Current Environment: Production

Medical Services

Specialties

Programs & Services

Languages

  • English

Education

Undergraduate School

Brigham Young University

1999, Provo, UT

Medical School

Columbia University

2004, New York, NY

Internship

University of California San Diego Medical Center

2005, San Diego, CA

Residency

University of California San Diego Medical Center

2011, San Diego, CA

Fellowship

Skull Based Neurosurgery

Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center

2010, Shreveport, LA

Fellowship

Pediatric Neurosurgery

Boston Children's Hospital

2012, Boston, MA

Certifications

  • American Board of Neurological Surgery

Professional History

Dr. Lissa Baird is the Director of Neurosurgical Oncology in the Department of Neurosurgery. She specializes in the care of children with neurological disorders of the brain and spine, with specific expertise in brain and spinal cord tumors, cerebrovascular malformations, and skull base neurosurgery. Dr. Baird has expertise utilizing neuro-endoscopic and minimally invasive techniques to treat brain tumors, hydrocephalus, and cerebral cysts. She also cares for children with complex spine disorders. She was previously Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery and Director of Pediatric Surgical Neuro-Oncology at Oregon Health & Science University/Doernbecher Children's Hospital before returning to Boston to join the Department of Neurosurgery and the Pediatric Brain Tumor Center at Boston Children’s Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Dr. Baird received her medical degree from Columbia University, followed by residency and chief residency at UC San Diego Medical Center. She completed fellowship training in skull base and cerebrovascular neurosurgery at LSU Health Science Center and pediatric neurosurgery at Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Baird is board-certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery and the American Board of Pediatric Neurological Surgery. Her scientific research has focused on neuro-oncology and clinical outcomes of children with brain tumors. She is an author for several national clinical guidelines for the practice of pediatric neurosurgery, is actively involved in national scientific and leadership committees, and currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.

Publications

  1. Cellular hierarchies of embryonal tumors with multilayered rosettes are shaped by oncogenic microRNAs and receptor-ligand interactions. Nat Cancer. 2025 May 26. View Abstract

  2. Dissecting the immune landscape in pediatric high-grade glioma reveals cell state changes under therapeutic pressure. Cell Rep Med. 2025 May 20; 6(5):102095. View Abstract

  3. Neuroimmune-competent human brain organoid model of diffuse midline glioma. Neuro Oncol. 2025 Feb 10; 27(2):369-382. View Abstract

  4. Consistent cerebellar pathway-cognition associations across pre-adolescents & young adults: a diffusion MRI study of 9000+ participants. bioRxiv. 2025 Feb 06. View Abstract

  5. Preservation of Olfactory Function After Pediatric Endoscopic Endonasal Skull Base Surgery with Nasoseptal Flap Reconstruction. World Neurosurg. 2025 Jan; 193:1054-1057. View Abstract

  6. Pediatric Endoscopic Transsphenoidal Skull Base Approach and Closure: Technique and Technical Tips. Laryngoscope. 2025 Mar; 135(3):1183-1185. View Abstract

  7. Clinical utility of DNA methylation profiling for choroid plexus tumors. Neurooncol Adv. 2024 Jan-Dec; 6(1):vdae097. View Abstract

  8. H3K27-altered diffuse midline gliomas with MAPK pathway alterations: Prognostic and therapeutic implications. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 2023 12 22; 83(1):30-35. View Abstract

  9. AI rapidly diagnoses brain tumours during surgery. Nature. 2023 Oct; 622(7984):702-703. View Abstract

  10. Contemporary Knowledge Update of Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Management: An Overview for Neurosurgeons. Pediatr Neurosurg. 2023; 58(5):237-239. View Abstract

  11. Molecular profiling of pre- and post-treatment pediatric high-grade astrocytomas reveals acquired increased tumor mutation burden in a subset of recurrences. Acta Neuropathol Commun. 2023 09 05; 11(1):143. View Abstract

  12. Endoscopic third ventriculostomy with choroid plexus cauterization: predictors of long-term success and comparison with shunt placement for primary treatment of infant hydrocephalus. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2023 08 01; 32(2):201-213. View Abstract

  13. Perioperative management of pediatric patients undergoing juvenile angiofibroma resection. A case series and educational review highlighting patient blood management. Paediatr Anaesth. 2023 07; 33(7):510-519. View Abstract

  14. Positioning Transclival Tumor-Treating Fields for the Treatment of Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Gliomas. Life (Basel). 2023 Feb 21; 13(3). View Abstract

  15. Machine Learning in the Classification of Pediatric Posterior Fossa Tumors: A Systematic Review. Cancers (Basel). 2022 Nov 15; 14(22). View Abstract

  16. Immunotherapy approaches for the treatment of diffuse midline gliomas. Oncoimmunology. 2022; 11(1):2124058. View Abstract

  17. Pediatric Cranial Dog Bite Injuries: More than Meets the Eye. Clin Pract Cases Emerg Med. 2022 Aug; 6(3):259-261. View Abstract

  18. Variables Associated With Shunt Failure in Children With Cerebrospinal Fluid Diverting Shunts. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2022 Feb 01; 38(2):e588-e594. View Abstract

  19. Optic nerve compression in craniopharyngioma by taut anterior cerebral arteries visualized in frontal and transsphenoidal exposures: illustrative cases. J Neurosurg Case Lessons. 2022 Jan 17; 3(3). View Abstract

  20. Socioeconomic and demographic factors in the diagnosis and treatment of Chiari malformation type I and syringomyelia. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2022 Mar 01; 29(3):288-297. View Abstract

  21. Extradural decompression versus duraplasty in Chiari malformation type I with syrinx: outcomes on scoliosis from the Park-Reeves Syringomyelia Research Consortium. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2021 08 01; 28(2):167-175. View Abstract

  22. In Reply: Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guidelines on the Treatment of Pediatric Hydrocephalus: Update of the 2014 Guidelines. Neurosurgery. 2021 06 15; 89(1):E76-E77. View Abstract

  23. Management strategies for recurrent pediatric craniopharyngioma: new recommendations. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2021 05 01; 27(5):548-555. View Abstract

  24. Occipital-Cervical Fusion and Ventral Decompression in the Surgical Management of Chiari-1 Malformation and Syringomyelia: Analysis of Data From the Park-Reeves Syringomyelia Research Consortium. Neurosurgery. 2021 01 13; 88(2):332-341. View Abstract

  25. Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guidelines on the Treatment of Pediatric Hydrocephalus: Update of the 2014 Guidelines. Neurosurgery. 2020 11 16; 87(6):1071-1075. View Abstract

  26. Postoperative MR imaging surveillance of pediatric craniopharyngioma: new institutional guidelines. Childs Nerv Syst. 2021 03; 37(3):853-861. View Abstract

  27. Infant High-Grade Gliomas Comprise Multiple Subgroups Characterized by Novel Targetable Gene Fusions and Favorable Outcomes. Cancer Discov. 2020 07; 10(7):942-963. View Abstract

  28. Measure Twice: Promise of Liquid Biopsy in Pediatric High-Grade Gliomas. Adv Radiat Oncol. 2020 Mar-Apr; 5(2):152-162. View Abstract

  29. Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guidelines for Pediatric Myelomeningocele: Executive Summary. Neurosurgery. 2019 09 01; 85(3):299-301. View Abstract

  30. Radiological and clinical predictors of scoliosis in patients with Chiari malformation type I and spinal cord syrinx from the Park-Reeves Syringomyelia Research Consortium. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2019 11 01; 24(5):520-527. View Abstract

  31. Prospective feasibility and safety assessment of surgical biopsy for patients with newly diagnosed diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma. Neuro Oncol. 2018 10 09; 20(11):1547-1555. View Abstract

  32. Complications following pediatric cranioplasty after decompressive craniectomy: a multicenter retrospective study. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2018 09; 22(3):225-232. View Abstract

  33. Incidence of symptomatic tethered spinal cord in pediatric patients presenting with neurofibromatosis types 1 and 2. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2018 05; 21(5):456-459. View Abstract

  34. Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guideline for the Diagnosis of Patients With Positional Plagiocephaly: The Role of Imaging. Neurosurgery. 2016 Nov; 79(5):E625-E626. View Abstract

  35. Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guideline on the Management of Patients With Positional Plagiocephaly: The Role of Repositioning. Neurosurgery. 2016 Nov; 79(5):E627-E629. View Abstract

  36. Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guideline for the Management of Patients With Positional Plagiocephaly: The Role of Physical Therapy. Neurosurgery. 2016 Nov; 79(5):E630-E631. View Abstract

  37. Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guideline on the Role of Cranial Molding Orthosis (Helmet) Therapy for Patients With Positional Plagiocephaly. Neurosurgery. 2016 Nov; 79(5):E632-E633. View Abstract

  38. Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Positional Plagiocephaly: Executive Summary. Neurosurgery. 2016 Nov; 79(5):623-624. View Abstract

