Immature Brains: A Child Neurology Podcast

The gang hears from conference attendees about their favorite sessions from CNSAM2026 in Montreal.

Sam, Ali and Alizah interview Don Gilbert about the future of child neurology training, and discuss the history of Tourette's and updates on Meningitis research.

Sam, Ali and Alizah interview Azara Singh about transitions of care, physician wellness, training residents and esoteric karaoke. We also discuss Sidney Carter and the beginnings of child neurology.

Ali, Alizah, and Sam interview Audrey Nath, MD, PhD about her escapades in policy, advocacy, and standup comedy.

Just a snippet of episode 2 from season 1 :)

Welcome back! Sam and Ali talk with Alizah Patterson - 10 days before she finishes her neurodevelopmental disabilities residency! - about NDD, the training pathway, and the joys of cursing. Alizah presents a fascinating case and we discuss the development of EEG.

Sam and Ali talk to Kim Hindery about the many benefits and services of the advocacy group Child Neurology Foundation, the upcoming Pigabilities fundraiser, the yearly Beauty of Neurology gala, and whether it is better to fight 1 horse-sized duck or 100 duck-sized horses.

Sam and Ali talk neurogenetics and philosophy with Kuntal Sen, recount the life and times of Augusta Déjerine-Klumpke, and review the natural history of alternating hemiplegia of childhood.

Ali and Sam interview Jess Goldstein, MD about her first-hand experience with the ICE presence in Minneapolis and its effects on patients and families. Jeanne Cady Solis gets her (long overdue) due, and we learn about new work using metabolomics in febrile seizures.

Ali and Sam chat with Dhanalakshmi Angappan about her path from pediatrics in India to child neurology in the United States. Ali questions myth versus reality, and Sam reviews a generalist model for addressing chronic daily headache.

Sam and Ali interview the mysterious Amy G Dala before delving into Communism and new clinical trial data for spinal muscular atrophy.

In this episode, we eat spicy chicken wings and talk to people about their research at the Child Neurology Society Annual Meeting. We also sit down with newly installed CNS president Yasmin Khakoo to discuss her journey in neurology and her plans for CNS over the next two years.

Editor's note: Some of the audio is echoey at times, but this is thankfully short-lived.

Sam and Ali talk about hot streaks, Taylor Swift, and the AAN's position statement on advancing disability equity with Bhooma Aravamuthan. History tells us why disability equity should matter to all of us.

Sam recounts a harrowing experience at summer camp. Ali relives her former career as a dungeon master. Guests Dara Albert and Steven Lazar fill us in on all the recent buzz in medical education.

In our neuromuscular episode, Sam and Ali interview Kristin Zwickau about the challenges facing pediatric patients with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy and other rare diseases when it comes to drug development. Ali discusses the historical contributions of Charles Bell, William Gowers, and Guillaume Duchenne. Sam closes with a rundown on recent news surrounding Sarepta Therapeutics and the FDA.

Ali and Sam check in with with Audrey Brumback and Divakar Mithal to break down the current NIH funding situation. Chaos ensues.

Ali and Sam interview Rujuta Wilson, Assistant Professor in Pediatric Neurology and Psychiatry at UCLA and researcher at the UCLA Center for Autism Research and Treatment (CART).