The Opportunity

Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH) seeks an accomplished and visionary pediatric neurologist to serve as Director of the Stroke and Cerebrovascular Neurology Service in the Department of Neurology and Co-Director of the Stroke and Cerebrovascular Center (SACC). With strong institutional support and alignment across disciplines, the incoming leader will have the opportunity to shape the future of pediatric stroke and cerebrovascular care at BCH, building on a strong foundation of multidisciplinary clinical care, research, and education while expanding the program’s visibility and impact nationally and internationally.

Reporting to both the Neurologist-in-Chief and the Division Chief of Neurocritical Care, this individual will lead four pediatric neurology faculty and provide leadership for a multidisciplinary team of stroke specialists across the SACC. The incoming leader will bring together expertise from across disciplines to strengthen collaboration and cohesion while advancing clinical innovation, quality, and care delivery. This individual will also play a central role in advancing the SACC’s research and academic missions, mentoring and developing faculty, and strengthening the Pediatric Stroke Fellowship.

The successful candidate will embody BCH’s commitment to excellence, collaboration, and innovation – ensuring that the SACC continues to shape the future of pediatric stroke and cerebrovascular care worldwide.

SUCCESS CRITERIA:

•    Set and advance a clear vision for the future of pediatric stroke at BCH. Establish strategic priorities that strengthen the program’s clinical, research, and academic missions and position BCH at the forefront of the field.

•    Build a highly collaborative and cohesive multidisciplinary team. Align faculty around shared goals, strengthen communication and engagement, and create an environment that supports effective decision-making and partnership.

•    Advance an integrated and innovative model of pediatric stroke care. Strengthen shared care, multidisciplinary coordination, clinical pathways, and

quality improvement while advancing innovation in pediatric stroke care.

•    Elevate research impact and visibility.

Foster collaborative investigation, strengthen participation and leadership in multicenter research, and expand the program’s national and international presence.

•    Develop the next generation of pediatric stroke leaders. Support the development of faculty and trainees while strengthening the Pediatric Stroke Fellowship and broader educational mission.

Department of Neurology

The Department of Neurology at BCH has a longstanding legacy of leadership and innovation in pediatric neurology. Established in 1929 as the first dedicated child neurology service at a U.S. pediatric hospital, the Department went on to establish the nation’s first pediatric epilepsy unit in 1944, first comprehensive pediatric sleep center in 1978, and first dedicated pediatric neurocritical care program in 1996. Today, the Department provides comprehensive care for infants, children, and adolescents across the full spectrum of neurological and developmental disorders, including some of the most complex and rare conditions. Its longstanding excellence is reflected in its #1 ranking in Neurology & Neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report for 2026-2027.

Through nearly 40 specialized programs, the Department brings together expertise across virtually every area of pediatric neurology. Its multidisciplinary team offers advanced

clinical services across areas including epilepsy, neurocritical care, genetics, rehabilitation, headache, stroke and cerebrovascular disease, and other pediatric neurology subspecialties. The Department’s highly specialized programs serve as national and international referral resources, drawing patients from across the country and around the world, while close collaboration with Neurosurgery and other specialties throughout BCH supports coordinated, multidisciplinary care.

Research is central to the Department’s mission, spanning basic science, translational investigation, clinical research, and therapeutic development. BCH Neurology investigators have contributed to major advances in areas including spinal muscular atrophy, tuberous sclerosis, epilepsy, neurodevelopmental disorders, and childhood brain cancer. In FY24, the Department produced more than 350 publications and supported a research enterprise with $120 million in total research expenditures. Education is also central to the Department’s mission. Its highly sought-after Child Neurology and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities residency programs attract trainees from across the country and around the world, with many graduates going on to leadership positions throughout the field. The Department also supports multiple career development pathways and maintains a strong commitment to mentorship and the academic development of faculty and trainees.

