Mayo Clinic

STEIN Fireside Podcast: Pediatric Dystonia, DBS & Hope: Dr. Keith Coffman on Transforming Young Lives, S1-Ep17 How do you restore movement to a child whose body has become trapped by dystonia? In this episode of the STEIN Fireside Chat Podcast, Dr. Bryan Klassen and Dr. Kai Miller sit down with Dr. Keith Coffman, pediatric neurologist and movement disorders specialist at Mayo Clinic. Dr. Coffman shares his journey from childhood fascination with psychology and neuroscience to becoming a leading expert in pediatric dystonia, Tourette syndrome, and deep brain stimulation (DBS). The discussion explores the science of movement disorders, the anatomy of the basal ganglia, and how advancements in neuromodulation are changing the lives of children with severe neurological conditions. Dr. Coffman also shares remarkable patient stories demonstrating how DBS can restore function, independence, and quality of life in children affected by devastating forms of dystonia. Topics include: • Pediatric dystonia and movement disorders • Deep brain stimulation (DBS) in children • Tourette syndrome and basal ganglia circuitry • Neuroanatomy and systems neuroscience • Patient selection for neuromodulation • Genetics and dystonia • The future of adaptive DBS and sensing technologies • Compassionate care for children and families Whether you're a clinician, researcher, patient advocate, engineer, or simply fascinated by the brain, this episode offers a compelling look into the intersection of neuroscience, technology, and human resilience. 00:00 Intro & Keith Coffman’s Reputation in Pediatric Dystonia 02:04 Childhood Influences, Psychology & Finding Neurology 06:18 Discovering Neurodevelopmental Disabilities 07:40 Training at Pittsburgh & Influential Mentors 09:28 Research Passion, Neuroanatomy & Peter Strick 13:44 Why Movement Disorders Became His Calling 15:30 Reading Movement Disorders Through the Physical Exam 17:40 The Early Days of Pediatric Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) 19:25 First DBS Patient & Building a Pediatric Neuromodulation Program 22:32 Dystonia Types, Genetics & DBS Outcomes 24:43 Primary vs Secondary Dystonia Explained 26:33 Cerebral Palsy, Anatomy & DBS Patient Selection 29:05 Tractography and the Future of Personalized Neuromodulation 31:00 GPI Stimulation, Parkinsonism & DBS Side Effects 36:30 Case Study: Teen Athlete Transformed by DBS 41:55 The Biggest Challenge in Dystonia: Understanding the Physiology 49:17 Tourette Syndrome, Anxiety, OCD & Brain Circuits 57:47 Caring for Children, Families & Lessons from ALS 01:05:12 Rapid-Onset Dystonia, DBS Recovery & Genetics 01:13:24 Why Dystonia Looks Different Even Within Families