Steven Ham, D.O.
Assistant Professor
email: sham@pediatricneurosurgerygroup.net

The pediatric neurosurgery fellowship has been in existence at the Children's Hospital of Michigan since July 1987. It's designed to provide a full range of pediatric neurosurgical experience including congenital hydrocephalus, other forms of hydrocephalus, myelodysplasia, oncology, epilepsy, trauma as well as pediatric neurological and pediatric intensive care exposure. Basic science exposure is available through participation in basic ultrastructural and neuroendocrinologic studies of hydrocephalus funded by a Children's Hospital grant and performed in association with Dr. Jerry Mitchell of the anatomy department. Protected time, with no clinical responsibilities is provided for this. This fellowship is expected to be for one year and may extend up to two years depending on the candidate's desire, research and satisfactory accomplishments during the training. Prerequisites for this program are completion of an internship and basic training in neurosurgery, either in this country or by another organized training program in the world. Applicants must also be lincensable by the State of Michigan.

Multidisciplinary care is the emphasis of the pediatric neurosurgical fellowship. The service participates in a number of multidisciplinary programs including: closed head injury, neuro-oncology clinic, epilepsy program, myelodysplasia clinic and craniofacial clinic. By a positive exposure to multidisciplinary care and a close working relationship with multiple specialties, the fellow acquires excellent general pediatric skills and makes the transition that is often lacing in adult neurosurgical settings to team based care.

The operative exposure is generous. More than 2,000 procedures are performed including more than 60 brain tumors, 20 complex craniofacial procedures as well as numerous simple craniosynostosis operations, multiple exposure to simple and complicated shunt problems as well as surgical treatment of epilepsy, stereotaxis, dorsal rhizotomy, peripheral nerve and congenital spine abnormalities. There is limited operative management of head injury since in the pediatric population it is usually a non-surgical problem but a significant number of severe head injuries are managed.

Didactic instruction is offered in the neurosurgical conferences, and the neuroradiology conference as well as the monthly clinicopatholigical conference. The department of critical care medicine as well as the imaging department, neurology and pediatrics all play a very active role in the education of the fellows. The fellows are also supported in their attendance at a major pediatric neurosurgical meeting.

Job description: Direct and supervise the management of inpatient neurosurgical patients. Participate in preoperative planning, surgical management and postoperative management of patients. Participate in and help plan educational program for residents both pediatric and neurosurgical as well as the entire section of pediatric neurosurgery. Plan and participate in clinical research projects both ongoing and new. Participation in Wednesday morning Wayne State University conferences as well as Children's Neuroradiology conference on Friday is mandatory.