UIC PEDIATRICS & CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS:2018 ANNUAL REPORT

Our mission is to ensure children and families have access to healing, service and innovation throughout their life; and to provide training, education and opportunities to the next generation of pediatric healthcare leaders.

Our vision is a world in which all children, families and communities achieve their full potential.

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It is with great pride and appreciation that I share with you our University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), Department of Pediatrics & Children's Hospital University of Illinois 2018 Annual Report. This past year was defined by growth and momentum - growth in the number of children under our care, in opportunities available to our learners and trainees, and in our contributions to research and scholarship. Our momentum was captured in our progress toward achieving our 2020 strategic planning goals and the increase in support from our generous donors. I am excited to share that the UIC College of Medicine launched a new Clinical Leaders and Academic Scholars (CLASS) Fellowship, through which general pediatrics trainees will have the opportunity to complete an Education or Research Leadership curriculum. Additionally, our departmental research portfolio grew substantially to more than $16 million in total funding in Fiscal Year (FY) 2018. I am particularly proud to share that our UI Health system provided care to more than 58,000 pediatric patients in FY 2018 via more than 180,000 encounters. More than half of our patients are Medicaid recipients and reside in Chicago's most under-served communities, and it is core to our mission to be able to provide expert care and support to these families. In 2019, we will further expand our services to vulnerable populations via our CHECK (Coordinated Healthcare for Complex Kids) program's recent selection by the Illinois Department of Health and Family Services (HFS) as an Integrated Health Home (IHH). CHECK will provide care coordination for Illinois Medicaid members to support their physical, behavioral and social care needs. CHECK is only one part of our plan for 2019, and we hope you will stay connected and support us in our work as providers, educators, researchers and advocates.

Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPHHead, Department of Pediatrics

Physician-in-Chief, Children's Hospital

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Dear Supporters & Friends,

Gratefully,

Pediatrics Senior Leaders & Associate Heads

Jonathan D. Klein, MD, MPHExecutive Vice Head

De-Ann M. Pillers, MD, PhD Vice Head for Academics

Edmundo P. Cortez, MD, MHAVice Head for Clinical Operations

Saba Ahmad, MDAssociate Head for

System Design

Michelle Barnes, MDAssociate Head for

Education

Harsha Kumar, MD, MBAAssociate Head for

Finance

Molly Martin, MD, MAPPAssociate Head for

Research

Amanda Osta, MDAssociate Head for

Education

Mary Lou Schmidt, MDAssociate Head for

Faculty Affairs

Jaye Schreier, MDAssociate Head for

Clinical Affairs

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At Our Core:Excellence in Education, Research and Patient Care, and Commitment to Community

Research

Patient CareCommunity

Education

Training the next generation of pediatric healthcare leaders

Contributing to pediatric research as a leading institution in Chicago and beyond

Providing care to more than 58,000 children

and adolescents system-wide

Prioritizing children and families in our surrounding neighborhoods

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2018 UIC Pediatrics Residency Graduates

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Educational Excellence

Our residents consistently match in competitive fellowships throughout the country. In 2018, these included: Hematology/Oncology at the Mayo Clinic, Endocrinology at Texas Children's Hospital, Neonatology at Duke Children's Hospital & Health Center, and Allergy/ Immunology at Washington University in St. Louis.

55 Residents

2 Adolescent Medicine Fellows3 Pediatric Endocrinology Fellows3 Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellows6 Neonatology Fellows1 Neonatology & CLASS Fellow

15 Fellows

39 Pediatrics Residents16 Medicine/Pediatrics Residents2,202 Residency ApplicationsCommunity Advocacy TrackGlobal Health TrackPediatric Hospital Medicine TrackResearch Track

44% Caucasian22% Asian or Pacific Islander15% International10% Black/African American4% Hispanic

93 Faculty

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#39 The UIC Department of Pediatrics' Blue Ridge Institute ranking for NIH funding rose to #39 nationally in 2018, up almost 30 places over the last five years. This places UIC as the highest ranked/most NIH-funded pediatrics department in Chicago and greater Illinois.

Research & Innovation

*Note: Lurie Children's Hospital is listed as its own entity, not as a department of pediatrics

The Department of Pediatrics received $16 million in total research funding in FY 2018, a $5.1 million increase from FY 2017.

Pediatrics faculty were cited as authors on 157 publications (articles &

books/chapters) in FY 2018.

Pediatrics faculty provided 162 academic and/or research presentations to external audiences in FY 2018.

Pediatric Global Health Program

Ai-Xuan Holterman, MDProfessor of Pediatrics & Surgery

Our Faculty Co -Directors

To build upon preexisting global healthcollaboratives and to develop further partnerships,we established a formal Pediatric Global HealthProgram in 2018. Its mission is to improve thehealth of low resource communities around theworld through the integration of innovativeresearch, quality education  and service, andinterprofessional collaborations in pediatric health.We have engaged faculty from the Departments ofPediatrics and Emergency Medicine, the UIC Centerfor Global Health, the Colleges of Pharmacy andNursing, and the Schools of Public Health andBioengineering  to establish multidisciplinary globalhealth connections. 

