William O Walker, MD

Professional History

Board Certified:

Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics
Neurodevelopmental Disabilities
Pediatrics

Medical/Professional School:

Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans

Residency:

William Beaumont Army Medical Center, El Paso, Pediatrics

Fellowship:

William Beaumont Army Medical Center, El Paso, Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics

Clinical Interests:

Myelomeningocele, hydrocephalus, developmental delay, cerebal palsy, autism, spina bifida

Research Focus Area:

Chronic Conditions / Special Health Care Needs

Description of Research:

Currently, there is a particular emphasis on defining effective methods to identify and measure outcomes of specific interventions implemented by a variety of medical providers and disciplines. As part of this effort, serial prospective data collected over the past forty years as part of routine care and maintained in an IRB approved database is being analyzed to establish baseline standards for future comparisons. In conjunction with the Division of Pediatric Urology, the timing and effectiveness of various methods of bowel and bladder management are the current focus. The development of common definitions of continence across several institutions and projects will, hopefully, better establish some common ground for comparison and implementation. There are ongoing discussions with the Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery regarding potential overlap with their interest in hydrocephalus, a frequently associated condition in children with neural tube defects. Shunt management and treatment of shunt infections are areas of potential future collaboration. The hope is that these efforts will favorably impact the success of individuals with spina bifida in achieving functional independence and a successful transition to an adult model of care.

The focus of my research efforts is the study and evaluation of neural tube defects and related conditions; it is almost exclusively clinical at this time and represents approximately 10percent of my work effort. In the past several years, I have had the opportunity to participate in both single and multisite projects sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Association of University Centers on Disability, which have addressed issues related to quality of life, its definition and measurement. This has allowed us to develop networks within the University of Washington (Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Center for Disability Policy and Research) as well as with other institutions (Oregon Health Sciences University, Children?s Hospital Los Angeles). Projects addressing the effect of lesion level on employment status, the economic impact of multidisciplinary clinics, and the accessibility of appropriate technology to this population have been presented and discussed at national and international meetings.

Key Publications:

Anderson A, Stephan M, Walker W, Kelley R. "Variant RSH/Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome with Atypical Sterol Metabolism." Am J. Med. Genet. 1998; 78: 413-418

Terry M, Calhoun BC, Walker W, Apodoca C, Martin L, Pierce B, Hume RF, Evans MI. "Aneuploidy and Isolated Mild Ventriculomegaly." Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy 2000; 15: 331-334.

Miller RI, Stephan MJ, Hume RF, Walker WO et al "Extreme Elevation of Maternal Serum Alpha-Fetoprotein Associated with Mosaic Trisomy 8 in a Liveborn" Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy 2001; 16: 120-122.

Walker WO, Kelly PC, Hume RF. "Mentoring for the New Millennium" Medical Education Online 2002; 7:15 (Available from http://www.med-ed-online.org)

Yim SY, Walker WO, McLaughlin JF. "Iron Deficiency Anemia in Children with Exstrophy of the Cloaca." European Journal of Pediatric Surgery 2004; 14: 108-111.

Davis BE, Shurtleff DB, Walker WO, Seidel KD, Duguay S. "Acquisition of Autonomy Skills in Adolescents with Myelomeningocele" Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 2006; 48: 253-258.

Johnson K, Dudgeon B, Kuehn C, Walker WO. "Assistive Technology Use Among Adolescents and Young Adults with Spina Bifida" American Journal of Public Health 2007; 97: 330-338.

Cardenas D, Topolski T, White C, McLaughlin J, Walker W. Sexual Functioning in Adolescents and Young Adults With Spina Bifida Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2008; 89:31-5.

Honors & Awards:

Seattle Metropolitan Magazine Top Doctor 2008