Theresa Grover, MD, professor of pediatrics, [Section of Neonatology] and Michael Cookson, MD '18, MHS, fellow in neonatal-perinatal medicine in pediatrics, are co-authors of an article published April 16 by the Journal of Perinatology that offers a consensus evidence-based framework for meeting the nutritional challenges faced by infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia.
Stacey L. Simon, PhD, associate professor of pediatrics, [Section of Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine] and Janet Snell-Bergeon, PhD, MPH, professor of pediatrics, [Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes] are shared first authors of an original article published April 8 by Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism that examines associations between sleep and cardiometabolic health in adolescents and adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D). “Sleep may be an important and novel target for improving cardiometabolic health in individuals with T1D,” the authors write. Nine colleagues from our campus are co-authors, including Kristen Nadeau, MD, MS, professor [and vice chair for clinical and translational research] of pediatrics, and Irene E. Schauer, MD, PhD, clinical professor of medicine, who are shared senior authors.
Paul Rozance, MD, professor of pediatrics and The Frederick C. Battaglia Endowed Chair in Neonatology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine was recently named president-elect of the Perinatal Research Society (PRS). PRS was first established in 1969 to foster scientific interchange among pediatricians (neonatologists), obstetricians and basic scientists with research interests in the areas of perinatal medicine and developmental biology. This unique group first gathered at the University of Colorado under the leadership of the late Fred Battaglia, MD, and has since grown to include more than 400 members nationwide. Rozance’s areas of interest include neonatal hypoglycemia, intrauterine growth restriction and placental nutrient supply. As president-elect, Rozance will carry on the tradition of PRS’s Colorado founders, helping to create connections between leading researchers and other experts in perinatal research and developmental biology.
Stephen Daniels, MD, PhD, chair of pediatrics, has been awarded the Robert Suskind and Leslie Lewinter-Suskind Pediatric Nutrition Lifetime Achievement Award by the American Society for Nutrition (ASN) and the ASN Foundation. The award honors a clinician or researcher for lifelong contributions to pediatric nutrition, emphasizing its importance in child health.
Francis Hickey, MD (Professor, Department of Pediatrics) has announced his intention to retire from the university and step down from his role as director of the Anna and John J. Sie Center for Down Syndrome at Children’s Hospital Colorado, effective on April 30, 2024.
Shanlee M. Davis, MD, PhD, associate professor of pediatrics, [Section of Endocrinology, University of Colorado School of Medicine], is corresponding author of an original investigation published March 29 by JAMA Network Open that considers the prevalence of an additional X or Y chromosome among men who served in the U.S. military. Davis and her co- authors conducted a cross-sectional study of 595,612 men in the VA’s Million Veteran Program, finding that 1 in 370 men had a sex chromosome aneuploidy, but only 14.2% were clinically diagnosed by the time they were 60 years old. Men with an extra X or Y chromosome have increased risk of delayed development, learning disabilities, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disorders.
Clinical Research Obesity Pediatrics
A pilot grant funded in part by the University of Colorado Cancer Center will support a study that will look at factors contributing to extreme obesity in children with a type of benign brain tumor.
Paula Dias Maia, MD, fellow in neonatal-perinatal medicine in the Department of Pediatrics, has received the PROSPER Diversity Award from the Society for Pediatric Research (SPR). The PRomotion of FellOwS‘ PEdiatric Research (PROSPER) Diversity Award provides material support and mentoring for a one-year pediatric research project that will facilitate an academic research-focused career trajectory for fellows from under-represented in medicine background(s). Her current research at the Colorado Pulmonary Heart Lung Center focuses on understanding the effects of antenatal inflammation on pulmonary endothelial cell diversity and cardiopulmonary sequelae.
Emily Bucholz, MD, PhD, MPH, assistant professor of pediatrics, has been named associate editor of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, effective July 1. The journal is the world’s highest impact cardiovascular journal. Emily’s research focuses on sociodemographic disparities in pediatric heart disease, pediatric quality measurement, and the development of risk stratification models in congenital heart disease. She is funded by foundational grants from the American Heart Association and the Thrasher Research Fund to study maternal-fetal risk factors for congenital heart disease outcomes. She serves as a principal investigator for CU on the Pediatric Heart Network.
Megan J. Turner, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics, is corresponding author of an article published March 20 in the Journal of Perinatology that evaluates whether three specific urine biomarkers of acute kidney injury would predict abnormal brain MRI findings. Having earlier markers to correlate with clinically significant brain injury would help clinicians in communicating prognostic information to families. Nicholas Stence, MD, professor of radiology, and Ilana Neuberger, MD, assistant professor of radiology, are co-authors on the article.