Arvind Shukla, MDAssociate Professor of Pediatrics

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UIC Pediatrics faculty and residents visited CityChildren's Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnamin November of 2018. Two UIC residents had theopportunity to participate in a two week rotation,inclusive of pediatric infectious disease, intensivecare and outpatient general pediatrics clinic. UICfaculty taught a Pediatric Acute Surgical Support(PASS) course to 28 City Children's Hospitallearners. (first graduating class pictured left)

Examples of Our Projects Around the World

Formal partnerships with City Children's Hospital Ho

Chi Minh City & VNUHCM- University of Science

Vietnam NigeriaSickle cell newborn

screening in partnership with organizations from Nigeria

and the United Kingdom

KenyaAdapt and test the Clinical Effort Against Secondhand Smoke Exposure (CEASE)

curriculum for use in Kenya

EthiopiaFormal partnership with

Mekelle University providing pediatric and OBGYN

rotations for UIC trainees

A Children's Hospital within a Hospital

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Children's Hospital University of Illinois is a 90+ bed specialty children's hospital, inclusive of a Level III NICU and pediatric emergency room. It is located within the University of Illinois Hospital at UI Health, home to an additional 16 associated pediatric specialties. Outpatient care is provided at the Child & Youth Center at the UI Health Outpatient Care Center.

Specialties within the Department of Pediatrics

Associated UI Health Pediatric Specialties

Pediatric Patient Care in 2018

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UI Health provided care to morethan 58,000 children served viamore than 180,000 encounters

Inpatient and Emergency Care through Children's Hospital University of Illinois, the Pediatric Emergency Room and the University of Illinois Hospital

Outpatient Care through the Child & Youth Center, Family Medicine, Surgical Specialty & Psychiatric clinics

Dental Care (pediatric check-ups and oral procedures) through the UIC College of Dentistry

Neighborhood Primary & Urgent Care through the Mile Square Federally Qualified Health Centers network

Genetic Screening, Testing & Care through our statewide genetics program

Care Coordination through the Coordinated Healthcare for Complex Kids (CHECK) population health program

Pediatric Patient Safety & Quality

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Our children's hospital celebrated noteworthy achievements in patientsafety in 2018, including significant, sustained reduction of Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI). Our "Anti-CLABSI Team",or ACT, has been hard at work with their ACTion plan for the past 6 yearschasing zero. Our general pediatrics ward has gone more than fiveyears without a CLABSI while our PICU and NICU have gone more thantwo years. The prevention of these infections have extremely positiveoutcomes for children and infants - the most vulnerable patients at UIHealth. These patient safety milestones were celebrated system-wide.

The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit team, including nurses, physicians and staff, celebrated a second CLABSI-free year with Jodi Joyce, Associate Vice Chancellor for Quality & Patient Safety.

The inpatient general pediatrics team, including nurses, physicians and staff, celebrated five years CLABSI-free in 2018.

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Section of Adolescent Medicine

Karen Bernstein, MD, MPHAssistant Professor Section Chief

Our Faculty

Jonathan Klein, MD, MPHProfessor

Felicia Scott, MDAssistant Professor

Dr. Jonathan Klein joined our section in FY2018, enabling us to further expandadolescent medicine services. Dr. Klein is aninternationally renowned health servicesresearcher whose recent study comparingparent and adolescent attitudes towardsconfidential, private visits in adolescentmedical care received widespread mediacoverage, including the Chicago Tribune, WGNand WBEZ Chicago Public Radio. Beforecoming to UIC, Dr. Klein served as AssociateExecutive Director at the American Academyof Pediatrics.

Our team of adolescent medicine specialistsfocus on fostering healthy, successfultransitions into adulthood. We offer primarycare, sexual and reproductive healthcare, aneating disorder clinic, and a weightmanagement program. Our UI Health BariatricSurgery Program is certified as aComprehensive Center with AdolescentQualifications by the Metabolic and BariatricSurgery Accreditation and QualityImprovement Program (MBSAQIP).Dr. Karen Bernstein meets with 13 year-old patient, Nov. 2018

(Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)

Dr. Jonathan Klein, Adolescent Medicine & Executive Vice Head of Pediatrics

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Section of Pediatric CardiologyOur Faculty

Alexander Javois, MDAssistant Professor Section Chief

Andrew Griffin, MDAssistant Professor

Naveen Imran, MDAssistant Professor

Maria Serratto-Benvenuto, MDProfessor

Vithida Sueblinvong, MDAssistant Professor

Our Nurse PractitionerKristin Elwart, DNP, MS, NP-BCPediatric Cardiology & Cardiothoracic Surgery

We collaborate with neighboring institutions to ensureexcellence in care. In 2018, our team provided clinicalcoverage for Mount Sinai Hospital and providedbackup for pediatric cardiology at Stroger Hospital ofCook County.

Our team of pediatric cardiologists provides diagnosisand treatment of both congenital and acquired heartdisease in children of all ages ranging from fetus tocollegiate aged young adults.

Dr. Alexander Javois joined our faculty as Chief ofPediatric Cardiology in FY 2018. His primary area offocus is pediatric interventional cardiology, and he is aleading figure in translational research, notably theMelody Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve Therapy andother research designed to develop new non-surgicaltechniques for avoiding clot transmission from heart tobrain. Dr. Javois is also a reputable mentor in the fieldof international cardiology.

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Section of Pediatric Critical Care

Edmundo Cortez, MD, MHAAssociate Professor Section Chief

Our Faculty

Muhannad Hammamieh, MDAssistant Professor

Jenny Wang, MDAssistant Professor  

Our Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)houses 18 PICU/Step-down beds. We providecare for pediatric patients requiring  complexmedical and surgical services and support apediatric transport system for the entiremetropolitan Chicago area and beyond. Ourstaff includes highly experienced attendingphysicians and critical care nurses alongsenior pediatric resident physicians.  We arerecognized as one of only ten IDPH approvedPediatric Critical Care Centers (PCCC) in thestate of Illinois. In 2018, Dr. Ed Cortez, our section chief, wasamong an elite group of 16 doctors system-wide to be nominated for 2018 UI HealthPhysician of the Year.  Our multidisciplinaryteam of pediatric specialists and nursesachieved tremendous progress in patientsafety during 2018. The pediatrics wardcelebrated five years with zero Central Line-associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI)and the PICU celebrated more than two yearswith zero CLABSI. Our team also implementeda new Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) riskscreening tool for pediatric patients.

