Texas Children’s Hospital Named First Pediatric “Multidisciplinary Team of Distinction” Skull Base Program in U.S.

North American Skull Base Society recognizes the high quality of care and specialization of Texas

HOUSTON, TX – (November 22, 2021) – Texas Children’s Hospital is the first pediatric hospital in the country to receive a “Multidisciplinary Team of Distinction” designation by the North American Skull Base Society (NASBS), a preeminent neurological organization dedicated to improving the outcome of patients with skull base disorders. This first-in-the-nation recognition of excellence further enhances Texas Children’s Hospital’s reputation as the country’s premiere destination for pediatric skull base surgery.

Doctors at Texas Children’s Hospital have been successfully completing skull base surgeries for more than fifteen years. The Multidisciplinary Skull Base Program is built around a singular focus of providing individualized treatment of skull base tumors in children.  Texas Children’s experts offer a specialized treatment plan based on patient diagnosis and the combined experience of its highly-trained, multidisciplinary team that has successfully treated hundreds of children with similar conditions. Due to the exponential advantages of specialized collaboration, Texas Children’s is able to provide the best possible outcome for every patient.

“This program is the only one of its kind in the United States as it is the only one functioning in such an advanced capacity at a pediatric hospital,” said Dr. Larry Hollier, Surgeon-in-Chief at Texas Children’s Hospital. “We are honored to receive this distinction from the North American Skull Base Society and know the responsibility that comes with it.”

“We want to offer the best possible treatment within the specialized environment that only a pediatric hospital can offer," said Dr. Guillermo Aldave Director of Neurosurgical Oncology at Texas Children’s Hospital.

Skull Base disorders include tumors and other conditions found in the bottom, or base, of the skull. These disorders can be challenging and even dangerous to reach sometimes, as they exist under the brain and may be entangled with important nerves and blood vessels.

Texas Children’s Hospital is one of only 33 facilities in the world to earn a Multidisciplinary Team of Distinction designation by the North American Skull Base Society in 2021. The primary aim of the NASBS is to promote dissemination of information about diseases involving the skull base, including the anatomy, physiology, pathology and clinical management of the disorders, in order to facilitate coordinated excellence in the delivery of care to patients. The Multidisciplinary Team of Distinction designation is based on meeting North American Skull Base Society (NASBS) membership criteria and may not be construed as a medical referral.

“It was our goal to build one of the first skull base centers with a team of solely pediatric subspecialists specifically trained to provide comprehensive, multidisciplinary care for children with tumors and other disorders of the skull base,” said Dr. Uma Ramaswamy. “To be the first pediatric hospital designated as a Multidisciplinary Team of Distinction by the North American Skull Base Society is truly an honor.”