When Allison Kempe, MD, MPH, professor of pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, was developing her vision that would one day become The Adult and Child Center for Outcomes Research and Delivery Science (ACCORDS), her goal was to provide a home for health services and outcomes researchers.
Brandi Freeman, MD, MS, associate professor, Section of General Academic Pediatrics and vice chair for diversity, equity and inclusion, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, has been appointed as a member of the Health Resources & Services Administration’s (HRSA) Advisory Committee on Training in Primary Care Medicine and Dentistry (ACTPCMD) for a three-year term. As a member of this esteemed committee, Freeman will play a vital role in providing valuable insights and recommendations on training in primary care medicine.
Kate LaPorta, PA-C, MHS, assistant professor of pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine Child Health Associate/Physician Assistant Program, has been named PA educator of the year by the Colorado Academy of PAs.
James A. Feinstein, MD, MPH, (associate professor of pediatrics and clinical research director, Section of General Academic Pediatrics; principal investigator, Adult and Child Center for Outcomes Research and Delivery Science; pediatric director, Children's Hospital Colorado Epidermolysis Bullosa Program), is a co-author of an original investigation published March 15 in JAMA Network Open that explores recurrent intensive care episodes and mortality among children with severe neurologic impairment.
It is with a mix of admiration and nostalgia that we announce the decision of Adam Rosenberg, MD, a distinguished figure in the realm of pediatrics, to step down from his role as Pediatric Residency Program director. Rosenberg has spearheaded this highly competitive program since 2003, leaving behind a remarkable legacy spanning 21 years characterized by outstanding leadership. Under his direction, our program has flourished, setting a benchmark for excellence, garnering national acclaim and nurturing hundreds of residents who are now contributing significantly to pediatrics on a global scale.
Halis Akturk, MD, associate professor of pediatrics at the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, has been selected to receive the AACE Rising Star in Endocrinology Award from the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology at the association’s annual meeting in May in New Orleans.
The Department of Pediatrics Section of Emergency Medicine has announced their Joan Bothner Award for Excellence and Tim Givens Award for Service in Pediatric Emergency Medicine (PEM) winners for their accomplishments and contributions in 2023.
Stephen R. Daniels, MD, PhD, MPH, has been chosen as the president of the American Pediatric Society (APS), commencing his term in June of 2024. He currently holds the position of chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, along with being the pediatrician-in-chief and L. Joseph Butterfield Chair in Pediatrics at Children’s Hospital Colorado.
Erica M. Wymore, MD, MPH (associate professor of pediatrics, Section of Neonatology), is corresponding author of an article published March 2 by the Journal of Perinatology that studies the relationship between severe hypertensive diseases of pregnancy and moderate-severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Seven colleagues from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, including John Kinsella, MD (professor of pediatrics, Section of Neonatology), are co-authors.
Edwin Asturias, MD (professor of pediatrics, Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine and director of Latin American Projects, Center for Global Health, Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health), has received an invitation from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to join the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). His appointment is scheduled to commence on July 1, 2024 and conclude on June 30, 2028.
Karen Leamer, MD `86, FAAP, is set to step down from her esteemed role as the chair of the Department of Pediatrics Clinical Faculty Affairs Committee after an impressive 23-year tenure. Since 1989, Dr. Leamer has been a key figure within the department clinical faculty, taking on the leadership of the Clinical Faculty Affairs Committee in 2000. Currently practicing at Every Child Pediatrics in Aurora, she has shown unwavering dedication, commitment and support to our volunteer clinical faculty. Her remarkable contributions have made a lasting impact on our department, and we are deeply grateful for her significant influence and the privilege of having her on our team. She has taught and mentored numerous medical students and residents over the years.
Research Education Fellowship Mentoring Training
The Surgical/Subspecialists Clinical Outcomes Research (SCORE) Fellowship within the Adult and Child Center for Outcomes Research & Delivery Science (ACCORDS) has played a crucial role in providing training, mentorship, and career development support to physician-researchers in the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
On January 18, 2024, the Global Down Syndrome Foundation (GLOBAL) announced that Dr. Joaquín Espinosa, leader of its Affiliate, the Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome (Crnic Institute) at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, was awarded an Anschutz Acceleration Initiative (AAI) grant that will fund a pioneering clinical trial aimed at normalizing the immune system and decreasing inflammation in children with Down syndrome.
