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Mitochondrial Center

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A world leader in clinical evaluation, treatment, support, education and research in mitochondrial disease, the Mitochondrial Center at Akron Children's is one of only 18 pediatric hospitals designated a Center of Excellence by the United Mitochondrial Association and one of only 17 mitochondrial centers participating in the North American Mitochondrial Disease Consortium.

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Department: 330-543-MITO(6486)

About Mitochondrial Center

Akron Children's Mitochondrial Center

A CENTER OF EXCELLENCE

The 1st to treat a mitochondrial patient with elamipretide by Stealth BioTherapeutics

#1 enrolling site of the North American Mitochondrial Disease Consortium (NAMDC) Biobank and the #3 enrolling site in its research database

Bruce H. Cohen, MD, FAAN

Dr. Cohen is a pediatric neurologist and chair of the NeuroDevelopmental Science Center at Akron Children’s. He received his medical degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and completed a pediatric residency at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, a pediatric neurology residency at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center and a pediatric neuro-oncology fellowship at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr. Cohen has a special interest in child neurology, mitochondrial disease, brain tumors, neurofibromatosis, clinical trials, neurometabolic diseases and pediatric neuro-oncology and is considered one of the world’s leading experts in mitochondrial diseases thanks to his extensive work to uncover treatments for patients. He is an active member of a number of professional and volunteer organizations, including the Sigma Xi North American Scientific Society, Child Neurology Society, Mitochondrial Medicine Society and the American Academy of Neurology. Dr. Cohen is a fellow of the National Board of Medical Examiners, the American Board of Pediatrics and the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, boarded in neurology with special competence in child neurology. He has authored hundreds of peer-reviewed publications, published dozens of book chapters, and given more than 600 invited lectures and presentations. Additionally, he is a professor of pediatrics and integrative medical sciences at Northeast Ohio Medical University and is residency director for Neurology at Cleveland Clinic Akron General Hospital and Pediatric Neurology at Akron Children’s.

Meet Bruce H. Cohen, MD, FAAN

John Clark, MD, FAAP

Director, Pediatric Arrhythmia Center; Pediatric Cardiologist

Meet John Clark, MD, FAAP

Reinaldo Garcia-Naveiro, MD

Dr. Garcia-Naveiro is a gastroenterologist at Akron Children’s. He’s been practicing since 2005. He earned his medical degree from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Faculty of Medicine in Bogotá, Colombia and completed a residency in pediatrics at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital in Ponce, Puerto Rico. He went on to complete a fellowship in pediatric gastroenterology at Louisiana State University in New Orleans, La. Dr. Garcia-Naveiro has a special interest in irritable bowel syndrome, short gut, celiac disease, organic and functional gastrointestinal problems and liver disease. He is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics in pediatric gastroenterology and is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. Additionally, he’s a clinical associate professor of pediatrics at Northeast Ohio Medical University. He is fluent in English and Spanish.

Meet Reinaldo Garcia-Naveiro, MD

Sarah Elizabeth Friebert, MD

Dr. Friebert is founder and director of the Haslinger Family Pediatric Palliative Care Center and the Emily Cooper Welty Expressive Therapy Center at Akron Children’s. A graduate of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, she completed a residency in pediatrics at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in Philadelphia, Pa. and a fellowship in pediatric hematology/oncology at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. Under her direction, the Haslinger Center features an accredited palliative care fellowship program and has achieved Advanced Certification in Palliative Care from The Joint Commission. Dr. Friebert is also the founding director of the hospital’s addiction services program, which addresses addiction in collaboration with community resources. She is a professor of pediatrics at Northeast Ohio Medical University, where she is also a founding member of the university’s Office of Palliative Care. Board-certified in pediatric hematology/oncology and hospice and palliative medicine, Dr. Friebert is past president of Akron Children’s medical staff and the inaugural chair holder of the Sarah Elizabeth Friebert Pediatric Palliative Care Endowed Chair. She’s also the founder, past chair and ongoing member of the Ohio Pediatric Palliative and End-of-Life Care Network (OPPEN). She is the author of multiple articles and book chapters and is an active research scientist, serving as program director for palliative care research at the Rebecca D. Considine Research Institute. She was co-principal investigator for a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Health Care Innovation Award, and is principal investigator for multiple palliative care-related research initiatives, Dr. Friebert is also active in multiple local, regional, state and national educational, philanthropic and palliative care organizations.

