Current Environment:

Our CDKL5 Center of Excellence is led by neurologist Heather Olson, MD, in Boston Children’s Division of Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology. Also on the faculty of Harvard Medical School, Dr. Olson previously trained at Mayo Medical School and completed residencies and fellowships at Harvard Medical School/Boston Children's. She has received the Infantile Spasms Award from the Child Neurology Foundation and has multiple publications in the field of epilepsy genetics. She also participates in Boston Children’s Epilepsy Genetics Program and Fetal-Neonatal Neurology Program, broadening her expertise in managing neurologic challenges in children with CDKL5 mutations.

The team also involves physicians from a variety of specialties including: Neurology, Neuro-Ophthalmology, Orthopedics, Gastroenterology, Feeding team, and Genetics.

Attendings

David K. Urion, MD, FAAN

Director of Education, Department of Neurology; Director of Behavioral Neurology Clinics and Programs, Department of Neurology

Associate Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School

Elana M. Bern, MD, MPH

Co-Director, ARFID Program; Attending Physician, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School

Gena Heidary, MD, PhD

Ophthalmologist, Department of Ophthalmology; Director, Neuro-Ophthalmology Service, Director, Pediatric Ophthalmology Fellowship Program

Associate Professor, Harvard Medical School

M. Timothy Hresko, MD

Orthopedic Surgeon, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Department; Director of Spine Research and Quality Improvement, Department of Orthopedic Surgery

Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School

Jonathan Picker, MD, PhD

Director, Fragile X Program; Director, Pharmacogenomic Service; Assistant in Medicine, Division of Genetics and Genomics

Assistant Professor, Harvard Medical School

Speech-Language Pathologists

Kara Larson, MS, CCC-SLP

Director, Feeding and Swallowing Program; Speech-Language Pathologist; Clinical Coordinator, Department of Otolaryngology and Communication Enhancement

Jennifer Perez, MS, CCC-SLP

Clinical Coordinator, Feeding and Swallowing Program

Genetic Counselors and Counseling Assistants

Hailey Osika, BA

Genetic Counseling Assistant, Department of Neurology

Lindsay C. Swanson, MS, CGC

Genetic Counseling Program Manager, Department of Neurology