Community Alumni Publications Cooking and Nutrition
Nancy Krebs, MD, MS, professor of pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, has worked for decades to emphasize the importance of nutrition to overall health and to medical practice, including incorporating nutrition into the curriculum for CU medical students and residents.
Alumni Announcements Accolades
The Department of Pediatrics Section of Neonatology has established the Giacomo Meschia Distinguished Professorship in the CU Foundation in the summer of 2023. Laura Brown, MD, professor of pediatrics in the Section of Neonatology is the first recipient of the Giacomo Meschia Distinguished Professorship for the Section of Neonatal Perinatal Medicine of the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics. This is for her outstanding and trailblazing work in the field of fetal and neonatal nutrition and skeletal muscle metabolism and physiology.
Joshua Williams, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics in the Section of General Academic Pediatrics, has been selected as the recipient of the American Academy of Pediatrics' (AAP) Section on Early Career Physicians' Advancement in Research Award. Dr. Williams will be honored at the 2023 AAP National Meeting in October. Dr. Williams is principal investigator on an NICHD-funded K23 grant to examine the impact of digital storytelling on influenza vaccination equity. He is also co-investigator at Denver Health for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Vaccine Safety Datalink project.
Alumni Announcements Accolades
Lalit Bajaj, MD, MPH, will be assuming the role of Chief Quality Officer for Children’s Hospital Colorado starting in January 2024.
Dr. Bajaj will oversee the Department of Patient Safety, while continuing his oversight of the Department of Clinical Effectiveness and Department of Diversity, Health Equity & Inclusion. These departments will now constitute the Division of Quality, and Dr. Bajaj will be working to complete the medical and administrative dyads in each of those departments over the coming months.
Jillian M. Cotter, MD, MSCS, assistant professor of pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, is a corresponding author of a quality report published February 14 by Pediatrics that describes a quality improvement project aimed at reducing hospital-onset C. difficile infections while also eliminating unnecessary tests. The project, conducted from 2018 to 2020, included developing a clinical care pathway for testing and treatment for C. difficile, a clinical decision support tool to restrict testing, and targeted prevention efforts. Dr. Cotter and her co-authors conclude that such strategies can be used to decrease C. difficile and improve overall test utilization.
Brian H. Pitts, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics, Section of Adolescent Medicine, is corresponding author of a review article published February 15 in Pediatrics that reviews and consolidates the available literature on suicide risk screening and brief intervention with youths in outpatient medical settings. Brian and his co-authors conclude that brief suicide interventions for youth in outpatient medical settings can increase identification of risk, increase access to behavioral health services, and for crisis interventions, can limit psychiatric hospitalizations. This is a critically important study because suicide is a leading cause of death in youth across the United States, with a recent survey reporting that 18.8% of students nationwide had seriously considered attempting suicide. Six colleagues from our campus are co-authors.
On behalf of the University of Colorado School of Medicine Pediatric Residency Program, please join us in congratulating the 2025–26 Pediatric Chief Residents!
Patient Care Community Pediatrics
In the Division of Cardiology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Kamal Henderson, MD, is working to understand why marginalized communities shoulder a disproportionate burden of cardiovascular disease.
Research Community Vaccinations Pediatrics
Despite some media narratives that focus on vaccine hesitancy becoming more commonplace, ACCORDS faculty members at the University of Colorado School of Medicine say the opposite is true. Most parents in the United States still support vaccinating their children.
We are excited to announce that Anne Adema, MD, (assistant professor, Section of Emergency Medicine), has been selected as an Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) Scholar for 2024-2025.
It is with mixed emotions that the Department of Pediatrics announces that Randy Wilkening, MD, (professor and head, Section of Neonatology; vice chair for clinical practice; chairman, Clinical Practice Committee; associate vice-chairman for Research Affairs, Perinatal Research; Department of Pediatrics) plans to step down from his role as section head pending the completion of the search for his replacement. Dr. Wilkening has served as the section head of Neonatology since 1992 – a remarkable 32-year leadership term.
Suchitra Rao, MD, associate professor of pediatrics in the Section of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, is the corresponding author of a state-of-the-art review published February 7 by Pediatrics that provides a summary of current knowledge about long COVID in children. The article is a comprehensive discussion of the prevalence and epidemiology, risk factors, clinical characteristics, and outcomes. The article also seeks to inform future treatment and prevention efforts. Listed as co-authors are 21 colleagues from major academic medical centers across the country. The New York Times also quotes Suchitra in an article about the review.
