ST. PAUL, Minn., March 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Children's Hospitals & Clinics of Minnesota is proud to announce the addition of Joseph Petronio, MD, to its neurosurgery practice. Dr. Petronio has performed neurosurgery at Children's and other Twin Cities hospitals since 1999. In this new role, he will lead the neurosurgery program at Children's – St. Paul to enhance the services and capabilities already available.

"Children's is a leader both in terms of the way they provide care, and the outcomes they deliver," said Petronio. "I'm excited about the opportunities to practice in a setting that brings state-of-the-art care to complex problems, while still tending to the unique needs of children and their families."

A graduate of Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago, Dr. Petronio completed residencies at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. He completed a clinical fellowship in neuro-oncology and a postdoctoral fellowship in the molecular biology of brain tumors at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Petronio also completed a fellowship in pediatric neurosurgery and an additional post-doctoral fellowship in the molecular biology of brain tumors at the University of Utah.

A major focus of Dr. Petronio's practice will be treating hydrocephalus – excess fluid build-up in the brain – and related disorders, as well as the treatment and management of brain, spine and skull tumors, and epilepsy.

"We're extremely happy to bring Dr. Petronio in to lead our St. Paul neurosurgery practice," said Phil Kibort, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Children's of Minnesota. "Dr. Petronio brings a great combination of medical skill and expertise, along with an appreciation of what makes Children's a special place for children and families. He will be an excellent addition to our team."

As part of his role at Children's, Dr. Petronio will hold clinic hours at Children's St. Paul, Minneapolis and Minnetonka locations.

About the neurosurgery program at Children's

Innovations in neurology and neurosurgery have greatly improved the quality of life for children with neurological conditions. The neurosurgery team at Children's is committed to the constant pursuit of better care for these children through adoption of the latest techniques, training and technology, including:

• 3 Tesla MRI system
• Intra-operative MRI
• Interventional neuroradiology
• Subdural grid placement surgery for patients with epilepsy

About Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota

Serving as Minnesota's children's hospital since 1924, Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota has 332 staffed beds at its two hospitals in St. Paul and Minneapolis. An independent, not-for-profit health care system, Children's of Minnesota provides care through more than 14,000 inpatient visits and more than 200,000 emergency room and other outpatient visits every year. Children's is the only Minnesota hospital system to provide comprehensive care exclusively to children. For more information, visit www.childrensmn.org.

SOURCE Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota