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UNC PEDIAT ANNUAL REPORT

2025

Building a Healthier Future for Every Child

Departmental Leadership

By the Numbers

Education

Research

New Faculty & Providers

Promoted Faculty

Retirements

Children’s Hospital

Division Highlights, Part 1

Quality Improvement

Division Highlights, Part 2

Palliative Care

Division Highlights, Part 3

Global Health

Division Highlights, Part 4

Friends and Colleagues,

It is with great pride and gratitude that we share the Department of Pediatrics’ 2025 Annual Report, a reflection of a year marked by continued progress, purpose, and the strength of collaboration. From patient care and education to innovative research and expanding community partnerships, this report reflects the heart of our mission: to support the health and well‑being of every child and family we serve across North Carolina.

A NOTE FROM THE CHAIR

Over the past year, our department has experienced meaningful growth across all mission areas. Our clinical teams have continued to expand access to high quality, compassionate care, often through innovative care models designed to meet children and families where they are. In parallel, our faculty and trainees have strengthened our academic community through exceptional teaching, mentorship, and a shared commitment to developing the next generation of pediatric leaders.

Our research enterprise has remained a vital driver of impact, advancing knowledge in areas such as preventive care, chronic childhood conditions, developmental outcomes, and population health. These efforts are amplified by strong partnerships, across disciplines, institutions, and communities, that enable us to extend the reach of our work and translate discovery into meaningful change. We are especially proud of the ways our department continues to engage with and learn from the communities we serve, ensuring our efforts are grounded in trust, equity, and shared goals.

This year also marked significant progress toward the realization of North Carolina Children’s (NCC), the freestanding children’s campus being developed in partnership with Duke Children’s. Advancements in planning, governance, and campus design have brought this vision closer to reality. At the same time, foundational work continues on the development of a unified UNC Children’s Service line, an essential step in strengthening pediatric care delivery and coordination across the region in the years ahead.

As we reflect on the accomplishments of the past year, we are inspired by what has been achieved together and energized by what lies ahead. This annual report is more than a summary of milestones; it is a celebration of the people, values, and vision that drive our department forward. I extend my sincere gratitude to our faculty, staff, learners, and partners for their dedication to advancing our mission and vision of transforming care and bringing hope to children and families throughout North Carolina.

Thank you for being part of this journey.

DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP

Chair,DepartmentofPediatrics

SeniorViceChair,ClinicalAffairs

ExecutiveViceChair

StephanieDugginsDavis,MD

Stephanie Duggins Davis, MD

SeniorViceChair,ClinicalAffairs

KeishaGibson,MD,MPH Keisha Gibson, MD, MPH

MichaelSteiner,MD,MPH Michael Steiner, MD, MPH

LaneDonnelly,MD Lane Donnelly, MD

Professor of Radiology & Pediatrics

ViceChair,Clinical&Translational Research

CorinneKeet,MD,PhD Corinne Keet, MD, PhD

SeniorViceChair,Research

SeniorViceChair,Education

ToniDarville,MD

Toni Darville, MD

ViceChair,AcademicAffairs

MatthewLaughon,MD,MPH Matthew Laughon, MD, MPH

KenyaMcNeal-Trice,MD,MPH Kenya McNeal-Trice, MD, MPH

ViceChair,ClinicalIntegration

SaraL.Pittenger,MD

Sara L. Pittenger, MD

DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP

Assoc.ViceChair,OutreachInitiatives

JohnCotton,MD John Cotton, MD

Assoc.ViceChair, FacultyDevelopmentElisabethDellon,MD,MPH Elisabeth Dellon, MD, MPH

Assoc.ViceChair,Children'sHealth EducationAdvocates

ChristianLawrence,MD,MPH Christian Lawrence, MD, MPH

Associate Professor of Pediatrics

Assoc.ViceChair,PediatricClinicalStudies MichelleHernandez,MD Michelle Hernandez, MD

Assoc.ViceChair,PediatricOutpatient ClinicalCare

Assoc.ViceChair,InpatientClinicalCar &Safety

Assoc.ViceChair,FacultyDevelopment inEducation

CeilaLoughlin,MD

Ceila Loughlin, MD

AshleySutton,MD

Ashley Sutton, MD

NinaJain,MD Nina Jain, MD APPDirector,UNCChildren's AdjunctAssistantProfessorofPediatrics

EricZwemer,MD Eric Zwemer, MD

Spencer Brady, MHA

Logan Blinman, MS

Jaime Cooke

Miriam Davis

Mandy DuPont

Kira Frediani

Jason Hester, MBA

Britt Mann

Bays Seagroves, MPH

Charlotte Weaver, MS

Administrative Leadership Division Administrators

Jessi Stark

Lynn Worth

Colleen Vavra, MHA

Amy Spruance

Shanta Smith, MPA

Brittney Stone, MS, MBA

Jason Hadley

Thalia Tulloch

Allie Arthur, MSW

Justin Moxley

Lauren Davis

Gonzalo Loza

Colleen Vavra, MHA

Gwen Burrows

Shanta Smith, MPA

Robin Foster, MA

Jessi Stark

Associate Chair for Administration

Director, Planning Director, Operations Director, Clinical Trials

Director, Research Administration Director, Research and Education

Director, Finance

Director, Clinical Operations and Outreach

Director, Planning

Director, Communication

Elizabeth Stinson, MEd, SPHR

Allergy/Immunology

Cardiology

Central Administration

Critical Care Medicine

Development, Behavior and Learning

Emergency Medicine

Endocrinology

Gastroenterology

General Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine

Genetics & Metabolism

Hematology/Oncology

Hospital Pediatrics

Infectious Diseases

Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine

Nephrology

Pulmonology

Rheumatology

Wilmington Children’s Specialties

Chair’s Oﬃce

Margo Flanagan

Gaybriell Kilpatrick

Karen Lucrezia

Kate Matthews

Executive Assistant

Program Coord. for the Chair

Project Manager

Finance

Melisa Campbell

Brian Eley

Beth Ellis

Andrea Hargrow

Cassie Joint

Victoria Locust

Lucson Thomas

Business Analytics Specialist

Accountant

Accounting Specialist

Accountant

Contracts & Grants

Lohitha Bandi

Mekaila Hite

Sophie Ing

Harriet McCarter

Allison Santos

Heather Torres

Thomas Wilson

Sahmila Womack

Contracts and Grants Manager

Accounting Specialist

2,000

Director,PediatricResidency

MegKihlstrom,MD Meg Kihlstrom, MD

Assoc.Director,PediatricResidency

KatieJordan,MD Katie Jordan, MD

Assoc.Director,PediatricResidency

SofiaAliaga,MD,MPH Sofia Aliaga, MD, MPH

Assoc.Director,PediatricResidency

ChristianLawrence,MD Christian Lawrence, MD

Assoc.Director,PediatricResidency

LauraCannon,MD Laura Cannon, MD

Assoc.Director,PediatricResidency

PriyankaRao,MD Priyanka Rao, MD

Assoc.Director,PediatricResidenc

ShivaZargham,MD,MSc Shiva Zargham, MD, MSc

Assoc.Director,PediatricResidency

EricZwemer,MD Eric Zwemer, MD

Director,Med-PedsResidency

MichaelContarino,MD Michael Contarino, MD

EDUCATION - LEADERS

Assoc.Director,Med-PedsResidency RiaDancel,MD Ria Dancel, MD

Director,WakeMedSite

MichaelBrown,M Michael Brown, M

Director,WakeMedOutpatient RasheedaMonroe,MD Rasheeda Monroe, MD

Assoc.Director,Med-PedsResidency JennMcCauley,MD Jenn McCauley, MD

HealthSite&PrimaryCare appan,MD,MSPH appan, MD, MSPH

Director,ConeHealthPediaticClinc NicoleChandler,MD Nicole Chandler, MD

Director,ConeHealthOutpatientClinic EttaGraceNabors,DO Etta Grace Nabors, DO

Director,ConeHealthPediatricResidency

WhitneyHaddix,MD Whitney Haddix, MD

EDUCATION - LEADERS

Director,MedicalStudentEducation

WilliamMills,MD,MPH William Mills, MD, MPH

Co-Director,Physician-ScientistTraining

Assoc.Director,MedicalStudentEduc

HannahColetti,MD,MPH Hannah Coletti, MD, MPH

Assoc.Director,Medical StudentEduc

SaraDuffus,MD Sara Duffus, MD

Co-Director,Physician-ScientistTraining

MistyGood,MD,MS

Misty Good, MD, MS

Director,MedicalGenetics

ClaraHildebrandt,MD Clara Hildebrandt, MD

AssistantProfessorofPediatrics

CorinneKeet,MD,PhD Corinne Keet, MD, PhD

Assoc.Director,MedicalGenetics

MichaelaReinhart,MD Michaela Reinhart, MD

Assistant Program of Pediatrics

ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATORS

KellyLear PediatricResidency

DenitaMoore PediatricResidency

RobinHoward Med-PedsResidency

RenevaGrimsley MedicalStudentEducation

KateMatthews Physician-ScientistTraining Program

JulieSeger PediatricFellowships

The Department of Pediatrics continues its longstanding commitment to exceptional medical education, building on more than 65 years of successful student and resident training. The Department educates medical students, residents, fellows, and practicing clinicians so they can deliver outstanding healthcare to children. Faculty with expertise as educators receive the support, time, and resources needed to sustain this mission, while learners develop essential skills in clinical care, quality improvement, advocacy, and scholarly work.

Medical student programs remain highly successful in ensuring that students acquire core pediatric knowledge and strong problem solving abilities within the broader curriculum. Clinical experiences across inpatient and outpatient settings expose learners to a wide range of conditions and levels of severity, preparing graduates for any post training clinical practice.

Between 2021 and 2025, 100 residents completed training. Of these graduates, 57 pursued subspecialty or additional training, and 43 entered General Pediatrics. During this period, residents matched into every pediatric subspecialty except one, reflecting comprehensive educational exposure supported by dedicated faculty mentors

The 2025 Match brought continued growth and accomplishment. Residents joining the Department represented 45 medical schools across 21 states, Washington, D.C., and two countries. The entering class included:

4 Medicine‑Pediatrics residents from UNC, Michigan, UCLA, and Duke

14 Pediatrics residents from UNC, Tennessee, Northwestern, UC Irvine, Brown, Boston, and Duke

Residents also achieved notable scholarly success, with presentations and publications accepted at meetings such as the Academic Pediatrics Association, American Thoracic Society, Society of Hospital Medicine, North Carolina Medical Society, North Carolina Pediatric Society, Association of Pediatric Program Directors, Pediatric Endocrine Society, National Medical Association, Society of Critical Care Medicine, Southeastern Consortium for Dermatology, American Academy of Pediatrics, and the International Conference on Clinical Ethics and Consultation.

Looking ahead, the Department is expanding its training capacity Entering the 2026 Match cycle, program complements will include 16 Pediatrics positions, 12 Medicine Pediatrics positions, and 1 Community Health Track position.

In 2025, the Education Office continued to strengthen systems that support both faculty educators and learners, reinforcing the Department’s commitment to advancing pediatric education. Through rigorous training, academic engagement, and comprehensive clinical exposure, the Department of Pediatrics prepares the next generation of clinicians and scholars dedicated to improving child health

EVENING OF SCHOLARSHIP

The annual Thomas F. Boat Evening of Scholarship event took place on May 29, 2025 at the Carolina Club. This year we had a record number of abstracts submitted and posters displayed, with 76 different projects presented. The keynote address was given by Ericka Fink, MD, MD, Professor of Pediatrics Critical Care Medicine, at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Below is a list of the awards highlighting the success of our fabulous group of learners this year.

Jud Van Wyk Award for Best Basic Science Research

Nasal IL-1 Changes in Children During Hospitalization for Acute Asthma Exacerbation"- Andre Espaillat

Harvey J. Hamrick Award for Best Case Report

"A Three-Month-Old With Respiratory Distress, Must Be Bronchiolitis, Right?”- Nicole Parentela

Walter Tunnessen Award for Best Clinical Science Research

"Impact of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) on the management of pediatric hospitalized patients”Maggie Fennell

Jerry Fernald Award for Best Quality Improvement Research

"Decreased length of stay for asthma exacerbations after reducing highflow nasal cannula use"Kristin Sundy-Boyles

Alan Stiles Award for Best Resident Research

“Pre-Hospital Pulse-Oximetry and Supplemental Oxygen Utilization in Malawi: An Exploratory CostEffectiveness Analysis"- James Newton

Best Student Award

“Culturing Diagnostic Stewardship in the UNC PICU: A Quality Improvement Project to Standardize the Approach to Culture Collection in PICU”- Elgin Yalin

Best Education or Advocacy Abstract

"Characteristics of Residents Who Withdraw or are Dismissed from Pediatric Residency Programs”Kristin Sundy-Boyles

Johnny Carson Award for Best Overall Research

"Decreased length of stay for asthma exacerbations after reducing high flow nasal cannula use"Kristin Sundy-Boyles

2025-2026 Chief Residents

First Year Residents, June 2025

Milan Abbi, MD – Pediatrics, George Washington University

Nicole Betti, DO – Pediatrics, Campbell University

Alden Brown, MD – Pediatrics, Morehouse School of Medicine

Emily Cleveland, MD - Medicine-Pediatrics, University of South Alabama

Victoria Darby, DO – Pediatrics, Liberty University

Asli Eti, MD - Pediatrics, Koc Univ Tip Fakultesi

Henry Fisher, MD– Pediatrics, University of North Carolina

Karla Geigel, MD – Pediatrics, University of South Florida

Hannah Green, MD - Pediatrics, University of Alabama

Spencer Hagwood, MD - Pediatrics, University of Mississippi

Melanie Hardee, MD - Medicine-Pediatrics, University of North Carolina

Sofia Howson, MD - Primary Care, Wayne State University

Sierra Hudson, DO - Child Neurology, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicin

Katherine Johnson, MD - Pediatrics, Eastern Virginia

Joshua Kenna, MD - Pediatrics, State University of New York Upstate

Alyssa Liegmann, MD - Pediatrics, Loma Linda University

Amy Likamwa, MD - Pediatrics, Florida International University

Mikayla Luke, DO- Pediatrics, Campbell University

Renae Lyons, MD - Medicine-Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University

Malina Maharana, MD - Child Neurology, Texas A&M University

Sean McGarry, MD - Pediatrics, State University of New York Upstate

Bailey Moran, MD - Pediatrics, University of North Carolina

Jeana Mosley, MD - Pediatrics, Virginia Commonwealth

Prianca Nagda, MD - Medicine-Pediatrics, University of Florida

Meryem Ok, MD, PhD - Preliminary Pediatrics, University of North Carolina

Cailey O’Neill, MD - Medicine-Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin

Julia Parker, MD - Oregon Health & Science University

Abigail Russell, MD - Pediatrics, Indiana University

Abigail Schulz, MD - Medicine-Pediatrics, University of Illinois - Peoria

Tia Scott, MD - Primary Care, Medical University of South Carolina

Isaac Sluder, MD - Preliminary Pediatrics, University of North Carolina

Ryan Stikeleather, MD - Primary Care, University of Central Florida

Cierra Taylor, MD - Primary Care, University of North Carolina

Kayla Tennant, MD - Pediatrics, University of North Carolina

Aaron Zhang, DO - Pediatrics, Campbell University

Claire Bethel, MD Molly DeCristo, MD, PhD Margaret Fennell, MD

2025 Graduating Residents & Chiefs

Safiyya Adam, MD - Medicine-Pediatrics Hospitalist, UNC Health and UNC Children’s, Chapel Hill, NC

Emily Anderson, MD - Pediatrics, Critical Care Medicine Fellowship, Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt; Nashville, TN

Miranda Ave, MD - Pediatrics, WakeMed Children’s Primary Care; Raleigh, NC

Claire Bethel, MD - Pediatrics, Pediatric Chief Resident, UNC, Chapel Hill, NC

Ryanne Buckley, MD - Hematology/Oncology Fellowship, UNC, Chapel Hill, NC

James Carl Burr, MD, MPH - Primary Care, Burlington Pediatrics; Burlington, NC

Kayla Corbett, DO, MS - Pediatrics, Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Fellowship, UVA Health Children’s; Charlottesville, VA

Molly DeCristo, MD, PhD - Pediatrics, Pediatric Chief Resident, UNC, Chapel Hill, NC

Maureen Farrell, MD, MS - Physician Scientist, Cardiology Fellowship, Univ. of Utah Health; Salt Lake City, UT

Jacob Faultersack, MD - Pediatrics, Cardiology Fellowship, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; Philadelphia, PA

Maggie Fennell, MD - Medicine-Pediatrics, Med-Peds Chief Resident, UNC, Chapel Hill

Caitlin Green, MD - Pediatrics, Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Fellowship, Nemours Children’s Health; Philadelphia, PA

Sara Hunt, MD - Pediatrics, Cardiology Fellowship, MUSC Children’s Health; Charleston, SC

Alexia Kessler, MD - Pediatrics, Hematology/Oncology Fellowship, Mayo Clinic Children’s; Rochester, MN

Jacob Kluver, MD - Pediatrics, Hematology/Oncology Fellowship, University of Utah Health; Salt Lake City, UT

Ezra Lichtman, MD - Medicine-Pediatrics Primary Care, Med-Peds Hospitalist, Indian Health Service, Chinie, AZ

Rim Mehari, MD, MPH - Pediatrics, Endocrinology Fellowship, Texas Children’s Hospital; Houston, TX

James Newton, MD, MS - Physician Scientist, General Pediatrics and Research; North Carolina

Kathleen O’Hara, MD - Pediatrics, Emergency Medicine Fellowship, Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters; Norfolk, VA

Chris Okorieocha, MD - Adult Hospitalist Medicine, Duke Regional Hospital and Duke Urgent Care, Duke Health System, Durham, NC

Pranati Panuganti, MD - Preventive Medicine Residency, Adult Cardiology Fellowship, UNC, Chapel Hill, NC

Nicole Parentela, DO - Pediatrics, Hospitalist, Atrium Health; Charlotte, NC

Lily Segal, MD - Primary Care, Hampton Roads Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters; Hampton, VA

Beatriz Carrie Shropshire, DO, MS - Primary Care, Critical Care Med. Fellowship, Lurie Children’s Hospital; Chicago, IL

Paige Spieth, MD - Primary Care, WakeMed Children’s Primary Care; Cary, NC

Katherine Stalbaum, MD - Pediatrics, Franciscan Health Physician Network, St. John Health Center; St. John, IN

K'Shylah Whitehurst, MD - Pediatrics, Pediatric Chief Resident, UNC, Chapel Hill, NC

CHILD HEALTH SCHOLARS PROGRAM

go.unc.edu/carolina-child-health-scholars

The UNC Carolina Child Health Scholars P e, collaborative, resource-rich environment to foster the development of diverse and successful pediatric physician-investigator trainees. Through rigorous training, mentorship, and research development, the program strengthens the pipeline of pediatric clinician investigators focused on advancing child health.

Established in 2022, the Child Health Scholars Program for pediatric fellows has grown significantly under the leadership of Co Directors Dr Misty Good and Dr Corinne Keet In 2023, the program expanded its integration and impact by merging with the pediatric residency Physician Scientist Training Program (PSTP), creating a unified pathway that supports aspiring physician scientists from residency through fellowship.

In 2025, three outstanding fellows were selected as the newest Carolina Child Health Scholars:

Katherine Caid, MD (Allergy/Immunology)

Marielys Collazo-Roman, MD, MSc (Infectious Diseases)

Paige Noreen, MD (Pulmonology)

This year’s two Physician Scientist Training Program residents are part of the Medical Genetics & Genomics Pediatric Residency:

Rebecca Gibson, MD, PhD

Molly Kuo, MD, PhD

The program celebrated notable milestones in 2025. Four Carolina Child Health Scholars fellows completed their training—three have joined the UNC Pediatrics faculty, and one has advanced to a subspecialty fellowship. Additionally, two PSTP residents graduated, with one pursuing a cardiology fellowship and the other entering General Pediatrics along with entrepreneurship opportunities.

Among the six current PSTP fellows, three were selected for the National Physician Scientist Development Program, and three were accepted into T32 training programs, reflecting the exceptional caliber and promise of our trainees

In just a few years, the Carolina Child Health Scholars Program has expanded its footprint, enhanced collaboration across residency and fellowship pathways, and built a vibrant community of emerging physician scientists. The achievements of our trainees underscore the program’s momentum and reinforce the department’s commitment to developing leaders who will shape the future of pediatric research and clinical care.

