EVENTS calendar
Location: City Hall | Medical City Dallas Hospital 7777 Forest Ln, Dallas, TX 75230
Time:
5:30-5:45pm – Check-in and registration
5:45-7:00pm – Lectures
7:00-7:30pm – Peer to peer support
Chiari Across the Lifespan: Understanding the Diagnosis, Managing Headaches, and Transitioning Care (CMEs offered)
This event is for medical professionals, patients, and patient families and is completely free of charge. Join us to learn more about Chiari, to participate in a peer to peer support group, and for light refreshments.
Expert Speakers: lan Heger, MD, FACS, FAAP, Pediatric Neurosurgeon; Laila Mohammad, MD, Pediatric Neurosurgeon; Tammy Trabosh, MSN, APRN, CPNP-PC, CPNP-AC, CAS, Clinic Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Topics: Chiari 101, Transition of Care, Headache Management
lan Heger, MD, FACS, FAAP is a pediatric neurosurgeon board certified in Neurological Surgery with Pediatric Neurosurgical Specialists in Dallas, Texas, where he is affiliated with Medical City Children’s Hospital and Medical City Dallas Hospital. He earned his medical degree from SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York and completed his residency there as well. He went on to complete a fellowship in pediatric neurosurgery at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).
Earlier in his career he served as an assistant professor of neurosurgery at the University of Florida–Jacksonville and as section chief of pediatric neurosurgery at Georgia Health Sciences (now Augusta University), reflecting a career built across both academic and community practice.
Dr. Heger’s interest in Chiari malformation and syringomyelia dates back to the mid-1990s, when he co-authored several foundational studies on syrinx pathophysiology as part of Dr. Thomas Milhorat’s research group at SUNY Downstate — including landmark papers in Neurosurgery on the anatomical basis of hindbrain-related syringomyelia and on intramedullary pressure dynamics in syrinx distension. That early grounding in the disease’s underlying mechanics has continued to inform his clinical practice and published case work ever since.
With more than two decades of experience, Dr. Heger’s clinical practice focuses on the full spectrum of pediatric brain and spine conditions, including Chiari malformation and syringomyelia, pediatric brain tumors, and craniofacial disorders. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and the American Academy of Pediatrics and is a member of the American Society of Pediatric Neurosurgeons. He has been recognized as a Castle Connolly Regional Top Doctor.
Dr. Heger has been a longtime friend of the Bobby Jones CSF community, having previously spoken at educational lecture series on the fundamentals of Chiari malformation. Patients consistently highlight his thoroughness and his ability to explain complex neurosurgical concepts in clear, approachable terms — the same qualities he brings to his talks for patients and families navigating a Chiari or syringomyelia diagnosis.
Laila M. Mohammad, MD is a board-certified pediatric neurosurgeon at Medical City Children’s Hospital. She earned her medical degree from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and went on to complete her neurosurgery residency at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. During her time there, she completed an enfolded fellowship in neurocritical care, gaining advanced expertise in managing critically ill neurosurgical patients. Dr. Mohammad then pursued further specialization in pediatric neurosurgery through a fellowship at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, affiliated with Northwestern University. She is board certified by both the American Board of Neurological Surgery and the American Board of Pediatric Neurological Surgery.
Dr. Mohammad is especially dedicated to ensuring that children with complex neurosurgical conditions experience smooth, thoughtful transitions as they grow into adulthood. She also supports global neurosurgery efforts, offering remote care and guidance to underserved communities around the globe.
Before becoming a neurosurgeon, Dr. Mohammad worked behind the scenes on The Dr. Oz Show, where she discovered a passion for making medical information clear and accessible for families. She continues that mission today by helping families feel informed, empowered, and supported every step of the way.
When she’s not in the operating room, Dr. Mohammad loves traveling, reading, and spending time with her husband and their two daughters.
Tammy Trabosh, MSN, APRN, CPNP-PC, CPNP-AC, CAS is a board-certified pediatric nurse practitioner who began her career in intensive care and the trauma/neuro intensive care unit at Children’s Medical Center Dallas, part of University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. With over 15 years in the medical field, she is passionate about providing the best possible care for her patients, working together with the family, and really listening to their concerns. Her experiences at Children’s fostered her love for neurology, particularly pediatric epilepsy. She transitioned with her career to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami, Florida, one of the leading centers for epilepsy, where she further specialized in neurology and neurocritical care.
With over 10 years of experience in neurology, she has developed a strong passion for children with epilepsy, providing exceptional care to patients and families struggling with the challenging goal of achieving seizure freedom. Her expertise includes various aspects of epilepsy, including status epilepticus management, refractory epilepsy, evaluation of new onset seizures, electroencephalographic monitoring, genetic and non-genetic epilepsies, epilepsy surgery, as well as cerebral palsy and spasticity. Her experience extends to dietary treatments for epilepsy and other non-pharmacologic treatments.
She has participated as co-investigator for several multi-facility clinical trials and is committed to incorporating the latest advancements into her practice to provide a comprehensive, caring, and collaborative approach for every child. She has also gone on to obtain additional certifications in autism and concussion management.
