DR. MUHONEN'S STORY

Dr. Muhonen strives to make sure that his team of pediatric neurosurgeons is always ready to employ the most innovative techniques using state-of-the-art equipment. His goal is to use the most non-invasive procedures available, and, in cases where standard therapies aren't available, to pioneer new ones, focusing on optimizing patient outcomes from surgery.

"There is less trauma to normal tissue when we can remove a three-inch tumor from a one-inch opening instead of a seven-inch opening," says Dr. Muhonen. "This is accomplished by aggressively using brain endoscopes and the newest stereotactic devices. We are also developing techniques to make incisions in the eyebrow, and to work under and around the brain rather than through it. We do everything we can to minimize pain, recovery time and physical evidence of surgery."

But along with leading-edge surgical techniques and innovative procedures comes compassion and empathy for each of Dr. Muhonen's patients and their families. After all, he's not just a world-class neurosurgeon, he's also a father. When a child comes under his care, he does whatever it takes to reassure the parents that their child is in good hands.

"I strive to treat my patients and their parents as though they were my own family," says Dr. Muhonen. "They have easy access to my cell phone and pager numbers so they have a "security blanket," because that's really what we are here at CHOC, a family."