Stroke & Cerebrovascular Center

BCH’s Stroke and Cerebrovascular Center (SACC) is a global leader in the treatment of pediatric cerebrovascular disorders, bringing together multidisciplinary expertise to provide highly specialized care. The Center regularly receives national and international referrals for children with rare and complex cerebrovascular disorders and draws expertise from across BCH, including specialists in child neurology, hematology, cardiology, neurosurgery, physiatry, neuroradiology, critical care, neuropsychology, emergency medicine, physical and occupational therapy, social work, and more.

As the largest multidisciplinary pediatric stroke center in the northeastern U.S., the SACC provides comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care for children with stroke and complex cerebrovascular conditions, including cerebral sinovenous thrombosis, thrombotic disorders, and genetic and acquired arteriopathies. The Center also cares for significant populations of children with neonatal and perinatal stroke, as well as children with congenital heart disease and other cardiac etiologies of stroke, drawing on BCH’s extensive expertise across neonatal and cardiac care. The SACC provides 24/7 inpatient consultation for children with acute stroke and other cerebrovascular disorders, supporting evaluation and treatment across the Emergency Department, inpatient units, and intensive care units.

The SACC multidisciplinary model provides coordinated, longitudinal care that addresses each child’s neurologic, medical, surgical, rehabilitative, and psychosocial needs from initial diagnosis and treatment through rehabilitation and long-term follow-up. A dedicated SACC nurse, nurse practitioner, social worker, and program coordinator support comprehensive longitudinal care and facilitate intakes and referrals. The weekly multidisciplinary stroke clinic in Waltham offers a “one-stop” model of care, bringing together specialists across disciplines in a coordinated setting. In addition to neurology, cardiology, and hematology, this dedicated multidisciplinary clinic brings together physiatry, physical therapy, and occupational therapy to address the neuro-orthopedic and rehabilitative needs of children with stroke and cerebrovascular disorders. Through a weekly neuroradiology case conference, the Center also partners with the Cerebrovascular and Surgical Intervention Center (CSIC) to provide coordinated neurologic and neurosurgical care to children with surgical vascular disorders of the brain, including arteriovenous malformations, cavernous malformations, aneurysms, and moyamoya disease for which BCH is a surgical pioneer and international center of excellence.

The SACC has been at the forefront of advancing acute pediatric stroke care at BCH, including the introduction of thrombolytic and endovascular treatments for eligible children with embolic stroke that are now standard practice across the hospital. The Center served as the facilitating focus for the development of BCH’s first evidence-based Clinical Pathway for Evaluation and Care of Children with Acute Stroke. The protocol includes guidance for clinical evaluation, use of intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular thrombectomy, and post-procedure and -treatment care. The pathway has become a resource for pediatric centers nationally and internationally, with clinicians seeking BCH’s expertise in developing similar approaches to acute stroke care.

The SACC also leads a multidisciplinary Quality Improvement Review Committee focused on increasing the safety and efficacy of acute stroke care for children at BCH. The committee collects and reviews data from acute stroke cases to identify opportunities to improve care, shorten time-to-treatment, and maximize brain protection.

Research and Education

The SACC is one of the most active pediatric stroke research centers in the world and one of a limited number of specialized programs in the U.S. dedicated to advancing the understanding, prevention, and treatment of childhood stroke. Center faculty are actively engaged in the leading international organizations for research and clinical care in pediatric cerebrovascular diseases, including the International Pediatric Stroke Study (IPSS) and International Pediatric Stroke Organization (IPSO), and collectively hold authorship in more than 230 published manuscripts. SACC faculty co-led the IPSO consensus guidelines for pediatric hemorrhagic stroke, and the Center was the highest-recruiting site for the first pediatric rehabilitation trial through StrokeNet for children with perinatal stroke. The Center’s research spans clinical and laboratory investigation in areas including moyamoya, ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, advanced imaging, and biomarker development, with faculty participating in and leading multicenter and NIH-supported studies and trials and collaborating with investigators nationally and internationally.

Education is also central to the Center’s mission, with faculty leading pediatric stroke education for clinicians at BCH and across the field. The SACC is developing acute stroke simulation scenarios to support clinical staff training throughout the hospital. The Center’s “Pediatric Stroke Champions” continuing education course, taught by 14 SACC clinicians, has reached 62 interprofessional learners from 25 states and four countries in its first three years, helping participants advance pediatric stroke care within their home institutions. The SACC further extends its educational reach through OPENPediatrics, including the “Introduction to Pediatric Stroke Management” course, which has been accessed nearly 33,000 times.

Position Responsibilities

Clinical

•    Provide clinical leadership for the Stroke and Cerebrovascular Neurology Service and advance the delivery of comprehensive, high-quality stroke care across inpatient and outpatient settings.

•    Provide expert clinical care for pediatric patients with stroke and cerebrovascular disorders, including complex and multidisciplinary cases.

•    Lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of clinical programs, pathways, protocols, and innovations in pediatric stroke care.

•    Collaborate closely with multidisciplinary specialists across the SACC to ensure coordinated diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and longitudinal care.

•    Promote evidence-based, patient- and family-centered care, with a focus on quality, access, and coordination across the continuum.

Administration & Quality Improvement

•    Partner with multidisciplinary leaders across BCH to advance short- and long-term strategic priorities for the Stroke and Cerebrovascular Neurology Service and SACC.

•    Provide oversight, mentorship, and support to the SACC leadership team and faculty, fostering their academic and professional development.

•    Foster a positive, collaborative, and cohesive work environment that promotes communication, engagement, and teamwork across the Center.

•    Lead quality improvement initiatives focused on advancing the safety, efficacy, timeliness, and consistency of pediatric stroke care.

•    Review and analyze clinical, quality, and operational data to identify opportunities to improve patient outcomes, access, and care delivery.

•    Oversee the ongoing evaluation and refinement of clinical pathways, protocols, and processes to promote consistent, efficient, evidence-based care.

Research

•    Provide strategic leadership to advance the research mission and continued growth of pediatric stroke and cerebrovascular research at BCH.

•    Foster collaborative research across the multidisciplinary faculty, supporting shared areas of investigation and opportunities for new research initiatives.

•    Strengthen participation and leadership in multicenter studies, clinical trials, and research collaborations with investigators nationally and internationally.

•    Support the development and dissemination of impactful research that advances the understanding and treatment of pediatric stroke and cerebrovascular disorders.

•    Mentor and support faculty and trainees in developing research initiatives and advancing their scholarly productivity.

Academics & Education

•    Advance the SACC’s academic and educational mission, promoting excellence in pediatric stroke education, training, and faculty development.

•    Provide mentorship and support for the academic and professional development of faculty and trainees in pediatric stroke and cerebrovascular care.

•    Advance the Pediatric Stroke Fellowship and strengthen its clinical and educational curriculum.

•    Expand the reach and impact of pediatric stroke education through continuing education programs,

symposia, and other national and international educational activities.    7

Attributes of the Director

•    National and/or international reputation in pediatric stroke and cerebrovascular disease, with a record of clinical, research, and academic excellence.

•    Proven leadership experience with the ability to inspire, align, and empower multidisciplinary teams.

•    Visionary, strategic, and decisive leader with the ability to advance the clinical, research, and academic missions of the stroke program and elevate national visibility and impact.

•    Highly collaborative and relationship-oriented, with a demonstrated ability to build strong partnerships across disciplines, departments, and programs at BCH and across institutions in clinical and research collaborations.

•    Exemplifies an approachable and transparent communication style that encourages full participation among colleagues.

•    High emotional intelligence (EQ); demonstrates empathy, active listening, and interest in the ideas brought forth by team members.

•    Commitment to cultivating a cohesive, inclusive, and high-performing team environment.

•    Demonstrated ability to mentor and support the academic and professional development of faculty and trainees, including early- and mid-career clinicians, educators, and investigators.

