Dr. Sreenath Thati Ganganna, a pediatric neurologist and epileptologist at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital, has been named a 2026 Castle Connolly Top Doctor, marking the third consecutive year he has received this designation. The recognition places him among the 7 percent of licensed physicians nationwide selected annually for their regional specialty expertise. This distinction underscores the critical role of specialized neurological care for pediatric patients in Iowa and surrounding regions.
As Clinical Associate Professor and Clinical Director of the Division of Neurology, Dr. Thati Ganganna provides comprehensive evaluation and treatment for primary neurological conditions affecting infants, children, and adolescents. His clinical focus centers on managing drug-resistant epilepsy through advanced therapeutic approaches. These include presurgical evaluation, neurostimulation therapies such as Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS), Responsive Neurostimulation (RNS), and Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), along with ketogenic dietary therapies. His work addresses the significant challenge of intractable seizures in children, aiming to improve quality of life for patients and their families.
The University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital, itself recognized as a Castle Connolly Top Hospital, provides essential infrastructure supporting Dr. Thati Ganganna's practice. Facilities include an on-site pediatric epilepsy monitoring unit, an EEG laboratory, and advanced neuroimaging suites. These resources enable seamless coordination between diagnostic testing and clinical consultation, facilitated by close collaboration with a specialized pediatric neurosurgery team. This integrated approach is crucial for managing complex neurological cases.
Beyond clinical care, Dr. Thati Ganganna serves as Director of the Epilepsy Fellowship program, training future specialists in the field. His academic contributions include publications in journals such as Stroke, Epilepsy & Behavior Case Reports, Clinical Pediatrics, and the European Journal of Paediatric Neurology. He also acts as an Associate Editor for the Epilepsy section of the Journal of Child Neurology. The Castle Connolly Top Doctor selection process involves peer physician nominations and evaluation by a physician-led research team based on medical education, training, hospital appointments, and disciplinary histories. Physicians cannot pay for selection, with information available at https://www.castleconnolly.com.
The repeated recognition of Dr. Thati Ganganna reflects the sustained excellence and specialized expertise available at a major regional children's hospital. For families dealing with pediatric neurological disorders, particularly drug-resistant epilepsy, access to such highly qualified specialists and comprehensive facilities represents a significant healthcare resource. The designation also highlights the importance of peer-recognized medical excellence in ensuring quality care for vulnerable patient populations. This ongoing recognition matters because it validates the advanced treatment approaches available locally for children with complex neurological conditions, reducing the need for families to seek care outside the region while maintaining high standards of specialized pediatric medicine.
