Neurosurgeons with expertise in epilepsy join Riley team

By Maureen Gilmer, Riley Children’s Health senior writer, mgilmer1@iuhealth.org

Two new neurosurgeons – one specializing in epilepsy and fetal surgery, and the other focusing on epilepsy and spasticity – have joined the neurosurgery team at Riley Children’s Health.

Dr. Jason Chu and Dr. Thomas Larrew both started Aug. 1 and have already begun outreach to build their practices and expand Riley’s reach around the state. In addition to their work in Indianapolis, Dr. Larrew has a clinic in Fort Wayne, and Dr. Chu has one in Carmel. With their addition, Riley now has five board-certified pediatric neurosurgeons — all with subspecialty expertise.

As general pediatric neurosurgeons, both treat a range of neurological conditions, but they say they are excited to work within a system that already has a program in place to effectively treat children with epilepsy.

“A lot of hospitals you have to fight to get these pieces in place, but it’s ready to go here,” said Dr. Larrew, 34, who grew up in South Carolina and did his fellowship training at Cincinnati Children’s.

“The bells and whistles are already here,” agreed Dr. Chu, 41, a Toronto native who did his pediatric neurosurgery training at Texas Children’s. “Our goal is to take it to the next level.”

Riley Children's Health is the only Level 4 Comprehensive Epilepsy Program in Indiana, as designated by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC). Level 4 programs have advanced technology, clinical experts and enhanced imaging techniques.

Epilepsy is a devastating disease, especially for those with uncontrolled seizures, and it is undertreated, Dr. Chu said, but it takes a team approach to figure out the best form of treatment – whether medical or surgical.

“I think one of our strengths here is that everyone works so well as a team to tailor the best therapies for the child,” he said.

As many as a third of patients diagnosed with epilepsy have what’s considered a drug-resistant form of the condition, meaning they’ve tried two different medications and are still having seizures.

When that happens, Dr. Larrew said, the team comes together to discuss possible surgical intervention.

“For a lot of them, we can significantly reduce or completely eliminate their seizures,” he said, either through laser ablation, which is minimally invasive, or a targeted resection – removal of a small area of brain tissue where seizures originate.

“If it’s in a part of the brain that is too risky to do that, there are other things we can do, such as neurostimulation,” Dr. Larrew said. “We are bringing all of that together and figuring out new ways that we can treat this better.”

Because IU Health and Riley have invested heavily in the program, there are a lot of resources and cutting-edge technology at the surgeons’ fingertips, they said.

“We are able to provide not only standard-of-care treatment, but also, we are looking to the future for better ways to diagnose and treat,” Dr. Chu said.

While surgery for epilepsy has been going on for decades, there are still many providers, including pediatricians and general practice physicians, who may not know to refer these patients for surgery, Dr. Larrew said.

“So many more people could be helped by at least consideration of surgery.”

Dr. Larrew, who has a 2-year-old daughter with his wife, Hannah, and two Goldendoodles, got a taste of the Midwest when he did his fellowship in Cincinnati. Coming to Indianapolis was easy, said the sports-lover, who played keyboards in a high school heavy-metal band.

“I love the area, love the people.”

What does a brain surgeon do for fun?

Anything outdoors, including hiking and biking, both say, and listening to music.

Dr. Chu, who is single, is still searching for good poutine in Indy. Poutine, which generally consists of French fries, cheese curds and gravy, is a classic Canadian dish.

Neither of the two doctors grew up knowing they would become neurosurgeons, but each has a parent in medicine. Dr. Larrew’s mom is a nurse, and Dr. Chu’s father is a neurologist; his mom is a pharmacist.

“I was given the freedom in school to explore what I enjoyed,” Dr. Chu said.

Turns out, that was pediatric neurosurgery for both.

“I’ve always liked working with kids, and I enjoy the breadth of what you see in pediatric neurosurgery,” Dr. Larrew said. “I enjoy the kids and working with the families. One of the reasons I went into neurosurgery was not just the intensity of the field but also the relationships you form. You are there for people in some of the toughest times of their lives.”

Dr. Chu echoes that feeling, saying he appreciates the rapport and trust he builds with families.

“In my practice, it’s always been – we’re all trying to get your child better, so how can we do this together? A lot of patients we see in peds we follow for a long time, so we get to know them well,” he said.

In addition to epilepsy, Dr. Chu performs fetal surgery alongside maternal-fetal medicine specialists for patients with spina bifida. His expertise also includes the treatment of pediatric cerebrovascular disorders, including moyamoya disease and cavernous malformations of the brain and spinal cord.

Dr. Larrew’s clinical and research interests, in addition to epilepsy surgery, include skull base surgery, fetal surgery, traumatic brain injury and hydrocephalus.

Photos submitted and by Mike Dickbernd, IU Health visual journalist, mdickbernd@iuhealth.org