Children's Hospital University of Illinois was officially designated as a children's hospital in 2011.

Our dedicated team of nurses, child life specialist and support staff play an integral role in pediatric critical care and patient safety.

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Section of Developmental Biology & Basic ResearchOur Faculty

Sekhar Reddy, PhDProfessor Section Chief

Tianji Chen, PhDAssistant Professor

Haranatha Potteti, PhDAssistant Professor

J. Usha Raj, MDAnjuli S. Nayak Professor

Ramaswamy Ramchandran, PhD Assistant ProfessorIn 2018, our faculty were listed as Principal

Investigators on seven active research studies,including three NIH R01 grants. Dr. Tianji Chenreceived an American Heart Association CareerDevelopment Award. Dr. Sekhar Reddy's research onsuppression of inflammation and regeneration of lungalveolar epithelium is crucial for restoring optimal lungfunction after injury in both neonates and adults. Thisinnovative research is examining mechanisms thatmay accelerate lung repair and improve the lungfunction in preclinical models.

Our team of developmental biology and basic scienceresearchers and clinicians are carrying out cutting edgeresearch activities and addressing the critical need fornovel insights, bio-markers  and therapies to treatdevastating chronic childhood lung diseases.

Chandra Mohan Tamatam, PhDPostdoctoral Research Associate

“Exploring the body’s complex processesand translating the research findings tothe bedside is a constant source ofsatisfaction. We’re never done askingquestions and discovering whydysfunctions occur and how we can stopthem, or looking for ways to repair theprocess.”     - Dr. Sekhar Reddy

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Section of Pediatric Endocrinology

Our multifaceted  team of PediatricEndocrinologists, Registered Dietitiansand Certified Diabetes Educatorsspecialize in caring for pediatric patientsand families living with Type 1 and 2Diabetes, Hypo- and Hyperthyroidism,Short Stature, Obesity and CongenitalAdrenal Hyperplasia. We have a LipidClinic oriented to children with diabetesand high bad cholesterol (LDL). Ourdieticians also offer healthy lifestyleclasses for families.

Claudia Boucher-Berry, MDAssociate ProfessorSection Chief

Our Faculty

Roxana Aguirre Castaneda, MDAssociate Professor

Our Pediatric Endocrinology team is anAmerican Diabetes Associationcertified diabetes education program. In2012, we began hosting an annual "Careof Students with Diabetes Conference"for school nurses and dedicated healthaides.  In 2018, more than 270 peoplefrom Chicago Public Schools and othercity and suburban schools attended.

Our Dietitians & Diabetes EducatorsRuth Melgoza-Walker, RN, CDE - Diabetes EducatorDebara Preston, MsN, RD, CDE - Diabetes Educator Marla Solomon, RD, LDN, CDE - Registered Dietician & Diabetes Educator

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Section of Pediatric GastroenterologyOur Faculty

James Berman, MDAssistant ProfessorSection Chief

Michele Cho-Dorado, MDAssistant Professor

Esperanza Garcia-Alvarez, MDAssistant Professor

Kiran Gorla, MDAssistant Professor

TS Gunasekaran, MDAssistant Professor

Hector Hernandez, MDAssistant Professor

Dr. James Berman and Dr. TS Gunasekaran havebeen listed among Chicago's "Top Doctors" forfifteen years and counting by Castle Connolly andhave also been recognized by Chicago Magazine.

Our expert team of board certified pediatricgastroenterologists provide a full range of diagnosticand treatment services for children with GI and liverdiseases. We offer specialized care for children witheosinophilic esophagitis, celiac disease, foodallergies, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, fatty liverand autoimmune hepatitis. We offer diagnostictesting including endoscopy, colonoscopy, liverbiopsy, manometry, capsule endoscopy (camera pill)and other advanced procedures. Our faculty are activein Pediatric GI research and have been invitedspeakers at regional and national conferences on avariety of topics.  

Section of General PediatricsOur Faculty

Jordan Hupert, MDAssistant Professor Section Chief

James Antoon, MD, PhDAssistant Professor

Michelle Barnes, MDAssociate Professor

Molly Martin, MD, MAPPAssociate Professor

Stacy Laurent, MDAssistant Professor

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As the largest section within the Department ofPediatrics, our team of General Pediatricians andAdvanced Practice Nurses provided care to 10,403unique children and families via 34,560 encountersin 2018. Our providers offer newborn, primary, wellchild and acute care within our Child & Youth Centerfor Outpatient Care and inpatient care within thepediatric ward at the Children's Hospital and theMother Baby Unit at UI Health.  Dr. Michelle Barnes and Dr. Jaye Schreier, two ofour section leaders, were among an elite group of16 doctors system-wide to be nominated for 2018UI Health Physician of the Year.

Leslie Jabine, MDAssistant Professor

Andrew Kreppel, MD, MPHAssistant Professor

Dr. Michelle Barnes Dr. Jaye Schreier

Our Advanced Practice NursesInger Anthony, APN, DNP

Katie Gebhardt, APN

Section of General PediatricsOur Faculty

Amanda Osta, MDAssociate Professor

Jaye Schreier, MDAssistant Professor

Sara Boblick Smith, MDAssistant Professor

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Our general pediatrics faculty were awarded newgrants or actively engaged as principal investigatorson more than 16 projects in 2018, including: PATH 2 Purpose - Primary Care & Community-BasedPrevention of Mental Disorders in AdolescentsPI: Benjamin Van Voorhees, MD, MPHFunder: PCORIA multi-site randomized control trial comparingeffectiveness of an online intervention (CompetentAdulthood Transition with Cognitive BehavioralHumanistic and Interpersonal Training - CATCH-IT)with an in-person group therapy intervention foradolescent depression prevention. The study willengage teens in urban and rural environments - inChicago, Rockford (IL) and Louisville. Asthma Action at EriePI: Molly Martin, MD, MAPPFunder: National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute (NIH)Compares the current best practice in asthma self-management education (AE-C services) to anintegrated Community Health Worker homeintervention in which the real-life challenges ofpatients and the healthcare system are taken fully intoaccount.