Molly Kuo, MD, PhD

RebeccaGibson,MD,PhD

Paige Noreen, MD

M.Collazo-Roman,MD,MSc

Katherine Caid, MD

FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM LEADERS

Director,PediatricSubspecialtyTraining

tor,Allergy/Immunology

Assoc.Director,Allergy/Immunology

Director,PediatricEndocrinology

AmyLevenson,MD

Amy Levenson, MD

Assoc.Director,Allergy/Immunology

EdwinKim,MD,MS Edwin Kim, MD, MS

AssociateProfessorof andPediatrics

tant Professor of Medicine kaSood,MD ka Sood, MD

AllisonBurbank,MD Allison Burbank, MD

Associate Professor of Pediatrics

Director,PediatricCriticalCare

Director,Gastroenterology

FranciscoSylvester,MD Francisco Sylvester, MD

Assoc.Director,PediatricCriticalCare

irector,Gastroenterology

renner,MD,MSCR renner, MD, MSCR

nt Professor of Pediatrics

PaulShea,MD

Paul Shea, MD

Associate Professor of Pediatrics

MelissaSmith,MD Melissa Smith, MD

Associate Professor of Pediatrics

Director,Hemotology/Oncology

PatrickThompson,MD

Patrick Thompson, MD

FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM LEADERS

Assoc. DIrector,Hemotology/Oncology

Assoc.DIrector,Hemotology/Oncology

JacquelynBaskin-Miller,MD,MS

Jacquelyn Baskin-Miller, MD, MS

Assoc.DIrector,HospitalMedicine

WadeHarrison,MD,MPH Wade Harrison, MD, MPH

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics

MichaelWinstead,MD Michael Winstead, MD

Associate Professor of Pediatrics

Director,HospitalMedicine

JenFuchs,MD Jen Fuchs, MD

Associate Professor of Pediatrics

Director,InfectiousDiseases

TomBelhorn,MD,PhD Tom Belhorn, MD, PhD

Director,Neonatal-PerinatalMedicine

WaynePrice,MD Wayne Price, MD

Assoc.Director,Neonatal-PerinatalMedicine

Director,InfectiousDiseases

PeytonThompson,MD Peyton Thompson, MD

A i t t P f f P di t i

Director,Nephrology

CaraBethCarr,MD

Cara Beth Carr, MD

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics

KatieWestreich,MD Katie Westreich, MD

Associate Professor of Pediatrics

FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM LEADERS

Assoc.Director,Nephrology

AshleyCarver,MD Ashley Carver, MD

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics

Assoc.Director,Pulmonology

MarianneMuhlebach,MD Marianne Muhlebach, MD

Director,Pulmonology

AdamGower,MD,MS Adam Gower, MD, MS

Associate Professor of Pediatrics

Assoc.Director,Pulmonology

WilliamStoudemire,MD William Stoudemire, MD

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics

FELLOWSHIP COORDINATORS

JessiStark - Allergy/Immunology

JasonHadley - Endocrinology

ThaliaTulloch - Gastroenterology

JustinMoxley - Genetics

SawyerEverett - Hematology/Oncology

TejasiRavi- Hospital Medicine

2025 Graduating Fellows

Nonie Arora, MD, MBA - Allergy and Immunology, Michigan Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Center, Oak Park, MI

Nichole Artz, MD - Hematology Oncology, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, Hollywood, FL

Lauren Brown, DO - Critical Care Medicine, Maynard Children's Hospital, ECU Health, Greenville, NC

Katie Butler, MD - Hospital Medicine, UNC Pediatrics (Med-Peds Hospitalist), Chapel Hill, NC

Beatriz Caceres-Nazario, MD - Hematology Oncology, Bon Secours Mercy Health, Richmond, VA

Alex Despotes, MD - Pulmonology, UNC Pediatric & Adult Pulmonology & Critical Care Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC

Andre Espaillat, MD MPH - Pulmonology, UNC Pediatric Pulmonology, Chapel Hill, NC

Lauren Hernandez, DO - Hematology Oncology, Sanford Health, Fargo, ND

Nadia Hoekstra, MD - Pulmonology, UNC Pediatric Pulmonology, Chapel Hill, NC

Amalia Lee, MD, MPH - Neonatal Perinatal, Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital, Charlotte, NC

Rachel Modarelli, MD - Endocrinology, Inova Children's Hospital, Falls Church, VA

Mayuran Ravindran, MD - Allergy and Immunology, Allergy Partners of the Triangle, Cary, NC

Ahmad Sami, MD - Gastroenterology, Pediatric Transplant Hepatology Fellowship, Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA

Kristin Sundy-Boyles, MD - Hospital Medicine, UNC Pediatric Hospital Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC

Raven Beck, MD - Hematology/Oncology, University of Iowa

Elizabeth Briscoe, MD - Hematology/Oncology, University of Utah

Ryanne Buckley, MD - Hematology/Oncology, UNC Chapel Hill

Kaitlin Downes, DO - Endocrinology, UNC Chapel Hill

Alicia Grant, MD- Neonatology, Thomas Jefferson University/Nemours

Karen Hawks, MD - Hospital Medicine, University of Maryland

Shannon Isennock, MD - Neonatology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Ketaki Kulkarni, MBBS - Gastroenterology, Mahatma Gandi Institute of Medical Sciences

Alexis Paige Lester, MD - Hospital Medicine, Ohio State University/Nationwide

Evan Meiman, MD - Critical Care Medicine, Ohio State University/Nationwide

Hunter Smith, MD, MPH - Allergy and Immunology, Northwestern

Kaitlin Tillman, MD - Pulmonology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Collette Tilly, MD - Allergy and Immunology, University of Arkansas

Vinh-An Daniel Vo, MD - Pulmonology, Phoenix Children’s Hospital

Logan Webb, MD – Nephrology, Memorial Health University Medical Center

Alison Woods, MD - Critical Care Medicine, University of Minnesota

Our Mission is to promote the health of all children through compassionate family-centered care, tireless advocacy, scientific discovery, and education of future leaders.

Our vision is transforming care and inspiring hope for all children.

CHILDREN'S RESEARCH

Marsico Hall - Home of the Marsico Lung Institute/UNC Cystic Fibrosis Center.

CHILDREN'S RESEARCH

www.med.unc.edu/pediatrics/research/

The Department of Pediatrics continued to strengthen its long-standing legacy of scientific discovery in 2025, building on decades of pioneering work that spans the full spectrum of health science research. Historically recognized for groundbreaking bench investigations, the department has steadily broadened its reach into translational and clinical domains, creating a research environment uniquely positioned to accelerate innovations from laboratory insights to improved outcomes for children everywhere

The past year marked another period of exceptional performance and growth FY25 research funding totaled $61,813,446, reflecting the department’s expanding national impact and the success of its investigators in highly competitive environments. This activity included 262 awarded projects, 92 principal investigators with active funding, and 223 proposals submitted, underscoring a robust and continually advancing research enterprise.

Across all programs, platforms, and partnerships, the Department of Pediatrics continues to advance a powerful vision for the future one in which bold scientific inquiry, collaborative innovation, and a deep commitment to children’s health drive discoveries that shape tomorrow’s standards of care.

At the center of this momentum stands the UNC Children’s Research Institute (CRI), a dynamic, multidisciplinary hub committed to advancing pediatric science. CRI brings together leading experts across clinical, translational, and basic science fields to confront the most pressing challenges in child health. Investigators collaborate across the UNC campus, throughout UNC Health’s statewide system, and within the cutting-edge laboratories housed in the Mary Ellen Jones Building the administrative home of the institute and a cornerstone of its research ecosystem.

Business and Industry

Educational and Research Institutions

Federal

Foundation, association and non-profits

Local and State Government

Total Funding

CHILDREN'S RESEARCH

A defining strength of CRI is its Pediatric Clinical Research Unit (Peds CRU), which delivers essential infrastructure and specialized personnel to support pediatric clinical trials. With more than 120 ongoing studies, 24 in start-up, and partnerships extending across multiple divisions, departments, and schools, the Peds CRU plays a critical role in enabling innovative research. The unit’s coordinators supported by an expanding leadership team assist more than 60 faculty members.

The CRI Proposal Development and Program Management Team also experienced a highly productive year, supporting investigators through every stage of grant development. In FY25 alone, the team facilitated the submission of more than $21 million in grant applications, ensuring rigorous preparation and competitive positioning for federal and foundation funding

Developing the next generation of pediatric scientists remains a central priority for the Department. Since 2018, earlycareer investigators have earned 20 career development (K) awards, growing from a single award in FY18. The Department currently supports eight active K awards including two K12s, two K01s, three K08s, and one K23 and continues to strengthen pathways to independence through initiatives such as the Children Research Institute's K-to-R Program, launched in 2021. In total, 21 early-stage investigators are currently engaged in the program.

Several key achievements further highlight the institute’s expanding influence. The Coastal Carolina Children’s Research Initiative, developed through the UNC Novant RAC partnership and led by Hernandez, Krawiec, and Sharp, has broadened research presence across the region CRI investigators Ferkol and Olivier secured a leadership role in the PCD Foundation’s Network for Clinical Trials, positioning UNC as a central site for the network’s 2026 launch.

The Department of Pediatrics is steadily shaping an ambitious future one driven by scientific exploration, shared innovation, and an unwavering dedication to improving children’s health, ultimately guiding the breakthroughs that will define the next generation of care.

Tiﬀony Blanks

Sherry Bossard

Nicole Capps

Kelly Chason

Rachel Cooke

Miriam Davis, RN, BSN, CCRP

Joseph Hatch, MSPH

Gabriella Keller

Ariel Lunsford

CRI STAFF

Alison Mathers

Kate Matthews

Katherine Mills

Tejanah Murray

Austin Neurerburg

Ally G. Newman

Carolina Pastrana-Medina

Kelli Sullivan Ramsey

Mia Sharrock

Jordan Thorndyke-Smith

Karen Sharpe

Hope E. Smith

Abigail Taber

Corinne Taylor

Colleen Vavra

Olivia R. Wilson

NEW FACULTY & PROVIDERS

JeffreyAnderson,MD,MPH,MBA

Kristen Baker, NP

RebeccaArango,MSN,CPNP

LauraCartwright,MSN

Advanced Practice Provider Advanced Practice Provider Hemotology/Oncology Hemotology/Oncology

Coltrane Beck-Chance, MS

Christopher Atkins, MD, MS

Assistant Professor Assistant Professor C di l C di l

AshleyCarver,MD

Assistant Professor Assistant Professor Nephrology Nephrology

Katie Butler, MD

AnaLuciaCortez,MD

Assistant Professor Assistant Professor Nephrology Nephrology

MollyCrenshaw,MD

Assistant Professor Assistant Professor

Genetics and Metabolism Genetics and Metabolism

AndreEspaillat,MD,MPH

Instructor Instructor Pulmonology Pulmonology

NEW FACULTY & PROVIDERS

KathrynCurry,PNP-PC,DNP

Advanced Practice Provider Advanced Practice Provider

KatherineAlexDespotes,MD

ErinMcAllisterGarwood,LCSW

Instructor Instructor

General Peds & Adolescent Medicine

Assistant Professor Assistant Professor Pulmonology Pulmonology

MaryClaytonFederspiel,MSN

Instructor Instructor Genetics and Metabolism Genetics and Metabolism

NadiaHoekstra,MD

Instructor Instructor Pulmonology Pulmonology

MatthewFoglia,MD,PhD

Assistant Professor Assistant Professor

Pediatric Critical Care Medicine Pediatric Critical Medicine

AndrewHopwood,MD

Assistant Professor Assistant Professor

Pediatric Critical Care Medicine Pediatric Critical Care Medicine

NEW FACULTY & PROVIDERS

HannahHrobuchak,MD

Assistant Professor Assistant Professor

Marie-PierLirette,MBChB,MSc

Assistant Professor Professor

Emergency Medicine Emergency Medicine

General Peds & Adolescent Medicine

JaimiMcDonough,PhD

Assistant Professor Assistant Professor

MimiOmede,MD

Assistant Professor Assistant Professor Gastroenterology Gastroenterology

KristinSundy,MD

Assistant Professor Assistant Professor Hospital Pediatrics Hospital Pediatrics

ErinPlosa,MD

Associate Professor Associate Professor Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine

AnnSweeney,MD

Assistant Professor Assistant Professor Pediatric Critical Care Medicine Pediatric Critical Care Medicine

Development, Behavior & Learning Development, Behavior & Learning

AmandaSaad,MD

Assistant Professor Assistant Professor Emergency Medicine Medicine

SahalThahir,MD

Instructor Instructor Infectious Diseases Infectious Diseases

NEW FACULTY & PROVIDERS

AnnieWestlund,MSN,NNP

Advanced Practice Provider Advanced Practice Provider Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine

MonikaWilliams,MD

Assistant Professor Assistant Professor Genetics and Metabolism and Metabolism

KatlinYokeley,MSN,CPNP

Advanced Practice Provider Advanced Practice Provider General Peds & Adolescent Medicine General Peds & Adolescent Medicine

We are thrilled to welcome these new providers to the Department of Pediatrics!

Our dedicated team of physicians and advanced practice providers are committed to delivering exceptional care to children and families. Together, we will continue to provide compassionate, innovative, and family-centered care while shaping the future of child health in North Carolina.

Thank you for bringing your unique talents to our team — we look forward to achieving great things together!

FACULTY PROMOTIONS

Many congratulations to our newly promoted faculty members!

These faculty members were promoted between January & December of 2025.

We look forward to their continued success and contributions!

ArshiyaAhuja,MD

JacquelynBaskin-Miller,MD

Professor Professor Hematology/Oncology Hematology/Oncology

MelissaBauserman,MD,MPH

BiancaAllison,MD,MPH Associate

MariaBoucher,MD

AssociateProfessor

FACULTY PROMOTIONS

LauraCannon,MD

Associate Professor Associate Professor Rheumatology Rheumatology

KeishaL.Gibson,MD,M

Professor Professor

SabinaMir,MD

Professor Professor Gastroenterology Gastroenterology

KatherineClement,MD

Professor Professor

Pediatric Critical Care Medicine

GerardoQuezada,MD

Associate Professor Associate Professor Hematology/Oncology Hematology/Oncology ,PhD

ology ology

AlieseSarkissian,MD,MBOE

Associate Professor Associate Professor Rheumatology Rheumatology

FACULTY PROMOTIONS

SamanthaSchilling,MD,MSHP

Professor Professor

Associate

General Peds & Adolescent Medicine

Pediatric Critical Care Medicine

ShivaZargham,MD

KatherineWestreich,MD

MelissaSmith,MD

HaiyanFu,PhD

Associate Professor Associate Professor Genetics and Metabolism Genetics and Metabolism

ScottBuck,MD Associate Professor Associate Professor Cardiology Cardiology

We extend our profound appreciation to our newly retired faculty for their many years of exemplary service, scholarly dedication, and unwavering commitment to advancing the health and well‑being of countless children.

Their distinguished expertise whether expressed through clinical excellence, groundbreaking research has shaped the lives of young patients and their families while strengthening the scientific foundations of pediatric care.

The breadth of their influence across the fields of pediatrics and child health research, and within the communities they have served with such distinction, is truly immeasurable. Their enduring legacy will live on in the colleagues they have mentored, the discoveries they have advanced, and the many children whose lives have been profoundly touched by their work.

We offer our sincere best wishes for a fulfilling, meaningful, and well earned retirement, confident that their remarkable contributions will remain deeply valued and long remembered.

North Carolina Children’s will be the state’s first hospital dedicated exclusively to children!

We reached a number of milestones in 2025: We reached a number of milestones in 2025:

January 2025: NC Children’s officially created as a partnership between UNC Health and Duke Health

February & March 2025: Children’s champions and partnership recognized in Chapel Hill and Durham during UNC vs. Duke men’s basketball games

May 2025: NC Children’s Clinical Planning Committee established with members from UNC Children’s, Duke Children’s to lead clinical planning efforts

June 2025: Joint social event for UNC Children’s and Duke Children’s faculty members at American Tobacco District

July 2025: Apex announced as the future home for NC Children’s

Aug. 2025: 1 meeting of NC Children’s Board of Directors: ncchildrens.org/board st

Sept. 2025: NC Children’s social media channels launched. Follow us @ncchildrens on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram

Oct. 2025: Duke Children’s and UNC Children’s ranked #1 and #2 in North Carolina in US News’ “Best Children’s Hospitals” rankings

Nov. 2025: NC Children’s featured in keynote panel during Children’s Hospital Association’s Annual Leadership Conference in San Diego

Dec. 2025: Updated NC Children’s executive team introduced: ncchildrens.org/leadership

NC Children’s Quick Facts: NC Children’s Quick Facts:

Created through a historic and nationally unique public/private partnership between Duke Health and UNC Health

Plans for the new campus include:

A 500-bed dedicated children’s hospital

A 70-bed behavioral health hospital, and an outpatient center of excellence

Research and teaching facilities backed by the UNC and Duke Schools of Medicine

To be located on 230 acres in Apex, NC, within a 3-hour drive for 75% of all North Carolinians

Aim to raise >$1B through philanthropy to support construction of new campus

Plans call for breaking ground in 2027 and opening in the early 2030s

Among the largest economic development projects in

North Carolina’s history!

UNC CHILDREN’S SERVICE LINE

FromWhytoImpact

UNC CHILDREN’S SERVICE LINE

2025ServiceLineAccomplishments

Established the Children’s Service Line leadership team through the identification and recruitment of key clinical and administrative leaders.

Defined the UNC Children’s Service Line mission and vision during an all‑Children’s retreat held in October 2025.

Developed a standardized framework to advance Clinical Effectiveness across key domains, including Primary Care, Ambulatory Subspecialty Care, Newborn Care, Emergency Services, Surgery, Diagnostic Services, and Behavioral Health in 2026.

Aligned the Children’s Service Line strategic priorities with UNC Health System strategy, including participation in Integrated Budgeting initiatives.

Expanded statewide engagement by initiating visits with UNC owned and managed entities to strengthen collaboration and align partners around a unified vision for children’s care.

OurOctober2025Retreatwas...

UNC Children’s continues to strengthen its statewide presence through a unified network of pediatric specialists committed to advancing child health across North Carolina. This expanding identity brings pediatric expertise not only to families receiving care within the Department of Pediatrics, but also to communities far beyond Chapel Hill.

Over the past five years, clinical services within the department have grown substantially, extending specialized care into regions where children previously faced long travel distances to access pediatric subspecialists This transformation positions UNC Children’s as a vital partner to local providers and a driving force for high quality, community centered pediatric care Across these outreach sites, pediatric subspecialists collaborate to deliver expert diagnosis, longitudinal management, and seamless transitions b k l l i id

Outreach clinics host a broad range of pediatric specialties including gastroenterology, cardiology, nephrology, pulmonology, and allergy—within a dedicated outpatient setting designed to provide connected, high‑quality care to coastal communities. UNC Children’s continues to grow and expand care across the state. Recent collaborations include working with the Cherokee Nation to bring outpatient pediatrics specialty care to their land in western North Carolina. and providing the hospitalist care at Columbus Regional Health System in Whiteville, NC.

UNC Children’s outreach model strengthens the connection between community practices and the academic medical center, nurturing a shared identity for pediatric specialists regardless of practice location. This expanding presence reflects an enduring commitment: ensuring that every child in North Carolina has access to exceptional, specialized pediatric care—wherever they live.

FAMILY PARTNERS PROGRAM

In 2025, UNC Children’s Family Partners continued to exemplify a model of engaged collaboration, fostering a space where families contribute meaningfully to patient care and the broader hospital community. The program is rooted in a commitment to support, inclusion, and partnership, offering families opportunities to help shape the pediatric healthcare experience at every level. As described by UNC Children’s, Family Partners work to strengthen bonds while positively impacting children’s lives within both the hospital and the community.

Functioning as a vital communication bridge between families and clinical leadership, Family Advisory Council (FAC) members offered ongoing feedback on healthcare projects, contributed to policy discussions, and supported hospital initiatives designed to enhance the patient and family experience The Family Partners program provided comfort and community by distributing meals, gifts, and supportive resources to families navigating extended hospital stays.

Multiple generous partnerships enriched our efforts in 2025!

Donna’s Darlings began providing small birthday and milestone cakes for pediatric patients on the inpatient Hematology/Oncology floors, bringing celebratory moments to families experiencing difficult circumstances.

Additionally, Zac’s Toy Chest sponsored the launch of the Kindness Cart, stocked with approved snacks, toys, and small gadgets distributed by Volunteer Services to spark joy and offer moments of levity during hospital stays.

The Family Partners Program also celebrated a growing relationship with the Me Fine Foundation, an organization known for supporting families experiencing financial and emotional strain during a child’s serious medical diagnosis Me Fine reported that in 2025, UNC served as its top referral partner, with 242 of the 627 families supported originating from UNC Children’s referrals. The top needs addressed included assistance with utilities, housing expenses, transportation, funeral costs, and essential gift cards.

Innovative programming continued through Wonder Connection, a science and nature based initiative dedicated to bringing hands on creativity to pediatric patients. Following a record setting 2024, Wonder Connection reached 3,013 children and teens, introducing engaging activities ranging from slime and snow experiments to STEM building kits, fairy gardens, and dinosaur digs. The program, supported by dedicated staff and volunteers, provided invaluable enrichment to hospitalized children through exploration and play.

FAMILY PARTNERS PROGRAM

Community partnerships also played an influential role, including the longstanding support of the Triangle Association of Muslim American Mothers (TAMAM). For eight consecutive years, TAMAM has donated a portion of its annual toy drive to UNC Children’s.

In June 2025, TAMAM representatives delivered toys to Beth Bailey, Play Facility Operations Manager for UNC Children’s Volunteer Services.

Through partnerships, advisory engagement, and an unwavering focus on family‑centered care, UNC Children’s Family Partners advanced its vision of a healthcare environment where families are valued as essential contributors. This collective work continues to shape a culture in which family voices are not only welcomed but integrated seamlessly into every aspect of care.

ALLERGY-IMMUNOLOGY

ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Faculty advocacy extended nationally and internationally, including Corinne Keet’s presentation at the East Meets West 2.0 Food Allergy Advocacy event sponsored by FOODiversity in March 2025.

The UNC Food Allergy Initiative also held a spring social event for participants in the SUNBEAM clinical research study at Spring Haven Farm in Chapel Hill, providing families an opportunity to connect, celebrate, and engage with the community (see below)

Left to right: Emily English (NP), Emma Blair, Deanna Hamilton (RN), Latoya Obende (RN), Alivia Schulze

UNC Food Allergy Initiative - First Annual Research Symposium

Neil Alexis, PhD

Received support from Columbia University in the amount of $63,439 for the project 'Airway trees in the Anthropocene: Deﬁning resilient airway trees and identifying the candidate mechanisms and etiologic factors that increase susceptibility to tobacco smoke and air pollution'.

Received support from Spirovation, Inc in the amount of $27,200 for the project 'Sputum Processing of up to 590 Untreated Sputum Samples - AstraZeneca Oberon-Titania Study'

Received support from Spirovation, Inc. in the amount of $20,400 for the project 'Staining, QC and Cell Diﬀerential Counts for ARORAGE-1002 and AROMMP7-1001 Samples'.

Elizabeth Corteselli, PhD Was awarded new funding from NIH National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) in the amount of $265,239 for the project 'Eﬀects of vaping-induced oxidation on nicotine analogs e-cigarettes'

Received support from Francis Family Foundation in the amount of $37,500 for the project 'Oxidative Inactivation of Cathepsin B, Disruption of Airway Epithelial Cell Plasticity and Pulmonary Fibrosis'.

Michelle Hernandez, MD Was awarded new funding from NIH National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) in the amount of $233,250 for the project 'Rescue anakinra treatment for moderate asthma attacks'.

Received support from OM Pharma Ltd in the amount of $15,171 for the project 'A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Multicenter, Phase 2 Study to Assess the Eﬃcacy and Safety of Daily OM-85 Treatment vs. Placebo in Children Aged 6 Months to 5 Years with Recurrent Wheezing'.

Received support from Teva Branded Pharmaceutical Products RD, Inc. in the amount of $42,453 for the project 'A Randomized, Double-Blind, Multicenter, Active-Controlled, Parallel-Group Study to Evaluate the Eﬃcacy and Safety of Fluticasone Propionate/Albuterol Sulfate Fixed-Dose Combination on Severe Asthma Exacerbations in Patients with Asthma'

Received support from Sanofi US Services, Inc. (formerly Sanofi-Aventis) in the amount of $68,876 for the project 'A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group study to assess the efficacy and long-term safety of dupilumab in children 2 to < 6 years of age with uncontrolled asthma and/or recurrent severe asthmatic wheeze (TreKids)'.

Received support from NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) in the amount of $1,620,000 for the project 'Mentored Research Career Development Program Award in Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program (K12 Clinical Trial Optional)'

ALLERGY-IMMUNOLOGY

ResearchAwards

Corinne Keet, MD, PhD Was awarded new funding from American Heart Association (AHA) in the amount of $999,766 for the project 'Understanding How Allergic Responses to Foods Contribute to Cardiovascular Inﬂammation'.

Received support from Johns Hopkins University in the amount of $33,557 for the project 'The eﬀect of a housing mobility program on environmental exposures and asthma morbidity'.

Received support from NIH National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) in the amount of $798,090 for the project 'The Role of Food Sensitization in Cardiovascular Disease'.

