Texas Children's Hospital welcomes renowned pediatric neurosurgeon

HOUSTON, Dec. 20, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Dr. Sandi Lam has joined Texas Children's Hospital as pediatric neurosurgeon and will also serve as an assistant professor in the department of neurosurgery at Baylor College of Medicine. Lam, whose appointment was effective earlier this month, will be co-director of Texas Children's multidisciplinary Craniofacial Clinic and serve as lead neurosurgeon. Additionally, Lam will join the Texas Children's surgical epilepsy team, bringing her experience from working in respected programs around the country. For more information about pediatric neurosurgery visit texaschildrens.org/neurosurgery.

Lam hails from the University of Chicago where she served as an assistant professor in the department of neurosurgery. Her research focus is on health services, clinical outcomes and health care economics. She has special interest in using large administrative databases for comparative effectiveness and cost effectiveness research. Lam has a unique perspective in interpreting the clinical implications of this research and aims for it to have meaningful impact on the way pediatric neurosurgery is practiced now and into the future.

Lam has authored more than eight chapters and 20 publications in various academic and medical journals, and is the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including a research award from the American Association of Neurological Surgeons/Congress of Neurosurgeons Joint Section on Pediatric Neurosurgery, as well a grant from the Institute of Translational Medicine.

Aside from her clinical and research work, Lam's passion is providing care to children in underserved areas of the world. Each year she travels to Kenya where she performs a wide spectrum of neurosurgical procedures, operating on problems including myelomeningocele, encephalocele, hydrocephalus, brain and spine tumors and vascular anomalies. She also spends her time in Kenya teaching neurosurgery residents and fellows.

"It's a privilege and blessing to have the opportunity to help children around the world," said Lam. "I'm honored to be part of an institution that encourages and supports my passion for helping all families in need of medical attention."

Lam received both her undergraduate and medical degrees from Northwestern University. She also earned a Master of Business Administration from George Washington University. She completed her residency at University of California, Los Angeles and fellowship at Children's Hospital Pittsburgh.

"We're thrilled to have Dr. Lam join our team," says Dr. Thomas Luerssen, chief of pediatric neurosurgery at Texas Children's Hospital and professor of neurosurgery at BCM. "With her extensive clinical training, unique research interests and her overall passion for improving care for children with neurologic diseases, she will be a valuable asset to our team which is one of the nation's largest and most experienced pediatric neurosurgery programs."

About Texas Children's Hospital
Texas Children's Hospital, a not-for-profit organization, is committed to creating a community of healthy children through excellence in patient care, education and research. Consistently ranked among the top children's hospitals in the nation, Texas Children's has recognized Centers of Excellence in multiple pediatric subspecialties including the Cancer and Heart Centers, and operates the largest primary pediatric care network in the country. Texas Children's has completed a $1.5 billion expansion, which includes the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute; Texas Children's Pavilion for Women, a comprehensive obstetrics/gynecology facility focusing on high-risk births; and Texas Children's Hospital West Campus, a community hospital in suburban West Houston.  For more information on Texas Children's, go to www.texaschildrens.org. Get the latest news from Texas Children's by visiting the online newsroom and on Twitter at twitter.com/texaschildrens.

CONTACT: Elizabeth Shackouls, 832-824-2108, [email protected]

SOURCE Texas Children's Hospital