Parul B Jayakar, MD

Parul B Jayakar, MD
Director, Division of Genetics and Metabolism
Nicklaus Children’s Pediatric Specialists (NCPS) Chief, Section of Clinical Genetics and Metabolism

Dr. Parul Jayakar is the director of the Division of Clinical Genetics and Metabolism at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital and the Nicklaus Children’s Pediatric Specialists (NCPS) chief of the Section of Clinical Genetics. She earned her medical degree from the University of Delhi, India; and pursued a master’s degree in human genetics at the University of Manitoba, Canada. Dr. Jayakar completed her residency training in pediatrics at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital and a fellowship in clinical genetics, clinical cytogenetics and clinical biochemical genetics at the University of Miami. She is board certified in general pediatrics, clinical genetics, clinical cytogenetics and clinical biochemical genetics.

After joining the Division of Genetics and Metabolism in 1995, Dr. Jayakar expanded the program’s clinical services and became the director of the Cytogenetics Laboratory and later assumed the role of director of all the Miami Genetics Laboratories. She also established the Neurogenetics/Metabolism and Rare Chromosomal Disorders programs, along with the Chromosome 22q Clinic, which offer comprehensive multidisciplinary care to children referred from all over Florida, Latin America and the Caribbean. In addition, Dr. Jayakar was instrumental in launching the Ion Channel Epilepsy Program, as well as Tuberous Sclerosis and Neural Tube Defects multidisciplinary clinics.

Dr. Jayakar provides comprehensive coordinated clinical and metabolic genetic inpatient and outpatient services to patients with seizures, undiagnosed intellectual disabilities, autism, suspected genetic syndromes, dysmorphism, inborn errors of metabolism, abnormal state newborn screens, chromosome abnormalities, neurocutaneous syndromes, multiple congenital anomalies, ambiguous genitalia and progressive neurodegenerative diseases. She has presented at national meetings and published extensively in peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Jayakar is also involved in research through the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Personalized Medicine Initiative, in collaboration with the Sanford Consortium.

Dr. Jayakar is employed by Nicklaus Children’s Pediatric Specialists, the physician-led group practice of Nicklaus Children’s Health System. She sees patients at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.

The Division of Clinical Genetics at Nicklaus Children's Hospital, provides expert diagnosis, counseling, and treatment for a wide range of genetic disorders in children. A clinical geneticist and genetic counselor evaluate infants and children for a variety of conditions, including developmental delays, unusual facial features, metabolic disorders, seizures, craniofacial anomalies, and failure to thrive. Prenatal patients may also be seen for genetic counseling prior to a planned conception or potential genetic anomalies during pregnancy.