Karla Patricia Salazar, MD

Dr. Karla Salazar is a Pediatric Neurologist and Neuroimmunologist with a passion for caring for children with complex neurologic conditions. Her clinical interests include general pediatric neurology and inflammatory and autoimmune disorders of the nervous system, including multiple sclerosis, MOG antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) and autoimmune encephalitis. She is committed to patient advocacy, medical education and improving access to high-quality neurologic care, with a particular interest in helping children and families navigate complex or rare diagnoses.

Her academic work focuses on pediatric neuroimmunology, neuroimaging and improving the quality and equity of neurologic care.

Dr. Salazar is fluent in English and Spanish and values providing compassionate, culturally responsive care to families from diverse backgrounds.

Personal Statement

I was drawn to pediatric neurology because the nervous system is endlessly fascinating, but what I love most about my work is the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with children and their families. Neurologic diagnoses can be complicated and sometimes frightening, and I believe families deserve a physician who will listen carefully, explain things clearly, and make sure they feel heard and supported throughout the process. Advocacy is an important part of who I am as a physician, particularly for children with complex or rare conditions and for families who may face barriers to accessing care.

I am fluent in English and Spanish and feel especially fortunate when I can help families navigate their child’s care in the language in which they feel most comfortable.

Outside of medicine, I love traveling, gardening and tending to my ever-growing plant collection, staying active, and spending time with my family and cats.

Clinical Interests

Autoimmune encephalitis, neurogenetic disorders, multiple sclerosis

Education

Organizations

Board Certification

* Texas Children’s Hospital physicians’ licenses and credentials are reviewed prior to practicing at any of our facilities. Sections titled From the Doctor, Professional Organizations and Publications were provided by the physician’s office and were not verified by Texas Children’s Hospital.

Yarimi JM, Sandweiss AJ, Salazar KP, Massrey C, Ankar A, Muscal E, Lai YC, Cokley JA, Davila-Williams D, Shukla NM, Fisher KS. IT-DEX and B cell depletion in a child with anti-GAD 65 autoimmune encephalitis presenting as NORSE: A case report.  Journal of Neuroimmunology. 2024 Oct 15;395:578430. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2024.578430. Epub 2024 Aug 8. PMID: 39128431

El Atrache R, Mizerik M, Ruiz Lopez JF, Engstrom E, Salazar KP, Guzman-Karlsson MC, Davila-Williams D, Sen S, Fisher KS, Erklauer JC. Intracranial Rhizomucor Pusillus Mucormycosis in an Adolescent Triggering a Stroke Alert: A Case Report and a Systematic Review of Pediatric Cases. Journal of Child Neurology. 2025 Sep;40(8):678-685. doi: 10.1177/08830738251334939. Epub 2025 May 7. PMID: 40329649 Free PMC article.

Rossi V, Brooks D, Dai H, Mizerik E, Salazar K, Davila-Williams D, Ben-Moshe Y, Lalani SR, Elsea SH, Gijavanekar C, Scott DA, Machol K, Bekheirnia MR, Scaglia F. A Rare Molecular Diagnosis in a Patient With Hepatocerebral Syndrome Contributes to the Expansion of the Phenotypic Spectrum of POLG2 -Related Mitochondrial Disorder.  The American Journal of Medical Genetics - Part A . 2025 Nov;197(11):e64177. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.64177. Epub 2025 Jul 9. PMID: 40631390

Aduru C, Chandrasekar A, Blasingame K, Rosen J, Levine JM, Salazar K, Chilakapati M, Foroozan R, Hardwick V, Yarimi JM, Shukla N, Lotze TE, Fisher KS, Sandweiss AJ. MOGAD Is the Most Common Cause of Isolated Optic Neuritis in Children. Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology. 2026 May 4:10.1002/acn3.70422. doi: 10.1002/acn3.70422. Online ahead of print