Since the establishment of the Children’s Hospital in 1985, the Department of Pediatric Neurology has accumulated extensive clinical experience by treating patients with various neurodevelopmental disorders, including epilepsy (seizure), muscle disease, hereditary neurological disease, and cerebral palsy. In particular, since pediatric neurological diseases appear when development and growth continue, medical staff with expertise in both the pediatric and adolescent department and neurology are required. Treatment and research through knowledge related to recent genomics should be considered together, and for this the Department of Pediatric Neurology carries out comprehensive and in-depth treatment covering clinical genetics. The Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery is currently comprised of 4 faculty members, 5 fellows, and 1 professional nurse, and is operated with the Pediatric Neurosurgery Clinic by being independently assigned to the eastward wing 5 of the Children’s Hospital. In addition, according to the disease’s characteristics, we are providing treatment in cooperation with the Pediatric Clinical Neuroscience Center and the Rare Disease Center. We are also operating in-depth treatment to treat new visiting patients in more detail, even in outpatient cases.
The Department of Pediatric Neurology is focusing more on differentiated and specialized treatment by sub-categorizing specific fields by faculty. In October 1994, the Intensive Treatment Center for Epilepsy was first established in Korea, and we have played a leading role in the surgical treatment of patients with intractable epilepsy. Since 2008, the pediatric monitoring facility has expanded to 3 beds. In the Muscle Disease Clinic, most of the domestic pediatric and adolescent myopathy patients receive treatment. Various clinical trials are also underway here, and treatment and research are conducted at the level of a world-class hospital. Through the connection with the Rare Disease Center and the Rare Disease Research Project, and with basic researchers at Seoul National University College of Medicine, we are making great efforts in genetic diagnosis and functional research of patients with rare and intractable neurological diseases who suffer from not being diagnosed.
The Department of Pediatric Neurology at Seoul National University Children’s Hospital has overseen education for pediatric neurologists nationwide for the past 30 years and has contributed significantly to the development of pediatric neurology in Korea by producing about 50 pediatric neurologists.
In the future, we will continue to play a pivotal role in pediatric neuropathy treatment and research in Korea and will do our best to keep pace thanks to the world’s leading pediatric neurological treatment team.