The North American Brachial Plexus Accreditation Board (NABPAB) was founded in 2023 to help raise the level of pediatric brachial plexus injury care in North America by engendering transparency and establishing treatment standards. Accreditation is entirely voluntary and the application for accreditation is confidential. Centers wishing to apply for accreditation may do so at any time by submitting the necessary documentation and fees through our Application Portal. The NABPAB does not accredit individual providers.
Accreditation is granted on a 3 or 5 year time period based on fulfillment of discrete criteria determined by the Board, including patient volume, center resources, outcomes tracking, demonstrated expertise, and adherence to accepted standards of care. Each accredited center will be able to publicize their accreditation using the NABPAB seal and NABPAB will publicize the center on the NABPAB Center Index. The accredited center will also be referred to the United Brachial Plexus Network and Plexus Nexus to be listed as Accredited Centers on their directories at their discretion. Re-accreditation can begin within the last 12 months of the Center’s accreditation period.
A denial of accreditation will not be publicized. Centers not passing the criteria will receive a detailed list of the identified deficiencies to assist with re-application. Re-application is possible after 12 months from the date of the previous application. If the Center feels that their application was denied in error, the Center may request an in-person review at additional cost to cover travel and time of the examiners. An in-person review will include observation of office hours/clinic and surgery, as well as rehabilitation services.
Accreditation will be granted for one, some, or all of the following based on the review:
1. Nerve Reconstruction: Upper and Extended Upper injuries
2. Nerve Reconstruction: Lower trunk injuries
3. Nerve Reconstruction: Contralateral C7
4. Musculoskeletal Reconstruction
5. Microvascular Reconstruction
6. Diagnostic Examinations
7. Rehabilitation
8. Adults with BPBI
Members of the Board
Chair: Scott H. Kozin, MD
Recognized as one of the leading brachial plexus surgeons for children in the world, Dr. Kozin has published over 60 peer reviewed studies and lectured extensively on the topic throughout the world. He has trained well over 200 hand and pediatric hand fellows, many of whom are currently at major pediatric hospitals around the world. As a pioneer in the field, he continues to innovate and inspire the next generation of plexus surgeons. He has been at Shriners Children’s Philadelphia for the past 30 years and has previously served as both Chief of Hand Surgery and Chief of Staff. He has also served as President of both the American Association of Hand Surgery and the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. He has been an advocate for care in the developing world and participates in multiple medical missions internationally.
Vice Chair: Dan A. Zlotolow, MD
Dr. Zlotolow has become one of the leading voices in pediatric brachial plexus surgery of his generation, lecturing internationally and publishing landmark articles in plexus management. He has trained extensively in plexus surgery with visits to many major centers around the world, in addition to formal training as a pediatric hand fellow and partnership with Dr. Kozin. He helped to found Plexus Nexus and The Pediatric Hand International Society of Surgeons (PHISOS), as well as the Manus Club, and remains a leader in these organizations.
Secretary: Kristen Davidge, MD MS
Dr. Davidge received her training in hand, microsurgery, and nerve surgery from the famed Washington University of St. Louis under Dr. Mackinnon and in pediatric surgery at the Hospital for Sick Children with the legendary Howard Clarke. She has remained in Toronto and has taken on the responsibility of leading their brachial plexus practice. She is a deep and clear thinker and has been the recipient of numerous awards and grants during her career. Most recently, she was awarded the Langer Surgeon Scientist Award from the Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto, and is currently the Program Chair for the American Society of Peripheral Nerve.
Treasurer: Aaron Berger, MD
Dr. Aaron Berger serves as the Nicklaus Children's Pediatric Specialists (NCPS) chief of the Section of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, as well as the medical director of the Brachial Plexus and Peripheral Nerve Program. He completed residency training in plastic surgery at Stanford University Medical Center, followed by a fellowship in hand surgery and microsurgery at UCLA Medical Center. He was selected as the first recipient of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand’s International Hand Surgery Fellowship, where he trained at centers of excellence in China for the treatment of brachial plexus and other peripheral nerve injuries, complex extremity trauma and congenital differences of the upper extremity.