Received support from Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in the amount of $2,286 for the project 'Systems Biology of Early Atopy (SUNBEAM) Analysis and Bioinformatics Center'

Edwin Kim, MD, MS Was awarded new funding from Johns Hopkins University in the amount of $176,545 for the project 'New Horizons in the Prevention and Treatment of Food Allergy - (SAFER)'.

Received support from NIH National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) in the amount of $748,538 for the project 'UNC Food Allergy Initiative'

Received support from Johns Hopkins University in the amount of $576,283 for the project 'Systems Biology of Early Atopy - SUNBEAM'.

Received support from Ukko, Inc. in the amount of $25,732 for the project 'Identiﬁcation of Allergen Epitopes in Individuals with Peanut and other food Allergies and immune mediated sensitivities'.

Received support from Benaroya Research Institute in the amount of $69,808 for the project 'Immune Tolerance Network'.

Received support from ALK-Abello A/S in the amount of $150,862 for the project 'phase I open label trial to assess the tolerability and safety of an up-dosing regimen with a once-daily peanut sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT)-tablet in adults, adolescents, and children with peanut allergies'.

Received support from ALK-Abello A/S in the amount of $46,912 for the project 'International Coordinating Investigator'.

Received support from DBV Technologies S.A. in the amount of $26,324 for the project 'Viaskin Peanut (DBV712) Compassionate Use in Peanut-Allergic Children Previously Enrolled in a DBV712 Clinical Study'

Received support from DBV Technologies S.A. in the amount of $210,071 for the project 'A Phase 3, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study to assess the eﬃcacy and safety of epicutaneous immunotherapy with DBV712 250 in 4-7 year old children with peanut allergy'.

Edwin Kim, MD, MS Received support from Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation in the amount of $33,392 for the project 'A three-year, multi-center, double-blind extension study to evaluate the long-term safety and eﬃcacy of ligelizumab in patients who completed ligelizumab's Phase III studies in food allergy'.

Received support from Aravax Pty Ltd in the amount of $189,559 for the project 'Aravax Phase 2 Clinical Trial'.

Received support from Abbott Nutrition in the amount of $35,876 for the project 'Abbott: AL60, Determination of Hypoallergenicity of an Extensively Hydrolyzed Infant Formula in Infants and Children with Cow's Milk Allergy'.

Mike Kulis, PhD

Was awarded new funding from Benaroya Research Institute in the amount of $76,941 for the project 'ITN: Dust Sample Storage'.

Received support from Johns Hopkins University in the amount of $402,121 for the project 'New Horizons in the Prevention and Treatment of Food Allergy'.

Received support from Duke University in the amount of $202,660 for the project 'NIH Adjuvant Comparison and Characterization'

David Peden, MD, MS Received support from NIH National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) in the amount of $486,806 for the project 'Research Training in Allergy and Clinical Immunology'.

Was awarded new funding from Amgen, Inc. in the amount of $87,068 for the project 'A Phase 1, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Integrated Single Ascending Dose, Multiple Ascending Dose Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacodynamics of AMG 691 in Healthy Participants and Participants With Mild-to-Moderate Asthma'

Was awarded new funding from Black Canyon Consulting, LLC in the amount of $170,000 for the project 'UNC Eﬀorts to Link Electronic Health Records'.

AnushaPenumarti,PhD Received support from Benaroya Research Institute in the amount of $298,535 for the project 'ZENITH Manufacturing Contract'.

MeghanRebuli,PhD

Was awarded new funding from Harvard University School of Public Health in the amount of $52,526 for the project 'A Randomized Controlled Trial of Home Air Puriﬁcation for Eosinophilic COPD'.

Was awarded new funding from American Lung Association in the amount of $99,923 for the project 'Understanding Air Freshener Induced Respiratory Toxicity to Reduce Exposure to Harmful Indoor Air Pollutants'.

ResearchAwards ALLERGY-IMMUNOLOGY

MeghanRebuli,PhD

Received support from University of Texas at Austin in the amount of $18,520 for the project 'Childhood Asthma: Disease Course and Lung Function Trajectories and Air Pollution Exposure'.

Received support from NIH National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) in the amount of $610,235 for the project 'Eﬀects of wildﬁre smoke on respiratory antiviral defense responses'.

Received support from Johns Hopkins University in the amount of $21,610 for the project 'Environmental determinants of sleep disparities and the consequences for low income children with asthma'

Received support from NIH National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) in the amount of $690,771 for the project 'Health eﬀects of cannabidiol vaping products'.

Received support from NIH National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) in the amount of $560,117 for the project 'Pre- and Postdoctoral Training in Toxicology'.

Received support from NIH National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) in the amount of $59,740 for the project 'The Eﬀects of Ozone-Induced Oxysterols on Thrombotic Risk'.

Received support from Johns Hopkins University in the amount of $34,547 for the project 'The MELENA Study: Measurement of Exposures, Lung hEalth, and functioN in hAirdressers: MELENA (mane in Spanish)'.

JohannaSmeekensSteinberg,PhD Was awarded new funding from Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) in the amount of $150,000 for the project 'Salivary Component-Speciﬁc IgA and IgG4 Throughout Peanut Sublingual and Oral Immunotherapy'

YaminiVirkud,MD,MA,MPH Was awarded new funding from American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) in the amount of $100,000 for the project 'Metabolomics of Immune Tolerance in Food Allergy'.

Received support from NIH National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) in the amount of $116,625 for the project 'Metabolomics of Food Allergen Immunotherapy'.

FeaturedPublications

Temporal, Age and Racial and Ethnic Trends in Allergen Consumption from 2-Day 24-Hour Recalls, NHANES 2003-2023.

Hosein E, Virkud V, Kim E, Hoke M, Thompson A, Keet C. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology In Practice.

Introduction of Allergenic Foods After Treatment with Omalizumab.

Dantzer J, Virkud Y, Wang J, Sicherer S, Groetch M, Shreffler W, Pyle D, Kim E, Keet C, Kulis M, Mudd K, Sindher S, Long A, Scurlock AM, Jones SM, Leung D, Lanser B, Vickery B, Ezhuthachan ID, Bird JA, Parrish C, Spergel JM, BrownWhitehorn T, Ligueros-Saylan M, Tassinari P, Iqbal A, Sibanda D, Huckabee C, Yovetich N, Rogers N, Lin A, Wheatley LM, Togias A, Chinthrajah RS, Wood RA. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

Human Sputum Microbiome Composition and Sputum Inflammatory Cell Profiles Are Altered with Controlled Wood Smoke Exposure as a Model for Wildfire Smoke.

Cobos-Uribe C, Dhingra R, Almond MA, Alexis NE, Peden DB, Roach J, Rebuli ME. American Journal of Respiratory and Criticare Care Medicine,

Baseline basophil activation and early suppression is associated with clinical outcome after peanut sublingual immunotherapy.

Humphrey JR, Guo R, Yue X, Keet CA, Virkud YV, Bird JA, Burks AW, Kim EH, Smeekens JM, Kulis MD. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

Vanishing allergen: Addressing the crisis of American elm pollen extracts in allergy treatment.

Petersen MM, Forester JP, Lankow R, Moak R, Meadows JA Annuals of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology

Climate Change and Allergens: Current and Future Impacts.

Burbank AJ, Penrice AJ, Rorie AC, Oh JW Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology In Practice

To Eat or Not to Eat – Oral Immunotherapy for High-Threshold Peanut Allergy. Keet CA, Burks AW New England Journal of Medicine Evidence

Deficiency of H3K27 histone demethylase UTX in T cells blunts allergic sensitization and anaphylaxis to peanut.

Immormino, R M , Wang, Y , Zhang, Y , Kapita, C M , Thomas, K O , Carson, A S , Kesselring, J., Smeekens, J., Kulis, M.D., Moran T.P., Iweala, O.I. Immunohorizons

Effect of prednisone on woodsmoke-induced sputum inflammation in healthy volunteers: A randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study. Noah TL, Alexis NE, Bennett WD, Hernandez ML, Burbank AJ, Li H, Zhou H, Jaspers I, Peden DB. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology Global

The use and implementation of omalizumab as food allergy treatment: Consensus-based guidance and Work Group Report of the Adverse Reactions to Foods Committee of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.

Anagnostou A, Bird JA, Chinthrajah S, Dribin TE, Fleischer DM, Kim E, Nowak-Wegrzyn A, Rachid R, Shaker MS, Shreffler W, Sicherer S, Tam J, Vickery BP, Virkud YV, Wang J, Young M, Greenhawt M. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

GENETICS & METABOLISM

www.med.unc.edu/pediatrics/gene

ARTI PANDYA, MD, MBA

Division Chief

PROFESSORS

Joseph Muenzer, MD, PhD

Ed Spence, MD

Samuel M. Young, Jr., PhD

ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS

Muge Calikoglu, MD, MPH

Haiyan Fu, PhD

Arti Pandya, MD, MBA

ASSISTANT PROFESSORS

Michael Adams, MD

Tierra Bobo, PhD

Kristen Clinard, MS CGC

Molly Crenshaw,MD

Clara Hildebrandt, MD

Elizabeth Jalazo, MD

Jennifer Mathews, MS, CGC

Ric Ong, MD, MBA

Yezmin Perilla Young, MS, CGC

Michaela Reinhart, MD

Sara Powell, PhD

Monika Williams, MD

INSTRUCTORS

Coltrane Beck-Chance, MS, GC

Alexis Darling, MS, CGC

Alexis Poss, MS, CGC

Raphael Smith, MS, CGC

Ashlyn Stackhouse, MS, CGC

Jennifer Sullivan, MS, CGC

LeighAnneWeisenfeld,MSW,LCSW

During 2025, the Pediatric Division of Genetics & Metabolism welcomed new faculty members Molly Crenshaw, MD and Monika Williams, MD, advanced practice provider Mary Clay Federspiel, and genetic counselor Coltrane Beck-Chance. The training mission was further advanced with the addition of residents Dr. Molly Kuo and Dr. Rebecca Gibson, enhancing both clinical capacity and educational depth

DEVELOPMENT, RECOGNITION, AND AWARDS

National and institutional recognition highlighted the division’s leadership in innovation, education, and workforce development.

The division hosted the most highly attended meeting to date of the North Carolina Medical Genetics Association (NCMGA). This bi-annual educational conference, which rotates among major genetics centers across the state, brought together clinicians and educators for collaborative learning and professional exchange, marking a significant milestone in statewide engagement.

Under the leadership of Sam Young, Jr., PhD, Professor and Roper Investigator in Pediatrics and Pharmacology, the Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM) formerly the UNC Gene Therapy Center expanded its educational mission by launching a revitalized earlypipeline initiative. Located in the Thurston Bowles Building, the Center became a dynamic hub for undergraduate and high school students seeking early exposure to biomedical research, fostering the next generation of scientific leaders. In addition, Dr. Young was re-elected to a second term on the Technical Activities Committee (TAC) of the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL), reflecting sustained national engagement and trust in his expertise and leadership.

In addition, Dr. Monika Williams, Assistant Professor, was selected for the 2025-2026 Passing the Torch cohort. Passing the Torch is a faculty development program uniquely suited to Clinician Educator faculty to develop further patient care and teaching skills with a person-centered model Participants attend bi-weekly meetings and work on a ‘passion project’

CLINICAL EXCELLENCE

Clinical services continued to expand in scope and reach, maintaining consistent patient volumes despite faculty retirements and recruitment transitions. The division provides comprehensive care for adults with genetic disorders and delivers genetic consultations for specialty complex cancer clinics.

Key clinical advancements included expansion of the mitochondrial disorders clinic and associated specialty services, as well as the addition of MPS II to the Newborn Screening panel, broadening early diagnostic and intervention opportunities.

Samuel M. Young, Jr., PhD

Monika Williams, MD

GENETICS & METABOLISM

The recruitment of an additional genetic counselor strengthened support for both adult and pediatric clinics.

Access to care was further enhanced through biweekly virtual genetic clinics serving the Novant Health system in the Charlotte region, extending specialized genetics expertise beyond Chapel Hill

DEVELOPMENT, RECOGNITION, AND AWARDS

National and institutional recognition highlighted the division’s leadership in innovation, education, and workforce development.

RESEARCH

Research excellence remained a defining strength of the division, with multiple investigators advancing gene therapy, neurobiology, and translational science:

Tierra Bobo, PhD was selected for a 2025 UNC-Chapel Hill Junior Faculty Development Award, receiving $10,000 in support of scholarly pursuits through funding from IBM and R. J. Reynolds Industries, Inc.

Elizabeth Jalazo, MD served as a co-investigator on a genome editor therapy study for Angelman syndrome, contributing to innovative therapeutic development.

Sara Powell, PhD received SOM Boost funding totaling $23,170 for her project, “Defining a novel role for AAV9 MAAP: modulation of in vivo CNS gene expression.”

Groundbreaking work led by Samuel Young, Jr., PhD, revealed that alpha-2-delta (α2δ) proteins play more complex biological roles than previously understood. These findings open new avenues for therapeutic development targeting chronic pain autism spectrum disorders il i i d ot

ADVANCED PRACTICE PROVIDERS

Sarah Bennick, MSN

Shauna Coleman, MSN

Ivy Glenn, PA-C

LindsayTorrice,MSN,CPNP

EHRA NON-FACULTY

Cecile Arias-Saleh

Jacob Craven

Benjamin Milford

Kimberly Stephens, PhD

DIETITIANS

Christine Hall

Emily Ramsey

STAFF

Becky Brinson

Ryan Dant

Roberta Fritz-Klaus

Maureen Furlong

Sophie Hughes

Deepak Joshi

Barbara Kelly

Veronica Lippuner

Selena Long

Hunter McComas

Lourdes Montes

Justin Moxley

Hannah Mignosa-Martin

Benjamin Milford

Ansley Mills

Jazlyn Nelson

Alexander O'Brien

Syvonne Owens

Heather Preiss, RN

Elizabeth Rice, RN, BSN, CPN

Sarah Richardson

Tierra Bobo, PhD

Elizabeth Jalazo, MD

Sara Powell, PhD

GENETICS & METABOLISM

ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

The division maintained a strong commitment to advocacy and community partnership through continued participation in statewide and national initiatives, including the NC Genetics and Genomics Advisory Committee, the National Society of Genetic Counselors, the UNC Rare Disease Clinical Task Force, and Early Check NC.

On February 28, UNC partnered with the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) Center of Excellence and the UNC Program for Precision Medicine in Health Care (PPMH) to host the symposium, “Beyond the Horizon: The Changing Landscape of Rare Disease Treatments.” Families, community advocates, and UNC Children’s leaders explored the evolution of rare disease research and care, highlighting institutional progress and future promise. Faculty contributors included Dr. Muge Calikoglu and Dr. Sam Young, whose perspectives bridged clinical care, research, and patient advocacy.

In May, the team at the Muenzer MPS Research & Treatment Center joined the global rare disease community in recognizing MPS Awareness Day by proudly wearing purple a color symbolizing strength, resilience, and unity across the MPS community. By participating in MPS Awareness Day, the Muenzer MPS Center continued its mission to advocate for individuals and families living with MPS.

EDUCATION AND FELLOW ACHIEVEMENTS

A significant milestone in education was achieved with approval for the Medical Genetics and Pediatric Residency Track along with the categorical training in Medical Genetics and Genomics training, reaffirming the division’s commitment to training future leaders in clinical genetics, research, and academic medicine.

Tierra Bobo, PhD

Elizabeth Jalazo, MD

GENETICS & METABOLISM

Received support from NeuroGT, Inc. in the amount of $179,444 for the project 'SBIR: Protein depleting pre-existing antibodies for viral gene therapy'.

Received support from NeuroGT, Inc. in the amount of $236,576 for the project 'SBIR: Trans-BBB AAV9 gene therapy targeting CNS neuropathy of MPS I'.

Received support from NeuroGT, Inc. in the amount of $127,418 for the project 'STTR: Novel AAV gene therapy for treating CNS neuropathy of MPS IIIC'.

Was awarded new funding from JCR Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. in the amount of $85,857 for the project 'An Extension Study of JR-141 to Evaluate the Long-term Safety and Eﬃcacy in Mucopolysaccharidosis Type II (Hunter Syndrome) Subjects'

Was awarded new funding from Ultragenyx Pharnaceuticals in the amount of $262,727 for the project 'A Phase 3, Randomized, Double-blind, Sham-controlled Study Investigating the Eﬃcacyand Safety of GTX-102 in Pediatric Subjects with Angelman Syndrome'.

Was awarded new funding from IONIS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in the amount of $221,141 for the project 'Phase 3 Study of the Eﬃcacy and Safety of ION582 in Children and Adults with Angelman SyndromeION582-CS2'.

Received support from JCR Pharmaceuticals Co , Ltd in the amount of $419,123 for the project 'A PHASE III STUDY OF JR-141 IN MUCOPOLYSACCHARIDOSIS TYPE II (HUNTER SYNDROME) PATIENTS'.

Received support from Research Triangle Institute (RTI International) in the amount of $304,356 for the project 'Early Check Newborn Sequencing Preparatory and Implementation Phases'.

Received support from Denali Therapeutics Inc. in the amount of $273,821 for the project ': DNLI-I-0001, A Phase 1/2, Multicenter, Open-Label Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacodynamics of DNL126 in Pediatric Participants with Mucopolysaccharidosis Type IIIA (Sanﬁlippo Syndrome Type A)'.

Received support from Research Triangle Institute (RTI International) in the amount of $38,302 for the project 'Gene Selection for Newborn Sequencing Studies'.

Joseph Muenzer, MD, PhD Was awarded new funding from Project Alive in the amount of $163,938 for the project 'Outcomes of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Individuals with Mucopolysaccharidosis II (Hunter Syndrome)'.

Received support from Shire Human Genetics Therapies, Inc in the amount of $136,329 for the project 'HGT-HIT-046: An Open-Label Extension of Study HGT-HIT045 Evaluating Long-Term S'

GENETICS & METABOLISM

ResearchAwards

Joseph Muenzer, MD, PhD

Arti Pandya, MD, MBA

Received support from Shire Human Genetics Therapies, Inc in the amount of $157,950 for the project 'An Open Label Extension of Study HGT-HIT-094 Evaluating Long Term Safety and Clinical Outcomes of Intrathecal Idursulfase Administered in Conjunction with Elaprase in Patients with Hunter Syndrome and Cognitive Impairment.'.

Received support from Denali Therapeutics Inc. in the amount of $262,489 for the project 'A Phase 1/2, Multicenter, Open-Label Study to Determine the Safety, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacodynamics of DNl310 in Pediatric Subjects with Hunter Syndrome'.

Received support from Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc. in the amount of $2,704 for the project 'Long-Term Follow-up of Subjects Who Were Treated with SB-318, SB-913, or SB-FIX, for Targeted Genome Editing into the Albumin Gene in the Liver'

Received support from Denali Therapeutics Inc. in the amount of $356,014 for the project 'A Phase 2/3, Multicenter, Double-Blind, Randomized Study to Determine the Eﬃcacy and Safety of DNL310 vs Idursulfase in Pediatric Participants with Neuronopathic or Non-Neuronopathic Mucopolysaccharidosis Type II'.

Received support from Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc. in the amount of $628,462 for the project 'Post-trial Access Program: Idursulfase-IT (HGT-2310) in Conjunction with Intravenous ElapraseÂ® in Pediatric Patients with Hunter Syndrome and Cognitive Impairment'

Received support from Denali Therapeutics Inc. in the amount of $81,162 for the project 'An Extension Study of the Long-Term Safety, Tolerability, and Eﬃcacy of DNL310 in Participants With Mucopolysaccharidosis Type II (MPS II) From Study DNLI-E-0002 or Study DNLI-E-0007'.

Received support from NC DHHS Division of Public Health (DPH) in the amount of $838,286 for the project 'Pediatrics Genetics & Metabolism State Contract - FY25'.

Received support from NCDHHS Division of Child and Family Well-Being in the amount of $838,286 for the project 'Pediatrics Genetics & Metabolism State Contract - FY26'

Samuel M. Young, Jr., PhD Was awarded new funding from Oklahoma State University in the amount of $26,292 for the project 'Myelination Deﬁcits Underlying Auditory Issues in Fragile X Syndrome'

Received support from University of Iowa in the amount of $70,518 for the project 'Life-long phenotypic correction of CF airways'.

Received support from NIH National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) in the amount of $152,390 for the project 'Presynaptic regulation of neurotransmitter release in mammalian neuronal circuits'.

Received support from University of South Florida Tampa in the amount of $59,712 for the project 'Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders'

GENETICS & METABOLISM

Feasibility and clinical utility of expanded genomic newborn screening in the Early Check program. Cope HL, Jalazo ER, Berg JS, Sullivan JA, Kucera KS, Shone SM, Frawley HE, Gwaltney AY, Forsythe AN, Migliore BA, Wright B, Moultrie RR, Milko LV, Zimmerman RS, Kruszka P, Suchy SF, Begtrup A, Langley KG, Monaghan KG, Kraczkowski C, Guenzel AJ, McWalter K, Hruska KS, Bailey DB Jr, Wheeler AC, Raspa M, Powell CM, Peay HL; Early Check Program. Nature Medicine.

Treatment of Single Patient With PMM2-Congenital Disorder of Glycosylation With Govorestat (AT-007), an Aldose Reductase Inhibitor. Jalazo ER, Weisenfeld LA, Ligezka A, Perfetti R, Muenzer J Journal of Inherited Metabolic Disorders Reports

TYMS-ENOSF1 Dyskeratosis Congenita in a Patient With Ring Chromosome 18: A Case Report. Shams RB, Nieman EL, Perilla-Young Y, Morrell DS, Hildebrandt C. American Journal of Medical Genetics.

Retrospective Cohort Analysis of Clinical, Molecular, and Histopathologic Characteristics of 275 Patients With Nemaline Myopathy. Hildebrandt C, Genetti CA, Logvinenko T, Win W, Barraza-Flores P, Hayes LH, Rockowitz S, Lehtokari VL, Iannaccone ST, Darras BT, Topaloglu H, Wallgren-Pettersson C, Beggs AH. Neurology Genetics.

Challenges of disease severity prediction in an MPS II asymptomatic individual with a novel IDS variant: A unique NBS case with familial mosaicism. Clinard K, Yerraguntla N, Torrice L, Bennick S, Weisenfeld LA, Jalazo E, Muenzer J. WORLD Symposium 2025. February 3-7, 2025. San Diego, CA. Molecular Genetics and Metabolism.

