As a pediatric neurosurgeon, S. Hassan A. Akbari, MD, improves the lives of children with cerebral palsy and other muscle spasticity disorders. His areas of expertise include selective dorsal rhizotomy, a procedure he learned at WashU Medicine from the late T.S. Park, MD, who pioneered the mobility-enhancing surgery.
"When I was at WashU, I observed Dr. Park do countless selective dorsal rhizotomy surgeries," Akbari says. "And I credit him for a lot of what I know about the surgery, as well as my passion for performing it today."
Daily questions
How it started: Akbari's bachelor's in philosophy-neuroscience-psychology in Arts & Sciences was supported by the Lizbeth S. and John W. Adams Scholarship.
The interdisciplinary effect: "As an undergrad, I didn't see how philosophy would pertain to what I wanted to do," he says. "But thinking about the meaning of life, or of prolonging life (or not), stretched my mind. We explored questions I consider daily."
The third degree: After becoming a doctor, he continued his studies at WashU Medicine, earning a Master of Science in clinical investigation.
Akbari, AB '08, MD '12, MS '18, attributes his close relationships with Park and other WashU mentors for his professional foundation and trajectory.
In 2021, Akbari, who was then at Penn State Health, contacted Matthew Smyth, MD, a professor of neurosurgery and pediatrics at WashU Medicine from 2003-2021, to congratulate him on being named chief of the pediatric neurosurgery division at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital. Akbari texted: "Congratulations. And if you ever have a job opening, let me know." Smyth responded, essentially, "OK, let's chat Monday."
Their follow-up communication led to a job offer. "And now I get to work closely with another of my longtime mentors," Akbari says.
At All Children's Hospital, Akbari sees any pediatric patient who might need surgery for spasticity, a type of disruptive muscle contraction that arises from some neurological conditions. "I've created a spasticity clinic here with a physical medicine and rehabilitation colleague," says Akbari, assistant professor of pediatric neurosurgery. "And I do my selective dorsal rhizotomy surgeries largely the way Dr. Park did them, except for a few minor adjustments."
Akbari also treats patients with Chiari malformation, a structural issue where the bottom part of the brain extends into the spinal cord. "Chiari malformations are the second most common condition pediatric neurosurgeons see," Akbari says. "The first is hydrocephalus - buildup of fluid in the brain - because that can occur for a variety of reasons."
According to some reports, between 1% and 3% of people in the U.S. have a Chiari malformation. Akbari says that range might be low, though, because many people don't know they have one until they get a scan for something else.
"When I was at WashU, I observed Dr. [T.S.] Park do countless selective dorsal rhizotomy surgeries. … I credit him for a lot of what I know about the surgery, as well as my passion for performing it today."
S. Hassan A. Akbari, MD
David Limbrick, MD, PhD, co-leads the consortium - a nationwide group of children's hospitals working to identify best treatments for children with syringomyelia, which is typically caused by Chiari malformation type 1.
Children with syringomyelia can be asymptomatic, but those with symptoms typically require surgery. There's no medication to help alleviate symptoms, including chronic pain, headaches and progressive weakness in arms and legs.
