Child neurology training at LLUMC

About the child neurology faculty

Stephen Ashwal, MD

Dr. Ashwal has been a member of the division of child neurology in the department of pediatrics at Loma Linda University Children's Hospital since 1976 and currently serves as chief of the division. He received his medical degree from New York University School of Medicine in 1970, did his pediatric training at Bellevue Hospital in New York (1970-73) and completed his training in child neurology at the University of Minnesota (1973-76). He is board certified in pediatrics and in adult neurology and psychiatry with special competence in child neurology. Dr. Ashwal has been an active member of the Child Neurology Society since 1975. He has also written or edited several books in the field of child neurology and does research related to areas of acute brain injury in children.

Dr. Ashwal sees patients with all types of neurological conditions such as epilepsy, developmental delay, cerebral palsy, headaches, tic and other forms of movement disorders, learning disabilities, and attention deficit disorders as well as a wide variety of other rare childhood neurological conditions. He also serves as co-director of the Muscular Dystrophy Association clinic. He is committed to the care of children with serious neurological disorders as well helping families optimize their long-term potential.

Sarah Roddy, MD

Dr. Roddy has been a member of the division of child neurology in the department of pediatrics at Loma Linda since 1996. She received her medical degree from Loma Linda University School of Medicine in 1980. She completed here pediatric training (1981-1983) and pediatric neurology training (1983-1986) at Loma Linda University. She is board certified in pediatrics and in neurology with special competence in child neurology. From 1986-1995, Dr. Roddy was a member of the division of child neurology at the University of Rochester in New York.

Dr. Roddy sees patient with all types of neurological disorders but has a special interest in tic disorders, attention deficit disorder, and learning disabilities. She serves as the medical director of the pediatric neuroassessment program.

Stanford Shu, MD

Dr. Shu has been a member of the division of child neurology in the department of pediatrics as Loma Linda University Children's Hospital since 1997. He received his medical degree form Loma Linda University School of Medicine in 1992 and completed child neurology training at Loma Linda in 1997. He is board eligible in pediatrics and neurology.

Dr. Shu sees patients with a variety of neurologic disorders including epilepsy, cerebral palsy, developmental delay, muscle disorders, headaches, congenital malformation of the brain, movement disorders and learning disabilities including ADHD and Tourette's Syndrome. He is the co-director of the vagus nerve stimulator clinic and has research interests in acute brain injury due to trauma and asphyxia as well as neurologic issues in newborns.

Dr. Shu is also an affiliate staff member of Campus Crusade and is involved in whole person care conferences and student electives both nationally and internationally.

Chalmer McClure, MD, PhD, MS

Dr. McClure is an assistant professor of pediatrics and neurology at Loma Linda University School of Medicine (LLUSM) and Loma Linda University Children's Hospital (LLUCH). Dr. McClure has been a faculty member since 1998. His degrees include an MS (1984) and PhD (1989) in anatomy, as well as MD (1992, LLUSM). Dr. McClure completed his residency training in pediatrics at LLUCH (1994) and specialty training in child neurology at Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital (1998). He is a Diplomat of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology with special qualification is child neurology and is a member of the Child Neurology Society, American Academy of Neurology, and American Academy of Pediatrics.

Dr. McClure evaluates all conditions and diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system in children. He has admitting privileges to LLUCH for children under the age of 18 years.

David Michelson, MD

Dr. Michelson joined the child neurology faculty following the completion of his fellowship training here in July 2004. He attended medical school at University of California at Los Angeles School of Medicine and did his pediatric residency at Kaiser Oakland in Northern California. 

Dr. Michelson has regular clinics in general child neurology and serves as the medical director for the Loma Linda University Muscular Dystrophy Association Clinic where he provides supportive care to patients of all ages with neuromuscular diseases.  Dr. Michelson is also the director of the Child Neurology Residency Program and organizes regular educational activities for the residents and students, including the weekly Neuroscience Grand Rounds conference.

Mary Silvia, MD

Dr. Mary Silvia joined our Division of Child Neurology in July 2007 after finishing a fellowship in pediatric epileptology at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, residency in pediatric neurology at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and medical school at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland.  She is eligible for board certification in neurology.  She is particularly interested in caring for patients with epilepsy and performs EEG interpretation for patients who are being considered for candidacy for surgical treatment.  She is spearheading efforts to recruit and train a dietician to manage patients who wish to go onto a ketogenic diet for epilepsy management.

Debra Demos, MD

Dr. Debra Demos joined the Children's Hospital Division of Pediatric Neurology in 2004. She completed her pediatric residency at Loma Linda University Medical Center in 1985 where she served on the staff from 1985 to 1987. Dr. Demos completed a pediatric neurology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine in 1990. She is board certified in neurology with special qualifications in child neurology. She evaluates and treats children with a variety of neurological disorders. Dr. Demos has special interests in sleep and learning disorders as well as behavioral neurology. She is the Director of the Sleep Disorders Clinic. Dr. Demos is dedicated to helping improve the quality of life for children with neurological disorders.

Gregory Aaen, MD

Dr. Aaen will be joining the child neurology faculty in January 2009, having completed his residency training in pediatric neurology here at Loma Linda University School of Medicine.

Allied Professionals

Teresa Serna, RN, MS, PCCNP, CNS, PNP

Ms. Serna is the pediatric nurse practitioner for the child neurology team. She completed her pediatric critical care nurse practitioner/clinical nurse specialist training at Loma Linda University School of Nursing and Graduate School in 1992 and a post-master pediatric primary care nurse practitioner certification in 1998.

Teresa has been an employee of Loma Linda University Medical Center since 1992 and had nine years of clinical experience in pediatric neurosurgery prior to joining the child neurology team and faculty physicians and surgeons of Loma Linda University School of Medicine in 2001. She enjoys assisting in the total spectrum of care surrounding the vast variety of pediatric patients who attend the child neurology clinics; including children with traumatic brain injury, tuberous sclerosis, vagus nerve stimulators, developmental delays, and behavioral and learning disabilities.

[Pediatric neurology residency] [LLU Children's Hospital]

[LLUMC residency programs index] [Neurosciences at LLUMC]