DNA-binding affinity and specificity determine the phenotypic diversity in BCL11B-related disorders. Lessel I, Baresic A, Chinn IK, May J, Goenka A, Chandler KE, Posey JE, Afenjar A, Averdunk L, Bedeschi MF, Besnard T, Brager R, Brick L, Brugger M, Brunet T, Byrne S, Calle-Martín O, Capra V, Cardenas P, Chappé C, Chong HJ, Cogne B, Conboy E, Cope H, Courtin T, Deb W, Dilena R, Dubourg C, Elgizouli M, Fernandes E, Fitzgerald KK, Gangi S, GeorgeAbraham JK, Gucsavas-Calikoglu M, Haack TB, Hadonou M, Hanker B, Hüning I, Iascone M, Isidor B, Järvelä I, Jin JJ, Jorge AAL, Josifova D, Kalinauskiene R, Kamsteeg EJ, Keren B, Kessler E, Kölbel H, Kozenko M, Kubisch C, Kuechler A, Leal SM, Leppälä J, Luu SM, Lyon GJ, Madan-Khetarpal S, Mancardi M, Marchi E, Mehta L, Menendez B, Morel CF, Harasink SM, Nevay DL, Nigro V, Odent S, Oegema R, Pappas J, Pastore MT, Perilla-Young Y, Platzer K, PowellHamilton N, Rabin R, Rekab A, Rezende RC, Robert L, Romano F, Scala M, Poths K, Schrauwen I, Sebastian J, Short J, Sidlow R, Sullivan J, Szakszon K, Tan QKG; Undiagnosed Diseases Network; Wagner M, Wieczorek D, Yuan B, Maeding N, Strunk D, Begtrup A, Banka S, Lupski JR, Tolosa E, Lessel D. American Journal of Human Genetics.

Heterozygous UBR5 variants result in a neurodevelopmental disorder with autism, epilepsy and genital anomalies.

Sabeh P, Dumas SA, Maios C, Daghar H, Korzeniowski M, Rousseau J, Lines M, Guerin A, Millichap JJ, Landsverk M, Grebe T, Lindstrom K, Strober J, Ait Mouhoub T, Zweier C, Steinraths M, Hebebrand M, Callewaert B, Abou Jamra R, Kautza-Lucht M, Wegler M, Kruszka P, Kumps C, Banne E, Waberski MB, Dieux A, Raible S, Krantz I, Medne L, Pechter K, Villard L, Guerrini R, Bianchini C, Barba C, Mei D, Blanc X, Kallay C, Ranza E, Yang XR, O’Heir E, Donald KA, Murugasen S, Bruwer Z, Calikoglu M, Mathews JM, Lesieur-Sebellin M, Baujat G, Derive N, Pierson TM, Murrell JR, Shillington A, Ormieres C, Rondeau S, Reis A, Fernandez-Jaen A, Au PYB, Sweetser DA, Briere LC, Couque N, Perrin L, Schymick J, Gueguen P, Lefebvre M, Van Andel M, Juusola J, Antonarakis SE, Parker JA, Burnett BG, Campeau PM. American Journal of Human Genetics.

GENETICS & METABOLISM

FeaturedPublications

De novo missense variants in the PP2A regulatory subunit PPP2R2B in a neurodevelopmental syndrome: potential links to mitochondrial dynamics and spinocerebellar ataxias. Sandal P, Jong CJ, Merrill RA, Kollman GJ, Paden AH, Bend EG, Sullivan J, Spillmann RC, Shashi V, Vulto-van Silfhout AT, Pfundt R, de Vries BBA, Li PP, Bicknell LS, Strack S. Human Molecular Genetics.

Hereditary Hearing Impairment. Pandya, Arti. Chapter 7 pgs 227-279 in Emory and Rimoin’s – Principles and Practice of Medical Genetics and Genomics, Developmental Disorders.” 7th Edition Vol 4, Editors Reed E Pyreitz, Bruce R Korf, Wayne W. Grody, Elsevier Academic Press

A systematic framework for selecting gene-condition pairs for inclusion in newborn sequencing panels: Early Check implementation. Cope HL, Milko LV, Jalazo ER, Crissman BG, Foreman AKM, Powell BC, deJong NA, Hunter JE, Boyea BL, Forsythe AN, Wheeler AC, Zimmerman RS, Suchy SF, Begtrup A, Langley KG, Monaghan KG, Kraczkowski C, Hruska KS, Kruszka P, Kucera KS, Berg JS, Powell CM, Peay HL. Genetic Medicine.

www.med.unc.edu/pediatrics/cardiology

The Pediatric Division of Cardiology experienced a year defined by leadership, innovation, and service, positioning the Pediatric Division of Cardiology for continued impact in patient care, research, education, and community engagement.

The division welcomed Christopher Atkins, MD, MS, who joined the faculty in August 2025 as an Assistant Professor Dr Atkins completed his pediatric residen and served as Chief Resident at UNC before pursuing fellowship training in Pediatric Cardiology at Duke University. His return to UNC represents both a homecoming and an investment in the division’s future, strengthening its commitment to excellence in clinical care and education.

The division also marked a significant milestone with the retirement of Scott Buc MD, in October 2025 after 24 years of dedicated service as a faculty member in Pediatric Cardiology. Dr. Buck’s career has been defined by exemplary clinical car unwavering advocacy for patients and families, and a deep commitment to creat an optimal family experience. His influence has shaped the culture of the division the department, and the care delivered to countless patients over more than two decades. His contributions leave a lasting legacy, and he will be dearly missed by colleagues, trainees, and families alike.

CLINICAL CARE AND ACCESS

The Pediatric Division of Cardiology continued to expand access to high-quality cardiac care across North Carolina in 2025 through robust outreach and telemedicine services Outreach services were extended statewide, including the establishment of two new clinical sites at UNC Onslow and UNC Rockingham, further strengthening access to pediatric cardiology expertise in underserved and rural communities

HOFFMAN, MD Division Chief

PROFESSORS

John Cotton, MD

Elman Frantz, MD

Timothy Hoﬀman, MD

Pamela Ro, MD

ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS

Scott Buck, MD

Rob Hartman, MD

Pace Johnston, MD

Elisabeth Leong, DO, MSCR

Ryan Shea, MD

ASSISTANT PROFESSORS

Christopher Atkins, MD

ECHO TECHNICIANS

Angela Blanchette, RDCS

Erika Bynum, RDCS

TIﬀany Decarlo, RCCS, RDCS

Yesimar Herrera Quiroz, RDCS

Gianna Monaco, RDCS

Stephen Spangler, RDCS

Jonathan Sweatman, RDCS

Madeline Wallace, RDCS

In collaboration with colleagues in Wilmington, the division maintained an extensive telemedicine network, supporting 16 active tele-echocardiography sites and 13 electrocardiogram sites across the state. These services enhance timely diagnosis, continuity of care, and local management for children with cardiac conditions while minimizing travel burden for families.

Clinical volume remained strong, reflecting both the division’s regional reach and the growing demand for specialized pediatric cardiac services. Annual outpatient visits exceeded 5,000, with more than 9,000 echocardiograms performed and over 200 cardiac catheterization procedures completed during the year.

TIMOTHY

ADVANCED PRACTICE PROVIDERS

Karen Jones, MSN, CPNP

STAFF

Crystal Deshazor, CMA II

Hugo Campos Diaz

M'Lissa Ellis, BSN, RN

Vernita Fearrington

Debra Harris, LPN

Katrina Harris, CS II

Maria Hernandez

Katie Lane, LCSW, ACM

Shawna Perry

Alicia Synder

Dulce Vidal

Lynn Worth

ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Advocacy and global engagement remained integral to the division’s mission in 2025. Elman Frantz, MD continued his service as a Board member of Project Health for León, a global health initiative providing education, consultation, and congenital interventional catheterization services to resource-limited populations in León, Nicaragua. Through the established UNC–UNAN partnership, Dr. Frantz participated in week-long clinical and educational trips in February and September 2025, reinforcing the division’s commitment to global pediatric cardiovascular care and capacity building.

RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP

Research assumed an expanding role within the division’s mission in 2025, with faculty leading and contributing to high-impact, multicenter studies addressing congenital heart disease, genetic disorders, and inflammatory cardiac conditions.

John Cotton, MD served as a co-investigator providing echocardiographic support for a Phase 1/2 multicenter, open-label study evaluating the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of DNL 126 in pediatric participants with Mucopolysaccharidosis Type IIIA (Sanfilippo Syndrome Type A), in collaboration with Liz Jalazo, MD, in Pediatric Genetics & Metabolism. Dr. Cotton also served as a coinvestigator on the CDC-sponsored Birth Defects Study to Evaluate Pregnancy Exposures (BD-STEPS) II, led by the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities.

Timothy M. Hoffman, MD served as Sub–Principal Investigator and UNC Site Principal Investigator for the NIHsponsored NC-DEFINE study (Determining the Factors that Influence Mortality in Congenital Heart Disease in North Carolina), with Elisabeth Leong, DO as co-investigator. This landmark study aims to identify the genetic basis of heart failure and early mortality in patients with congenital heart disease through the creation of a large, prospective statewide cohort. The NC-DEFINE cohort represents a first-in-kind resource for advancing understanding of congenital heart disease outcomes.

Dr. Hoffman also served as UNC Site Principal Investigator, alongside Robert Hartman, MD as co-investigator, for the North Carolina Congenital Heart Disease STAR Surveillance Network, a CDC-funded multicenter grant focused on statewide surveillance and population-level impact of congenital heart disease. Duke Clinical Research Institute serves as the principal site, led by Jennifer Li, MD.

Ryan Shea, MD served as UNC Site Principal Investigator for the NHLBI-funded Pediatric Heart Network study MUSIC (Long-term Outcomes after the Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children), which evaluates short- and mediumterm cardiac outcomes following MIS-C

FACULTY DEVELOPMENT, RECOGNITION, AND AWARDS

Faculty leadership and national regard continued to grow in 2025, reflecting the division’s expanding engagement and recognition.

John Cotton, MD was named Associate Vice Chair for Outreach in the Department of Pediatrics, recognizing his longstanding commitment to expanding access to specialized pediatric care and strengthening statewide and regional partnerships.

Rob Hartman, MD, was named Co-Chair of the Education & Outreach Committee for the Pediatric Acute Care Cardiology Collaborative (PAC3), a national quality collaborative and registry dedicated to improving outcomes in pediatric cardiac acute care through valuebased, experience-driven, and data-informed initiatives. As the UNC Physician Champion for PAC3, Dr. Hartman’s appointment as Co-Chair represents significant national recognition of his leadership and expertise.

Timothy Hoffman, MD continued to play an influential role at the national level, serving as Medical Editor for the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) Sub-board of Pediatric Cardiology and as a member of the National Heart Review Board for Pediatrics with the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). These roles reflect his expertise in pediatric cardiology, heart failure, and transplantation, as well as his commitment to advancing standards of care and certification nationwide.

Elisabeth Leong, DO demonstrated exceptional leadership in education and professional service. She serves as a member of the Education Committee for the Global Coalition for Fitness and Congenital Heart Disease (GloCo) and as Co-Chair of the Communications Committee for the Pediatric and Congenital Interventional d the UNC Department of Family was promoted to Associate cal care, education, and

6 Passing the Torch cohort, a upport clinician-educators are, teaching excellence, and essions and complete a passion

Christopher Atkins, MD

Rob Hartman, MD

Elman Frantz, MD

Elisabeth Leong, DO

John Cotton, MD

ResearchAwards

Timothy Hoﬀman, MD

Received support from Duke University in the amount of $151,922 for the project 'Determining the genetic determinants of heart failure and mortality in patients with congenital heart disease'.

Received support from Duke University in the amount of $40,000 for the project 'The North Carolina Congenital Heart Disease Surveillance Network'.

Featured Publications

Exercise Counseling in Congenital Heart Disease: A Guide for the Pediatric and Congenital Cardiologist. Curran T, Hansen K, Lindsey J, Powell A, Gauthier N, Britt J, Huang J, Danduran M, Hershenson J, Furst M, Closson R, Leong E, Ward K; Global Coalition for Fitness in Congenital Heart Disease (GloCo) Pediatric Cardiology

Sociodemographic Disparities in Severity of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children: The National Cross-Sectional MUltisystem Inflammatory Syndrome In Children (MUSIC) Study.

Lopez KN, Truong D, Anderson BR, Baker-Smith CM, Bradford TT, Dionne A, Dummer K, Forsha DE, Franklin WJ, Handler S, Harahsheh AS, Hasbani K, Liu I, Jone PN, Lang SM, McHugh KE, Oster M, Portman MA, Preminger T, Russell M, Sanil Y, Sexson Tejtel KS, Shakti D, Shea R, Trachtenberg F, Wang S, Wong JPP, Newburger JW; Pediatric Heart Network MUSIC investigators. The Journal of Pediatrics.

Profound systemic hypoperfusion in a patient with ventricular inversion temporised with transcatheter ductal closure.

Hunt S, Shea JR, Leong KG, Leong ME. Cardiology in the Young.

Uncorrected Tetralogy of Fallot With Pulmonary Atresia in an Adult. Sang CJ 3rd, Benjamin L, Frantz EG, Yeung M. Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Case Reports.

Practice Patterns in Pediatric Cardiothoracic Presurgical Conferences: A Multicenter Survey Study. Reed B, Puranik P, Rodenbarger A, Trivedi M, Adebo DA, Beasley G, Bezold L, Campbell MJ, Carr MR, Daily J, DeBrunner M, Del Grippo E, Fifer CG, Hoffman TM, Hupp SR, Kurtz JD, Morchi G, Owada C, Peterson R, Puchalski MD, Romans RA, Saidi A, Shenoy RU, Singh AK, Tunks RD, Yohannan TM, Wilhelm CM, Patel JK Pediatric Cardiology

Six-Month Outcomes in the Long-Term Outcomes After the Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children Study.

Truong DT, Trachtenberg FL, Hu C, Pearson GD, Friedman K, Sabati AA, Dionne A, Oster ME, Anderson BR, Block J, Bradford TT, Campbell MJ, D’Addese L, Dummer KB, Elias MD, Forsha D, Garuba OD, Hasbani K, Hayes K, Hebson C, Jone PN, Krishnan A, Lang S, McCrindle BW, McHugh KE, Mitchell EC, Morrison T, Muniz JC, Payne RM, Portman MA, Russell MW, Sanil Y, Shakti D, Sharma K, Shea JR, Sykes M, Shekerdemian LS, Szmuszkovicz J, Thacker D, Newburger JW; MUSIC Study Investigators. Journal of American Medical Association-Pediatrics.

Heart transplantation for pediatric patients with malignant arrhythmias: Indications and outcomes. Atallah J, Urschel S, Kirklin JK, Cantor R, Zhao H, Motiuk J, Hoffman TM, Weisert M, Lytrivi ID, Singh NM, Azeka E, Wittlieb-Weber CA. Heart Rhythm.

Racial and Educational Isolation are Associated with Worse Outcomes in Congenital Heart Disease. Sooy-Mossey M, Sethi NJ, Mulder H, Chiswell KE, Hoffman TM, Hartman RJ, Walsh MJ, Welke K, Paolillo JA, Sarno LA, Sang CJ, D’Ottavio A, Osgood C, Bravo MA, Miranda ML, Li JS. Pediatric Cardiology.

In 2025, through faculty advancement, expanded research initiatives, and deepened community engagement, the Division of Hematology–Oncology reinforced its role as a leader in comprehensive, compassionate, and forwardlooking care for children, adolescents, and young adults with cancer and blood disorders.

The division welcomed new talent that strengthened both clinical and research operations. Laura Cartwright, NP, joined the Bone Marrow Transplant program as a nurse practitioner, bringing extensive expertise from Boston Children’s Hospital and enhancing the division’s capacity to deliver highly specialized transplant care. Barvina Toledo joined as Senior Clinical Research Coordinator, arriving from Duke School of Medicine and adding significant experience in clinical trial coordination and regulatory oversight.

Faculty achievements were recognized through several promotions reflecting sustained excellence in scholarship, clinical care, and leadership. Thomas B. Alexander, MD, achieved promotion to Associate Professor with Tenure effective March 21 Jacquelyn Baskin-Miller, MD, was promoted to Professor of Pediatrics effective April 1, recognizing her national stature as a clinician-educator and leader Gerardo Quezada, MD, was promoted to Associate Professor effective September 1, following five years of dedicated service to the division In addition, Dr. Maria Boucher was promoted to Associate Professor on October 1

The year also saw a few significant transitions Dr. Kim Kasow departed in June 2025 to serve as Director of Outreach for the National Bone Marrow Donor Program, and in April 2025, Dr. Emily Greengard returned to Minneapolis to continue providing valued clinical care in her home state.

DEVELOPMENT, RECOGNITION, AND AWARDS

Division faculty received notable recognition for leadership, clinical excellence, and service to the broader pediatric oncology community Dr. Andrew Smitherman and the Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Program hosted the national AYA Cancer Coalition meeting. Also, in partnership with Duke and Wake Forest, UNC AYA hosted the North Carolina AYA Cancer Symposium, convening multidisciplinary leaders to advance care, The theme of this year’s symposium was, Building Academic and Community Partnerships in AYA Oncology: Challenges and Opportunities. This unique partnership allows multidisciplinary providers and researchers from around the state to come together for a day of learning and collaboration.

IAN DAVIS, MD, PhD

Division Chief

PROFESSORS

Jacquelyn Baskin-Miller, MD

Ian Davis, MD, PhD

Kimberly Kasow, DO

Chengwen Li, PhD

Barbara Savoldo, MD, PhD

Patrick Thompson, MD

ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS

Yasmina Abajas, MD

Thomas Alexander, MD, MPH

Alexandra Borst, MD

ASSISTANT PROFESSORS

Catherine Habashy, MD

George Hucks, Jr., MD

Alison Manikowski, PsyD

Maria Boucher, MD

John Hipps, MD

David Kram, MD, MCR

Gerardo Quezada, MD

Justin Sperlazza, MD, PhD www.med.unc.edu/pediatrics/hemonc

Kate Westmoreland, MD

INSTRUCTORS

Andrew Smitherman, MD, MS

Michael Winstead, MD

HEMATOLOGY-ONCOLOGY

Dr. Jacquelyn Baskin-Miller was nominated for the second annual Physician Clinical Excellence Award, an honor reserved for one individual among more than 1,500 UNC faculty physicians. This nomination recognized her consistently exceptional patient care. She was also awarded the 2025 Senior Faculty Award by the Academy of Educators, an organization dedicated to advancing teaching excellence and faculty development across Chapel Hill and the state The award highlighted both individual achievement and the collaborative, innovative spirit that defines UNC’s educational mission

The Children’s Brain Tumor Network announced that Dr. David Kram would assume a new leadership role supporting Gift from a Child, a CBTN partner organization. Dr. Kram’s long-standing advocacy for post-mortem tissue donation and pediatric brain tumor research positioned him to advance national efforts to accelerate discovery through expanded access to critical biological resources.

CLINICAL PROGRAMS

Clinical services continued to expand in both scope and reach. The Pediatric Hematology–Oncology program sustained increases in patient volume and infusion visits across multiple care locations, reflecting growing regional demand for specialized pediatric cancer and hematology services. To meet this need while maintaining timely, patientcentered care, the division initiated a rapid access initiative that enables newly diagnosed patients to connect with the care team within days. This effort improved care coordination, reduced delays in treatment initiation, and reinforced the division’s commitment to responsive, family-focused care.

ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Community partnership and advocacy remained central priorities UNC Children’s celebrated its continued partnership with Hyundai Hope On Wheels, supporting pediatric cancer research and raising awareness through community-centered initiatives that connect families, clinicians, and advocates around a shared mission to end childhood cancer.

ADVANCED PRACTICE PROVIDERS

Elizabeth Beaddles, MSN, RN, CPNP

Laura Cartwright, MSN

Bridget Condit, MSN, FNP

Lindsay Dyer, MSN, RN, CPNP

Kristen Geib, MSN, RN, CPNP

Kate Gitzinger, MSN, RN CPNP

Hannah Hinds, MSN, RN, CPNP

Melissa Matson, MSN, RN, ACPCNP

Jodi O'Connor, MSN, RN, CPNP, CPHON

Molly Parker, MSN, RN, CPNP

Cammie Presler, DNP, RN, CPNP, CPON

Stephanie Schouten, MSN, RN, CPNP

Frances Wright, MSN, RN, CPNP

FELLOWS

Joanne Alfred, MD

Nicole Artz, MD

Raven Beck, MD

Elizabeth Briscoe, MD

Ryanne Buckley, MD

Beatriz Caceres, MD

Lauren Hernandez, MD

Emma Livne, MD

McCauley Massie, MD

Chi Chi Onuoha, MD

Alexia Rodriguez, MD

Jamie Zeal, MD

EHRA NON-FACULTY

Juanita Ramirez, MPH

STAFF

Jessica Buddenbaum

Juanita Cuﬀee

Lauren Davis

Sawyer Everett

Josiah Graham

Nicky Graham

D'Amani Hillman, CRA

Kayla Keels

Barvina Toledo

JacquelynBaskin-Miller,MD

David Kram, MD, MCR

RESEARCH

Research productivity remained a cornerstone of the division’s mission, with faculty leading and collaborating on nationally funded projects that span basic, translational, and clinical investigation

Dr. David Kram was awarded funding from the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation to develop innovative nanoparticle testing strategies for pediatric brain tumors, further strengthening the division’s leadership in neuro-oncology research.

Dr. Alexandra Borst serves as the UNC site principal investigator for a newly funded NIH U54 rare disease project titled Developing a Natural History Registry and Biorepository for Rare Vascular Malformations, positioning the institution as a key contributor to advancing understanding and treatment of these complex conditions.

In an ongoing NCI-funded collaboration, Dr. Ian Davis continues working with colleagues at UNC and the National Center for Advanced Translational Studies to identify compounds capable of reversing the effects of the Ewing sarcoma master gene The team has now screened more than 100,000 molecules, significantly advancing the pipeline for potential therapeutic candidates

Drs. Justin Sperlazza, Ian Davis, and Barbara Savoldo advanced a long-standing collaboration focused on enhancing CAR-T cell therapy for sarcomas, supported by the V Foundation. This work underscores the division’s commitment to improving immunotherapy approaches for historically challenging pediatric cancers.

Dr. Andrew Smitherman received funding from the ARISE Cancer Consortium to initiate a clinical trial addressing long-term issues faced by survivors of childhood cancer, reflecting a growing emphasis on survivorship and quality of life research.

EDUCATION AND FELLOW ACHIEVEMENTS

The division continued to train the next generation of pediatric hematologists and oncologists. Three new fellows joined in 2025: Raven Beck, MD, from Central Iowa Health Systems; Elizabeth Briscoe, MD, from University of Utah Health; and Ryanne Buckley, MD, from the University of North Carolina.

Three fellows completed training and transitioned to faculty and clinical roles nationwide: Nicole Artz, MD, joined Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Hollywood, Florida; Lauren Hernandez, DO, joined Sanford Roger Maris Cancer Center in Fargo, North Dakota; and Beatrice Caceres-Nazario, MD pursued pediatric hematology at Bon Secours Cancer Institute at St Mary Hospital in Richmond, Virginia

Our fellows achieved significant scholarly success Joanne Alfred, MD, secured funding through the Benign Hematology T32, the ASH CHAMP program, and the UNC FLAGShip Program, supporting her development as a clinician-educator and leader. McCauley Massie, MD, received a Pope Fellowship through the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and a Pediatric Scientist Development Program fellowship through AMSPDC, and presented at the International Society of Paediatric Oncology Congress. Ryanne Buckley, MD, presented a poster at the ASCO Quality meeting in Chicago on predictive risk modeling for acute care utilization among AYA cancer survivors.