Shannon Murphy, MDAssistant Professor

Jalene Shoener, MDAssistant Professor

Pavan Srivastava, MDAssistant Professor

Benjamin Van Voorhees, MD, MPH Professor

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Section of General PediatricsNew Faculty in 2018

Kelsie Avants, MDAssistant Professor

Kristen Kenan, MD, MPHAssistant Professor

Alexandra King, MDAssistant Professor

Sarah Messmer, MDAssistant Professor

Daphne Vander Roest, MDAssistant Professor

Kavita Vankineni, MDAssistant Professor

Dr. Kavita Vankineni is a child abuse specialist whoseexpertise enables us to more comprehensively screenand provide care for children who may be victims ofchild abuse or neglect. Dr. Vankineni has begundevelopment of a  new Foster Care Clinic to providecomprehensive care for children in foster care.

Our section of general pediatrics expandedsignificantly in 2018 to meet the growing needs of ourpatient population, both in terms of appointmentavailability and for specialized care needs. Weincreased Child & Youth Center evening appointmentavailability  to three nights per week until 8pm toprovide flexible hours to busy families.   Our new faculty also bring new expertise andopportunities for us to expand programming. Dr.Alexandra King completed a fellowship in ClinicalNutrition at Children's Hospital Colorado and will beimplementing a new "Healthy and Fit Program": anintensive, lifestyle-based management program witha focus on family engagement to achieve healthyweight while also screening for co-morbidities. 

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Section of General Pediatrics Behavioral/Developmental Pediatrics

Reshma Shah, MDAssistant Professor Section Chief

Our Faculty

James Ronayne, MD, ACTClinical Instructor

Alexandria Saulsberry, MDAssistant Professor

Dr. Reshma Shah and colleagues  designed "SitDown and Play", a brief, parent-directed programwhich takes place during pediatric well-childvisits in a child’s first two years with the goal ofpromoting positive parenting behaviors throughtake home play activities. Dr. Shah's researchrelated to this program is currently funded by anNIH K23 award and is being implemented inChicago and in India (both sites pictured to theleft). We are currently exploring innovativeresearch partnership opportunities with theChicago Children's Museum.

Our team of Behavioral/Developmentalspecialists offer comprehensive services forchildren with developmental delay, autismspectrum disorders, intellectual disability,learning disorders and more. In 2018, weexpanded availability of services with ourAdvanced Practice Nurse and new eveningclinics to meet growing demand. Additionally, wediversified services with transitional care andpharmacist-led medical management.

Our Advanced Practice NurseJoyce Masterton, APN

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Section of Pediatric GeneticsOur Faculty

George Hoganson, MDAssociate Professor Section Chief

Gifty Bhat, MDAssistant Professor

Our genetics faculty provide state-of-the-art diagnostic and clinical evaluationservices and treatment for children andadults who have birth defects andgenetic disorders. Services also include:genetic counseling; carrier testing; andprenatal diagnosis for prospectiveparents. We have an on-sitecomprehensive diagnostic biochemicaland molecular genetics laboratory. In 2018, we were awarded a"Regionalized Care in the Treatment ofBiochemical Genetic Diseases" grantfrom the Illinois Department of PublicHealth. This enables us to providecomprehensive services, inclusive ofnutrition, genetic counseling and casemanagement, to rural areas of the stateof Illinois where the services to managethese conditions is not otherwiseavailable (within a 150 mile radius otboth Peoria and Springfield). Our teamprovided services via more than 2,600encounters statewide in 2018.

We have established partnerships with Advocate Health Care, Cook County Health, OSF Saint Francis in Peoria, Shriners Children's Hospital of Chicago and more.

Our APN, Dietitians & Genetic CounselorsChristine Horne, APN

Alice Zalan - Genetic CounselorKatherine Cobian - Genetic CounselorBeatriz Menendez - Genetic CounselorLenika DeSimone - Genetic Counselor

Katherine Ingle - DietitianKrista Engen - Dietitian

Shannon O'Brien - Dietitian

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Section of Pediatric Hematology/OncologyPediatric Cancer Center

Mary Lou Schmidt, MDProfessor Section Chief

Our Faculty

Daniel Choi, MD, MSAssistant Professor

Our Advanced Practice Nurses & Social WorkerKathleen Breen, APRNJessica Ittner, APRNCathleen Kiely, APRNZayda Stewart, LCSW

We offer a Childhood Cancer Survivorship Clinicthrough which we provide comprehensive longterm follow-up assessment and   managementfor survivors of childhood cancer following theCOG evidence based guidelines. We see children,adolescents and adults. Eligible participantshave a prior diagnosis of pediatric cancer andmust be at least two years out from any cancertherapy. In 2018, we evaluated 93 unique patientsin this clinic.  

Our team offers a full range of diagnostic andtreatment services for children and adolescentsliving with cancer and leukemia. UIC serves asthe lead site for a tri-institutional Children'sOncology Group (COG) that includes John H.Stroger Hospital of Cook County and RushUniversity Medical Center. Through the COG, weprovide access to international pediatric cancerclinical trials and state of the art cancer care. Wetake pride in providing excellent education andtraining to the next generation of multi-disciplinary practitioners. 

