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Dr. Asim Shahid, a leading pediatric neurologist who specializes in the treatment of childhood epilepsy, has been named chief of the Division of Pediatric Neurology at NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital. Dr. Shahid was also recruited to Weill Cornell Medicine as an associate professor of clinical pediatrics.

In his new role, Dr. Shahid will expand and enhance NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital’s world-class pediatric neurology and epilepsy services, providing patients with convenient access to outstanding care and leading specialists right in their community. The Division of Pediatric Neurology offers coordinated, comprehensive services across a broad range of neurological conditions.

Dr. Shahid was previously the division chief of pediatric neurology and epilepsy at Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio, where he was also an associate professor of pediatrics.

“Dr. Shahid is an exceptional leader and physician in the treatment of pediatric epilepsy and other neurological issues,” said Dr. Pramod Narula, chair of the Department of Pediatrics at NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital and a professor of clinical pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medicine. “His commitment to advancing research and providing high-quality care to patients and their families makes him the ideal choice for the position, and I look forward to working with him to expand our care offerings in Brooklyn.”

“We are excited to welcome Dr. Shahid to NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital to lead our pediatric neurology program,” said Robert Guimento, president of NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital. “Dr. Shahid is an outstanding physician and educator who is dedicated to delivering personalized, compassionate and world-class care to patients. His leadership will be a tremendous asset to the children and families we serve in this community.”

As chief of pediatric neurology, Dr. Shahid will focus on expanding the program’s epilepsy, headache, and neurological behavior services, including diagnosis and treatment for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, and developmental and cognitive delays. He will also work to create a new pediatric epilepsy-monitoring unit at NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, where patients can stay on-site while clinicians use both video and electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring to assess the type, frequency, and the onset location of the seizure in the brain to develop targeted, personalized treatment plans.

“I’m thrilled to join NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital and Weill Cornell Medicine and have the opportunity to expand the hospital’s pediatric neurology services in Brooklyn,” said Dr. Shahid. “People come from all over the world to seek care at NewYork-Presbyterian, and I am excited to work alongside a world-class team to further elevate the pediatric neurology program and reach more patients in need of our care throughout Brooklyn and beyond.”

Dr. Shahid specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of children with various types of epilepsy and those with multi-system genetic diseases that cause benign tumors to grow in the brain, called tuberous sclerosis. He also focuses on patients who may need surgery to manage their epilepsy, and clinical trials for patients with non-surgical drug resistant epilepsies. Dr. Shahid has been recognized with multiple teaching awards, is a member of numerous neurological societies, and has been invited to speak at national and international conferences. He has authored dozens of peer-reviewed articles and has served as a reviewer for multiple neurology and pediatric neurology journals.

Dr. Shahid received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Vermont and medical degree from Universidad Iberoamericana in Dominican Republic. He completed his pediatric residency at Goryeb Children’s Hospital in Morristown, New Jersey, before pursuing his pediatric neurology fellowship at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital and receiving epilepsy training at University Hospitals of Cleveland.