Smyser named director of the Division of Pediatric & Developmental Neurology
Pediatric neurologist is a national leader in neuroimaging, infant brain development
Christopher D. Smyser, MD, an internationally renowned pediatric neurologist specializing in neonatal neurology and infant brain development, has been appointed director of the Division of Pediatric & Developmental Neurology at WashU Medicine.
Christopher D. Smyser, MD, a professor of neurology, of psychiatry, of neurosurgery, of pediatrics and of radiology, has been named director of the Division of Pediatric & Developmental Neurology in the Department of Neurology at WashU Medicine. A specialist in neonatal neurology, Smyser has served in leadership roles for multiple national and international clinical organizations and driven multidisciplinary research to provide a greater understanding of infant brain development and neurodevelopmental disabilities. Smyser’s appointment began Sept. 1.
“Dr. Christopher Smyser brings a rare combination of qualities that uniquely position him to excel as division director,” said Jin-Moo Lee, MD, PhD, the Andrew B. & Gretchen P. Jones Professor in Neurology and head of the Department of Neurology. “He is an internationally renowned physician-scientist, a highly sought-after mentor, an exceptional clinician and a dynamic leader with a clear strategic vision.”
Smyser’s research focuses on the application of cutting-edge neuroimaging techniques to study early brain development in premature and full-term infants. In the clinic, Smyser is part of the Neonatal Neurology Clinical Service, a multidisciplinary program at St. Louis Children’s Hospital that provides comprehensive neurological care for infants at risk for adverse outcomes beginning in their earliest days of life and continuing after their discharge from the hospital. The program includes collaborations from faculty across neurology, pediatrics, genetics, neurosurgery, cardiology and maternal-fetal medicine.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to lead one of the top divisions of pediatric neurology in the country,” Smyser said. “I look forward to working with our colleagues at St. Louis Children’s Hospital and WashU Medicine to expand the clinical services we provide to our patients and families through growth and collaboration with our multidisciplinary partners, while also continuing our excellence in groundbreaking research and training the next generation of leaders in the field of pediatric neurology.”
Smyser joined WashU Medicine as a pediatric neurology resident at St. Louis Children’s Hospital nearly 20 years ago, serving as chief resident in his final year of training. After he completed his residency in 2009, Smyser joined the faculty in the Department of Neurology, where he established and subsequently led the Neonatal Neurology Clinical Program and the Baker Family Fellowship in Neonatal Neurology. He previously led the Neonatal Neurology section in the Division of Pediatric & Developmental Neurology starting in 2018 and was named the associate director of the division in 2024. Smyser earned a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering at the University of Iowa, where he also earned his medical degree.