Dr. Mary Lou Schmidt, UIC Chancellor Michael Amiridis and Dr. Ero Amiridis join patients and families at the 2018 Holiday Festival.

Members of our Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Team at our fundraiser in support of the St. Baldrick's Foundation.

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Section of Pediatric Hematology/OncologyPediatric Sickle Cell Program

Lewis Hsu, MD, PhDProfessorDirector, Sickle Cell Program

Our Faculty

Angela Rivers, MD, PhDAssistant Professor

Jocelyn Mallard, APNShonda King, MSW, MPH, LSW

The  Sickle Cell Transition Adolescent-AdultReadiness (S.T.A.R.) Clinic, led by Dr. AngelaRivers, helps prepare patients and families formanaging sickle cell disease into adulthood. Itfocuses on five key areas of transition: 1)medical; 2) emotional/psychological; 3) socialdomain; 4) academic/education; and 5) vocation& career. The STAR clinic offered care andsupport to 49 unique patients, ages 16-21, during2018. It is supported by funding from the UICDivision of Specialized Care for Children.

Our team offers comprehensive services tochildren, teens and young adults living with sicklecell disease, inclusive of newborn screening,transfusion clinic, case management andindividualized pain management. Our faculty areactively engaged in cutting edge researchworldwide - Dr. Lewis Hsu has a leadership rolein a multi-national collaborative to setup  newborn screening services and communityhealth workers in Kaduna State in Nigeria.Dr. Lewis Hsu and members of the sickle cell team discuss a patient's

care plan in the pediatric infusion room.

Dr. Hsu and Dr. Rivers meet with the M.R. Bauer Foundation to discuss the Peer Patient Advocate Program and STAR Clinic.

Our Advanced Practice Nurse & Social Worker

Section of Pediatric Infectious Disease

Karen Hayani, MDAssociate Professor Section Chief

Our Faculty

Arthur Frank, MDAssociate Professor

Dr. Hayani is a Principal Investigator on thePediatric HIV AIDS Cohort Study (PHACS) andthe Surveillance Monitoring for ART Toxicities(SMARTT) Study in HIV Uninfected ChildrenBorn to HIV Infected Women, both of which arefunded by the National Institutes of Health. Ourteam has been actively engaged since theinception of PHACS in 2005. There are currently363 study subjects enrolled (210 patients and153 caregivers) with new enrollment ongoing.   

Our team of pediatric infectious diseasespecialists care for children who have diseasescaused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites.We have a specialized clinic for children withHIV and infants born to HIV positive mothers.Our team partners with and covers telephoneconsultations for Shriners Children's Hospital ofChicago, providing 24-hour coverage; and Dr.Karen Hayani participates in quarterly infectionprevention meetings at Shriners. Drs. Hayani,Frank and Kreppel serve in leadership roles ondepartmental and university-wide clinical andacademic committees.

Dr. Karen Hayani (section chief) has served on our faculty for more than 25 years and is consistently listed as a Castle connolly Top Doctor.

Jean Kim, MDAssistant Professor

Andrew Kreppel, MD, MPHAssistant Professor

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Section of Neonatal-Perinatal MedicineOur Faculty

De-Ann Pillers, MD, PhDProfessor Section Chief

Saurabhkumar Patel, MD, MPHAssistant Professor

Anantha Harijith, MDAssociate Professor

Wenxiang Luo, PhDAssistant Professor

Shannon Murphy, MDAssistant Professor

Aarti Raghavan, MDAssociate Professor

Our nationally recognized faculty support a 48-bedunit designated by the Illinois Department of PublicHealth as a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit(NICU). We are also state-designated as a Clinicaland Administrative Perinatal Center, of which Dr. De-Ann Pillers is a Co-Director. In collaboration with UIHealth Maternal Fetal Medicine, we manage aperinatal network inclusive of three Level III NICUsand five Level II centers conducting outreach,education, quality improvement projects  andmobidity/mortality reviews.  Dr. De-Ann Pillers joined our faculty as  SectionChief of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine  and theFounding Director of the new Center of Excellence inNeonatal Vision and Neuroscience in FY 2018.  Dr.Pillers is an internationally recognized clinical,translational and basic science researcher whoseleadership and vision for neonatal medicine havecontributed tremendously to our understanding ofneonatal vision science and genetics. She hasreceived many honors and awards throughout hercareer, inculding numerous “Top Doctor” awardsfrom Castle Connelly/US News (2003-19).     26

Section of Neonatal-Perinatal MedicineOur Faculty

Phornphat Rasamimari, MD, MPHAssistant Professor

Joann Romano-Keeler, MD, MSAssistant Professor

Hernan Sierra, MDAssistant Professor

Arvind Shukla, MDAssociate Professor

Nishant Srinivasan, MDAssistant Professor

Our multidisciplinary team of highly skilledneonatologists, neonatal nurses, social workers,respiratory and developmental therapists, andlactation consultants work collaboratively to providethe highest quality of care 24 hours a day. Our teamachieved tremendous progress in patient safetyduring 2018. The NICU celebrated two  years withzero Central Line-associated Bloodstream Infections(CLABSI) and has additionally shown signifcantreduction in late onset sepsis and nosocomialinfections among very low birth weight infants. 

In 2018, we hosted our first annual UIC NeonatologyPicnic where our faculty and fellows (current andalumni) welcomed incoming neonatal fellows. Wewere joined by Dr. Dharmapuri Vidyasagar, ProfessorEmeritus and world renowned neonatologist. 