Alexandra Borst, MD

Justin Sperlazza, MD, PhD

Barbara Savoldo, MD, PhD

AndrewSmitherman,MD,MS

ResearchAwards HEMATOLOGY-ONCOLOGY

Thomas Alexander, MD, MPH Was awarded new funding from Children's Oncology Group Foundation, Inc. (COGF) in the amount of $17,000 for the project 'APEC14B1 The Project EveryChild Protocol: A Registry, Eligibility Screening, Biology and Outcome Study'.

Was awarded new funding from Children's Oncology Group Foundation, Inc. (COGF) in the amount of $29,800 for the project 'APEC14B1 Project: Every Child (PEC) A Registry, Eligibility Screening, Biology and Outcome Study'.

Received support from Public Health Institute in the amount of $27,200 for the project 'A Phase 3 Randomized Trial for Patients with de novo AML Comparing Standard Therapy Including Gemtuzumab Ozogamicin (GO) to CPX-351 with GO, and the Addition of the FLT3 Inhibitor Gilteritinib for Patients with FLT3 Mutations'.

Received support from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Inc. in the amount of $10,500 for the project 'A Phase I and Expansion Cohort Study of Selinexor and Venetoclax in Combination with Chemotherapy in Pediatric and Young Adult Patients with Refractory or Relapsed Acute Myeloid Leukemia'.

Received support from Public Health Institute in the amount of $12,250 for the project 'COG NCORP Per Case Reimbursement (5UG1CA189955-10)'

Alexandra Borst, MD

Maria O. Boucher, MD

Received support from Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation in the amount of $11,217 for the project 'EPIK-P2: A Phase II double-blind study with an upfront, 16week randomized, placebo-controlled period, to assess the efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics of alpelisib (BYL719) in pediatric and adult patients with PIK3CArelated overgrowth spectrum (PROS)'.

Received support from National Institutes of Health (NIH) through Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) in the amount of $48,361 for the project 'Vascular mAlformations Research Network of CaNVAS (Consortium of iNvestigators of Vascular AnomalieS) or ARDVARC’.

Received support from Global Blood Therapeutics, Inc. in the amount of $16,260 for the project 'An Open-label, Expanded Access Protocol for Pediatric Patients with Sickle Cell Disease Who Have No Alternative Treatment Options'.

Received support from Thomas Jefferson University in the amount of $8,800 for the project 'Comparative Effectiveness of MRD HCT and NT-DMT for Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease'.

Ian Davis, MD, PhD

Received support from NIH National Cancer Institute (NCI) in the amount of $424,710 for the project 'Developmental control of chromatin states in cancer'.

Received support from Duke University in the amount of $100,229 for the project 'Unified Program for Therapeutics in Children (UPTiC)'.

Kimberly Kasow, DO

DavidKram,MD,MCR

Received support from Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc. in the amount of $750 for the project 'HLA Matched Related Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Children with Less SevereSickle Cell Disease: a Sickle Transplant Alliance for Research (STAR) Trial'.

Received support from Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in the amount of $3,250 for the project 'Randomized Controlled Trial of Olanzapine for the Control of Chemotherapy-induced Vomiting in Children Receiving Cyclophosphamide-based Conditioning for Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant'.

Was awarded new funding from National Pediatric Cancer Foundation (NPCF) in the amount of $315,114 for the project 'Developing a Functional Predictive Biomarker for an mRNA-LP Cancer Vaccine Clinical Trial Using Each Patient's Own Living Tumor Tissue'

Received support from Public Health Institute in the amount of $9,000 for the project 'A Phase 3 Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial Evaluating Memantine (IND# 149832) for Neurocognitive Protection in Children Undergoing Cranial Radiotherapy as Part of Treatment for Primary Central Nervous System Tumors'.

Received support from Isabella Santos Foundation in the amount of $178,000 for the project 'Developing a Functional Predictive Biomarker for a B7-H3 CAR T Clinical Trial Using Each Patient's Own Living Tumor Tissue'

Chengwen Li, PhD

Received support from NIH National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) in the amount of $601,627 for the project 'Novel strategy to block Nabs for AAV gene delivery'

Barbara Savoldo, MD, PhD Was awarded new funding from Arovella Therapeutics Limited in the amount of $280,836 for the project 'NKTs expressing anti Claudin 18 2 CAR and IL12'

Was awarded new funding from Department of Defense (DOD) in the amount of $621,920 for the project 'Revolutionizing Pediatric Brain Tumor Treatment With Off-The-Shelf Car-Nkt Cells'.

Kate Westmoreland, MD

Received support from Baylor College of Medicine in the amount of $181,674 for the project 'Pediatric HIV/AIDS & Infection-Related Malignancies Research Consortium for Sub-Saharan Africa (PARCA)'.

AndrewSmitherman,MD,MS Received support from Georgetown University in the amount of $88,437 for the project 'Randomized Trial of a Multilevel Intervention to Improve Adherence to Childhood Cancer Survivorship Guidelines'.

Received support from The Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama in the amount of $24,324 for the project 'Predictors of Systemic Exposure to Oral 6MP During Maintenance in Adolescents and Young Adults with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia'.

The landscape of CAR-engineered innate immune cells for cancer immunotherapy. Tsahouridis O, Xu M, Song F, Savoldo B, Dotti G. Nat Cancer.

Bleed treatment with eptacog beta (rFVIIa) results in a low incidence of rebleeding in adult and adolescent patients with haemophilia A or B with inhibitors.

Dunn A, Dargaud Y, Abajas Y, Carcao M, Castaman G, Giermasz A, Hermans C, Jiménez-Yuste V, Lewandowska M, Mahlangu J, Meeks S, Miesbach W, Recht M, Salinas V, Chrisentery-Singleton T, Bonzo D, Mitchell IS, Wilkinson TA, Young G. Haemophilia.

B7-H3 and CSPG4 co-targeting as Pan-CAR-T cell treatment of triple-negative breast cancer.

Stucchi S, Borea R, Garcia-Recio S, Zingarelli M, Rädler PD, Camerini E, Marnata Pellegry C, O’Connor S, Earp HS, Carey LA, Perou CM, Savoldo B, Dotti G. J Immunother Cancer.

Real-time genomic characterization of pediatric acute leukemia using adaptive sampling. Geyer J, Opoku KB, Lin J, Ramkissoon L, Mullighan C, Bhakta N, Alexander TB, Wang JR. Leukemia.

Virtual Transition Assessments in Sickle Cell Disease Are Feasible and Available Transition Instruments May Highlight Different Components of the Transition Experience.

Boye-Doe A, Wilson S, Akpuogu L, Little J, Baskin-Miller J. Pediatric Blood and Cancer

Variants of Uncertain Significance in Vascular Anomalies: The Role of Reclassification. Blatt J, Hildebrandt C, Nieman E, Adams MC, McNamee L, Borst AJ. Pediatric Blood and Cancer.

Repurposing the DNA Labeling Agent EdU for Therapy against Heterogeneous Patient Glioblastoma. Kaanoglu, H., Adefolaju A, Fraley C, Shobande M, Dasari R, Mann B, Bell N, Keir ST, Higgins D, Kram DE, Hingtgen SD, Sancar A, Satterlee AB. Molecular Cancer Therapy.

Impact of Anticoagulation on Quality of Life in Patients with Slow-Flow Vascular Malformations. Mack JM, Crary SE, Blatt J, Spray B, Borst AJ, Ruiz-Gutierrez M, Kreimer S, Iacobas I, Swaminathan N, Tran A, Adams D, Jeng M; Blood vessels, Thrombosis and Hemostasis

A SETD2-CDK1-lamin axis maintains nucle Khan A, Zhang C, Nguyen PG, Metts JM, Colli MB, Aubé J, Herring LE, Rathmell WK, Mason

All Hands on Deck: A Novel Collaborative Childers JSW, Stein JN, Swift C, Kleissler D, Ha Grilley-Olson JE, Lux L. Journal of Adolescent

www.med.unc.edu/pediatrics/rheum

The Division of Pediatric Rheumatology celebrated significant faculty achievements and leadership development in 2025. Aliese Sarkissian, MD, MBOE was promoted to Associate Professor, effective June 1. Dr. Sarkissian has been a valued faculty member since August 2018. Laura Cannon, MD was promoted to Associate Professor effective July 1. Dr. Cannon has served as a faculty member in the Department of Pediatrics since August 2021. In addition, Dr. Cannon was appointed as an Associate Program Director for the Pediatric Residency Program. In this role, Dr. Cannon supports the development of trainees and enhances the division’s commitment to excellence in pediatric education.

CLINICAL EXCELLENCE

Overall, clinical operations demonstrated strong performance and strategic growth throughout 2025, reflecting both rising demand for pediatric rheumatology services and effective operational management.

A major clinical milestone this year was the establishment of a dedicated Neuroimmunology Clinic through collaboration with the Department of Neurology. This multidisciplinary initiative brings together pediatric rheumatology, pediatric neurology, and adult neuroimmunology specialists to deliver coordinated, highly specialized care for children with complex neuroimmunological conditions. The clinic enhances diagnostic precision, streamlines care pathways, and expands access to subspecialty expertise for patients and families navigating rare and challenging disorders

EVE WU, MD, MSCR

Division Chief

ASSOCIATEPROFESSORS

Laura Cannon, MD

Aliese Sarkissian, MD, MBOE

Eveline Wu, MD, MSCR

ASSISTANTPROFESSORS

Caitlan Pinotti, MD, MMCi

ADVANCEDPRACTICE PROVIDERS

Lenny Kovalick, RN, MS, CPNP

STAFF

Breean Falcon, RN, BSN, CPN

Jessica Faucette

Jessi Stark

The division also expanded its regional footprint through the Novant Health New Hanover partnership. Clinical services were extended to Wilmington on a weekly basis and to Jacksonville on a bimonthly schedule. These expansions improved access to pediatric rheumatology care for patients in southeastern North Carolina, reducing travel burdens and strengthening continuity of care within local communities.

RESEARCH GROWTH

Research excellence remained a defining strength of the Pediatric Division of Rheumatology in 2025, with faculty leading and contributing to high-impact clinical trials and observational studies.

This year, a Phase 3 Trial of Avacopan in Pediatric ANCA-Associated Vasculitis was initiated. Laura Cannon, MD and Eve Wu, MD serve as site co-investigators for this international, open-label study sponsored by Amgen, Inc. The trial evaluates the efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and safety of avacopan in combination with rituximab or cyclophosphamide-containing regimens in children with active ANCA-associated vasculitis. Notably, the institution was the first site activated globally, and Dr. Cannon was the first investigator to enroll a participant.

The Trial of Sequential Medications AfteR TNFi failure in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (SMART-JIA) launched this year as a landmark, open-label, randomized trial. Co-led by Laura Schanberg, MD and Huiman Barnhart, PhD of Duke University, SMART-JIA is supported by a $22 million Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) PLACER

award. The study seeks to optimize treatment strategies for children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis who do not respond to tumor necrosis factor inhibitors. Eve Wu, MD serves as a study co-investigator and co-lead for the clinical coordinating center

The division continued its strong participation in the CARRA Registry, a large, multicenter observational study tracking outcomes in children with pediatric rheumatic diseases, including juvenile arthritis, lupus, and dermatomyositis. In addition to serving as the registry co-PI, this year, Dr. Wu also received a $50,000 Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) ABC Collection grant to support biospecimen collection from SMART-JIA participants, advancing translational research in this uniquely valuable patient cohort. Since site activation in 2018, more than 250 participants have been enrolled, with biospecimens collected across 10 distinct patient cohorts.

Faculty members Laura Cannon, MD; Lenny Kovalick, PNP; Caitlan Pinotti, MD; Aliese Sarkissian, MD; and Eve Wu, MD remain actively engaged in this effort, reinforcing a robust culture of clinical research. The institution is consistently recognized as a top-performing Registry site.

Aliese Sarkissian, MD, MBOE received a $12,000, one-year CARRA Data Analysis Support Grant to investigate the relationship between medically related potential traumatic events and mental health outcomes in children with pediatric rheumatic diseases. This cross-sectional study utilized survey data developed in collaboration with Andrea Knight, MD at The Hospital for Sick Children and the Patients, Advocates, and Rheumatology Teams Network for Research and Service (PARTNERS), a patient-powered research network.

ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Advocacy and community outreach remained integral to the division’s mission On October 11, Aliese Sarkissian, MD, MBOE and Alice Pan, PharmD, BCPPS represented UNC Pediatrics at the Arthritis Foundation’s JA Family Daydelivering a presentation on new and emerging therapies for Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, highlighting the evolving role of biosimilars in pediatric care. Held at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham, this annual event brings together families of children and adolescents living with juvenile arthritis and other pediatric rheumatic diseases, fostering education, connection, and support.

The division also participated as a team in the Raleigh Jingle Bell Run on December 6. Organized by the Arthritis Foundation, the event supports nearly 60 million adults and hundreds of thousands of children living with arthritis The 2025 run included 41 teams and 755 participants, raising a total of $57,992 to support research, advocacy, and patient resources

Laura Cannon, MD

Research Awards

Received support from Duke University in the amount of $2,666 for the project 'A Randomized, Open Label, Multi-Center, Phase 3 Efficacy Study of Sub-Q Abatacept (Orencia) in Preventing Extension of Oligoarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis JIA (LIMIT-JIA)'.

Aliese Sarkissian, MD, MBOE Was awarded new funding from Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) in the amount of $12,000 for the project 'Medical potential traumatic events and the relationship to mental health in patients with pediatric rheumatic disease'.

Eveline Wu, MD, MSCR Received support from Duke University in the amount of $25,578 for the project 'Observational Study of Pediatric Rheumatic Diseases: The CARRA Registry'

Received support from Janssen Research Development, LLC in the amount of $26,266 for the project 'A Phase 3 Multicenter, Open-label Study to Evaluate the Efficacy, Pharmacokinetics, Safety, and Immunogenicity of Subcutaneously Administered Ustekinumab in Pediatric Participants With Active Juvenile Psoriatic Arthritis (PSUMMIT-Jr)'.

Received support from Sumitomo Pharma America (formerly Enzyvant) in the amount of $23,162 for the project 'Protocol DEV-2022-001-P: Study of Collection and Transference of Thymus Tissue'

Received support from Duke University in the amount of $9,360 for the project 'Improving Outcomes in Limited Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (LIMIT JIA)'.

Received support from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) in the amount of $12,192 for the project 'The Pediatric Lupus Nephritis Mycophenolate Mofetil (PLUMM) Study'.

Received support from AbbVie, Inc. in the amount of $5,408 for the project 'Openlabel, randomized, assessor-blinded, efficacy, safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics study of subcutaneous risankizumab with an adalimumab reference arm in children with active juvenile psoriatic arthritis'.

Received support from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) in the amount of $15,000 for the project 'USIDNET: A resource for clinical immunologists'.

Received support from Amgen, Inc. in the amount of $59,402 for the project 'A Phase 3, Open-label, Uncontrolled Single-arm Study to Evaluate the Efficacy, Pharmacokinetics, and Safety of Avacopan in Combination With a Rituximab or a Cyclophosphamide-containing Regimen in Children from 6 Years to < 18 Years of Age with Active ANCA-associated Vasculitis (AAV)'

Characteristics Associated With EuroLupus Versus Modified National Institutes of Health

Cyclophosphamide Regimen Use in Children and Young Adults With Lupus Nephritis. Wang CS, Sadun RE, Zhou W, Miller KR, Ardoin SP, Bearer C, Hause E, Hui-Yuen J, Ling N, Pereira M, Riebschleger M, Rouster-Stevens K, Sarkissian A, Shalen J, Soulsby WD, Twilt M, Wu EY, Lewandowski LB, Wenderfer SE, Cooper JC; Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance Lupus Nephritis Working Group. ACR Open Rheumatology.

Identifying domains for CNO and SAPHO: A scoping review to create domains from existing outcomes by the OMERACT CNO and SAPHO working group. Oliver M, Nuruzzaman F, Lenert A, Jayatilleke A, Theos A, Palmou-Fontana N, Skinner A, Twilt M, Wu EY, Aguiar C, Shah S, Romano M, Li S, Lapidus S, King J, Gerber S, Welc B, Bergstrom L, Fox E, Hollander M, Simonini G, Alsaleem A, Chan KK, Laxer R, Onel K, Ozen S, Dedeoglu F, Ferguson P, Helliwell P, Shea B, Hedrich C, Akikusa J, Mease P, Zhao Y. Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism.

Estimated annual direct medical costs of manifestations among patients with activated phosphoinositide3-kinase delta syndrome.

Hartog NL, Wu EY, Rider NL, Meng Y, Hartline B, Adams P, Aggarwal S, Harrington A. Clinical and Experimental Medicine.

Updates in the Understanding of Immunoglobulin Replacement Therapy in Primary Immune Deficiency Disorders: Function, Composition, and Role in Reconstitution and Immunomodulation. Mousallem T, Hall G, Pan A, Wu EY. Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North America.

Patient and Family Perceptions of Real-Time Access to Electronic Health Information: A Social Media Survey. Pinotti CS, Pooni R, Gaizo VD, Kohlheim M, Schildt E, Taxter AJ, Ronis T; CARRA Clinical Informatics Workgroup. Applied Clinical Informatics.

Overlapping Clinical Phenotypes in Patients with Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia or Activated PI3K Delta Syndrome.

Shapiro AJ, Wu EY, Morris-Rosendahl DJ, Olivier KN, Dell SD, Sagel SD, Dutmer CM, Mosquera RA, Rose M, O’Connor MG, Ma CA, Uzel G, Vece TJ, Zariwala MA, Knowles MR, Leigh MW, Davis SD, Ferkol TW. Journal of Pediatrics.

Secreted PD-L1 alleviates inflammatory arthritis in mice through local and systemic AAV gene therapy. Li W, Sun J, Feng S, La Rosa A, Zhang P, Wu EY, Loeser R, Li C. Frontiers in Immunology.

Complement as a major mediator of ANCA vasculitis and a target for precision therapy. Bunch DO, Lewis SE, Xiao H, Hu P, Jennette JC, Wu EY. Expert Review of Clinical Immunology .

EULAR/ACR classification criteria for paediatric chronic nonbacterial osteomyelitis (CNO).

Zhao Y, Oliver MS, Schnabel A, Wu EY, Wang Z, Marino A, Aguiar CL, Akikusa JD, Akca UK, Almeida B, Appenzeller S, Balay-Dustrude E, Basaran O, Basiaga ML, Bilginer Y, Cabral DA, Capponi M, Donaldson N, Egeli BH, Fox EJ, Insalaco A, Iyer RS, Jansson AF, Kostik I, Kostik M, Kovalick LK, Kozu KT, Lapidus SK, Lee TC, Lenert A, Mahmood K, Marrani E, Mosad Mosa D, Muse I, Mushkin A, Nowicki KD, Nuruzzaman F, Onel K, Pardeo M, Pham TS, Potts L, Ramanan AV, Ravelli A, Rogers ND, Grim AW, Romano M, Rosenwasser N, Sato TS, Simonini G, Soep JB, Stern SM, Strauss T, Kohli AT, Theos AC, Tucker LB, Vogel LF, Yasin S, Wong SC, Bouchalova K, Hendry AM, Cain KC, Girschick HJ, Dedeoglu F, Hedrich CM, Laxer RM, Ferguson PJ, Naden R, Ozen S. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.

Treatment outcomes in 63 cases of juvenile dermatomyositis-associated calcinosis.

Yi BY, Wahezi DM, Covert L, Ardalan K, Hui-Yuen J, Vasquez-Canizares N, Mosa DM, Jones M, Correll C, Begezda A, Shenoi S, Wu EY, Kovalick LK, Lapin WB, Tarvin SE, Oliver MS, Rodriguez MM, Marmor I, Baszis KW, Taxter AJ, Hanson AC, Crowson CS, Orandi AB; CARRA Juvenile Dermatomyositis, Calcinosis Subcommittee Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology.

In 2025, UNC Children’s advanced a culture of excellence through intentional, data driven quality improvement efforts designed to elevate the safety, consistency, and effectiveness of pediatric care. Continuous performance measurement remained a cornerstone of this work, enabling teams to identify care gaps with precision and implement targeted, sustainable solutions grounded in established quality improvement methodologies. This disciplined approach continued to strengthen both clinical outcomes and institutional reliability.

Improvements in patient safety metrics marked a signature achievement this year. UNC Children’s reduced central line–associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) rates for the third consecutive calendar year, reinforcing the impact of sustained interdisciplinary vigilance. Similarly, the FY2025 hospital-acquired pressure injury (HAPI) rate declined compared with the previous year. A focused PICU initiative produced particularly notable progress, decreasing high level pressure injuries (Stages 3, 4, and unstageable) by 45 percent from FY2024.

UNC Children’s also completed its inaugural Annual Quality & Safety Report and six month update, now entering the second and third years of this ongoing reporting process A comprehensive set of subspecialty specific, nationally benchmarked Quality & Safety Metrics was established, integrating 60 metrics 16 of which focus on mortality derived from participation in national clinical registries. These measures enhance transparency and support data informed decision making across pediatric subspecialties.

A significant patient safety breakthrough emerged when multiple units identified incidents involving Novum IQ syringe pumps inaccurately delivering critical medications. Through a coordinated, multidisciplinary investigation that included collaboration with the pump manufacturer, Baxter, UNC Children’s contributed to the identification of device defects that ultimately prompted a National Urgent Medical Device Correction issued by Baxter and the FDA, recommending removal of the pumps from use nationwide.

UNC Children’s was ranked among the nation’s top children’s hospitals for the 17th straight year as rated by U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Children’s Hospitals” report. UNC Children’s is rated among the nation’s best children’s hospitals for pediatric & adolescent behavioral health for the second year in row.

UNC Children’s was nationally ranked in 8 out of 11 pediatric specialties, for 2025 – 2026.

UNC Children’s pediatric specialties nationally ranked by US News include:

Innovation in clinical decision support also expanded meaningfully Pathways@UNC, the institution’s AgileMD integrated platform within Epic, grew in both scope and functionality The tool strengthened evidence informed decision making, supported standardized care processes, and enhanced operational efficiency A newly established Clinical Effectiveness Program (CEP) Newsletter, developed by Emilee Lewis, MD and Alex Ahearn, MD, MPH, promoted awareness, education, and adoption of pathway driven improvements while leveraging advanced analytics to refine performance.

UNC Children’s continued to shine in scholarly quality improvement work showcased at the UNC Institute for Healthcare Quality Improvement (IHQI) Symposium. This dynamic event showcased a range of impactful quality improvement projects, with several outstanding presentations from pediatric teams. We commend the works of Maheen Rehman, MBBS, as she shared important findings on screening for non-tuberculosis mycobacterium in cystic fibrosis patients, and Dr. Shiva Zargham, who offered insights into building a culture of safety through debriefing practices in the

Emergency Department.

