The Pediatric Neurosurgery Fellowship at the Indiana University School of Medicine is more than a final training step — it is a bridge to independent practice built on mentorship, innovation and clinical excellence.
For Rabia Qaiser, MD, the program’s director, that mission is personal.
Qaiser joined the Department of Neurological Surgery in 2014 as its pediatric neurosurgery fellow, attracted by the chance to gain specialized training in complex conditions such as Moyamoya disease and pediatric brain tumors. That year was one of the most formative of her career — not just for the surgical experience, she said, but for the relationships that impacted her approach to medicine.
“It was one of the most fun years I’ve had in training,” said Qaiser, who earned her medical degree from Karachi Medical and Dental College in Pakistan in 1999, followed by a neurosurgery residency at the University of Minnesota Medical School.
“I got to work closely with excellent surgeons, and that kind of one-on-one experience really shaped how I practice now.”
Following her training at the IU School of Medicine, Qaiser completed a fellowship in cerebrovascular neurosurgery at Stanford University Medical Center in 2017, while on the medical staff at West Virginia University’s Ruby Memorial Hospital.
After serving as director of the pediatric neurosurgery division and as associate program director of the neurosurgery residency program at Baylor Scott and White McLane Children’s Medical Center in Texas, she returned to the IU School of Medicine in 2022 as an associate professor of neurological surgery.
Today, Qaiser serves as the department’s pediatric neurosurgery fellowship director and the co-associate program director of the residency program.
“I came back to IU not only because I wanted to help establish a pediatric cerebrovascular service,” Qaiser said, “but also because I felt like I owed it to give back to the institution that trained me.”
A program built on history and growth
The legacy of the pediatric neurosurgery fellowship stretches back decades. Since 1991, 16 neurosurgeons have graduated from the program and gone on to care for children with complex neurological disorders at institutions across the world.
Charles Stevenson, MD, the Leah Mindling Abrams Professor of Neurological Oncology, said pediatric neurosurgery fellowships remain relatively rare, making the established program at the IU School of Medicine especially significant.
“As a new member of the team, what stands out to me is how everything we do centers on our tripartite mission: delivering exceptional patient care, advancing innovation through research and prioritizing education,” said Stevenson, who joined the IU School of Medicine in 2025 as the division chief of pediatric neurosurgery.
“We teach medical students and residents, but the pinnacle is training fellows during a dedicated year to help them become outstanding pediatric specialists. They’ll go on to care for children we may never meet, and that’s something we truly cherish.”
Laurie Ackerman, MD, the John E. Kalsbeck Professor of Pediatric Neurosurgery, said the program has long stood out for the breadth of its clinical experience.
Fellows are trained by six nationally respected pediatric neurosurgeons who perform about 1,000 cases annually at Riley Children’s Health. The program offers trainees exposure to a wide range of neurosurgery subspecialties including, but not limited to, cerebrovascular, neuro-oncology, spine, epilepsy and fetal surgery.
“By the end of the year, we see something in almost every major category,” said Ackerman, the 2004 graduate of the pediatric neurosurgery fellowship program.
“Another major benefit of our program is the diversity of training and perspectives. Everyone brings unique experiences and approaches. I tell prospective fellows there’s rarely a single right way to do anything — what works in one situation may not in another.”
After a period of training and supervision, fellows are granted independent consulting, admitting and operating privileges.
“We want them to begin spreading their wings, but they’re still closely guided,” Stevenson said. “Mentorship is central to everything we do — we work with them closely throughout their time here. What’s special is that those relationships don’t end when they leave; they often continue for years, long after they’ve left the hospital and Indianapolis.”
While the program has long been known for its clinical strength, its research footprint also continues to grow. From clinical studies to basic science collaborations, fellows are encouraged to participate in projects that align with their goals while contributing to advancements in pediatric neurosurgery.
“We encourage everyone to get involved in at least one research project,” Stevenson said. “Now with six faculty members representing several subspecialities, it’s almost like a buffet — there are so many different research opportunities for fellows to pursue depending on their interests.”
The future of pediatric neurosurgery
Fellow Anas Aljabari, MBBS, said he was drawn to the program at the IU School of Medicine because he wanted to learn from a top-tier team and get hands-on experience with everything pediatric neurosurgery has to offer.
“I have gained a holistic approach to evaluating and managing pediatric neurosurgical patients and have learned to adapt my techniques to their unique physiology,” said Aljabari, who was born and raised in Amman, the capital of Jordan.
“The faculty are highly supportive and dedicated to teaching, driven by a genuine compassion for their patients to providing the best care. They also bring a wide range of research interests that enrich the training environment.”
Aljabari received his medical degree from Mutah University in Jordan and completed neurosurgery residency training at Hamad Medical Corporation in Doha, Qatar. Additionally, he has completed three fellowships: neurocritical care at North Shore University Hospital in Long Island, New York; neurocritical care at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities; and endovascular surgical neuroradiology at UHS Wilson Medical Center in Binghamton, New York.
Qaiser describes Aljabari as hardworking, kind and deeply committed to learning. Over the past year, she has been especially impressed by the young neurosurgeon’s developed confidence — both in the operating room and as a member of the team.
“He was very quiet and reserved when he first joined us. He had completed interventional and neurocritical care fellowships but was a little bit removed from the open-surgical part of the job,” Qaiser said. “He eagerly jumped right in with us and has become a more assertive surgeon. As he’s gotten more confident in his abilities, we’ve also seen more of his personality come out. It’s been really rewarding to see it all come together.”
Qaiser hopes that each fellow who comes through the program not only leaves with refined surgical skills, but with the compassion, curiosity and creativity to continue moving pediatric neurosurgery forward.
“I want them to innovate,” she said. “To bring new ideas — and ultimately change the field for the better.”
The application process through San Francisco Match Program for the Pediatric Neurosurgery Fellowship began April 1, and interviews begin May 1.