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Section of Pediatric Nephrology

Harsha Kumar, MD, MBAAssociate Professor Interim Section Chief

Our Faculty

Kimberly Czech, MDAssistant Professor Dr. Eunice John, former chief of pediatric

nephrology and medical director of pediatrictransplant, retired in 2018 after serving UICresidents and patients for 42 years. She was thefirst Chicago physician to start long-termperitoneal dialysis and to use the double lumencatheter for hemodialysis in children in the early1980s. In 2002, Dr. John worked together with Dr.Enrico Benedetti, Chief of Surgery, to perform thefirst pediatric living-donor bowel transplant. Thepatient, who is now in his 20s, is the longestliving recipient of this type of surgery.  

Our team of pediatric nephrology specialistscollaborate with transplant surgeons,pharmacists, nurses, dietitians and socialworkers to provide early intervention for childrenwith kidney disease and kidney related issues.We offer a preventative pediatric renal clinic,kidney transplantation, acute and chronicperitoneal dialysis, and continuous renalreplacement therapy (CRRT)/hemodialysis. Ourfaculty are actively engaged in clinical research,including National Institutes of Health (NIH) multicenter studies on progression of chronic kidneydisease in children. Our team provides approximately 150 acute and chronic peritoneal

dialysis treatments to newborns, children and adolescents annually.

Sonia Krishnan, MDAssistant Professor

28Eunice John, MD

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Section of Pediatric Neurology

Saba Ahmad, MDAssistant ProfessorInterim Section Chief

Our Faculty

Nikolas Mata Machado, MDAssistant Professor

Akira Yoshii, MD, PhDAssistant Professor

Dr. Nikolas Mata Machado joined our pediatricneurology team in 2018. He is recognizedinternationally for his expertise in NF. He haspublished several original articles and bookchapters on the topic, and also serves on severaleditorial boards. Dr. Mata Machado is actively inengaged in the Neurofibromatosis Network andNeurofibromatosis Midwest, a nonprofit committedto improving the lives of children, adults andfamilies impacted by NF. He has played a majorrole in expanding our Neurofibromatosis Center,where we now provide care for 300 patients.

Our team of pediatric neurology specialistsprovide advanced, comprehensive care forchildren with nervous system problems,including epilepsy, headaches, cerebral palsy,developmental delays and other brain disorders.We have Centers of Excellence dedicated toseveral conditions, including PediatricEpilepsy, Sturge-Weber Syndrome andNeurofibromatosis (NF). In 2018, the TuberousSclerosis Alliance recognized our program as adesignated Tuberous Sclerosis Clinic.In 2018, we completed our second pediatric epilepsy surgery in

collaboration with multidisciplinary UI Health providers.

Dr. Mata Machado greets one of our therapy dogs in the Children's Hospital, a program that brings relaxation to patients with autism.

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Section of Pediatric Pulmonary, Allergy and Sleep Medicine

Our Faculty

In FY 2018, we established a new partnership withthe Mobile Care Foundation, a nonprofit thatoperates mobile medical units throughout the city, toprovide asthma care to children right within theirneighborhoods on the west and south sides ofChicago. Additionally we expanded access totreatments for pediatric sleep, food allergychallenges and PFT services.

Our team of multidisciplinary specialists providediagnostic evaluations and management ofrespiratory, allergy and sleep-related disorders ininfants, children and adolescents.  The full range ofservices include consultation, pulmonary functiontesting (PFT), skin testing for environmental and foodallergies, bronchoscopy services and sleep studies.

Our Advanced Practice NurseMaureen Smith, APN (Sleep)

Harsha Kumar, MD, MBAAssociate ProfessorPulmonarySection Chief

Pranshu Adavadkar, MD Assistant ProfessorSleep

Pravin Muniyappa, MD Assistant ProfessorAllergy/Immunology

Sindhuja H. Vardhan, MD Assistant ProfessorPulmonary

C. Lucy Park, MD Associate ProfessorPulmonary, Allergy/Immunology

Chithra Poongkunran, MD Assistant ProfessorSleep

Andrea Pappalardo, MD Assistant ProfessorAllergy/Immunology

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Rebecca Feinstein, MPH, MSW, PhDAssistant ProfessorProject Director, PATH 2 Purpose

Our Faculty

Anne Elizabeth Glassgow, PhDAssistant Professor Executive Director, CHECK Program

Our pediatrics faculty were actively engaged asprincipal investigators on more than 25 communityand/or population health projects in 2018. Theyfocused on issues particularly imperative to thewell-being of our surrounding communities,including early childhood education, sexual healthamong adolescents, obesity, mental health, tobaccocontrol, asthma and adverse childhood experiences(ACEs). Projects were funded by multiple sources,including the National Institues of Health (NIH) andthe American Academy of Pediatrics.  CHECK, one of our population health programs, wasoriginally funded by a $19.8 million award from theCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services. CHECKis a comprehensive health and behavioral healthcare coordination model that has provided servicesto more than 6,300 low-income children/familieswith chronic medical conditions. Outcomes datafrom the first four years of the program indicatedecreased healthcare costs and inpatient utilizationand improved patient engagement. In 2018, CHECKwas approved as one of the first Integrated HealthHomes by the Illinois Department of Health andFamily Services.

(From left) Drs. Minier, Martin, Van Voorhees, Glassgow, Pappalardo and Caskey at the Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting in Toronto in May 2018.

Community & Population Health Programs & Research

Marian Fitzgibbon, PhDProfessor Core Director, Community & Population Health Research

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Community & Neighborhood Engagement

Staff and families from El Valor, a community-based organization focused on supporting urban families and longtime partner of our pediatrics program, visited our children's hospital and clinics in August 2018 for our first ever "Peds Day". Peds Days provide opportunities for our community partners to build health literacy among their participants and families through visits to our medical campus and educational seminars with our physicians and nurses.

