Tomoko Tanaka

Dr. Tomoko Tanaka is a neurosurgeon practicing at Arkansas Children's Hospital and Arkansas Children's Northwest. She is affiliated with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Department of Neurosurgery, where she joined the Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery after previously serving as Director of the Pediatric Neurosurgery Program at the University of Missouri's School of Medicine.

Dr. Tanaka's educational background includes:

• Medical Degree from Kitasato University School of Medicine (1993)
• Residency at Emory University School of Medicine (2011)
• Fellowship at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (2004)

Dr. Tanaka conducts research focused on spinal cord injury and recovery, with particular interest in predicting postoperative spinal surgery complications. Her research investigates how patient attitudes and motivations affect recovery outcomes, with a specific focus on enhancing mental conditions to improve long-term outcomes. She is currently developing protocols for spinal cord injury models in rats at ACRI (Arkansas Children's Research Institute), incorporating histopathology and flow cytometry analyses.

Her scholarly work spans pediatric neurosurgery with emphasis on brain tumors, cranial surgery techniques, and spinal surgery outcomes. Recent publications examine pediatric high-grade gliomas, innovative craniotomy methods, and the relationship between metabolic factors and surgical complications, demonstrating her commitment to advancing evidence-based pediatric neurosurgical care.

Dr. Tanaka has received recognition for her research, including a 2016 Research Grant Award for her work on predicting postoperative complications in spine surgery based on preoperative HbA1c levels.

As a clinician, Dr. Tanaka maintains excellent patient satisfaction ratings (4.9/5 based on 41 reviews), with patients consistently praising her clear communication, compassionate care, and collaborative approach to treatment decisions. She practices within Arkansas Children's comprehensive Neurosurgery Clinic, which serves children from newborn to age 21 and is part of the hospital's nationally ranked pediatric specialties.