonate: report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology and the Practice Committee of the Child Neurology Society. Neurology. 2002 Jun 25; 58(12):1726-38. View Abstract

  91. Biexponential apparent diffusion coefficient parametrization in adult vs newborn brain. Magn Reson Imaging. 2001 Jun; 19(5):659-68. View Abstract

  92. Fos-related antigen 2: potential mediator of the transcriptional activation in rat adrenal medulla evoked by repeated immobilization stress. J Neurosci. 2000 Aug 01; 20(15):5647-53. View Abstract

  93. Developmental neuroimaging of children using magnetic resonance techniques. Ment Retard Dev Disabil Res Rev. 2000; 6(1):68-80. View Abstract

  94. MR line-scan diffusion-weighted imaging of term neonates with perinatal brain ischemia. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 1999 Oct; 20(9):1658-70. View Abstract

  95. Mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy: diagnosis by rectal biopsy. Am J Surg Pathol. 1998 Sep; 22(9):1141-7. View Abstract

  96. Hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in the term newborn. Neuropathology, clinical aspects, and neuroimaging. Clin Perinatol. 1997 Sep; 24(3):607-25. View Abstract

  97. Glucocorticoids elevate GTP cyclohydrolase I mRNA levels in vivo and in PC12 cells. Brain Res Mol Brain Res. 1997 Sep; 48(2):251-8. View Abstract

  98. Strokes in children. Pediatr Rev. 1996 Aug; 17(8):265-78. View Abstract

  99. A syndrome of multiorgan hyperplasia with features of gigantism, tumorigenesis, and female sterility in p27(Kip1)-deficient mice. Cell. 1996 May 31; 85(5):733-44. View Abstract

  100. Oligodendroglial development in human fetal cerebrum. Ann Neurol. 1995 Jul; 38(1):92-101. View Abstract

  101. Identification of an antisense transcript from the IGF-II locus in mouse. Mol Reprod Dev. 1993 Aug; 35(4):394-7. View Abstract

  102. Hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in the newborn. Semin Neurol. 1993 Mar; 13(1):30-9. View Abstract

  103. A search for X-chromosome uniparental disomy and DNA rearrangements in the Rett syndrome. Brain Dev. 1992 Jul; 14(4):273-5. View Abstract

  104. Neonatal idiopathic cerebral venous thrombosis: an unrecognized cause of transient seizures or lethargy. Ann Neurol. 1992 Jul; 32(1):51-6. View Abstract

  105. Carotid dissection presenting as posterior ischemic optic neuropathy. Neurology. 1990 Sep; 40(9):1469. View Abstract

  106. Generalized seizures in an infant due to environmentally acquired cocaine. Pediatrics. 1989 Dec; 84(6):1100-2. View Abstract

  107. Pulmonary infections in the immunocompromised child. Adv Pediatr Infect Dis. 1987; 2:161-80. View Abstract

I grew up wanting to help people in a tangible way. My family has a strong tradition of volunteering to help those in need through our synagogue, a value that was instilled in me from a young age.

My approach to care is based on that compassion. I try to think very hard about what I would do if a patient were my own child. As early as medical school, it was already clear to me that I wanted to treat children. The opportunity to contribute to the health and development of children was extremely appealing and interesting to me, and providing care to children and their families is satisfying and enjoyable.

I completed my residency in general pediatrics before deciding to specialize in neurology. I became fascinated by stroke and cerebrovascular disorders, and found the amount we have yet to learn about the brain inspiring. Consequently, I feel that these are exciting times to practice and to perform research in the field of child neurology and in pediatric stroke and cerebrovascular disorders, specifically.

When I started down my path to become a doctor, I had no idea I would wind up doing so much research. But I have been surprised by the fascination the research has held for me, and conducting research on brain development has become an integral part of my approach to care.

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