Neurosurgery expands with addition of a new pediatric neurosurgeon

Matthew Pearson, M.D., recently joined USA Health as a board-certified pediatric neurosurgeon and will serve as an associate professor of neurosurgery at the USA College of Medicine.

“Our department is excited to have Dr. Pearson join the neurosurgery team at USA Health,” said Anthony Martino, M.D., professor and chair of neurosurgery. “He brings a great deal of experience and skill that will benefit patients and their families in our region.”

During his tenure at Vanderbilt University as an assistant professor of pediatric neurological surgery, Pearson developed two programs at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital: the pediatric neuro-oncology program – treating approximately 45 operative brain and spinal cord tumors per year – and the multi-disciplinary pediatric surgical epilepsy program – offering subdural grid electrode mapping, hemispherectomy and vagus nerve stimulation.

Pearson also developed the comprehensive pediatric neurosurgery program at Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital in Pensacola, Florida. This program treats all aspects of neurosurgical issues for pediatric patients in the Florida panhandle.

He earned a medical degree from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. After an internship in general surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, he completed his residency in neurological surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. His fellowship in pediatric neurosurgery was completed at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

He is double board-certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery and the American Board of Pediatric Neurological Surgery.

He is a member of the following organizations:

• American Association of Neurological Surgeons
• Congress of Neurological Surgeons
• Children’s Oncology Group
• Cumberland Pediatric Foundation
• Meacham Neurological Society