MUSC Children's Health Down Syndrome Center at Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital

Deborah L. Brooks, ANP, is part of MUSC Health, a comprehensive healthcare network serving the South Carolina region. The organization offers a wide range of medical services, including specialty care, behavioral health, and rehabilitation programs, all aimed at enhancing patient well-being and accessibility to quality healthcare. With a commitment to evidence-based practice and patient-centered care, MUSC Health emphasizes collaboration and innovation in its treatment approaches. The network also supports community involvement through initiatives like Arts in Healing, ensuring a holistic approach to health and wellness. Generated from the website

Krishna G. Patel, M.D., Ph.D. joined the Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery in August 2008. She is a native of Athens, Georgia and attended Columbia University in New York City for her undergraduate education. She then earned M.D. and Ph.D. degrees through the combined program at the Medical College of Georgia, where she was awarded the Excellence in Research Award. Dr. Patel completed a residency in otolaryngology &- head and neck surgery at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Following residency, she pursued fellowship training in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of California, Davis. During both her residency and fellowship training, Dr. Patel participated in volunteer medical trips to other countries to provide care to the medically underserved. Her recent trips to Ecuador and El Salvador involved surgically repairing children with cleft lips, cleft palates, and ear deformities. She is board certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology and by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. As a member of the MUSC faculty, Dr. Patel's focus is in the areas of aesthetic facial plastic surgery, such as rhinoplasties, Botox, and blepharoplasties. Her practice also includes facial reconstructive surgery, facial trauma surgery, and reconstruction of Mohs defects. She is the director of the Craniofacial Anomalies and Cleft Palate Center and participates in the repair of cleft lips and palates. She also serves on the Executive Board of Directors for the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Dr. Patel sees patients in Rutledge Tower on the main campus of MUSC, as well as at off-site locations in Mount Pleasant.

Dale Sussman Gertz, MD practiced developmental-behavioral pediatrics for over 20 years in North Carolina. In July 2022, she joined the MUSC pediatric team to continue assessing and treating children with behavior challenges, learning problems, attention deficits, social interaction difficulties and other developmental concerns. After graduating from Medical College of Georgia, she completed her pediatric residency and first year of fellowship at University of Minnesota Hospital and Clinics. She finished the last two years of behavioral-developmental pediatric fellowship at UNC Center for Development and Learning. She works closely with parents of children to develop positive parenting skills, improve sleep hygiene and limit exposure to excessive use of screens. Using assessment tools, Dr. Gertz is able to diagnose young children with developmental issues early so that they can benefit from starting important therapies. Managing mental health problems like autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, anxiety and depression disorders with medication and advocating for students with learning disabilities to have IEP services from their county school system helps many children be successful and thrive. Dr. Gertz is passionate about the mind-body connection and its impact on health. She understands the importance of listening to parents and their children and spending as much time as needed with patients and their families to explain the diagnosis and treatment plan.