Our community engagement team, led by Melishia Bansa, MPH,has long been at work building a "Community MedicalNeighborhood", and in 2018, we designated "community" as oneof our core pillars of service. We are committed to prioritizingchildren and families in our surrounding neighborhoods onChicago's west and south sides, as they are often underserved.During 2018, our physicians and staff participated in more than200 community engagement activities with federally qualifiedhealth centers, nonprofits and faith-based organizations,including providing trainings and educational workshops andattending community health events. 

In the summer of 2018, ourcommunity engagement team ofstaff, physicians, residents,medical students and internsparticipated in more than 15 backto school community events,providing education andinformation to more than 1,000community members. Additionally,our faculty physicians andresidents provided more than 100free back to school physicals atevents in the Little Village andSouth Shore communities.

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Our 2018 Castle Connolly Top DoctorsOne hundred UI Health providers across 44 specialties, including 12 pediatrics providers, were named among the region's top physicians by CastleConnolly, the consumer healthcare guide.  Providers were nominated by peers in a nationwide survey, then chosen by a physician-led research group.Additionally, 30 of the recognized providers were featured in Chicago magazine's January 2019 "Top Doctors" list.

Adolescent MedicineKaren Bernstein, MD, MPH Developmental-Behavioral PediatricsReshma Shah, MD General PediatricsRachel Caskey, MD, MAPPAmanda Osta, MD Neonatal-Perinatal MedicineDe-Ann Pillers, MD, PhD Pediatric Allergy/ImmunologyC. Lucy Park, MD

Pediatric GastroenterologyJames Berman, MDT.S. Gunasekaran, MD Pediatric Hematology-OncologyLewis Hsu, MD, PhDMary Lou Schmidt, MD Pediatric Infectious DiseaseKaren Hayani, MD Pediatric NephrologyEunice John, MD

Top Doctors Mary Lou Schmidt, De-Ann Pillers and Lewis Hsu gather with Dr. Benjamin Van Voorhees, pediatrics department head, at our children's hospital in April 2018 during the dedication of our newly renovated teen room, donated by the Friends of UIC Pediatrics.

George R. Honig, MD, PhDHead, Department of Pediatrics, 1984-2004

George R. Honig, MD, PhD, an esteemed physician/scientist and alumnus of UIC, was head of theUIC Department of Pediatrics from 1984 to 2004 and co-founded of the University of Illinois SickleCell Center. Dr. Honig is now serving as Professor Emeritus. He is a revered mentor and teacher tomany of our faculty, past and present, and left an indelible mark in his time here. Dr. Honig authored numerous scholarly articles, book chapters on medicine and biomedicalscience and scientific reports. He drew upon his experience as a physician, as well as hislongstanding interest in history and religion, to write a novel, “The Alexandria Letter,” which waspublished by Synergy Books in 2010.  In 2004, to honor Dr. Honig’s contributions to UIC and the Department of Pediatrics, theGeorge R. Honig, MD PhD Endowed Fund in Pediatrics was established.  Among the keyaspirations of the College of Medicine is to significantly enhance its national and internationalresearch reputation by recruiting and retaining top performing faculty to UIC.  With this strategicgoal in mind, the Department of Pediatrics aims to elevate the George R. Honig MD PhDEndowment to a level that will support the George R. Honig MD PhD Professorship in Pediatrics.

Honoring Dr. George Honig's Legacy

Support the George R. Honig MD, PhD Professorship in Pediatrics$500,000 is needed to fully endow a professorship. Through the generosity of dozens of individualdonors, we are currently less than $50,000 shy of reaching this goal. You can help complete thisimportant initiative: please click here or visit give.uic.edu and either search for "Honig" or enter"UIC George R.Honig M.D. Endowed Fund in Pediatrics". Thank you for your support!

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A Special Thank You to Our Generous Supporters$100,000+St. Baldrick's FoundationGilead Sciences, Inc.Dr. J. Usha Raj $25,000 - $99,999The Coleman Foundation, Inc.Child's PlayAnonymousDr. Arthur L. FrankMoceri Family Foundation $10,000 - $24,999American Academy of PediatricsCureSearch for Children's CancerMark J. GlucksmanDr. George R. HonigJoy in Childhood FoundationKevin W. SchmidtDr. Benjamin & Mrs. Donica Van Voorhees

$1,000 - $4,999AnonymousAmerican Society of HematologyInFaith Community FoundationMedtronic, Inc.Neal & Leroy, LLCSt. Demetrios Ladies Philoptochos Society

$5,000 - $9,999BMO Charitable Fund ProgramM.R. Bauer FoundationSaints Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Philoptochos SocietyUnited Way of Metropolitan Chicago

$999 or lessEvelyn AdamsDr. Saba AhmadPola AlexopoulosKalliopi AntonakosHelen A. ApplegateAlexandra P. ApostolKathy B. ApostalFrances H. ApostolidesChhaya BaliMelishia V. BansaBenevity Community Impact FundMargaret F. BergDr. James H. BermanSherrill L. BodineAndrea BonevelleMaria D. BrightlySheryl P. Bury-MichaelsSteven L. CicioraRonald J. CiskoskiDr. Susan E. CohnComprehensive Retirement Planning, Ltd. Delphine T. CondoriMarjorie ConroyLaura W. DakisHarvey DeBofskyAzisti Y. DembowskiRegina DeversCoralie D. DowneyAllison K. DuffyEllen S. DuffyMelissa E. DuffyNicholas DuffyRita M. EdidinDr. Judy Fan-HsuSusanne L. Feret