UNC Children’s continues to strengthen its clinical excellence through measurable safety improvements, expanded benchmarking, national leadership in device safety, growth of evidence based decision-support tools, and impactful scholarly contributions reinforcing a systemwide commitment to delivering the highest quality pediatric care.

DEVELOPMENTAL BEHAVIORAL PEDIATRICS

Rebecca Baum, MD Division Chief

PROFESSORS

Rebecca Baum, MD

ASSISTANTPROFESSORS

Jaimi McDonough, PhD

Rohan Patel, MD

STAFF

Catherine Carley

Kristin Chadha, LCSW

Deanna Majette

Kara Hensey Sharkey

Shanta Smith, MPA

CLINICAL GROWTH

In 2025, the Division of Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics was launched as a new division within the Department of Pediatrics. Transitioning from its former role as a section within General Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. This structural advancement underscores the growing importance of developmental and behavioral pediatrics within academic medicine and highlights a sustained focus on comprehensive, coordinated care for children and families.

The newly formed division experienced significant growth in personnel and infrastructure Drs Becky Baum and Rohan Patel were joined by Licensed Psychologist Jaimi McDonough, PhD, further strengthening the division’s interdisciplinary clinical and academic expertise Additional support was provided through the onboarding of two Clinical Support Technicians and a Nurse Care Coordinator, enhancing care coordination and patient access Leadership and operations were further bolstered with the arrival of Shanta Smith as Division Administrator

The division also celebrated the career of Susan Smith, a masters-level psychologist who retired in February, after 15 years of dedicated service with UNC. Her contributions to patient care and program development created a lasting foundation for the division’s ongoing work.

DEVELOPMENT, RECOGNITION, AND AWARDS

The division’s academic and scholarly excellence was recognized in 2025 when Rohan Patel, MD, was selected as a recipient of the UNC-Chapel Hill Junior Faculty Development Award. Funded by IBM and R. J. Reynolds Industries, Inc., this prestigious award provides $10,000 in support of scholarly pursuits over one calendar year. The selection underscores Dr. Patel’s growing impact in developmental-behavioral pediatrics and the division’s commitment to advancing research, innovation, and faculty development.

Significant clinical advancements were achieved in 2025 with the opening of a new off-site, multidisciplinary Development, Behavior and Learning clinic in March. Designed with patients, families, and clinicians in mind, the new space offers an environment better aligned with the needs of complex developmental and behavioral care. The clinic’s opening was met with enthusiasm, celebrating both the physical expansion and the dedicated efforts of the team that made it possible

Rohan Patel, MD

DEVELOPMENTAL BEHAVIORAL PEDIATRICS

The division also advanced regional collaboration through facilitated discussions with the Cherokee Tribe regarding Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics clinical support. These conversations have since evolved into a comprehensive, multi-specialty clinical services proposal, reflecting a shared commitment to culturally responsive and accessible pediatric care.

Scholarship and clinical innovation continued through the publication of a telephone triage resource by Dr. Becky Baum, in collaboration with Dr. Stephanie Brennan, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry. This resource addresses the mental and emotional well-being of pediatric patients and their families, recognizing the frequency with which these concerns arise in pediatric practice. The work emphasizes an increasingly holistic model of pediatric care, integrating mental health and developmental well-being as essential components of overall health.

RESEARCH

Research efforts within the division were strengthened through participation in UNC’s subcontract with Duke University for NC-PAL I/DD. Drs. Baum and Patel contribute to this statewide mental health access program designed to support primary care providers caring for children and youth with mental health concerns. NC-PAL I/DD specifically focuses on children and youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities, providing critical consultation and resources to enhance care delivery across North Carolina This collaboration reinforces the division’s commitment to translational research and systems-level impact, ensuring that evidence-based developmental and behavioral health support reaches children and families where they receive primary care.

ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Community engagement and advocacy remained central to the division’s mission in 2025. On October 11, the Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics Division joined colleagues from the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities (CIDD) and TEACCH at the 27th Annual Triangle Run/Walk for Autism, hosted by the Autism Society of North Carolina at Halifax Mall in downtown Raleigh.

The family-centered event featured a 5K run/walk, a one-mile fun run, live music, children’s activities, and an interactive vendor fair, creating an inclusive and celebratory atmosphere that promoted awareness and community connection Sixteen members of the UNC team participated and collectively raised $930 to support autism services and advocacy programs. These funds contribute directly to resources and local initiatives offered by the Autism Society of North Carolina. With more than 2,500 participants, the Triangle Run/Walk for Autism continues to serve as a powerful platform for inclusion, visibility, and collaboration. The division’s participation reflects its ongoing dedication to community partnership, advocacy, and support for individuals with autism and their families.

FeaturedPublications

Pediatric Mental Health Telephone Triage and Advice

Rebecca Baum, MD, FAAP and Stephanie Brennan, MD, FAAP. ISBN-13: 978-1-61002-834-9.

Balancing Digital Media Exposure: Enhancing Language and Social Development in Early Childhood. Patel R, McQueen E, Gold C Pediatrics in Review

www.med.unc.edu/pediatrics/pulm

THOMAS FERKOL, MD

Division Chief

PROFESSORS

Stephanie D Davis, MD

Elisabeth Dellon, MD, MPH

Charles Esther, Jr., MD, PhD

Thomas Ferkol, MD

James Hagood, MD

Ceila Loughlin, MD

Marianne Muhlebach, MD

Terry Noah, MD

Lawrence Ostrowski, PhD

Timothy Vece, MD

Maimoona Zariwala, PhD

ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS

Camille Ehre, PhD

Martina Gentzsch, PhD

Jennifer Goralski, MD

Adam Gower, MD, MS

Jane Gross, MD, PhD

Marianna Henry, MD, MPH

ASSISTANT PROFESSORS

Gang Chen, PhD

K. Alexandra Despotes, MD

Nicole Stephenson, MD

William Stoudemire, MD

ADVANCEDPRACTICE PROVIDERS

Samantha Jemiolo, MSN, CPNP

Cynthia Reilly, MS, CPNP

EHRA NON-FACULTY

Lauraine Rivier, PhD

INSTRUCTORS

Andre Espaillat, MD

Nadia Hoekstra, MD

The Division of Pediatric Pulmonology flourished in 2025 continuing its commitment to excellence in patient care, education, advocacy, and scientific discovery. It was marked by the recruitment of outstanding new faculty. Dr. Alex Despotes joined the division as an Assistant Professor, and Dr. Andre Espaillat and Dr. Nadia Hoekstra joined as Instructors expanding divisional clinical capacity and academic depth while reinforcing the division’s mission to deliver high-quality, specialized pulmonary care for children across the state and region.

These faculty additions enhanced access to care, supported expanding subspecialty programs, and contributed to a growing culture of academic achievement. The division has long been recognized nationally for clinical excellence, remaining among the top pulmonary programs in the country.

CLINICAL CARE

Clinical operations expanded significantly in 2025, improving access to care and enhancing subspecialty services. Revised ambulatory clinic templates were created, and combined with new faculty recruitment, resulted in greater patient accessibility. Since June 2025, the division had a substantial increase in new patient referrals and a reduction in time-to-third-next-available appointments, improving from 98 days to 56 days, which continues to decrease.

The division was again recognized among the nation’s best pulmonary programs by U.S. News & World Report Best Children’s Hospitals, affirming sustained excellence in clinical care.

In addition to regular clinics in Chapel Hill, Raleigh, and Wilmington, faculty attend weekly specialty clinics at Moses Cone Hospital in Greensboro, further increasing regional access to pediatric pulmonary care Additionally, the Division has developed pediatric sleep medicine specialty clinics. Physician recruitment and broadening diagnostic and treatment capabilities will allow us to better care for children with sleep-disordered breathing.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Division members continue to lead important programs within and beyond the medical center. Dr. Martina Gentzsch served as president of the Association for Professional Women in Medical Sciences at the UNC School of Medicine Dr. Will Stoudemire contributed to state-level policy and advocacy through the Pediatric Home Nursing Workgroup of the North Carolina Commission on Children with Special Health Care Needs and until recently served as president of the board of directors for Carolina for the Kids.

RESEARCH

The Division’s research mission remained robust, highlighted by both the conclusion of a long-standing research program in rare lung diseases and the launch of new, high-impact initiatives After over 20 years of National Institutes of Health(NIH) support and co-led by Dr. Stephanie Davis and Dr. Thomas Ferkol, the Genetic Disorders of Mucociliary Clearance Consortium (U54 HL096458) concluded, which greatly advanced our understanding of motile ciliopathies, leaving a lasting legacy of discovery and collaboration.

Martina Gentzsch, PhD

William Stoudemire, MD

Dr. Gentzsch assumed leadership of the Cystic Fibrosis/ Pulmonary Research and Treatment Center (P30DK065988). Dr. Charles Esther leads the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF)-supported UNC Cystic Fibrosis Clinical Center and Research Development Program, and Dr. Jane Gross received CFF funding for research on healthcare-associated transmission of nontuberculous mycobacteria

Dr. James Hagood received an NIH R01 award that proposed to develop novel strategies to reverse pulmonary fibrosis by targeting lung myofibroblasts. Dr. Ferkol was named co-director of the PCD Foundation Network for Clinical Trials, and together with Dr. Davis, are core leaders for the recently funded Rare Bronchiectatic Diseases Consortium (U54TR005675).

Led by Nicole Stephenson, MD, a major statewide initiative was launched to improve care of children born prematurely who have chronic lung diseases, supported by a $700,000 award from the Duke Endowment. Gang Chen, PhD, received a $200,000 Job Research Foundation grant, further strengthening the division’s translational research portfolio.

EDUCATION AND FELLOW ACHIEVEMENTS

The division celebrated a year of meaningful growth and new beginnings as it welcomed incoming fellows Dr. Kaitlin Tillman and Dr. Daniel Vo

The division proudly recognized the accomplishments of its graduating fellows, who transitioned seamlessly into their new positions. Drs. Alex Despotes, Andre Espaillat, and Nadia Hoekstra joined the Division faculty, and Dr. Cindy Williams joined WakeMed Health and Hospitals, where she will provide pediatric subspecialty care within the community

FELLOWS

Sydney Hendricks, MD

Paige Noreen, MD

Maheen Rehman, MD

Kaitlin Tillman, MD

Daniel Vo, MD

POST DOCS

Taro Ishimori, MD, PhD

Koji Tamai, PhD

STAFF

Ashley Austin, RN, BSN, CPN

Quentin Barrett

KellyBaumberger,RD,LDN,CSP

Erin Bennard, RN

Silvia Caceres, MS

Danie Cockrum

Robin Foster, MA

Mandy Gee

Sundass Khan

Tara Lee

Taura Manison

AlannahMascarella,MPH,RD,LDN

Ruth Medlin, BSN, RN, AE-C

Traci Ockomon, BS, RRT-NPS

Ellen Penta, LCSW

Ronnie Reynolds, RRT

Amy Sangria, MSW, LCSW

Liz Schecterman

Emily Shill

Tonya Staﬀord, BSN, RN, CPN

Kimberly Stephenson, MS, RD

Martha Taylor, RN

Fellows also earned national distinction, underscoring the high caliber of the division’s training program Dr. Paige Noreen received a highly competitive Pediatric Scientist Development Program award, with invitations to participate in the American Pediatric Society and Society for Pediatric Research Journeys and Frontiers in Pediatric Research Program, a recognition reserved for emerging leaders in the field.

Dr. Andre Espaillat was honored for his scholarly contributions, receiving the Best Resident/Fellow Abstract Award at the UNC Visiting Pulmonary Scientist Symposium.

Gang Chen, PhD

Charles Esther, Jr, MD, PhD

Nicole Stephenson, MD

James S. Hagood, MD

DEVELOPMENT, RECOGNITION, AND AWARDS

Faculty, advanced practice providers, and staff within the division received exceptional recognition in 2025, reflecting decades of leadership, service, and innovation.

Margaret “Magee” Leigh, MD, a recent retiree who served as a faculty member in the Pediatric Pulmonology for more than 40 years, received the 2025 Edwin L. Kendig Jr. Award from the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Pediatric Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine. This prestigious honor recognizes a lifetime of contributions that have shaped the field nationally and influenced generations of trainees.

Terry Noah, MD, Jacob A. Lohr Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics, was selected by the American Thoracic Society Assembly on Pediatrics to receive the Lifetime Contributions to Pediatric Respiratory Medicine Award This recognition highlights a career defined by scientific rigor, mentorship, and sustained impact on the health of children.

Ruth Medlin, Pediatric Asthma Program Manager, received the Pamela Elston Nursing Award, honoring her exceptional nursing career, dedication to education, and commitment to improving asthma care for pediatric patients since joining UNC in 2019.

Dr. Nadia Hoekstra was named a UNC School of Medicine Simmons Scholar, a program that supports faculty from groups traditionally underrepresented in medicine through structured mentorship, salary support, and leadership development

Cindy Reilly, CPNP, Pediatric Pulmonology, received a Carolina Care and Carolina Quality Award, recognizing exemplary excellence in patient care and teamwork. Additional recognition through the 2025 APP Excellence Awards highlighted Samantha Jemiolo, PNP, for Excellence in Teaching and Will Stoudemire, MD, as Physician Partner in Excellence.

Dr. Marianna Henry received the University of North Carolina School of Medicine Academy of Educators Lifetime Achievement Award in Medical Education, recognizing longstanding excellence in teaching and educational leadership.

Stephanie D. Davis, MD, Edward C Curnen, Jr Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Pediatrics, was named a recipient of the Triangle Business Journal’s 2025 Health Care Leadership Awards. This honor recognizes individuals whose work has significantly advanced health care quality across the Triangle region.

Terry L. Noah, MD

Margaret Leigh, MD

Nadia Hoekstra, MD

Gang Chen, PhD

Stephanie D. Davis, MD

Elisabeth Dellon, MD, MPH

Alex Despotes, MD

Camille Ehre, PhD

Was awarded new funding from Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in the amount of $4,000 for the project 'Generation of immortalized CF small airway epithelial cells to advance mechanistic and drug screening studies'.

Was awarded new funding from Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in the amount of $4,000 for the project 'STAT3 regulates innate host defense in cystic fibrosis small airway epithelial cells'.

Received support from University of Colorado Denver in the amount of $93,673 for the project 'Mechanisms Regulating Lung Injury and Early Lung Fibrosis'.

Received support from Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in the amount of $76,000 for the project 'Role of IL1(B) in innate host defense of CF small airway epithelium'.

Received support from NIH National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) in the amount of $36,457 for the project 'Role of the ER stress transcription factor XBP1S in the development of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis'.

Received support from Recode Therapeutics, Inc. in the amount of $407,401 for the project 'Recode PCD'.

Received support from University of Arizona in the amount of $171,744 for the project 'Primary Prevention of Asthma and Wheezing in Children-CCC Lead Application (Core)'.

Received support from University of Pittsburgh in the amount of $20,119 for the project 'Health Outcomes of Parents with Cystic Fibrosis (HOPe:CF)'.

Received support from Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in the amount of $17,334 for the project 'Defining the Composition, Experiences, and Needs of the Current United States Physician Workforce in Cystic Fibrosis Care'.

Received support from Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in the amount of $334,748 for the project 'Investigate Cf Gut Mucosal Barrier: Implications for Intestinal Transit and Therapeutic Strategies'.

Charles R. Esther, Jr, MD, PhD Was awarded new funding from Seattle Children's Hospital Research Institute in the amount of $100,670 for the project 'A Prospective Study to Evaluate Maternal and FetaL Outcomes in the ERa of ModulatorS (MAYFLOWERS)'.

Received support from Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in the amount of $212,870 for the project 'CF Center Grant FY20 FY21 FY22 FY23 F24 FY25 FY26'.

Received support from Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in the amount of $67,000 for the project 'CFF Clinical Educ and Train Fellowship - Hendricks'.

Received support from Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in the amount of $89,561 for the project 'Impact of pharmacogenomics on CFTR modulator therapy'

Received support from Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in the amount of $139,876 for the project 'Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics Core'.

Received support from Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in the amount of $900,000 for the project 'UNC CF RDP'

ResearchAwards

Martina Gentzsch, PhD

Was awarded new funding from Spirovation, Inc. in the amount of $25,937 for the project 'Evaluation of Arcturus Therapeutics' LUNAR mRNA Therapy Under Standard UNC Experimental Conditions'.

Was awarded new funding from Spirovation, Inc. in the amount of $24,087 for the project 'Evaluation of CCM Biosciences Compound'.

Was awarded new funding from Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in the amount of $196,000 for the project 'Multipronged Assessment of CFTR in Epithelial Tissues for Evaluating Nucleic Acid-Based Therapies'.

Received support from Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in the amount of $291,290 for the project 'Development and production of antibodies for CFTR detection'.

Received support from Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in the amount of $125,000 for the project 'Inflammation-Enhanced HEMT Efficacy: CFTR Stability and Regulation Mechanisms and Impact on Rare Mutations'

Received support from NIH National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases (NIDDKD) in the amount of $1,266,184 for the project 'UNC Cystic Fibrosis Research and Translation Core Center'.

Jennifer Goralski, MD Received support from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) in the amount of $14,248 for the project 'Reducing Structural Barriers to Health Equity in CF'.

Received support from University of Alabama at Birmingham in the amount of $36,960 for the project 'Oates HEAL: Screening for Unmet Needs in Cystic Fibrosis (SUN-CF)'

Received support from Seattle Children's in the amount of $3,660 for the project 'The CHEC-SC Cohort Study: CHaractErizing CFTR Modulated Changes in Sweat Chloride & Clinical Outcomes (the CHEC-SC study) PROTOCOL NO.: CHEC-OB-17'.

Received support from Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in the amount of $28,014 for the project 'A Phase 3 Open-label Study Evaluating the Long?term Safety and Efficacy of Elexacaftor/Tezacaftor/Ivacaftor Triple Combination Therapy in Cystic Fibrosis Subjects 2 Years and Older'.

Received support from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) in the amount of $23,218 for the project 'Ancillary Xe MRI Study for STOP PEDS 2.0'.

Jane Gross, MD, PhD Was awarded new funding from Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in the amount of $407,358 for the project 'Prospective healthcare-associated links in transmission of nontuberculous mycobacteria in patients with cystic fibrosis (pHALT NTM)'.

Was awarded new funding from University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) in the amount of $13,283 for the project 'Sinus Disease in Young Children with Cystic Fibrosis'.

Received support from Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in the amount of $77,444 for the project 'Expanding understanding of nontuberculous mycobacteria acquisition and transmission'.

James S. Hagood, MD Was awarded new funding from University of Pennsylvania the Orphan Disease Center in the amount of $83,154 for the project 'Bronchoalveolar Lavage FluidDerived Organoids as Translational Models for Neuroendocrine Cell Hyperplasia of Infancy'.

Was awarded new funding from Washington University in Saint Louis in the amount of $4,964 for the project 'Pathways Regulating Lung Transplant Tolerance'.

Received support from University of Rochester in the amount of $31,352 for the project 'The Human Lung BioMolecular Multi-Scale Atlas Program (HuBMAP-Lung) (OSP) AWD00005686'.

Received support from Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in the amount of $76,000 for the project 'Establishing a model of the alveolar to small airway junction to evaluate CF lung disease pathogenesis'

Received support from Proteogenomics Research Institute for Systems Medicine (PRISM) in the amount of $249,469 for the project 'Localizing Therapeutics to Target Lung Myofibroblasts and Reverse Fibrosis'.

Marianne Muhlebach, MD Was awarded New funding from Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in the amount of $75,000 for the project '2025 Clinical Fellowship - Education and Training'.

Was awarded New funding from Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in the amount of $105,000 for the project '2025 Clinical Fellowship - Research Award'.

Lawrence Ostrowski, PhD Received support from University of Maryland in the amount of $34,987 for the project 'Airway epithelial cytoglobin regulates nitric oxide synthase and development of primary ciliary dyskinesia and situs inversus'.

FeaturedPublications

Promoter deletion leading to allele specific expression in a genetically unsolved case of primary ciliary dyskinesia.

Beaman MM, Yin W, Smith AJ, Sears PR, Leigh MW, Ferkol TW, Kearney B, Olivier KN, Kimple AJ, Clarke S, Huggins E, Nading E, Jung S-H, Iyengar AK, Zou X, Dang H, Barrera A, Majoros WH, Rehder CW, Reddy TE, Ostrowski LE, Allen AS, Knowles MR, Zariwala MA, Crawford GE. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A.

Ciliopathy patient variants reveal organelle-specific function for TUBB4B in axonemal microtubule. Dodd DO, Mechaussier S, Yeyati PL, McPhie F, Anderson JR, Khoo CJ, Shoemark A, Gupta DK, Attard T, Zariwala MA, Legendre M, Bracht D, Wallmeier J, Gui M, Fassad MR, Parry DA, Tennant PA, Meynert A, Wheway G, Fares-Taie L, Black HA, Mitri-Frangieh R, Faucon C, Kaplan J, Patel M, McKie L, Megaw R, Gatsogiannis C, Mohamed MA, Aitken S, Gautier P, Reinholt FR, Hirst RA, O’Callaghan C, Heimdal K, Bottier M, Escudier E, Crowley S, Descartes M, Jabs EW, Kenia P, Amiel J, Bacci GM, Calogero C, Palazzo V, Tiberi L, Blumlein U, Rogers A, Wambach JA, Wegner DJ, Fulton AB, Kenna M, Rosenfeld M, Holm IA, Quigley A, Hall EA, Murphy LC, Cassidy DM, von Kriegsheim A, Scottish Genomes Partnership, Genomics England Research Consortium, Undiagnosed Diseases Network, Papon J-F, Pasquier L, Murris MS, Chalmers JD, Hogg C, Macleod KA, Urquhart DS, Unger S, Aitman TJ, Amselem S, Leigh MW, Knowles MR, Omran H, Mitchison HM, Brown A, Marsh JA, Welburn JPI, Ti Shih-Chieh, Horani A, Rozel J-M, Perrault I, and Mill P. Science.

Recessively inherited deficiency of secreted WFDC2 (HE4) causes nasal polyposis and bronchiectasis.

Dougherty GW, Ostrowski LE, Nöthe-Menchen T, Raidt J, Schramm A, Olbrich H, Yin W, Sears PR, Dang H, Smith AJ, Beule AG, Hjeij R, Rutjies N, Haarman EG, Mass SM, Ferkol TW, Noone PG, Olivier KN, Bracht DC, Barbry P, Zaragosi LE, Fierville M, Kliesch S, Wohlgemuth K, König J, George S, Loges NT, Ceppa A, Markovetz MR, Luo H, Guo T, Rizk H, Eldesoky T, Dahlke K, Boldt K, Ueffing M, Hill DB, Pang YP, Knowles MR, Zariwala MA, Omran H.. American Journal of Respiratory Critical Care Medicine.

