News Releases

Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children is pleased to announce our new Division Chief for Cerebral Palsy, Michael W. Shrader, MD (Wade). Dr. Shrader is a graduate of the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. He completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at the Mayo Clinic and his fellowship in pediatric orthopedics and scoliosis at the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas, Texas. He is board certified in orthopedic surgery.

Prior to joining Nemours, Dr. Shrader was a Professor and Chief of Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery and Medical Director of Children’s Rehabilitative Services at Children’s of Mississippi, University of Mississippi Medical Center, where he focused his practice on the treatment of children with cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, and similar developmental disabilities. Previously, he was the Director of the CP Program at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, and he is currently on the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine. His undergraduate degree was in aerospace engineering from Mississippi State University, and he worked as an engineer at NASA before entering medical school.

The hiring of Dr. Shrader comes on the heels of the announced retirement of Freeman Miller, MD, who came to duPont Hospital for Children 30 years ago to start the Cerebral Palsy Center. Since then, he has impacted the lives of thousands of families while enhancing and improving the treatment and care for children with CP.

"It has been my honor to work with such a compassionate and talented team devoted to helping children with cerebral palsy," said Dr. Miller. "My greatest pleasure has been meeting these amazing children and devoting my career to their care." 

Dr. Miller transformed the Nemours Cerebral Palsy Center into a world-renowned center of excellence, where more than 3000 children receive care each year. He established one of the few accredited Gait Analysis Laboratories in North America and advanced protocols for orthopedic screenings and surgical corrections that are now accepted as best practices in the U.S. and internationally. 

Dr. Miller received a lifetime achievement award for the treatment of children with cerebral palsy from the Royal College of Surgeons of Scotland. He also was bestowed the prestigious Mentorship Award from the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, given for his outstanding leadership and mentoring of trainees and colleagues in the field of childhood-onset disabilities. Dr. Miller has written a textbook on CP for professionals and a guidebook for families dealing with CP. His clinical expertise is matched only by his family-centered approach, both of which has made him one of the most respected and beloved Nemours physicians.

Of Dr. Shrader’s arrival, Dr. Miller said, "He is an orthopedic surgeon who has spent his career caring for children with cerebral palsy. He is the perfect fit for Nemours and will continue to build upon the high quality of care and expertise all have come to expect."

Dr. Shrader’s current research efforts are focused on investigating pain control, scoliosis, hip dysplasia and the family dynamics of children with special health care needs.  He is married to his college sweetheart, Carol, and they are the proud parents of four children, two of whom have cerebral palsy.

“Coming to Nemours Children’s Health System already feels like coming home,” said Dr. Shrader. “Dr. Miller has built such a legacy here, and I am honored and humbled to follow in his footsteps and lead the CP Center at duPont Hospital for Children.”