Jennifer M. Kwon, M.D.
As
the number of families with children affected by autism and its spectrum
of related conditions escalates, pediatric neurologist Jennifer
Kwon is
busier than ever. “A thorough neurological workup is the first step
in designing a management plan for these children,” she says. “Thankfully,
most don’t have serious neurological issues outside of their autism.
Tics and seizures, when present, are usually not disabling and can be
treated with medications, if necessary. ”
Dr. Kwon works collaboratively with colleagues in the Kirsch Developmental
Clinic in the Department of Pediatrics to develop follow-up programs that
support families’ efforts to encourage social development for these
youngsters.
A second group of Dr. Kwon’s patients are children
who suffer from debilitating headaches. Here again, in
Strong Memorial’s Pediatric Headache Clinic (which
Dr. Kwon directs), the treatment plan starts with a thorough
neurological exam. Working with division nurse Laurie
Zwetsch, Dr. Kwon develops a treatment program that links
medical management with counseling and lessons in lifestyle
adjustment.
“
Parents often come to us fearing their child has a brain
tumor,” Dr. Kwon says. “They are so relieved
to hear the words, ‘Your child is fine.’ Then
the real work starts. Depression and psychosocial stress
are frequent contributors to the problem, and only a
team effort among parents, physicians, including the
family doctor, school staff, and the youngsters themselves
can hope to succeed.”
“I’m firm about the importance of having kids with headache
problems stay in school,” she says. “We work closely with
school nurses, who are usually very willing to provide a dark, quiet space
where a child in pain can retreat for a while and not miss a whole day
of classes.”
Working with the Divisions of Neonatology and Physical
Medicine, Dr. Kwon also has developed a Neonatal Brachial
Plexus Palsy clinic, developing clinical protocols appropriate
for the one in a thousand babies born with this nerve
problem. She works closely with occupational therapist
Meg Rose. Their grant from the New York State Finger
Lakes Region Perinatal Forum is enabling them to develop
an educational program for neonatal physicians, nurses,
and other providers who work with these families to give
the same early counseling that Dr. Kwon finds so effective.
A Michigan native, Dr. Kwon says her career owes its impetus
to advice from the director of a clinic for children with development
difficulties where she was a young volunteer: “If you really want
to help these kids, go into medicine. Only when a doctor gets into the
act can we get the ball rolling.”
A graduate of the University of Michigan’s combined pre-med and
medical program, Dr. Kwon received a master’s in Public Health in
Epidemiology and in 1989 a medical degree. “I matched in Child Psychiatry
in Pittsburgh. After working with a very charismatic group of pediatric
neurologists at Children’s Hospital, a group that included Ira Bergman
and Nina Schor [the latter now chair of Pediatrics at URMC], I decided
to change my field to Child Neurology,” she says.
After completing her residency in Neurology at Barnes
Hospital and Washington University, she completed a four-year
clinical research fellowship in Pediatric Neurology at
St. Louis Children’s Hospital and then another
fellowship year in clinical neuromuscular neurology.
Her early research work focused on genetic linkage studies
related to neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases,
such as Alzheimer’s, addiction, and autism.
In 2003, Dr. Kwon’s former WU colleague, Jonathan Mink, now chief
of Pediatric Neurology at Rochester, recruited her to join the UR faculty.
Her husband, Richard Dees, PhD, joined the River Campus faculty as an
associate professor of Philosophy and Medical Humanities.
Dr. Kwon’s clinical schedule is certainly busy. “My
real passion, however, is helping parents of children
with disabilities find their way through our complex
healthcare and delivery service system,” she says. “When
I was younger, I wanted to be a counselor or a social
worker as a way to provide families with practical help.
Being a physician gives me additional scientific perspectives
and skills, but I still provide a lot of counseling.
That’s the most rewarding part of my job.”
URMC
Clinical Bio