Airway inflammation enhances the effectiveness of elexacaftor-tezacaftor-ivacaftor therapy for cystic fibrosis and CFTR N1303K mutation.

Gentzsch M, Esther CR Jr, Ribeiro CMP The Lancet Respiratory Medicine

Prolonged airway explant culture enables study of health, disease, and viral pathogenesis.

Lee-Ferris RE, Okuda K, Galiger JR, Schworer SA, Rogers TD, Dang H, Gilmore R, Edwards C, Crisp G, Nakano S, Cawley AM, Pickles RJ, Gallant SC, Crisci E, Rivier L, Hagood JS, O’Neal WK, Baric RS, Grubb BR, Boucher RC, Randell SH. Science Advances.

Effect of prednisone on woodsmoke-induced sputum inflammation in healthy volunteers: A randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study.

Noah TL, Alexis NE, Bennett WD, Hernandez ML, Burbank AJ, Li H, Zhou H, Jaspers I, Peden DB Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology Global

Enhanced susceptibility of pediatric airway epithelium to respiratory syncytial virus infection. Pickles RJ, Chen G, Randell SH. Journal of Clinical Investigation.

Overlapping Clinical Phenotypes in Patients with Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia or Activated PI3K Delta Syndrome.

STAT3-dependent regulation of CFTR and ciliogenesis is essential for mucociliary clearance and innate airway defense in Hyper-IgE syndrome.

Sun L, Walls SA, Dang H, Quinney NL, Sears PR, Sadritabrizi T, Hasegawa K, Okuda K, Asakura T, Chang X, Zheng M, Mikami Y, Dizmond FU, Danilova D, Zhou L, Deshmukh A, Cholon DM, Radicioni G, Rogers TD, Kissner WJ, Markovetz MR, Guhr Lee TN, Gutay MI, Esther CR Jr, Chua M, Grubb BR, Ehre C, Kesimer M, Hill DB, Ostrowski LE, Button B, Gentzsch M, Robinson C, Olivier KN, Freeman AF, Randell SH, Vladar E, O’Neal WK, Boucher RC Jr, Chen G. American Journal of Respiratory Critical Care Medicine

EMC3 regulates trafficking and pulmonary toxicity of the SFTPCI73T mutation associated with interstitial lung disease.

Tang X, Wei W, Sun Y, Weaver TE, Nakayasu ES, Clair G, Snowball JM, Na CL, Apsley KS, Martin EP, Kotton DN, Alysandratos KD, Huo J, Molkentin JD, Gower WA, Lin X, Whitsett JA. Journal of Clinical Investigation.

In2025,thePediatricDivisionofGastroenterologyfocusedonstrategicfaculty recruitment,expandingclinicalinfrastructure,andnationallyrecognized scholarship.

Thedivisionwelcomednewfacultyandadvancedpracticeproviderswhoexpanded access.Dr.MimiOmedejoinedthedivisionasanAssistantProfessorinthe DivisioninSeptember Dr.OmedeearnedhermedicaldegreefromV N Karazin KharkivNational,completedherpediatricresidencyatSUNYDownstateMedical CenterinBrooklyn,NewYork,andherfellowshipinPediatricGastroenterologyat MassachusettsGeneralHospitalinBoston.

Inaddition,KristenBakerjoinedthedivisioninJuneasa nursepractitioner, supportingcontinuedgrowthinpatientaccessandmultidisciplinarycaredelivery.

CLINICALCARE

Clinicaloperationsexpandedsignificantlyin2025,supportedbyinfrastructure improvementsandgrowingprovidercapacity.Thedivisiontransitionedintoa renovatedendoscopyprocedureroomsharedwithPulmonary,offeringadequate spaceforadvancedandinterventionalproceduresandenhancingprocedural efficiencyandsafety.

Outpatientclinicalvolumecontinuedtoriseasnewproviderswereintegratedinto thepractice.Onaverage,thedivisionmanagedapproximately900outpatientvisits permonth,reflectingsustaineddemandforspecializedpediatricgastroenterology services.

Inaddition,Drs.AjayGulatiandEricaBrennerinitiatedeffortstobuildthenecessary infrastructuretoincorporateintestinalultrasoundintothepediatricIBDprogram.This advancementrepresentsanimportantsteptowardexpandingnoninvasivedisease monitoringandenhancingpatient-centeredcareforchildrenwithIBD.

ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Advocacy and community involvement remained integral to the division’s mission. In April 2025, members of the UNC GI team participated in the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation’s annual “Triangle Take Steps” Walk, demonstrating ongoing commitment to raising awareness and supporting individuals and families affected by Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

FRANCISCO SYLVESTER, MD Division Chief

PROFESSORS

Ajay Gulati, MD

Michael Kappelman, MD, MPH

Steven Lichtman, MD

Francisco Sylvester, MD

ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS

Matthew Egberg, MD, MPH, MMSc

Sabina Mir, MD

ASSISTANT PROFESSORS

Erica Brenner, MD, MSCR

Theresa Heifert, MD

Camilla Mills, MD

Mmeyeneabasi Omede, MD

Monica Shukla-Udawatta, MD

ADVANCED PRACTICE PROVIDERS

Kristen Baker, PNP

Katherine Gilmore, PNP

Tina Greeson, RN, BSN, NP

Maureen Kelly, DNP, MS, CPNP

Jessica Owens, MSN, RN, CPNP

FELLOWS

Christian Hochhalter, MD

Ketaki Kulkarni, MD

Anushree Murugan, MD

Ahmad Sami, MD

EHRA NON-FACULTY

Xian Zhang, PhD

STAFF

Tasha Alston

Margaret Boccieri

LaKina Bullock

Brenda Hansen

EJ Lee, RN

Beth McLean, BSN

Lindsay Pattison, RN

Alicia Schnack

Rose Thomas Becket

Thalia Tulloch

DEVELOPMENT, RECOGNITION, AND AWARDS

Faculty and providers within the division received notable national recognition in 2025, reflecting leadership in education, clinical innovation, and research.

Dr. Sabina Mir was appointed Pediatric Gastroenterology Sub-board Editor for the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP), a role that highlights her expertise and contributions to national standards in pediatric subspecialty education and certification.

Christina Greeson, CNP, CPNP-PC, presented “Teaching a Coordinated Swallow for Children with Oral Phase Dysphagia: Pilot Demonstration,” alongside Speech and Language Pathologist Krisi Brackett, PhD, CCC-SLP, C/NDT, who presented “The Comprehensive Pediatric Feeding Assessment Tool: Development and Preliminary Validation ” Both presentations were delivered at the 12th Annual International Pediatric Feeding Disorder Conference held in February 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Dr. Michael Kappelman, Professor of Pediatrics and Adjunct Professor of Epidemiology, received the prestigious $100,000 Sherman Prize in recognition of his groundbreaking work to optimize care for children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and to define the true burden of these conditions. The award was presented at the Advances in IBD Conference in Orlando in early December. Dr. Kappelman’s career reflects a sustained commitment to integrating compassionate patient care with impactful research. His work has addressed critical questions relevant to patients, families, clinicians, and policymakers, including treatment effectiveness and disease burden. As a pioneer in documenting inter-center variation in pediatric IBD care, Dr. Kappelman played a central role in advancing standardized best practices through ImproveCareNow, a national quality improvement network of more than 100 pediatric IBD centers focused on increasing remission rates for children nationwide.

RESEARCH

The division demonstrated exceptional research productivity and national impact in 2025, with major grant awards supporting studies aimed at improving outcomes for children with gastrointestinal disease.

Dr. Michael Kappelman was awarded $16 million in funding from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) to lead a large-scale study examining the effectiveness and safety of medications for children with IBD. This award represents one of the largest pediatric gastroenterology research grants nationally and further establishes the division as a leader in collaborative, outcomes-focused research.

Erica Brenner, MD, MSCR, Assistant Professor, received a Junior Faculty Development Grant from the American College of Gastroenterology Dr. Brenner was selected as one of only three junior faculty awardees nationwide for 2025 Her funded project, “Safety and Effectiveness of Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs in Women with Crohn’s Disease,” addresses an important clinical knowledge gap and reflects the division’s strength in patient-centered outcomes research.

Sabina Mir, MD

Tina Greeson, MSN

Erica Brenner, MD, MSCR

EDUCATION AND FELLOW ACHIEVEMENTS

Educational excellence continued to be a cornerstone of the division in 2025. This year, the division was happy to welcome Dr. Ketaki Kulkarni as a new pediatric gastroenterology fellow.

Ahmad Sami, MD, Pediatric GI Fellow and Carolina Child Health Scholar, received a Southern Society of Pediatric Research (SSPR) Young Investigator Award for Basic Research. His oral presentation, “Urolithin A Attenuates Inflammation and Enhances Intestinal Barrier Function in Necrotizing Enterocolitis,” was also featured in the SSPR Showcase of Science Following graduation, Dr. Sami began a pediatric liver transplant fellowship at Seattle Children’s Hospital.

Dr. Christian Hochhalter, a current fellow, participated in the UNC–Duke Collaborative Clinical Pharmacology T32 Training Program, funded through the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award. During the year, he authored publications in the lso continued elopment General n Professional ernational global

Ahmad Sami, MD

Christian Hochhalter, MD

ResearchAwards

Erica Brenner, MD,

MSCR

MatthewEgberg,MD,MPH,MMSc

Ajay Gulati, MD

MichaelKappelman,MD,MPH

Was awarded new funding from American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) in the amount of $450,000 for the project 'Safety and Effectiveness of Nonsteroidal AntiInflammatory Drugs in Women with Crohn's Disease'.

Was awarded new funding from AbbVie, Inc. in the amount of $21,689 for the project 'A Phase 3 Multicenter Study to Evaluate Efficacy, Safety, and Pharmacokinetics of Upadacitinib with Open-Label Induction, Randomized, DoubleBlind Maintenance and Open-Label Long-Term Extension in Pediatric Subjects with Moderately to Severely Active Crohn's Disease and Inadequate Response, Intolerance, or Medical Contraindications to Corticosteroids, Immunosuppressants, and/or Biologic Therapy'.

Received support from AbbVie, Inc in the amount of $68,347 for the project 'A Phase 3 Multicenter Study to Evaluate Efficacy, Safety, and Pharmacokinetics ofUpadacitinib with Open-Label Induction, Randomized, Double-Blind Maintenance and Open-Label Long-Term Extension in Pediatric Subjects with Moderately to Severely Active Ulcerative Colitis andInadequate Response, Intolerance, or Medical Contraindications to Corticosteroids,Immunosuppressants, and/or Biologic Therapy'.

Received support from Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) in the amount of $144,017 for the project 'Evaluating impact and treatment barriers for perianal fistulas in children with Crohn's disease'

Received support from AbbVie, Inc. in the amount of $114,538 for the project 'A Phase 3, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-blind, Parallel-group, Safety and Efficacy Study of Linaclotide versus Placebo in Pediatric Subjects, Ages 2 to 5 Years, with Functional Constipation (FC) with a 24-week Open-label Treatment Extension'.

Received support from University of Michigan (UMICH) in the amount of $23,686 for the project 'Standardization of Evaluation to Treatment of pediatric perianal Crohn's disease and improving Outcomes through Networking (SETON) '

Was awarded new funding from Duke University Clinical Research Institute in the amount of $8,000 for the project 'Clinical Outcomes of Medications Post Anti-TNF: Researching Effectiveness in Pediatric IBD (COMPARE)

Was awarded new funding from Vanderbilt University Medical Center in the amount of $1,092,212 for the project 'Subcontract Vanderbilt PCORnet Phase 4 STAR CRN'.

Was awarded new funding from Task Force for Global Health in the amount of $20,400 for the project 'Task Force for Global Health, Inc. Advancing Public Heath Use of eHR'

Received support from Janssen Services LLC. in the amount of $18,284 for the project 'C0168Z02 A Multicenter, Prospective, Long-term, Observational Registry of Ped'.

MichaelKappelman,MD,MPH

Steven Lichtman, MD

Received support from DHHS Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the amount of $774,997 for the project 'Improving Outcomes and Reducing Disparities for Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease through Epidemiology, Enhanced Disease Management, Dissemination, and Education'.

Received support from AbbVie, Inc. in the amount of $2,321 for the project 'LongTerm Non-Interventional Registry to Assess Safety and Effectiveness of Humira® (Adalimumab) in Pediatric Patients with Moderately to Severely Active Crohn's Disease (CD) - CAPE'

Received support from Duke University in the amount of $56,069 for the project 'Digital Toolkit to Facilitate Patient Engagement in PCORnet®Studies'.

Received support from Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) in the amount of $14,383,677 for the project 'Comparative Effectiveness of Emerging Medications in Children with Inflammatory Bowel Disease'.

Received support from Vanderbilt University Medical Center in the amount of $39,998 for the project 'Enhancing Infrastructure to Support Efficient and Effective Development and Execution of PCORnet® Studies Opportunity'

Received support from Vanderbilt University Medical Center in the amount of $84,983 for the project 'PCORnet® Enhancement Project: Enhancing Capacity of the PCORnet® Common Data Model to Support Patient-Centered Comparative Clinical Effectiveness Research'.

Received support from Task Force for Global Health in the amount of $20,400 for the project 'Taskforce for Global Health PCORnet CDC Strengthening Public Health Systems and Services through National Partnerships to Improve and Protect the Nation's Health'

Received support from Mirum Pharmaceuticals, Inc in the amount of $3,175 for the project 'A cross-sectional study to evaluate the effectiveness of the Kolbam risk minimization measures among European-based physicians who prescribe or may prescribe Kolbam.'

FeaturedPublications

Durable Immune Response and Long-term Efficacy of COVID-19 Vaccination in Children With Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Kastl AJ, Brenner EJ, Weaver KN, Zhang X, Strople JA, Adler J, Dubinsky MC, Bousvaros A, Watkins R, Dai X, Chen W, Cross RK, Higgins PDR, Ungaro RC, Bewtra M, Bellaguarda EA, Farraye FA, Chun KY, Zikry M, Bastidas M, Firestine AM, Craig RG, Boccieri ME, Long MD, Kappelman MD Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Low Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor Levels During Maintenance Phase Are Associated With Treatment Failure in Children With Crohn’s Disease.

Moses J, Adler J, Saeed SA, Firestine AM, Galanko JA, Ammoury RF, Bass DM, Bass JA, Bastidas M, Benkov KJ, Bousvaros A, Cabrera JM, Chun KY, Dorsey JM, Ebach DR, Gulati AS, Herfarth HH, Ivanova A, Jester TW, Kaplan JL, Kusek ME, Leibowitz IH, Linville TM, Margolis PA, Minar P, Molle-Rios Z, Niklinska-Schirtz BJ, Olano KK, Osaba L, Palomo PJ, Pashankar DS, Pitch L, Samson CM, Sandberg KC, Steiner SJ, Strople JA, Sullivan JS, Tung J, Wali P, Wohl DA, Zikry M, Boyle BM, Kappelman MD. Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

Burden and Cost of Gastrointestinal, Liver, and Pancreatic Diseases in the United States: Update 2024. Peery AF, Murphy CC, Anderson C, Jensen ET, Deutsch-Link S, Egberg MD, Lund JL, Subramaniam D, Dellon ES, Sperber AD, Palsson OS, Pate V, Baron TH, Moon AM, Shaheen NJ, Sandler RS. Gastroenterology.

HLA DQA1*05 and Risk of Antitumor Necrosis Factor Treatment Failure and Anti-Drug Antibody Development in Children With Crohn’s Disease.

Adler J, Galanko JA, Ammoury R, Benkov KJ, Bousvaros A, Boyle B, Cabrera JM, Chun KY, Dorsey J, Ebach DR, Firestine AM, Gulati AS, Herfarth HH, Jester TW, Kaplan JL, Leibowitz I, Linville TM, Margolis PA, Minar P, Molle-Rios Z, Moses J, Olano K, Pashankar DS, Pitch L, Saeed SA, Samson CM, Sandberg K, Steiner SJ, Strople JA, Sullivan JS, Wali PD, Kappelman MD. American Journal of Gastroenterology.

Incidence and Prevalence of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases in Hispanic Individuals in the United States, 2011-2020.

Singh S, Brensinger C, Pate V, Kaplan GG, Kappelman MD, Lewis JD; IBD in Hispanic Individuals Study Group. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology

Travel Time to Treating Center Is Associated With Diagnostic Delay in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

McLaughlin JF, Linville T, Jester TW, Marciano TA, Lazare F, Dotson JL, Samson C, Niklinska-Schirtz B, Cabrera J, Leibowtiz I, Batra S, Ammoury R, Strople JA, Saeed S, Sandberg KC, Tung J, Verstraete SG, Cox RF, Na S, Steiner SJ, Ali SA, Israel EJ, Dorsey J, Adler J, Rekhtman Y, Egberg MD, Waduge ER, Savas J, Brensinger CM, Lewis JD, Kappelman MD. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

Prevalence and Impact of Social Risk in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: National Estimates from the United States.

Kim SH, Qi Y, Banegas MP, Kappelman MD, Nguyen NH, Boland BS, Hernandez CL, Xu R, Singh S Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

A Prospective Comparison of Ustekinumab and Antitumor Necrosis Factor α Therapy in the Treatment of Crohn's-Like Disease of the Pouch.

Barnes EL, Raffals L, Qazi T, Deepak P, Chang S, Beniwal-Patel P, Higgins PDR, Cross RK, Barr JI, Anderson C, Long MD, Herfarth HH, Dubinsky M, Kappelman MD, Kayal M. American Journal of Gastroenterology.

Association of Race and Ethnicity With Healthcare Utilization for Inflammatory Bowel Disease in the United States: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Segura A, Brensinger C, Pate V, Siddique SM, Parlett L, Hurtado-Lorenzo A, Kappelman MD, Lewis JD American Journal of Gastroenterology.

Low Incidence of Varicella in Pediatric Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Caldera F, Hayney MS, Farraye FA, Fischer M, Xu H, Kappelman MD. American Journal of Gastroenterology. PMID: 40099768

GENERAL PEDIATRICS & ADOLESCENT MEDICINE

KORI FLOWER, MD, MS, MPH

Division Chief

PROFESSORS

Molly Berkoﬀ, MD. MPH

Neal deJong, MD, MPH

Maria Ferris, MD, PhD, MPH

Kori Flower, MD, MS, MPH

Rollyn Ornstein, MD

Samantha Schilling, MD, MSHP

Carl Seashore, MD

Michael Steiner, MD, MPH

ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS

Bianca Allison, MD, MPH

Rebecca Chasnovitz, MD

Elizabeth Fitzgerald, MD

Lucien Gonzalez, MD, MS

Katherine Jordan, MD

Tisungane Mvalo, MD

Priyanka Rao, MD

Emily Vander Schaaf, MD, MPH

ASSISTANT PROFESSORS

Lauren Baumgardner, DO

Sandeep Dhadvai, MD

Jessica Hart, MD

Hannah Hrobuchak, MD

Katherine MacDonald, MD

Brittany Raﬀa, MD, MPH

LaClaire Stewart, MD, MPH

Jasmine Weiss, MD

Heather Williams, MD

Xavier Williams, MD, MPH

Jessica Young, MD, MPH

INSTRUCTORS

Erin Garwood, LCSW

FELLOWS

Darius Byramji, MD

Yasamin Sanii, MD

GeneralPediatricsandAdolescentMedicineexperienced meaningfulgrowthininterdisciplinaryexpertise,national recognitionforclinicalandacademicleadership,and sustainedimpactacrosslocalandnationalcommunities throughout2025.Throughcollaborativeleadershipanda strongcommitmenttochildren,adolescents,andfamilies, thedivisionstrengtheneditsroleasaleaderinpediatric primaryandcomplexcareandeducation.

TheDivisionwelcomedseveralnewteammembers.New administratorsAllieArthurandTejasiRavijoinedthe division,contributingtoincreasedoperationalexcellence. FacultyrecruitmentincludedDr.HannahHrobuchak, whobolsteredtheComplexCareandPalliativeCare programs KristenAdelmanjoinedasaNurse Coordinator,aswellasErinGarwoodwhojoinedasa ClinicalInstructor.FournewAdvancedPracticeProviders joinedtheteam:KatlinYokeleyandKathrynCurryinthe ChildMaltreatmentgroup;RebeccaArangoinComplex Care;andElainaWilliamsinAdolescentMedicine The AdolescentMedicineprogramwasfurtherstrengthened throughtheadditionofSocialWorkerBrittanySelkregg. TheresearchteamalsowelcomedJoyPetersasanew ResearchCoordinator.

CLINICAL EXCELLENCE

Exceptional clinical performance remained a hallmark of the division. UNC Children’s Primary Care at Carolina Pointe 2 achieved top system-wide performance in adolescent vaccination rates, reflecting the success of Dr. Jessica Young’s HPV quality improvement initiative and the leadership of Dr. Katie Jordan, Sherri Woody, Jennifer Jones, and the primary care clinical teams.

Clinical partnerships expanded:

Under the leadership of Dr. Rollyn Ornstein the team developed a new collaboration with the Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders. Dr. Maria Ferris extended diagnostic services to Lumberton, increasing access to specialized pediatric evaluation.

A major milestone in 2025 was the development of the Children’s Preoperative Pathway at UNC. This initiative formalized comprehensive preoperative evaluations for children with medical comorbidities The pathway builds upon longstanding diagnostic clinic expertise and aims to optimize surgical outcomes through coordinated care. Dr. Maria Ferris, Dr. LaClaire Stewart, and Dr. Neal deJong played key roles in quality optimization and program leadership.

Jessica Young, MD, MPH

Katherine Jordan, MD

Rollyn Ornstein, MD

GENERAL PEDIATRICS & ADOLESCENT MEDICINE

ADVANCEDPRACTICE PROVIDERS

Rebecca Arango, MSN, CPNP

Cheryl Crawford, CPNP, DNP

Kathryn Curry, PNP-PC, DNP

Jennifer John, MSN, FNP

Candice Ryan-Supples, FNP

Elizabeth Walters, PNP, DNP

Elaina Williams, MSN, PNP

KatlinYokeley,MSN,CPNP-PC/AC

EHRA NON-FACULTY

Joy Peters

Brittany Selkregg, LCSW

Michelle Boykin Smith, MSW

Christi Stephenson, MSW

STAFF

Kristen Adelman

Brittney Anderson

Allie Arthur, MSW

Amber Bobbitt

Ayana Brown

Erin Calloway

Maria Carvajal

Allison Chiancone

Gabrielle Cox

Denise Fortson

Amanda Gillespie

Jennifer Greer

Jessica Guice-Albritton, MSW

Tisha Harper

Amanda Holland

Lauren Ledford

Jennifer McBride

Alyssa McRae, MSW

Mark Patricio-Castillo

Moriah Ramsey

Tejasi Ravi

Wesley Rogers

Molly Schloss

Lyndsi Sigmon

Heidie Tkach

DEVELOPMENT, RECOGNITION, AND AWARDS

Division members received numerous distinctions in 2025, reflecting national and regional leadership across pediatric care, research, and education.

