Dr. Ana B. Chelse

Brenda Banwell is the director of the Department of Pediatrics, as well as pediatrician-in-chief and co-director of Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, where she helps manage the hospital’s many clinical and research centers. Dr. Banwell is a renowned expert in the research and treatment of pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neuroimmune disorders. She specializes in and studies the use of neuroimaging to assess the clinical and cognitive impact of the conditions, as well as the function of the immune system in children with these disorders. She also created a standardized clinical care algorithm and clinical database in order to evaluate the clinical impact of MS. Dr. Banwell has published more than 250 manuscripts in high-impact journals, along with over 25 book chapters. In addition, she has over 200 national and international invited lectureships and visiting professorships. An advocate for pediatric multiple sclerosis needs and research, Dr. Banwell serves as chair of the International Medical and Scientific Board of the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation, and the Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein Antibody–Associated Disease (MOGAD) International Research Consortium. She is also chair of the pediatric committee of the National Institutes of Health NeuroNEXT program, which conducts studies on treatments for neurological diseases through academic, private, and industry collaborations. Dr. Banwell currently serves as past-chair of the International Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Study Group, Dr. Banwell earned her medical degree from the University of Western Ontario. She later completed a residency in pediatrics at the University of Western Ontario-Children's Hospital of Western Ontario and a second residency in pediatric neurology at University of Toronto – The Hospital for Sick Children. Her residencies were followed by a fellowship in neuromuscular research at Mayo Clinic. Dr. Banwell is highly rated in 16 conditions, according to our data. Her top areas of expertise are Multiple Sclerosis (MS), CACH Syndrome, Optic Neuritis, and Transverse Myelitis.

Dr. Comi graduated from SUNY Buffalo School of Medicine and received her training in pediatrics at the Children's Hospital of Buffalo and her child neurology training at Johns Hopkins Medicine. Her clinical specialization is in the treatment of the neurological aspects of Sturge-Weber syndrome and other disorders related to capillary malformation. Dr. Comi's clinical research interests focus on improving the early diagnosis and treatment of brain involvement in Sturge-Weber syndrome in order to prevent ischemic brain injury in affected infants and young children, and on studies to understand what causes Sturge-Weber syndrome. Her laboratory research work deals with the pathogenesis of Sturge-Weber syndrome, recently shown to be caused by a somatic mutation, and on developing new drug targets, screening assays, models and therapeutic strategies for Sturge-Weber syndrome. Her lab group also works on developing better neuroprotective and neuroregenerative responses to brain injury resulting from impaired blood flow to the brain. Dr. Comi is highly rated in 22 conditions, according to our data. Her top areas of expertise are Sturge-Weber Syndrome, Parkes Weber Syndrome, Stork Bite, Epilepsy in Children, and Endovascular Embolization.

Dr. Eric Kossoff focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of childhood seizures and epilepsy, particularly treatments other than medications such as diet and neurostimulation. He is one of the world experts on dietary treatment for epilepsy (ketogenic diet) and lectures around the world about this therapy. His specific interests include the ketogenic diet, the modified Atkins diet for children and adults, infantile spasms, benign rolandic epilepsy, the interaction of migraine headaches with epilepsy, and Sturge-Weber syndrome. Dr. Eric Kossoff is also very involved in teaching and is the Director of the Pediatric Neurology Residency Program. He is a professor of neurology and pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He is a co-author of Treatment of Pediatric Neurologic Disorders and the 7th edition of Ketogenic Diet Therapies. Dr. Kossoff sees patients in the Johns Hopkins Outpatient Center (5th floor) in Baltimore on Tuesday afternoons and Thursday mornings. He sees patients at Green Spring Station on Wednesday afternoons. He also participates in telemedicine. Dr. Kossoff received his medical degree from SUNY at Buffalo School of Medicine in New York. He went on to complete a residency in pediatrics at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Virginia. He completed a second residency in child neurology and a fellowship in pediatric epilepsy and clinical neurophysiology at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. Dr. Kossoff is highly rated in 13 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Epilepsy, Epilepsy in Children, Seizures, Endovascular Embolization, and Gastrostomy.