Kevin Messacar, MD, PhD, associate professor of pediatrics in the Section of Infectious Diseases, is the corresponding author of the main article in the March 2024 Emerging Infectious Diseases, a monthly journal of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Messacar and his co-authors report on lessons learned from developing a multimodal surveillance program for enterovirus D68 and how they could be applicable to other emerging pathogens and their associated diseases. Messacar and his 12 co-authors are from University of Colorado School of Medicine, Children’s Hospital Colorado and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
John “Fred” Thomas, PhD, professor of pediatrics and public health and executive director of the Peer Mentored Care Collaborative (PMCC) at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, is senior author of an article published by Telemedicine and e-Health about the environmental benefits using econsults to deliver care. The authors, six members of the CU Anschutz Medical Campus, reviewed 15,499 econsults between July 2018 and December 2022 from PMCC. Among the benefits they tally are a reduction of 310,858 miles of in-state travel distance, 5,491 hours of saved travel time, fuel reduction of 13,575 gallons, and a reduction of 77 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
Vaccinations Advocacy Pediatrics
Media stories focusing on vaccine hesitancy can distort reality and drive a false narrative that a large percentage of parents are refusing to get their children vaccinated, according to an editorial in the New England Journal of Medicine by two pediatricians from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
The University of Colorado School of Medicine is proud of our faculty's work that contributes to UCHealth's annual rankings on the U.S. News & World Report's Best Hospitals. These rankings are important as many students, residents, faculty, and patients consider these rankings when deciding where to train, practice and receive care.
Colleagues,
We are pleased to announce a generous gift of $2 million from Doug Jones, Jr., MD, Ann Jones, PhD, and their children, Monica Federico, MD, and Tobin Jones, for the establishment of the Jones Family Endowed Chair in Medical Education.
The inaugural chair holder will be Tai Mara Lockspeiser, MD, MEd, professor of pediatrics in the Section of General Academic Pediatrics, Assistant Dean of Medical Education and Director of Assessment, Evaluations and Outcomes.
Join the Department of Pediatrics for "Tribute to the Legacy of Michael Hambidge, MD, ScD," during pediatrics grand rounds on Friday, February 2, from 12:30–1:30 p.m.in Mt. Oxford, second floor conference center in Children's Hospital Colorado. Erick Boy, MD, PhD, chief nutritionist, HarvestPlus Nutrition, International Food Policy and Research Institute, will present "Biofortification – Reaching Millions of Rural Farming Households with Micronutrient-Rich Staple Crops Sustainably," with a reception to follow at 1:30 p.m. in the lobby.
Steven H. Abman, MD, professor of pediatrics in the Section of Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine, is a co-author of an article published January 13 in the Journal of Perinatology finding that transpyloric feeding is associated with adverse in-hospital outcomes in infants with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia affects 10,000 preterm infants annually in the United States and is the most common complication of preterm birth.
James A. Feinstein, MD, MPH/MSPH, associate professor of pediatrics in the Section of General Academic Pediatrics, is co-author of an article published January 4 in Pediatrics that considers drug-drug interaction exposure in pediatric outpatient settings. Using a database of Medicaid beneficiaries, the authors reviewed cases involving more than 780,000 children and found that 21.4% experienced major exposures, putting children at risk for negative health outcomes and adverse drug events.
Shikha Sundaram, MD, MSCI, professor of pediatrics in the Section of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, has been named medical director for child health for CU Medicine and associate dean for clinical affairs for the CU School of Medicine, effective February 1.
Research Education Alumni Accolades
The CU Anschutz School of Medicine’s Program to Advance Physician Scientists & Translational Research recently announced the scholars in its Stimulating Access to Research in Residency (StARR) Program, which is funded by an award from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
Lauren Maloney, MD, resident in pediatrics, is one of four scholars selected. Her project is studying age-specific differences in the immune response to obstructive cholestasis, with Sarah Taylor, MD, visiting associate professor of pediatrics, as her mentor.
Patient Care Pediatrics Data analysis
An international research team led by Tell Bennett, MD, MS, professor of biomedical informatics and pediatric critical care at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, released new diagnostic criteria for sepsis in children this week, marking the first update to the pediatric sepsis definition in nearly two decades.
Research Community Pediatric surgery Cervical Cancer
A vaccine that prevents all cancer may still be decades away from becoming a reality, but for cervical cancer and several other types of cancer, a vaccine already exists that drastically reduces the risk of getting the disease.