Frances GatziolisJames J. GatziolisOlga GeocarisPat GerbanasGriffin Farm CorporationStephanie M. Grinage Jean L. GuritzBetty J. Guzik FieldsMarilyn HagnellSusan E. HallIda H. HarisEileen Howard-WeinbergDr. Jordan HupertBarbara J. IrwinMarina JacksTerri C. JacobsFrances JaegerDr. Eunice JohnAlberta L. JohnsonMary E. JohnsonConstance J. JonesMaria KalantElectra D. KontalonisKalb Korporate, Ltd.Loretta K. KaplanJulia P. KaragianisDiana C. KarisH. M. KarkazisKatherine KorbakesMarcia Z. KormanPanorea KoutsogiorgasMargaret D. KubasiakJames W. KylePatty LambropoulosMaria LamprosBernard G. LathamAmy Leahy

Ann LindnerHelen D. LogarakisFrancine D. LynchMonique MadonnaDaniel E. MaloofDenise ManiatisMary M. MarinoLorraine MasickJoanne MatsakisCraig C. McLauchlanMary K. McMillenFrances A. MechalesNonna L. MendozaEugenie S. MikhaelTerri C. MikuzisDr. Mark MinierSylvia MitsopoulosLois P. MoellerDiane M. NiedbalaNovo Nordisk Inc.Dr. Peter A. NoronhaRosemary B. O'SheaDean J. PapadakisPamela C. PapasValerie S. PapstefanDr. De-Ann PillersAlicia PondPrudential Foundation Inc. Lisa K. RossDr. Jaye SchreierHelen C. SchubertJoel W. SecrestNeal ShactSandra Shane-DubowTammara J. SherdJunia ShlaustasArlene A. Siavelis

Yvonne M. SitoIrene SkuterisViolet SkuterisEleni SoukoulisChristiane E. StahlCarol StamasEvelyn K. StamelosAnnette K. StarrJoanne StavrakasSymeon D. StavrakasGayle P. StellasCynthia V. StuttsSwiss ProductsJamie Y. TallasTandem Diabetes Care, Inc.Eugenia C. TaylorTierra Engineering, Ltd.Nicki TsitsisJohn R. TwomblyMarilyn G. TzakisUnitedHealth GroupDr. Sindhuja H. VardhanDr. Peter VargaPatty VassilatosPenny VassilatosSophia L. VlahosAfrodite H. VranasPeggy V. VranasGayle WagleyJune A. WebbErnest I. YahiroRuth M. Yanagi

This list is intended to include the names of all donors who made contributions to UIC Pediatrics & Children's Hospital University of Illinois during Fiscal Year 2018 (July 1, 2017 - June 30, 2018). If your name has been misspelled, entered correctly or unintentionally omitted, place notify us at maryj@uic.edu.

A Special Thank You to the Friends of UIC Pediatrics

The Friends of UIC Pediatrics, a group of empowered volunteers, was created in 2009 by a group of community members who saw the need to "help kids heal". During the past nine years, this group has planned and hosted upwards of 20 fundraising events and raised more than $250,000 in support of the children we serve. Some of the equipment and projects they have funded include:

Membership is open to women and men who want to give time, talent, and a little bit of treasure to some of Chicagoland's most underserved children. 100% of every gift goes to equipment and services. We encourage you to attend a meeting and see how quickly you can help these precious children. Contact maryj@uic.edu to get connected to the membership chair.

Renovation of the children's hospital playroom and teen activity room The Reach Out & Read ProgramTransportation (parking fees, gas and bus passes) to the hospital for familiesCamp scholarships for cancer and sickle cell anemia summer campsSwaddling devices for our NICU babies

Join the Friends of UIC Pediatrics

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Key Administrative StaffAzisti Dembowski, MBADirector of Administrative Operations Joe WerthExecutive Assistant

Office of the Department Head

Melishia Bansa, MPHDirector of Community Engagement& Provider Relations Piyush Hargunani, MS, MBAAssociate Director of Operations Jordan HenryClinical Data Analyst Mary Johnson, MA, MHADirector of Strategy & Planning (Report Author) Ann LindnerExecutive Assistant

Business Support & Operations

Joshua MillerAccounting I Alfred Pinto, MBAAccounting Associate

Finance & Accounting

Jason Darwell, MSHR Associate Latrice NurseHR Associate Austin SnyderCredentialing Officer Nivid Thakar, MBABusiness Administrative Associate

Human Resources & Faculty Affairs

Susanne Feret, MBA, MPH, CRA, FACHE, PMPDirector of Special Projects Helene Gussin, PhD, CRADirector of Research Administration

Grants & Contracts Management

Diane ArcePediatrics Residency Coordinator Chanel BrownMed-Peds Residency Coordinator

Education & Division Coordinators

Alana J. BurkeHematology/Oncology Division Coordinator Xochitl Garcia KlapprothGastroenterology & NephrologyDivision Coordinator Joseph GreeniaNeonatology Fellowship & Division Coordinator Andie Jones JacksonGenetics Division Coordinator Miae Lee, MDAdolescent, Endocrinology & Hematology/Oncology Fellowships Coordinator Tamika LeeEndocrinology, Critical Care & PulmonaryDivision Coordinator Lewis MoseleyCardiology Division Coordinator Jennifer Okonma, MBAGeneral Pediatrics Division Coordinator Annie TanInfectious Disease & NeurologyDivision Coordinator 38

UIC Pediatrics & Children's Hospital University of Illinois

Department of Pediatircs UI Health & Children's Hospital

A proud program of the University Illinois College of Medicine & the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System (UI Health)

Visit kids.uihealth.care to learn more about our clinical programs/patient care.Visit pediatrics.uic.edu to learn more about our academic programs and research.

Follow us on Facebook at @ChildrensHospUIC

Follow us on Instagram at @childrenshospitaluofi