Meet Sarah Elizabeth Friebert, MD

Kimberly Martin, MD

Dr. Martin is a pediatric endocrinologist in the Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology at Akron Children’s. She’s been practicing since 2009 and with Akron Children’s since 2013. She also serves as the director of pediatric endocrinology for Akron Children’s Childhood Cancer Survivorship Program, Pediatric Brain Tumor Program and the Mitochondrial Care Network. She earned a master’s degree in biomedical ethics from Case Western Reserve University and her medical degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. She completed a pediatric residency and a pediatric endocrinology fellowship at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital. Dr. Martin has a special interest in endocrine complications in cancer survivors and others exposed to cancer therapies during childhood. She is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics with a sub-specialty certification in pediatric endocrinology. She is a member of the Pediatric Endocrine Society, and is an assistant professor of pediatrics at Northeast Ohio Medical University.

Meet Kimberly Martin, MD

Ian Rossman, MD, PhD

Dr. Rossman is a pediatric neurologist at Akron Children’s and earned his medical degree from Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, NJ. He completed a pediatric residency at Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, a pediatric neurology residency at Cleveland Clinic and a fellowship in neuroimmunology (multiple sclerosis) at Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis Treatment and Research at Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Rossman has clinical interests in pediatric neuroinflammatory diseases, leukodystrophies and neuromuscular disease and research interests in pediatric neuroinflammatory diseases and clinical trials. He is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology with specialization in child neurology.

Meet Ian Rossman, MD, PhD

Stephen Steiner, MD, PhD

Dr. Steiner is a pediatric neurologist at Akron Children’s, where he’s been practicing since 2018. He earned his medical degree from the University of Virginia School of Medicine in Charlottesville, Va. and a doctorate in toxicology from the University of Michigan School of Public Health in Ann Arbor, Mich. He completed a residency in pediatrics and a fellowship in child neurology at Case Western Reserve, University Hospitals in Cleveland, Ohio. Dr. Steiner has a special interest in childhood epilepsy, pediatric headache disorders, genetic and metabolic disorders and movement disorders. He is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in neurology with a special qualification in child neurology.

Meet Stephen Steiner, MD, PhD

Kristin Cole, MSN, APRN-CNP

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Meet Kristin Cole, MSN, APRN-CNP

Matthew Ginsberg, MD

Dr. Ginsberg is The James F. and Marguerite A. Pearson Endowed Chair in NeuroDevelopmental Sciences for Rare Diseases and pediatric neurologist at Akron Children’s where he’s been practicing since 2019. A graduate of Cornell University and the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University, he completed a pediatric neurology residency at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and a neuromuscular fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Ginsberg specializes in neuromuscular neurology and neurofibromatosis and is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology with a special qualification in Child Neurology and the American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine. He provides services including EMG/NCS (electromyogram and nerve conduction studies) and neuromuscular ultrasound. He is a member of American Academy of Neurology, Child Neurology Society and the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine. Additionally, he is a published researcher and an assistant professor of pediatrics at Northeast Ohio Medical University.

Meet Matthew Ginsberg, MD

We all have mitochondria. But what is mitochondrial disease?

The Mitochondrial Center at Akron Children’s Hospital works in collaboration with the Rebecca D. Considine Research Institute to staff and coordinate clinical trials and other research studies focused on mitochondrial disease.

Make a donation to support the Mitochondrial Center at Akron Children’s.

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Bruce H. Cohen, MD

Led by Bruce H. Cohen, a global expert in the field of mitochondrial medicine, our center houses one of the largest groups of internationally known mitochondrial experts trained to diagnose undefined neurological diseases and provide coordinated care across multiple subspecialties with access to research and clinical trials.

Patient care is determined on a case-by-case basis, including the potential need for services from other subspecialties. Many of our pediatric patients are seen into adulthood on an annual basis. It is also our mission to enhance diagnostics and advance knowledge of mitochondrial disease through research and clinical trials.

Our Mitochondrial Center is an integral part of Akron Children’s NeuroDevelopmental Science Center, which has been designated a Mitochondrial Care Network Center of Excellence by a consortium of patient advocacy groups including the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation and MitoAction.

NeuroDevelopmental Science Center

Akron Children's NeuroDevelopmental Science Center, Akron
Considine Professional Building
215 West Bowery Street
Level 4
Akron, Ohio 44308
Fax: 330-543-8054
Map & directions
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Appointments: 330-543-2778

Department: 330-543-8050

Rebecca D. Considine Research Institute

Akron Children's Rebecca D. Considine Research Institute, Akron
Exchange Street Building
130 West Exchange Street
Akron, Ohio 44302
Fax: 330-543-3166
Map & directions
More about this location...

Department: 330-543-3193

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