Dr. Peter Sun, the director of Neurosurgery at Children's Hospital, and Sue Ditmyer, RN, PNP, nurse practitioner in the Neurosurgery department at Children's.
Neurosurgery
SERVICES AND PROGRAMS
Clinical Social Services
The Clinical Social Services department provides social work services, resource counseling, psychosocial assessments, and crisis counseling to patients and families. learn more
Interpreter Services
Medical interpretation services for patients, families, and providers who are non-English speaking, deaf, or hearing-impaired are available 24 hours/7 days a week. Please ask for this service when making an appointment.
Child Life/Pre-Op Play
Child Life Services is a comprehensive therapeutic activities program designed to reduce the impact of stressful or traumatic life events and situations that affect the development, health, and well-being of infants, children, youth and families. Specially trained child life specialists engage children in pre-operative medical play, helping them “perform” the surgery on a doll and explaining step-by-step how the equipment works and what to expect.
ThinkFirst for Kids Program
ThinkFirst is a program developed by the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. The purpose of the program is to provide education to school-age children and adolescents to prevent brain and spinal cord injuries. Recently, a chapter of ThinkFirst was started in the Bay Area. The chapter was initiated by Dr. Peter Sun, the Director of Neurosurgery at Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland and is directed by Sue Ditmyer, RN, PNP, nurse practitioner in the Department of Neurosurgery at Children's.
ThinkFirst has a program for first, second and third graders called ThinkFirst for Kids. It is presented in a classroom format and is fully integrated into the elementary school curriculum. The program for High School students is called ThinkFirst for Teens and is an upbeat program designed to educate young people about personal vulnerability and risk-taking. The message to teens is that you can have a fun, exciting life, and you can do it without hurting yourself if you "ThinkFirst" and use your mind to protect your body.
The ThinkFirst programs for Kids and Teens are presented free of charge in Bay Area elementary schools and high schools by volunteers from Children's Hospital Oakland.
Referral
For referral information please call (510) 428-3319.
Hours
Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Contact us
Phone: (510) 428-3319
Fax: (510) 597-7034
Where to find us
Main Hospital — Map/Directions
747 52nd St., Oakland, CA 94609
Appointments are also available at our specialty care offices in Larkspur, Pleasanton and Walnut Creek.
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