Nine projects chosen for their promise to deliver life-changing advancements in medicine within the next three to five years were announced as the Anschutz Acceleration Initiative (AAI) winners on Jan. 10, marking the end of a selection process that began with 165 letters of intent and 56 full proposals.
The new members of the Finance Committee with CU Medicine were announced beginning this month with Nanette Santoro, MD (Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology) as the new chair, joined by Neill Epperson, MD (Professor, Chair of Psychiatry), Glenn Furuta, MD (Professor and Section Head, Section of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition) and Katie Dean (DFA for Orthopedics). Mike Jonen (Vice Chair for Finance and Administration) was selected for a second term.
Rachel Cafferty, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics, and Bruno Anthony, PhD, professor of psychiatry, are co-authors of a viewpoint article published December 28 by JAMA that calls for formal training in suicide prevention for frontline emergency clinicians and staff caring for children and adolescents. The commentary describes the growing public health problem of pediatric suicide, high risk patients and the front seat of the ED to this crisis and offers suggestions for clinical and policy-level solutions. They propose standardized screening practices and increased engagement with community partners and outpatient mental health services.
Lilliam Ambroggio, PhD, associate professor of pediatrics, Christina M. Osborne, MD, instructor of pediatrics, and Brandie D. Wagner, PhD, associate professor of biostatistics and informatics in the Colorado School of Public Health, are co-authors of an article published January 2 in Nature Communications that adds information about antimicrobial resistance in the lung microbiome. The authors performed an observational study of children and adults with acute respiratory failure. Their findings of higher resistance in adults compared to children could have implications for clinical management and public health.
Stephanie W. Waldrop, MD, instructor of pediatrics, is corresponding author of a comment published January 3 by Nature Medicine that addresses inequities in access to medications for weight loss. Barriers to access for the medications known as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists include high list prices, variable insurance coverage, and bias in prescribing. Stephanie and her co-authors conclude: “Health is a social good, and thus society has an obligation to provide health services that address the needs of all. GLP-1 agonists are effective treatments for weight management, and although regulatory bodies and medical providers are on the right path, we have a long way to go.”
Gates Institute recently announced four recipients of the 2023 Gates Grubstake Fund. These awards are designed to support investigators who are researching and developing regenerative medicine-related technologies. The awards of up to $350,000 are made annually in a process administered in collaboration with CU Innovations. The fund made awards totaling over $1.4 million to University of Colorado Anschutz researchers in 2023.
Navin Pinto, MD, a professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine on the CU Anschutz Medical Campus, has been named medical lead at Gates Institute. In this role, he’ll work in partnership with the Investigational New Drug and Device (IND/IDE) Office to oversee Gates Institute-supported clinical trials, providing expertise drawn from his extensive experience with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy.
Christopher J. Stille, MD, MPH, professor of pediatrics, is co-author of an original investigation, “Pediatric Medical Subspecialist Use in Outpatient Settings,” published January 4 by JAMA Network Open. The study used electronic health records and health plan claims data to compare rates of subspecialist use, finding that 8.6% of Medicaid beneficiaries, 10.4% of those with commercial insurance, and 21.3% of those whose primary care is received in academic health systems use pediatric subspecialty care each year.
Down syndrome, also known as trisomy 21, is caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21 and is the most common chromosomal abnormality in the population. Research shows individuals with Down syndrome often experience widespread immune dysregulation and inflammation that can lead to many different co-occurring conditions including issues in the gut. Many are diagnosed with several types of gastrointestinal (GI) motility issues such as celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome and chronic constipation during their lifetime.
Research Clinical Research Equity Diversity and Inclusion Announcements
Down syndrome, also known as trisomy 21, is caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21 and is the most common chromosomal disorder in the human population occurring at an estimated rate of one in every 700 births. The number of babies born with Down syndrome continues to increase and individuals with Down syndrome are living longer than ever. In fact, the average life expectancy for an individual with Down syndrome has increased dramatically from 10 years old in the early 1900s to about 60 years old today.
The Department of Pediatrics is extremely pleased to announce Shelley D. Miyamoto, MD, (professor, Section of Cardiology) as our new Section Head of Pediatric Cardiology and Co-Director of the Heart Institute, effective December 1, 2023. Dr. Miyamoto brings a wealth of experience to our team, having completed her Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship at the University of Colorado in 2005 and holding key positions since then. Prior to joining us, she obtained her medical degree from the University of Iowa and completed her pediatric residency training at Brown University and Rhode Island Hospital in Providence, where she served as a chief resident.