Essential Qualifications

•    Board certification in Neurology (or equivalent training) with Special Qualification in Child Neurology.

•    Eligibility for licensure without restriction within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

•    Academic background aligning with an appointment at Harvard Medical School at the rank of Professor or Associate Professor.

•    Completion of a Pediatric Stroke or Vascular Neurology fellowship preferred.

Boston Children’s Overview

Renowned for its outstanding clinical services, research programs, and medical education, Boston Children’s Hospital is a 491-bed comprehensive center for pediatric health care with hundreds of affiliations throughout the world and approximately 14,000 employees. In addition to the main campus, Boston Children’s has multiple satellite locations, associated hospitals, and over 400 pediatricians across the state of Massachusetts. The Hospital operates under the corporate control of Children’s Medical Center Corporation (CMCC), which is the sole corporate parent of Boston Children’s and its affiliated corporations.

As one of the largest pediatric medical centers in the United States with 17 clinical departments and numerous divisions, the organization offers a complete range of health care services for children of all ages and, in some cases, offers fetal interventions and treatments for adults.

Boston Children’s is ranked among the best pediatric hospitals in the nation in this year’s U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Children’s Hospitals” honor roll. U.S. News created the Pediatric Honor Roll in 2009 and began ranking children’s hospitals in 2011. There are more than 100 ranked children’s hospitals, and Boston Children’s has been included on the honor roll every year since it began in 2009. In 2026, Boston Children’s was ranked in the Top 10 in ten pediatric specialties, including a #1 ranking in seven specialties: Neonatology, Pediatric Cancer, Pediatric Gastroenterology & GI Surgery, Pediatric Nephrology, Pediatric Neurology & Neurosurgery, Pediatric Pulmonology & Lung Surgery, and Pediatric Urology. Additionally, Boston Children’s is an American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet-recognized hospital currently pursuing its fifth consecutive designation, the highest level of recognition for hospitals related to nursing excellence and interprofessional collaboration.

The Hospital has approximately 26,000 inpatient admissions each year, and its 270+ specialized clinical programs schedule over 1 million visits annually. As one of the premier pediatric teaching hospitals in the world, Boston Children’s is affiliated with Harvard Medical School (HMS) and is revered for its ongoing commitment to fostering cutting-edge research.

Boston Children’s is the safety net institution for very sick children throughout the region, supporting the entire health care system for the most complex pediatric cases and caring for more pediatric Medicaid patients and uninsured children than any other hospital in Massachusetts. With the trained team to care for patients who have rare and complex conditions, Boston Children’s is often the place where parents come for answers when they cannot find them anywhere else. From Asia to the Middle East, Michigan to New Mexico, tertiary and quaternary referrals are received from hospitals and doctors from far and wide. Boston Children’s specializes in answering the toughest questions in pediatric medicine.

Most complex pediatric care in Massachusetts provided by Boston Children’s

Boston Children’s has been and will continue to be the world leader in compassionate, equitable, family-centered care and science. Its vision and goal are to lead change in the care and well-being of children through pioneering research, state-of-the-art innovative clinical care and diagnostics, and the development of new drugs, therapeutics, and devices to treat and cure what is not currently possible and to solve the problems of tomorrow.

Boston Children’s Mission:

•    CARE: Provide the highest quality of health care.

•    RESEARCH: Lead the way in research and discovery.

•    EDUCATION: Educate the next generation of leaders in health care.

•    COMMUNITY: Enhance the health and well-being of children and families in the community.

CON F I D E N T I A L I N Q UI R I E S P L E A S E CON TAC T:

DAVID REUSSER

Executive Search Consultant

Ransom Group, Inc.

Phone: 440.476.5253

reusser@ransomgroup.com

JADA BISSETT

Executive Search Consultant

Ransom Group, Inc. Phone: 616.843.1094

bissett@ransomgroup.com