Paula Padua Schleifer, MD
Chief, Department of Neurology
Co-Medical Director, Nicklaus Children's Hospital Brain Institute
Medical Director, Neurogenetics Program
Dr. Paula Padua Schleifer is a pediatric neurologist and serves as chief of the Department of Neurology, co-medical director of the Nicklaus Children's Hospital Brain Institute and medical director of the Neurogenetics Program. She earned her medical degree from Federal University of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. She completed a residency in pediatrics at Harvard Medical School/Mass General Children’s Hospital in Boston, followed by a second residency in child neurology at the same institution, where she also served as chief resident. Her clinical interests include epilepsy, neurogenetics, neurometabolic disorders and ketogenic diet.
In her role as chief, Dr. Schleifer provides medical leadership, oversees all clinical, operational and quality activities for the Department of Neurology, as well as promotes a culture of accountability. As co-medical director of the Brain Institute and medical director of the Neurogenetics Program, she is responsible for setting the strategy, along with overseeing clinical care, quality metrics, teaching, research and fiscal planning.
Dr. Schleifer is board certified in child neurology and epilepsy. She has been the principal investigator in a number of research studies. Her work has been published in peer-reviewed journals and she has presented at medical conferences and contributed chapters for medical textbooks.
Dr. Schleifer is employed by
Nicklaus Children’s Pediatric Specialists (NCPS), the multispecialty medical group practice of
Nicklaus Children’s Health System. She is bilingual in English and Portuguese and also speaks Spanish and French.
Nicklaus Children’s Hospital’s Brain Institute is the nation’s first comprehensive medical program dedicated solely to the care of the developing brain. Our pediatric neurology/neurosurgery program is ranked 21 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report’s Best Children’s Hospital’s rankings (2023-24) and is the top-ranked program in the state of Florida. The institute is recognized for excellence in treatment for children with a full spectrum of brain disorders, including brain tumors, intractable epilepsy, brain injuries and other anomalies. Ranked as the top pediatric neurology and neurosurgery program in the southeast United States, Nicklaus Children’s Brain Institute balances safety and efficacy to achieve the best possible quality of life for children with a neurological condition. The Brain Institute receives referrals of complex cases from throughout the U.S. and around the world. Many of its greatest successes involve children who could not be helped by other programs and were referred for the cutting-edge care and research protocols for which the Brain Institute is renowned.