At Necker – Enfants malades hospital, Dr Giovanna Paternoster has been appointed medical director of the French national reference center for craniostenoses and craniofacial malformations (CRANIOST). She succeeds Professor Michel Zerah in this position.

A specialist in paediatric neurosurgery, Dr Paternoster studied medicine at the Catholic University of Rome and trained with Professor Concezio Di Rocco, one of Italy’s leading authorities on complex craniofacial surgery. After a first experience at Necker with Professor Sainte Rose, Giovanna Paternoster completed two fellowships in Liverpool and Birmingham and an observership in Rotterdam. Since returning to Necker in 2015, she has specialised in the management of hinge and spinal deformities as well as hydrocephalus. On a daily basis, Dr Paternoster places great importance on psychological support and the integration of families in the follow-up of patients.

As coordinator of CRANIOST, Giovanna Paternoster wishes to continue the work done by Professor Zerah by maintaining the status of the reference center as a world reference on these pathologies. She also aims to improve and strengthen collaboration with the other French teams in the network and to better define the care pathway for patients throughout the country. Finally, in terms of research, Dr Paternoster wishes to focus on the neurocognitive aspects of these diseases.