Spina Bifida Center
The multidisciplinary Spina Bifida Center at Lurie Children's provides compassionate, comprehensive care for children and adolescents with spina bifida, tethered spinal cords and other types of congenital spinal anomalies, from prenatal consultation through young adulthood. Our center recognizes the importance of a coordinated team approach and adapts to meet the needs of patients through every stage of growth and development. Our team include specialists from:
- Neurosurgery
- Urology
- Orthopedic surgery
- Physical medicine & rehabilitation
Spina Bifida Clinic meets every Tuesday, during which time patients may be seen by multiple specialists on the same day. Clinic is located at the Lurie Children’s Outpatient Center in Lincoln Park. The clinic team also collaborates with many different medical professionals to provide innovative and comprehensive clinical care for our patients and families. Additional supports include:
- Pediatrics
- Rehabilitative services/physical therapy
- Sleep medicine
- Speech
- Clinical nutrition
- Family services
Experience
Our Spina Bifida Center Program Director, Robin Bowman, MD, and Program Coordinator, Colleen Rosen, APN, are always available to answer any questions you may have surrounding your child’s diagnosis and long-term care. If you have any questions surrounding your child’s diagnosis, please call 312.227.4220.
Clinical Care Partner with the National Spina Bifida Association
The Multidisciplinary Spina Bifida Center at Lurie Children’s has been recognized as a Clinical Care Partner with the National Spina Bifida Association (SBA). To receive this esteemed recognition, 10 standards must be met. These standards are based upon practices that promote the optimal outcomes for people living with Spina Bifida.
These standards focus on:
- Comprehensive coordination of medical and surgical care through a multidisciplinary spina bifida clinic.
- Collaboration with a prenatal spina bifida diagnosis program.
- Partnership with a Family Advisory Board who meet regularly and advise the clinic of patient/family experiences and improvement opportunities.
The Multidisciplinary Spina Bifida Center at Lurie Children’s is one of only a handful of clinics worldwide who have been recognized and designated as a Clinical Care Partner through the National Spina Bifida Association. For more information on this esteemed recognition, please follow this link: Clinic Care Partners - Spina Bifida Association
Spina Bifida Specialists
Neurosurgery
Robin M. Bowman, MD
Director, Multidisciplinary Spina Bifida Center; Co-Director, Fetal Neurosurgery, The Chicago Institute for Fetal Health; Medical Director, Camp Independence
Colleen E. Rosen, MSN, APRN-NP, PNP-BC
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Neurosurgery
Deborah Prodoehl, RN
Daniela Gacek
Spina Bifida Administrative Coordinator
Orthopedics
Vineeta T. Swaroop, MD
Attending Physician, Orthopaedic Surgery
John F. Sarwark, MD
Attending Physician, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine; Martha Washington Foundation for Handicapped Children Professor in Pediatric Orthopedics
Jill E. Larson, MD
Attending Physician, Orthopaedic Surgery
Ana-Marie Rojas, MD
Attending Physician, Physiatry
Julie E. Martin, APRN-NP
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine
Kristine Santos-Martin, APRN, NP
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Orthopaedic Surgery
Psychology
Jaclyn L. Papadakis, PhD
Pediatric Psychologist, The Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Urology
Elizabeth B. Yerkes, MD
Attending Physician, Urology; Director of Neuro-urology; Co-Director of Reconstructive Pediatric Urology in the Division of Urology
Earl Y. Cheng, MD
Division Head, Urology; Co-Head, Reconstructive Pediatric Urology; Founders’ Board Chair in Urology
Diana K. Bowen, MD
Attending Physician, Urology
David I. Chu, MD, MSCE
Attending Physician, Urology
Anna L. Dickson, MSN, APRN-NP, CPNP-PC
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Urology
Allison R. Sherling, APRN-NP, CPNP-PC
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Urology
Monica Snyder, RN
Jennifer Wolf, RN
Support Staff
Margo Chavez-Easley, LCSW
Social Worker
Klaudia Dziugan, MPH
Laura Henehan, MS, CCC-SLP, CLS
Speech-language Pathologist
Theresa Meyer, MS, RN, CPN
Spina Bifida Research Nurse
Maria Sander
Resource Specialist
Roseann Greene, RN
Spina Bifida Research Nurse
Agueda Astorga, MA
Jessica Judge, MA
Kimberly Sells, MA
Flow Coordinator
Make an Appointment
Call to schedule an appointment in Spina Bifida Clinic or Tethered Cord Clinic. Due to the nature of this clinic, online scheduling is not available.
Our Locations
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
225 E. Chicago Ave.Chicago, Illinois 60611
312.227.4000
Lurie Children's Hospital Outpatient Center in Lincoln Park
2515 N. Clark Street/467 W. Deming PlaceChicago, Illinois 60614-3393
1.800.543.7362
Our Research
Lurie Children’s Spina Bifida Center is a member of the National Spina Bifida Patient Registry, a network of clinics funded by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) to collect information regarding spina bifida. This information will be used in research efforts to establish guidelines and improve outcomes for those with spina bifida. We are one of twenty-four active sites who participate in the National Spina Bifida Registry as well as one of nine active sites who participate in the Urological Management of Newborns with Spina Bifida.
We are also involved in cutting edge research to examine shunt placement rates and the relationship between neuropsychological and psychosocial outcomes for children with myelomeningocele who have or do not have a shunt.
Spina Bifida News & Stories
Spina Bifida: Myths and Misconceptions Explained
Spina bifida is a complex birth defect, but many misconceptions surround it. Our expert debunk myths about this condition and highlights the importance of early intervention and comprehensive care.
Meant for Each Other – Alyssa & Baby Mila’s Surgery for Myelomeningocele
The Chicago Institute for Fetal Health at Lurie Children’s was able to perform fetoscopic surgery on pregnant Alyssa. Nearly two years later, baby Mila is a healthy and happy toddler taking her first steps with a walker.
Hispanic Women Still at Higher Risk for Births with Neural Tube Defects After Voluntary Folic Acid Fortification of Corn Masa Flour
The Latest in Medical and Surgical Treatment of Spina Bifida
Spina bifida affects about 1,400 babies born each year. Learn more from Dr. Robin Bowman, Spina bifida and Lurie Children's Spina Bifida Program in this episode.
Hope’s Story: Fetal Surgery for Spina Bifida
Nyra and Kyle were given the option to undergo a new type of surgery being performed in-utero to fix their unborn daughter's spina bifida defect.
Millie Marks 100 Fetal Surgeries for CIFH with Fetoscopic MMC Procedure
Alyssa and Simon said their world stopped last fall when their baby was diagnosed with the most severe form of spina bifida, myelomeningocele.
Philanthropy
Your support is vital in helping us continue to make a difference in the lives of patients and families. Lurie Children's relies on philanthropic funding to enhance its programs, services and research for children. To learn more, please e-mail the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago Foundation at foundation@luriechildrens.org or call 312.227.7500.