Eric M. Thompson, MD

Eric M. Thompson, MD

T.S. Park, MD, Chair in Pediatric Neurosurgery

Professor of Neurosurgery

Chief, Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery

Neurosurgeon-in-Chief, St. Louis Children's Hospital

Co-Director, WashU Pediatric Brain Tumor Program

Co-Director, Neuroscience Service Line at St. Louis Children’s Hospital

Specialties

  • Brain tumors
  • Chiari malformation
  • Congenital spine disease (such as dermal sinus tract, myelomeningocele, lipomyelomeningocele)
  • Craniosynostosis
  • Epilepsy
  • Hydrocephalus
  • Spine tumors
  • Tethered cord
  • Vascular malformations

Call 314-454-2810 for Pediatric Appointments

It is a privilege to be a pediatric neurosurgeon and to take care of children. My approach to clinical care is to engage both the patient and their family in decision-making and to treat patients as if they were my own children.

Dr. Thompson

Education

BS, Psychology,
Duke University
Durham, NC
1998 – 2002

MD, with honors,
University of Nebraska College of Medicine
Omaha, NE
2002 – 2006

Residency

Resident, Neurological Surgery
Oregon Health & Science University
Portland, OR
2006 – 2013

Fellowship

Pediatric Neurosurgery Fellow
Hospital for Sick Children
Toronto, ON
2013 – 2014

Research focus

  • Peptide vaccine development for the treatment of brain tumors in children and young adults
  • Exploring the role of proteins called tyrosine kinases and their role in dissemination of pediatric brain tumors
  • Conducting clinical trials for the treatment of pediatric brain and spinal cord tumors

Honors & leadership roles

  • AANS/CNS Joint Section of Pediatric Neurosurgery Executive Committee, 2022- present  
  • Columbia Softball Charity Award, American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting, “Angiogenesis plays a critical role in Group 3 medulloblastoma pathogenesis”, 2017
  • American Brain Tumor Association Young Investigator Award, American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting, “The Clinical Importance of Extent of Resection in Medulloblastoma is Dependent on Molecular Subgroup”, 2014 
  • Stryker Neuro-Oncology Award, American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting, “Inhibition of SUR1 Decreases the Vascular Permeability of Cerebral Metastases”, 2013

Board certification

Board certified, American Board of Neurological Surgery, 2017

Board certified, American Board of Pediatric Neurological Surgery, 2019 

Hospital affiliations

St. Louis Children’s Hospital
Barnes-Jewish Hospital