  39. Guidelines: Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guideline for the Diagnosis of Patients With Positional Plagiocephaly: The Role of Imaging. Neurosurgery. 2016 Nov; 79(5):E625-E626. View Abstract

  40. Guidelines: Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guideline on the Management of Patients With Positional Plagiocephaly: The Role of Repositioning. Neurosurgery. 2016 Nov; 79(5):E627-E629. View Abstract

  41. Guidelines: Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guideline for the Management of Patients With Positional Plagiocephaly: The Role of Physical Therapy. Neurosurgery. 2016 Nov; 79(5):E630-E631. View Abstract

  42. Guidelines: Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guideline on the Role of Cranial Molding Orthosis (Helmet) Therapy for Patients With Positional Plagiocephaly. Neurosurgery. 2016 Nov; 79(5):E632-E633. View Abstract

  43. First Treatment in Infants With Hydrocephalus: The Case for Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy/Choroid Plexus Cauterization. Neurosurgery. 2016 08; 63 Suppl 1:78-82. View Abstract

  44. Foreword: Pediatric hydrocephalus: systematic literature review and evidence-based guidelines. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2014 Nov; 14 Suppl 1:1-2. View Abstract

  45. Pediatric hydrocephalus: systematic literature review and evidence-based guidelines. Part 6: Preoperative antibiotics for shunt surgery in children with hydrocephalus: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2014 Nov; 14 Suppl 1:44-52. View Abstract

  46. Pediatric hydrocephalus: systematic literature review and evidence-based guidelines. Part 4: Cerebrospinal fluid shunt or endoscopic third ventriculostomy for the treatment of hydrocephalus in children. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2014 Nov; 14 Suppl 1:30-4. View Abstract

  47. Pediatric hydrocephalus: systematic literature review and evidence-based guidelines. Part 5: Effect of valve type on cerebrospinal fluid shunt efficacy. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2014 Nov; 14 Suppl 1:35-43. View Abstract

  48. Pediatric hydrocephalus: systematic literature review and evidence-based guidelines. Part 7: Antibiotic-impregnated shunt systems versus conventional shunts in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2014 Nov; 14 Suppl 1:53-9. View Abstract

  49. Moyamoya syndrome associated with Alagille syndrome: outcome after surgical revascularization. J Pediatr. 2015 Feb; 166(2):470-3. View Abstract

  50. Spontaneous regression of an epidermoid cyst of the cavernous sinus. J Clin Neurosci. 2014 Aug; 21(8):1433-5. View Abstract

  51. Results of a North American survey of rapid-sequence MRI utilization to evaluate cerebral ventricles in children. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2014 Jun; 13(6):636-40. View Abstract

  52. Third-ventricular neurocysticercosis: hydraulic maneuvers facilitating endoscopic resection. Childs Nerv Syst. 2014 Mar; 30(3):541-6. View Abstract

  53. A single spinal lesion arising from an intradural meningioma contiguous with an extradural lymphoma. J Neurosurg Spine. 2012 Sep; 17(3):263-7. View Abstract

  54. Discovery of asymptomatic moyamoya arteriopathy in pediatric syndromic populations: radiographic and clinical progression. Neurosurg Focus. 2011 Dec; 31(6):E6. View Abstract

  55. Craniofacial reconstruction as a treatment for elevated intracranial pressure. Childs Nerv Syst. 2012 Mar; 28(3):411-8. View Abstract

  56. Concussions in soccer: a current understanding. World Neurosurg. 2012 Nov; 78(5):535-44. View Abstract

  57. Mortality resulting from head injury in professional boxing. Neurosurgery. 2010 Nov; 67(5):1444-50; discussion 1450. View Abstract

  58. Mortality resulting from head injury in professional boxing: case report. Neurosurgery. 2010 08; 67(2):E519-20. View Abstract

  59. Vagus nerve stimulation therapy in patients with autism spectrum disorder and intractable epilepsy: results from the vagus nerve stimulation therapy patient outcome registry. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2010 Jun; 5(6):595-602. View Abstract

  60. The tumor microenvironment. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2010; 671:67-73. View Abstract

  61. Minimally disruptive decompression and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion. Spine J. 2006 Jan-Feb; 6(1):27-33. View Abstract

  62. A gene for primary congenital glaucoma is not linked to the locus on chromosome 1q for autosomal dominant juvenile-onset open angle glaucoma. J Glaucoma. 1996 Dec; 5(6):416-21. View Abstract
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