Are you interested in neurosurgical interventions for cerebral palsy or have you considered consulting with a physiatrist for care for your child? Listen up to learn more!

In Episode 10 of "Let's Talk CP" host, Jen Lyman, talks with physiatrist, Dr. Debbie Song and neurosurgeon, Dr. Marcie Ward, from Gillette Specialty Healthcare about interventions neurosurgeons and physiatrists use to treat the symptoms of cerebral palsy, including baclofen pumps and selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR). They also discuss how this team works together with families in their approach to treatment and interventions at Gillette Children’s, to focus on maximizing function and participation for their young patients.

Gillette Specialty Healthcare in Saint Paul Minnesota is one of the world’s top cerebral palsy centers, home to leading specialists in treatments for cerebral palsy, including orthopedics, neurology and neurosurgery, as well as operating one of the world’s busiest and most respected clinical gait and motion analysis centers.

Dr. Marcy Ward is a pediatric physiatrist, short for Pediatric Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physician, at Gillette Specialty Healthcare. She treats pediatric patients who have cerebral palsy, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and other conditions that result in childhood-onset disability. She is a member of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Debbie Song is a pediatric neurosurgeon at Gillette Specialty Healthcare where she evaluates and treats patients with a wide range of brain and spinal cord pathologies including tumors, Chiari malformations, craniosynostosis, hydrocephalus, and cerebral palsy and spina bifida. She is a member of Congress of Neurological Surgeons, American Association of Neurological Surgeons.

We hope you enjoy this episode and don't forget to subscribe to "Let's Talk CP" on your favorite podcast platforms including Apple podcasts, iHeartRadio, Spotify, Google podcasts, Stitcher and many more.

Have you wondered if gait analysis might be helpful for you or your child or how gait patterns develop in someone with cerebral palsy across the lifespan? Let's Talk CP host, Cynthia Frisina talks with Dr. Tom Novachek and Dr. Andrew Georgiadis from Gillette Children's about gait, gait analysis, and what makes Gillette Children's such a special place in this new 2022 episode of "Let's Talk CP."

Gillette Children's in Saint Paul Minnesota is one of the world’s top cerebral palsy centers, home to leading specialists in treatments for cerebral palsy, including orthopedics, neurology and neurosurgery, as well as operating one of the world’s busiest and most respected clinical gait and motion analysis centers.

Using innovative computer technology, gait and motion analysis captures movements, muscle activity and forces that the eye can’t see and helps clinicians understand and recognize how orthopedic, neurological and muscular conditions can hinder motions that are critical to daily living. This  information can lead to better treatment decisions and outcomes for patients and their families.

Tom Novacheck, MD, is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon and Associate Medical Director of the James R. Gage Center for Gait and Motion Analysis at Gillette.  He  is also the current president of the American Academy for Cerebral  Palsy and Developmental Medicine www.aacpdm.org  Dr. Novachek specializes in treating cerebral palsy, scoliosis or other complex orthopaedic conditions in children and adolescents. Dr. Novacheck's research and education activities for residents, fellows, and healthcare professionals have focused primarily on outcomes studies of management of gait disorders in individuals with cerebral palsy, development of motion analysis testing methods, and the biomechanics of running.

Dr. Andrew Georgiadis  is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon and Clinical Manager of Center for Gait & Motion Analysis at Gillette. Dr. Georgiadis has a particular clinical interest in congenital conditions of the hip and lower extremities and in pediatric orthopaedic trauma, as well as decision-making for patients with cerebral palsy.

Learn more about Gillette Children's and Dr. Novachek and Dr. Georgiadis here  https://www.gillettechildrens.org

Don't forget to subscribe to "Let's Talk CP" on your favorite podcast platforms including Apple podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify, Google podcasts, Stitcher and many more.

Don't miss Part Two of this very special episode series, when CPF podcast host Cynthia Frisina dives deeper with Michael Kutcher into his life growing up in Iowa with cerebral palsy, his "coming of age" and life as the twin brother of actor Christopher "Ashton" Kutcher.

Throughout his childhood, Michael worked to overcome issues with eyesight, speech, and motor skill development. Unfortunately Michael’s uphill battle was only getting started. Diagnosed with heart failure at age 13, Michael was once again faced with an unthinkable challenge of survival. After being given a life expectancy of just three to four weeks, Michael again defeated the odds and successfully received a life saving heart transplant. It was this second close brush with death that opened Michael’s eyes to the fragility of life and inspired him to take control of the future he once thought he wouldn’t have.

His medical triumphs and perspective on Cerebral Palsy have led him to work directly with Reaching for the Stars, A Foundation of Hope for Children with Cerebral Palsy (now part of the Cerebral Palsy Foundation) as an advocate and public speaker. His determination and passion brought him as far as Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., where Michael worked to raise awareness and funding for cerebral palsy research. Michael has also brought his profound story and message to the Centers for Disease Control as well as the National Institutes of Health.

When he’s not advocating for Cerebral Palsy awareness or inspiring audiences around the nation, Michael resides in Denver, Colorado, where he’s built a successful career as an Assistant Vice President for Transamerica Retirement Solutions. In his free time, Michael enjoys spending time with his family, traveling and playing golf. Michael’s message is one of inspiration, hope and appreciation. Having overcome unthinkable challenges against extraordinary odds, Michael is living proof that perseverance and unwavering positivity can surmount even the most seemingly impossible of obstacles.

Subscribe to "Let's Talk CP" on your favorite podcast platforms including Apple podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify, Google podcasts, Stitcher and many more.