Barry H. Rumack, MD, (Professor Emeritus), has been awarded the 2023 Prince Mahidol Award in the field of Public Health.
Dr. Rumack is recognized for his groundbreaking work in clinical toxicology, specifically in the study of paracetamol overdose.
He created the Rumack-Matthews nomogram, which has allowed doctors worldwide to appropriately diagnose paracetamol toxicity and formed a treatment protocol that became the global standard for managing paracetamol toxicity.
The Department of Pediatrics announces the appointment of Mandy A. Allison MA, MD, MSPH (Associate Professor, Section of General of Pediatrics) as the next Director of the Prevention Research Center for Family and Child Health (PRC). The PRC is a joint program of the Department of Pediatrics and the Adult and Child Center for Outcomes Research and Delivery Science (ACCORDS).
The Department of Pediatrics has announced several leadership updates, including the appointment of a new Vice Chair.
The Strauss Health Sciences Library is proud to present a new exhibit honoring the memory of Dr. Nancy Nelson, MD. The Nancy Nelson memorial display case, donated by the Office of Advancement, will have a permanent home on the third floor of the library outside the Tower Room. This case will frequently feature important women in healthcare and medicine. The inaugural exhibit will showcase the life and achievements of Dr. Nelson herself.
We are pleased to announce that Thomas Parker, MD, Professor, Section of Neonatology, has been appointed as Vice Chair for Education for the Department of Pediatrics effective November 1. Dr. Parker has been serving as Interim Vice Chair since August 2021 and his appointment follows an extensive search led by Dr. Shale Wong (Chair), Dr. Jennifer Barker, Dr. Robin Deterding, Dr. Brandi Freeman, Dr. Mary Kohn, Dr. Adam Rosenberg, Dr. Jennifer Soep, Mike Jonen, Gene Liffick and LeAnn Olonia.
First awarded in 1969, these awards are the highest honor and recognition bestowed by the Medical Alumni Association. The Silver and Gold Award for Excellence in Humanitarianism, Citizenship and Professionalism is presented for outstanding service to the community and contributions to the science and art of medicine.
A grant entitled, “Living Donor Liver Transplant: Is It a Cost-Effective Option for Children in Need of Transplantation,” from Amy Feldman, MD (Section of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition), was given a Mid-Level Career Development Award from the North American Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) Foundation. Over the last five years, Children’s Hospital Colorado (working in partnership with Dr. Elizabeth Pomfret and the liver transplant team at the Department of Surgery) has been the leading center for pediatric living donor liver transplant and the leading center for pediatric non-directed living donor liver transplant across the country.
The poster, Surgical Co-Management (SHARe), highlights the benefits of comprehensive hospitalist co-management of surgical patients. Studies show that co-management of surgical patients by hospitalists can significantly enhance the quality, safety and efficiency of care.
Dr. Kevin Ess has been an Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Neurology, Cell and Developmental Biology, the Gerald M. Fenichel Chair in Neurology, and Director of the Division of Pediatric Neurology at Vanderbilt University. As Division Director, he also served as the Neurologist-in-Chief at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. Dr. Ess has been at Vanderbilt since joining their faculty as Assistant Professor in 2006. Kevin received his PhD in developmental biology (1996) and his medical degree (1998) from the University of Cincinnati. He completed a one-year pediatric internship at the University of Colorado and Children’s Hospital Colorado in 1999.
Research Education Alumni Announcements
Stephanie Bourque MD, MSCS, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Section of Neonatology and Associate Medical Director, Children’s Hospital Colorado Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, has been appointed the first recipient of the Niermeyer Family Distinguished Professorship in Neonatology.
A research team at University of Colorado School of Medicine, JFK Partners, led by Judy Reaven, Ph.D., has been approved for a $2,780,297 million funding award by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) to study A Comparison of Two School-Based Interventions to Manage Anxiety in Autistic Students.
Ihuoma Eneli, MD, MS, will begin her tenure as the new Section Head of Nutrition on October 1. Dr. Eneli is currently a Professor of Pediatrics at the Ohio State University and Director of the Center for Healthy Weight and Nutrition at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Council on Community Pediatrics has awarded the 2023 AAP Job Lewis Smith Award to David Keller, MD. The award, named for Job Lewis Smith, MD, one of the founding fathers of the American Pediatric Society and chief pioneer of American pediatrics. The prestigious honor is the highest award bestowed by the Council and recognizes lifelong outstanding career achievement in community pediatrics.
The Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center has been awarded two NIH UG3/UH3 grants as participating cohort sites in the national ECHO consortium, which aims to understand the effects of a wide range of environmental exposures on child health and development. The award period is 2023-2030.
A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine makes recommendations for improving access to pediatric subspecialty care. The Department of Pediatrics very own, Chris Stille, MD, MPH/PSPH, sat on the committee that authored the report.
The CU Office of Advancement is pleased to announce gifts totaling $2 million from Steve Berman and Elaine Gantz Berman, and friends and family of Dr. Berman to establish the Stephen Berman, MD, Endowed Chair for Global Health.
The International Journal on Child Maltreatment: Research, Policy and Practice has released a special issue entitled “Special Issue on the Kempe Center: Celebrating 50 Years of Research”
The Lupus Research Alliance (LRA) is pleased to announce that the 2023 Global Team Science Award (GTSA) has been granted to an exceptional multidisciplinary research team of experts in immunology, pediatric rheumatology and nephrology, genetics, and data analysis to identify drivers of lupus nephritis in children with the aim of improving its diagnosis and treatment. The 2023 GTSA project will be headed by corresponding investigator Elena Hsieh, M.D., Associate Professor of Immunology & Microbiology and Pediatrics at the University of Colorado, Anschutz School of Medicine.
We are thrilled to announce that our Department of Pediatrics has once again proven its excellence by having 61 faculty members named among 5280's Top Doctors for 2023. In fact, CU School of Medicine has more than 200 faculty members in total who have been honored with this prestigious title. This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our world-class faculty members who continue to provide exceptional care to their patients.
Susan L. Johnson, PhD, (Professor, Section of Nutrition) has been selected by The Obesity Society and the Pediatric Obesity Section as the recipient of the 2023 Oded Bar-Or Award for Excellence in Pediatric Obesity Research. This prestigious award was founded in 2007 to recognize significant contributions to basic and applied pediatric obesity research that have resulted in major advances in scientific understanding of etiology, prevention, and treatment.
We are thrilled to announce that six of our exceptional doctors have been recognized by Colorado Springs Magazine in their annual Top Doctors edition. Our Department of Pediatrics is proud to have such dedicated individuals on our team, and we are honored to have them recognized for their outstanding commitment to our mission and the families we serve.
Maya Bunik MD, MPH, Professor of Pediatrics in School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, and Associate Chief Medical Officer, Ambulatory at Children’s Hospital Colorado has been appointed the Bonnie W. Camp, MD, PhD Distinguished Professor in Pediatrics.
The University of Colorado’s Department of Pediatrics is thrilled to announce that two of its faculty, Allison Silverstein, MD, MS, and Adam B. Hill, MD, have both been invited to serve on the Inaugural Pediatric Council of AAHPRM (American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine).
U.S. News & World Report released its annual rankings and ratings of best hospitals and specialties for 2023-2024. The Department of Pediatrics' ranked specialties were recognized as exceptional and remain in the annual report’s Top 25 with four in the Top 10.
Michael Tchou, MD, MSc, and Tai Lockspeiser, MD, MHPE, were recently honored by the Academic Pediatric Association.
The University of Colorado's Department of Pediatrics is tied for eighth in the nation for "Best Pediatrics Programs" in rankings released by U.S. News & World Report. The Department of Pediatrics consistently ranks among the best in the nation. The Department has been ranked in the top eight in each of the past 13 years.
The Department of Pediatrics announces the appointment of Brandi Freeman, MD (Associate Professor, Section of General Pediatrics) and Jenny Reese, MD, (Professor of Clinical Practice and Head, Section of Hospital Medicine) to Vice Chair leadership roles. Both have been serving in Associate Vice Chair roles under the direction of the Vice Chair for Faculty Affairs, Dr. Andy Sirotnak.
Children’s Hospital Colorado held its annual medical staff dinner on Thursday, May 11, and recognized School of Medicine pediatrics faculty with awards.
Condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of K. Michael Hambidge, MD, ScD, professor emeritus of pediatrics, who died May 2.
Tai Lockspeiser, MD, MHPE, associate professor of pediatrics, assistant dean of medical education and director of assessment, evaluations, and outcomes, has been named the inaugural recipient of the Jones Family Professorship in Medical Education.
The Department of Pediatrics and the pediatric residency program would like to welcome Claudia Kunrath, MD as the new Associate Program Director at Denver Health.
Maya Bunik, MD, has been selected as the inaugural Associate Chief Medical Officer-Ambulatory for our System of Care.
