Connecticut Children’s Medical Center and Baystate Children’s Hospital Announce Partnership in Pediatric Neurosurgery

SPRINGFIELD/HARTFORD— Connecticut Children’s Medical Center and Baystate Children’s Hospital are furthering their clinical collaboration with a new partnership in pediatric neurosurgery.

Jonathan Martin, MD, a board-certified pediatric neurosurgeon employed by Connecticut Children’s, will see patients in Springfield at Baystate Children’s Hospital.  Patients who require evaluation for brain- and nervous-system-related surgical care can now receive these services at Baystate Children’s Hospital as well as Connecticut Children’s Medical Center.

The new partnership in pediatric neurosurgery advances a clinical collaboration that the two organizations announced in October 2014, aimed at increasing the availability, sophistication and coordination of pediatric services throughout the Connecticut River Valley.

“We’re thrilled to announce that our collaboration is moving forward to provide sophisticated neurosurgical care for kids here in western Massachusetts,” said Charlotte Boney, MD, Chair of
Pediatrics at Baystate Children’s Hospital. “This is the first time such services will be available in our community, and it’s another step forward in our efforts to provide the best in healthcare right here in the Pioneer Valley.”

“Our main goal, in exploring a closer relationship with Baystate Children’s, has been to increase the availability of high-level, high-quality and well-coordinated pediatric services to the Hartford and Springfield communities,” said Fernando Ferrer, MD, Chief Physician Executive at Connecticut Children’s. “Sharing clinical resources helps us achieve that goal, and deliver greater value to our patients in the care we provide. We’re proud to be extending the reach of advanced neurosurgical care to the Pioneer Valley with Dr. Martin.”

Dr. Martin’s practice focuses exclusively on the treatment of children, encompassing the full range of pediatric neurosurgical disease. Services provided include the management of complex hydrocephalus, spinal dysraphism and other malformations, craniofacial surgery, neuro-oncology, neurotrauma, and congenital and acquired spinal disease. Dr. Martin provides minimally invasive treatments to a number of diseases to include the management of hydrocephalus, intracranial and skull base tumors, craniosynostosis, and spinal disease. He has particular interest and experience in the surgical treatment of craniocervical abnormalities and complex spinal reconstruction. He is an assistant professor of surgery and neurosurgery at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine.

“I am honored and excited to be part of this inter-institutional and programmatic collaboration, with Baystate, Connecticut Children’s and our respective Neurosciences programs,” said Dr. Martin, neurosurgeon at Connecticut Children’s. “I’m looking forward to building upon an excellent foundation as we collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to create a comprehensive pediatric neuroscience program on both sides of the border to ensure pediatric patients receive timely, high quality and locally accessible care.”

“We’re committed to increasing our complement of neurological and neurosurgical care for adults and children in western Massachusetts,” said Edward Feldmann, MD, vice president and medical director of Neurosciences for Baystate Health, the parent organization of Baystate Children’s and Baystate Medical Center. “Thanks to our new collaboration with Connecticut Children’s, patients are going to receive care close to home for serious conditions that used to cause them to travel some distance. That’s a win for our organizations, our patients and our communities.”

This is the first of several anticipated collaborations between the organizations this year, including potential research to expedite discovery and treatment of pediatric conditions.

Connecticut Children’s is a clinical affiliate of the UCONN School of Medicine; Baystate Children’s is part of the western campus of Tufts University School of Medicine. Both facilities are Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, and both have been recognized by U.S. News and World Report among the top U.S. children’s hospitals.

About Baystate Children’s Hospital:
Baystate Children’s Hospital is a 110-bed, 57-bassinette facility housed within Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Mass. It includes the only neonatal intensive care unit, pediatric intensive care unit and children’s emergency department in western Massachusetts, as well as dedicated inpatient and outpatient specialty services. In 2013, the Baystate Children’s Specialty Center opened its doors on Wason Ave. in Springfield, bringing together a range of pediatric specialty caregivers and services in one colorful and kid-friendly space. Baystate Children’s Hospital has been named a U.S. News Best Children’s Hospital in the area of Endocrinology and Diabetes for two straight years.