Meet the Team
The Cerebral Palsy Program is led by international and national leaders in cerebral palsy care.
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James J. McCarthy, MD, MHCM
Director, Division of Pediatric Orthopaedics
McCarthy is a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon and leads the Orthopaedic Cerebral Palsy Clinic. He is an international expert on cerebral palsy surgical interventions, with over 20 years of experience in the treatment and evaluation of children with cerebral palsy. He recently formed a panel of experts from 15 institutions around the world to develop standardized care guidelines for children with CP.
“When surgery is needed, my goal is to ensure that we tailor the procedure to the patient’s and family’s wishes and circumstances, as well as to decrease complications and lower the risks for the patient. My approach is that each patient and each procedure is unique.”
— James J. McCarthy, MD, MHCM
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Charles B. Stevenson, MD, FAANS, FACS, FAAP
Director, Surgical Spasticity Clinic
Stevenson, a pediatric neurosurgeon, founded the Surgical Spasticity Clinic at Cincinnati Children’s in 2015. He is a national leader in optimizing outcomes and the safety of surgical treatments to reduce spasticity, and he conducts clinical research to improve care for children with cerebral palsy. Stevenson travels nationally and internationally to teach minimally invasive techniques for selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR).
“Helping patients achieve their full mobility potential takes time, commitment and a very personalized approach. It is always so rewarding to see patients attain a level of independence they have never experienced before.”
— Charles B. Stevenson, MD, FAANS, FACS, FAAP
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JiIda N. Vargus-Adams, MD, MSc
Director, Rehab Medicine Cerebral Palsy Clinic
Vargus-Adams is a pediatric rehabilitation doctor who specializes in cerebral palsy. She is a national leader in cerebral palsy care, serving as president of the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine. She also is involved in research that explores new methods for identifying cerebral palsy early and providing the best possible treatments.
“I believe that every child, including those with cerebral palsy, should get to live the biggest life possible. Cincinnati Children’s offers virtually every treatment that is shown to benefit children with cerebral palsy, and we provide the most effective benefits to every child we see.”
— Jilda Vargus-Adams, MD, MSc