The University of Colorado Department of Pediatrics announces the appointment of Ann M. Reynolds, MD as the next Head of the Section of Developmental Pediatrics. Dr. Reynolds was selected following a comprehensive national search conducted over the past several months.
Charles G. Sagerstrom, PhD (Professor, Section of Developmental Biology) has been selected as Vice Chair for Basic Science Research. Dr. Sagerstrom will officially start in this role on March 1, 2023 and will be connecting with basic science research leaders within the Department, the School of Medicine, and the Child Health Research Enterprise.
Glenn T. Furuta, MD, Professor and La Cache Endowed Chair for Gastrointestinal Allergic and Immunologic Diseases, has been named as the next Head of the Section of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition. Dr. Furuta was selected following a comprehensive internal search conducted over the past several months.
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Maya Haasz, MD (Assistant Professor, Section of Emergency Medicine) as Director of the Resident Advocacy Rotation. Dr. Haasz graduated from McGill University with her medical degree in 2006. She did her pediatric residency at Montreal Children’s Hospital/McGill University, followed by a pediatric emergency medicine fellowship in Toronto at Hospital for sick Children. She spent seven years at Albert Einstein School of Medicine before coming to the University of Colorado in 2018.
Stephen Berman, MD (Professor, Section of General Academic Pediatrics) passed away on January 17, 2023, surrounded by family, after a brief illness. Born in 1947 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Dr. Berman graduated from Temple University Medical School and was a pediatric resident and chief resident at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. He was a member of the Department’s faculty since 1978. He became the youngest Section Head of General Academic Pediatrics at the age of 34, leading the section twice during his career (1981–1989 and 1998–2007).
Frederick C. Battaglia, MD, passed away on December 30, 2022. Born in 1932 in Weehawken, New Jersey, Fred was a constant over-achiever. He attended Cornell University and earned his BS in Chemistry in only three years in 1953. Afterwards, he attended the Yale University School of Medicine, where he met the love of his life, Jane Donahue.
The Section of Endocrinology is saddened to report the passing of Dr. Michael S. Kappy MD, PhD after a brief illness. Dr. Kappy was a committed teacher of generations of students, residents, and endocrinology fellows, as well as a passionate advocate for children and their families. His loss is acutely felt by all who knew him. He is survived by his wife Peggy (nee Markson), two sons, and his adored grandchildren.
Ronald J. Sokol, MD has been named a University of Colorado Distinguished Professor. Dr. Sokol is one of 136 CU faculty members among the four campuses to have earned this distinction since its inception in 1977.
The University of Colorado's Pediatric Residency program was ranked sixth in the nation by Doximity. The results are a reputation ranking, which was compiled via feedback from over 35,000 physicians across 28 specialties.
Children’s Hospital Colorado has been recognized as the No. 7 pediatric hospital in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in hospital rankings and consumer advice.
Children’s Hospital Colorado made the 2022-23 Best Children’s Hospitals Honor Roll, ranked No. 1 in both the region and state of Colorado, and ranked in all 10 specialties with five in the top 10.
Fox 31 | Channel 2
April 23, 2024
Aline Maddux, associate professor of pediatrics [Section of Critical Care Medicine] in the pediatrics intensive care unit, is a part of Cartier’s medical team. “His heart stopped beating. We tried to revive it, and there was fear that he might not survive this,” Maddux said.
Allergic Living
April 23, 2024
“When determining if a patient needs a daily controller medication, such as inhaled corticosteroids, it is important to classify the severity of a patient’s asthma,” says William Anderson of Children’s Hospital Colorado….Anderson, an associate professor of pediatric allergy at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, says this helps in determining whether they need a daily controller therapy.
Medscape
April 23, 2024
In a retrospective chart review, IV ketamine led to in a 50% reduction in pain at discharge, with “nearly two-thirds” of patients having no recurrence within 30 days, lead investigator Scott Rosenthal, [instructor/fellow of pediatrics, Section of Neurology] from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, noted. Rosenthal reported the findings (Abstract S20.010) on April 15 at the American Academy of Neurology 2024 annual meeting.
Pharmacy Practice News
April 23, 2024
When the task force began its meta-analysis to find the new pediatric sepsis criteria, the team “wanted to understand the settings where this work was done,” explained Halden Scott, an associate professor of pediatrics at Children’s Hospital of Colorado, University of Colorado, School of Medicine, in Aurora, and a task force member. “We looked at whether the countries were classified as lower income, lower middle income, upper middle income or high income following the World Bank classification system.”
Department of Pediatrics