Dr. Kenya McNeal‑Trice was named a 2025 recipient of the Academic Pediatric Association’s George Armstrong Lecture Award, recognizing her exceptional contributions to pediatric education and clinical excellence Dr. McNeal Trice was also acknowledged for her contributions to the EMPOWER project through the Association of Pediatric Program Directors, a national effort to strengthen pediatric resident competency in mental health assessment and management.

Faculty engagement at the APA Region IV conference was robust. Dr. Mike Steiner delivered the national APA update, Dr. Jessica Hart presented research on pediatric residents’ preparedness for evolving ACGME requirements, and Dr. Neal deJong contributed to conference planning while presenting scholarly work alongside mentees on transitional care management for children with medical complexity.

Additional recognitions include:

Dr. Katie Jordan was accepted into the Faculty Affairs and Leadership Development Office’s Leader as Coach program.

Dr. Bianca Allison was selected for the Leadership Training Academy Class of 2026 led by Physicians for Reproductive Health.

Dr. Brittany Raffa was elected to participate in the 2025–2026 American Pediatric Society/Society for Pediatric Research Journeys & Frontiers in Pediatric Research program.

Dr. Kori Flower was a nominee for the 2025 APP Physician Partner in Excellence Award.

Dr. Jessica Hart completed the Passing the Torch faculty development program.

Dr. Maria E. Diaz Gonzalez de Ferris was honored for 25 years of distinguished service to UNC, with national impact in pediatric complex care and healthcare transition.

Dr. Emily Vander Schaaf received a Special Achievement Award from the American Academy of Pediatrics for her work with the Community Access to Child Health program.

Dr. Neal deJong was elected to membership in the Society of Pediatric Research.

Jennifer John, FNP was selected to serve on the 2025 APP Advisory Council

Neal deJong, MD, MPH

Jessica Hart, MD

Brittany Raffa, MD, MPH

GENERAL PEDIATRICS & ADOLESCENT MEDICINE

RESEARCH

The division demonstrated significant research productivity with funding from national agencies and foundations. An NIH R01 grant was awarded to Dr. Samantha Schilling as Principal Investigator for a Type I Hybrid Effectiveness Implementation Study evaluating a shared decision making tool in hypospadias care This multisite study, funded at over $3 3 million, will assess clinical decision quality, knowledge, and future implementation strategies

A $7 million PCORI award supported the Greenlight Follow Up Study led by Dr. Kori Flower as MPI and Dr. Schilling as Co Investigator. The multisite longitudinal study examines long term outcomes for children enrolled in the Greenlight Plus trial.

Dr. Bianca Allison received the prestigious 2025–26 Jefferson Pilot Fellowship in Academic Medicine and a 2026–27 UNC Junior Faculty Development Award, supporting continued advancement of her research and scholarly leadership.

ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Community engagement remained central to the division’s mission. UNC Children’s Primary Care at Carolina Pointe 2 expanded on site services including childcare registration support, a collaborative food pantry, early literacy programming, and a multidisciplinary juvenile justice clinic led by Dr. Xavier Williams Community partnerships extended to school based physical events and innovative literacy and empowerment initiatives for juvenile detention centers, reinforcing the division’s commitment to addressing social drivers of child health

EDUCATION AND FELLOW ACHIEVEMENTS

General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine continues to be strong leaders within the Education team. Dr. Priyanka Rao joined the Pediatric Education team as Associate Program Director of the Pediatric Residency Program. Fellowship programs grew with the addition of Dr. Yasamin Sanii, recipient of an NRSA Primary Care Research Fellowship and the Dr. Jacob Lohr Research Award, and Dr. Darius Byramji, the first pediatrician in UNC’s Clinical Informatics Fellowship.

Xavier Williams, MD, MPH

Bianca Allison, MD, MPH

Priyanka Rao, MD

SamanthaSchilling,MD,MSHP

GENERAL PEDIATRICS & ADOLESCENT MEDICINE

ResearchAwards

Molly Berkoff, MD, MPH

Received support from NCDHHS DSS Childrens Services in the amount of $52,569 for the project 'Child Medical Evaluation Program, Medical Aspects Training FY23'

Received support from NCDHHS Division of Social Services (DSS) in the amount of $2,542,790 for the project 'Child Medical Evaluation Program Administrative Contract FY 2025 - FY 2027'.

Received support from NCDHHS Division of Social Services (DSS) in the amount of $308,511 for the project 'Child Medical Evaluation Program, Medical Aspects Training'.

Neal deJong, MD, MPH Received support from Duke University in the amount of $372,813 for the project 'Hospital-to-Home Care Coordination for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs'.

Kori Flower, MD, MS, MPH Was awarded new funding from Vanderbilt University in the amount of $171,203 for the project 'Tracking Obesity Prevention to Age 5: Follow-up of the Greenlight Plus Intervention'.

Received support from Duke University in the amount of $457,369 for the project 'Integrated Care for Kids'.

Kenya McNeal-Trice, MD Received support from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) in the amount of $41,761 for the project 'EMPOWER: Education in Mental health improves Patient Outcomes, Well-being, and Emotional Resiliency'.

TisuMvalo,MD Received support from Bill Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute in the amount of $455,128 for the project 'A Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebocontrolled, multicenter, clinical trial to assess the prophylactic efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity of the investigational M72/AS01E-4 Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) vaccine when administered intramuscularly on a 0,1-month schedule to adolescents and adults'

Priyanka Rao, MD Was awarded new funding from American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in the amount of $2,000 for the project 'Empowered Beginnings: A Puberty Needs Assessment and Education Initiative'.

SamanthaSchilling,MD,MSHP

Received support from NIH National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) in the amount of $632,673 for the project 'Child-Adult Relationship Enhancement in Primary Care: Effectiveness Trial of a Primary Care Based Parenting Intervention to Prevent Child Maltreatment.'.

Received support from NIH National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) in the amount of $670,065 for the project 'A type I hybrid effectiveness-implementation study of a parent-centered tool to promote shared decision-making in hypospadias care'

EmilyVanderSchaaf,MD,MPH Was awarded new funding from Institute for Child Success, Inc. in the amount of $30,000 for the project 'Strengthening the Carolina's Collaborative to Address Disparities in Child Mental Health Across the Carolinas'.

GENERAL PEDIATRICS & ADOLESCENT MEDICINE

Adolescent-Centered Sexual and Reproductive Health Communication.

Allison BA, Wilkinson TA, Maslowsky J. Journal of the American Medical Association.

Medicaid Spending and Health-Related Social Needs in the North Carolina Healthy Opportunities Pilots Program.

Berkowitz SA, Archibald J, Yu Z, LaPoint M, Ali S, Vu MB, Dave G, Flower KB, Domino ME. Journal of the American Medical Association.

Addressing food insecurity: a paediatric academic advocacy collaborative quality initiative. Amati JBA, Mehta S, Buitrago Mogollon T, Maldonado L, Sease KK, Best D, Montez K, Vander Schaaf E, Erickson E, Holloway J, Gustafson K, Roberts J, Avery C. BMJ Open Quality.

Navigating Healthcare and Public Benefits in NC: Perspectives of Undocumented Latina Women with U.S.Born Infants.

Raffa BJ, Higgins ICA, Montiel C, Stafford AM, Cholera R. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health.

Promoting Kindergarten Readiness in Primary Care: Perspectives of Children’s Primary Care Providers. Dever R, Wekon-Kemeni C, Reynolds A, Steiner MJ, Young J, Cholera R, Flower KB. Maternal and Child Health Journal.

Mortality, morbidity and growth among moderately low birthweight infants in India, Malawi, and Tanzania. Mvalo T, Dhaded SM, Manji KP, Vesel L, Semrau KEA, Kisenge R, Somji S, Chiume M, Saidi F, Hoffman IF, Vernekar S, Bellad R, Koppad B, Tuller DE, Mokhtar R, Lee ACC, North K, Sudfeld CR. BMC Pediatrics.

Effectiveness of Interventions to Support Person-Centered Contraceptive Care for Adolescents and Young Adults: A Systematic Review.

Allison BA, Glodowski CR, Smith C, Mizelle C, Leiva H, Wright ST, Golin C, Arora KS, Schilling S. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Toward digital caregiving network interventions for children with medical complexity living in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods.

Werner NE, Morgen M, Jolliff A, Kieren M, Thomson J, Callahan S, deJong N, Foster C, Ming D, Randolph A, Stille CJ, Ehlenbach M, Katz B, Coller RJ. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association Open.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Considerations in the 2024 National Residency Matching Program Results. Corley AMS, Orr C, Lopez MA, Ebo C, Williams X, Raphael JL, Barber AN. Academic Pediatrics.

Where Are the Pediatricians?-Reply

Jordan KA, Rao P, Byerley JS. Journal of the American Medical Association.

go.unc.edu/childrens-palliative-care

Palliative care serves as a vital component of comprehensive medical treatment for children with serious illnesses, offering an added layer of support that enhances quality of life while aligning seamlessly with curative and life prolonging therapies. The Children’s Supportive Care Team continues to strengthen this mission by providing individualized, family centered care that prioritizes comfort, communication, and coordinated planning Through close collaboration with pediatric subspecialists and allied health teams, the program ensures that children and families receive consistent, expert guidance at every stage of illness

In 2025, the Children’s Supportive Care Team sustained a high volume of inpatient consultations, reaffirming its essential role within the hospital setting The team also broadened its outpatient reach, establishing a presence within the Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Sarcoma Clinic This expansion represents an important step toward improving continuity of care and earlier integration of palliative services for young people navigating complex cancer diagnoses. Additional planning is underway to further grow the outpatient program, with an emphasis on increasing accessibility, multidisciplinary engagement, and longitudinal support for families

Education and clinical training remained central to the team’s mission Over the year, 42 learners from diverse disciplines including medicine, nursing, social work, and chaplaincy received training in pediatric palliative care. These learning opportunities not only strengthen the clinical workforce but also promote a broader institutional culture of compassionate, developmentally appropriate care for children with life limiting conditions.

The team also expanded bereavement support through strengthened partnerships with other teams. Annie Creasey, partnered with Child Life specialists and Spiritual Care providers to develop a bereavement care program for families. These collaborations aim to create more structured, empathetic resources for families coping with loss, ensuring that support extends beyond the clinical encounter.

PHYSICIANS

Lauren Baumgardner, DO

Elisabeth Dellon, MD, MPH

Catherine Habashy, MD, MPH

Hannah Hrobuchak, MD

Alyssa Tilly, MD

ADVANCED PRACTICE PROVIDER

La Monica Hunter, DNP, APRN, CPNP

PSYCHOLOGIST

Mary Beth Prieur, PhD

Annie Creasey, LCSW

Jessica Simo, MHA

Hannah Hrobuchak, MD

Gunjan Singh, MD

AnnieCreasey,LCSW

An additional highlight of the year was the recognition of Dr. Alyssa Tilly, recipient one of the three annual Medical Staff Physician Clinical Excellence Awards. This awa recognizes UNC Hospitals clinical physicians who embody the qualities of a truly gre patient service provider. These physicians are technically skilled, compassionate to patients and families and work collaboratively with colleagues Nominations were submitted by fellow providers and reviewed by the Medical Staff Physician Clinical Excellence Committee

Dr. Tilly is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine. Clinically, she functions as an attending physician in the UNC Palliative Care Program, serving on b the Inpatient Adult Palliative Care Team and the Children’s Supportive Care Team

Nominators shared, “One of Dr. Tilly's most remarkable qualities is her ability to connect with others. This is evident in her clinical care, education, administrative duties, and research. Her listening and communication skills enable her to meet people where they are and guide them through support her colleagues and students has been

Alyssa Tilly, MD

UNC CHILDREN’S – WILMINGTON

In2025,thePediatricDivisionofChildren’sSpecialtyCareinWilmingtondemonstratedcontinuedgrowth,clinical excellence,andinnovationacrossinpatient,outpatient,andcommunity-basedservices.Strategicrecruitment, nationallyrecognizedqualityachievements,expandingsubspecialtyaccess,andmeaningfulresearchandadvocacy initiativesstrengthenedthedivision’sroleasaregionalleaderinpediatriccare.Theseaccomplishmentsreflecta sustainedcommitmenttohigh-quality,family-centered,andforward-lookingpediatricservicesacrosssoutheastern NorthCarolina

Theteamexperiencedsignificantgrowthin2025throughtheadditionofhighlyskilledcliniciansacrossmultiplecare settings,includingnewnursepractitionerswiththeNovantHealthBrunswickMedicalCenterinBolivia,Nunnelee PediatricMultispecialtyCare,theCenterforPediatricBehavioralHealthinWilmington,andwiththeneonatal intensivecareservicesatNovantHealthNewHanoverRegionalMedicalCenterinWilmington.

LeadershipdevelopmentadvancedwiththeappointmentofRobertDiGiuseppe,MD,asDivisionChiefforChildren’s SpecialtyCareinWilmington.Dr.DiGiuseppebeganhiscareerwithCoastalCarolinaasaneonatologistin2011.He earnedhisundergraduatedegreefromClemsonUniversity,hismedicaldegreefromtheMedicalUniversityofSouth Carolina,andcompletedpediatricresidencytrainingatPrismaHealthGreenvilleMemorialHospitalSystem Hewent ontocompletefellowshiptraininginNeonatal-PerinatalMedicineatRileyChildren’sHospitalinIndianapolis.

CLINICALHIGHLIGHTS

Clinicalservicesexpandedandevolvedtomeetgrowingcommunityneeds.RecruitingconcludedforanewPediatric BehavioralHealthservicebasedattheNunneleeClinic,comprisingachildpsychiatrist,anadvancedpractice provider,andalicensedclinicalsocialworker.Thisteamispositionedtosignificantlyenhanceaccesstobehavioral healthservicesforchildrenandadolescents

HospitalistservicesexpandedtoAtriumHealthColumbusRegionalHealthcareSysteminWhitevilleunderthe leadershipofLaurenRust,MD,MedicalDirector.CoverageiscurrentlyprovidedthroughacombinationofUNCbasedhospitalistsfromWilmington,PRNphysicians,andlocumtenenssupportwhilerecruitmentcontinues Two physicianshaveacceptedoffers,withoneadditionalpediatrichospitalistroleopenforfuturegrowth.

A new partnership with the Center for Pediatric Behavioral Health in Wilmington was established to provide medical services for patients with pediatric feeding problems Lori Aguirre, FNP, with Novant Health Pediatric Gastroenterology, has led patient care while developing clinical processes and protocols since April.

ROBERT DIGIUSEPPE, MD

Division Chief

PROFESSORS

Jack Sharp, MD

Martin Moya, MD, MPH, MHS

ASSISTANT PROFESSORS

Matthew Adams, MD

Sheri Carroll, MD

Yvette Chop, MD, MPH

Deana Miller, MD

James Newton, MD

Laura Parente, MD, MPH

PROFESSORS

Shellie Kendall, MD

Marzena Krawiec, MD

Yvonne Paris, MD

Sean Sullivan, MD ASSOCIATE

INSTRUCTORS

Donna Vaught, PhD

Robert Digiuseppe, MD

Meghan Dougherty, MD

Lauren Gainor, MD

Amari Howard, MD

Jill Kauﬀmann, MD

Travis Kauﬀmann, MD

Whitney King, MD

Kateryna Kotlyarevska, MD

Sarah Majstoravich, MD

Stephen Parsons, MD

Thomas Paulson, MD

Bradley Podd, MD, PhD

Jordan Pung, MD

Lauren Rust, MD

Mohamed Sharaf, MD

Christine Tangredi, MD

Sonia Varghese, MD, MBA, MPH

Chip Williams, MD

UNC CHILDREN’S – WILMINGTON

Regional maternity and pediatric infrastructure also advanced. UNC Health Southeastern opened a new, $35 million maternity ward designed to promote comfort, privacy, and family-centered care, featuring integrated triage, birthing, and postpartum rooms.

At Novant Health UNC Children’s – Scotts Hill, patients continued to beneﬁt from coordinated access to pediatric specialists across both the Novant Health and UNC Health systems. Services include pediatric urology, cardiology, gastroenterology, hematology, neurology, diabetes care, and pediatric feeding services, ensuring continuity of care for children with both common and complex conditions.

ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Family-centered advocacy remained a priority. To support parent–infant bonding, Stephen Parsons, MD, and Martin Moya, MD, secured grant funding to install NicView cameras at each NICU bedside at UNC Health Southeastern in Lumberton. This secure, video-only system allows authorized family members to view infants remotely, reducing stress and supporting emotional connection when physical presence is limited.

Lori Aguirre, MSN, FNP

Julie Andrews, DNP, PNP

Lacey Aycock, MSN, FNP

Emily Baldwin, DNP, NNP

Heather Ballew, MSN, NNP

Ashley Batten, MSN, NNP

Susan Boyd, MSN, FNP

Kristen Cole, MSN, PNP

Laura David, MSN, NNP

Cashe Emory, MSN, PNP

Christen Ferguson, MSN, NNP

Diana Gordon, MSN, PNP

ADVANCEDPRACTICEPROVIDERS

Elizabeth Granger, MSN, NNP

Erin Graves, MSN, FNP

Susan Hall, MSN, NNP

Julie Heintz, MSN, NNP

Morgan Holt, MPH, PA-C

Carolyn Jones, PhD, NNP

Pam Kasten, MSN, NNP

Kerri Krueger, MSN, NNP

Kristen Landis, MSN, NNP

Kristin Leahy, DNP, NNP

Karen Leﬂer, MSN, NNP

Jordan Lewis, MSN, PNP

Carolanne Majeski, MSN, FNP

Elizabeth Mears, MSN, NNP

Brenda Melvin, MSN, FNP

Julie Oliver, MSN, NNP

Deb Parker, MSN, NNP

Megan Peedin, MSN, FNP

Paula Roach, MSN, NNP

Amanda Rogers, MSN, PNP

Beth Stoddard, MSN, NNP

Morgan Such, MSN, PNP

Natalie Tracy, MSN, NNP

Cindi Utter, MSN, PNP

Sarah Williamson, MSN, NNP

Allison Bundy

Kayla Cole

Melinda Cutrell

Elizabeth Stinson, MEd, SPHR

Carolyn Whitehead STAFF

UNC CHILDREN’S – WILMINGTON

2025 PEDIATRIC VISITING PROFESSORSHIP LECTURE SERIES

The goal of this educational event is to support the culture of continuing education and community engagement in the southeastern region of the state. It is held in Wilmington, North Carolina in conjunction with the UNC-Chapel Hill Department of Pediatrics. The annual event was held in honor of Fernando Moya, MD to share his passion for learning.

The 2025 Dinner lecture was held on Wednesday, October 29 at Port Land Grille in Wilmington. The title of the talk by Dr. Moya was “Navigating the Waters between Academia and Private Practice: How to Remain Productive and Have Fun!” and was attended by a significant number of providers.

Fernando Moya, MD is a Neonatologist, Pediatrix Medical Group of Austin and Professor, Texas A & M Medical School, Austin, TX.

UNC MEDICAL STUDENT PROGRAM

The UNC Medical Student 3rd year Application Phase at New Hanover grew significantly in 2025. The program is run in Wilmington by Course Director, Lauren Gainor, MD, Pediatric Hospitalist and coordinated by Carolyn Whitehead, Program Coordinator.

In 2025, this program has grown from two students to five students and from 4-week rotations to 8-week rotations continuously throughout the year in specialties including:

PICU

Outpatient Subspecialties

The program is now in the second year of including rotations at community primary care offices. Inpatient Pediatrics

RESEARCH

Research activity in 2025 reflected innovation and collaboration. The UNC School of Medicine submitted an NIH D-Start grant proposal titled “Acoustic Profiling of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: A Non-Invasive Machine Learning Approach to Cry Analysis.” Led by Martin Moya, MD, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, the project aims to develop an objective, scalable tool to assess NAS severity using machine learning analysis of infant cry acoustics. Conducted at UNC Health Southeastern Hospital, the study will enroll 40 neonates and is supported by local funding to ensure early momentum. The investigative team includes Dr. Moya and Dr. Steve Parsons, MD.

Lauren Gainor, MD

Martin Moya, MD

Stephen Parsons, MD

UNC CHILDREN’S – WILMINGTON

On the international stage, Kateryna Kotlyarevska, MD, and Susan Boyd, FNP, from Wilmington Subspecialty Pediatrics, presented research on pseudohypoparathyroidism and growth hormone deficiency at the Joint Congress of the European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology and the European Society of Endocrinology 2025 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

DEVELOPMENT, RECOGNITION, AND AWARDS

Quality and leadership were central themes throughout the year.

Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington was honored for their work to decrease rates of chronic lung disease in Very Low Birth Weight infants

In 2025, Dr. Robert DiGiuseppe was honored as the March of Dimes Signature Chefs Feeding Motherhood Gala Honoree, recognizing leadership and advocacy for maternal and infant health.

Clinical leadership at Nunnelee Pediatric Multispecialty Care transitioned smoothly when Sonia Varghese, MD, assumed the role of Medical Director, succeeding Yvonne Paris, MD, during the summer.

A 2-year program at New Hanover for a Vermont Oxford Network Initiative: Neuroprotective Lung Strategies in our Homeroom as part of the All Care is Brain Care was led by Sheri Carroll, MD, Natalie Tracy, NNP, and Emily Baldwin, DNP, NNP

At a national level, Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center, in collaboration with the UNC Children’s Wilmington Division, earned the 2025 Bernard A. Birnbaum, MD, Quality Leadership Award from Vizient, Inc., ranking No. 4 out of 98 participating pediatric hospitals nationwide. This recognition reflects a sustained, multidisciplinary commitment to safety, quality, and patient-centered care. The Vizient Quality and Accountability Study evaluates performance across safety, mortality, effectiveness, efficiency, patient centeredness, and variation in care, drawing on data from the Vizient Clinical Data Base, the CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network, and HCAHPS patient experience surveys. Professional excellence among advanced practice providers was also recognized when Brenda Melvin, FNP, was nominated for the 2025 APP Excellence in Leadership (Informal) Award by the APP Center.

Kateryna Kotlyarevska,MD

Susan Boyd, MSN, FNP

Brenda Melvin, FNP

SheriCarroll,MD

YvonneParis,MD

SoniaVarghese,MD,MPH,MBA

UNC CHILDREN’S – WILMINGTON

FeaturedPresentations

"Thyroid Disorders in Children and Adolescents" K. Kotlyarevska. 20th Annual Coastal Pediatric Symposium, March 2025.

"Updates in Pediatric Headaches: Diagnosis and Management" M. Peedin. 20th Annual Coastal Pediatric Symposium, March 2025.

"Approaches to Cough Management" J. Sharp. 20th Annual Coastal Pediatric Symposium, March 2025.

“Two Birds One Stone: Creating Academic Output from Unique Clinical Cases” Miller D, Goodrich N, Holland E. PHM25 Conference Workshop, July 2025.

“Why they STILL call me ‘Discharge Deana’: Continuing to improve LOS” Miller D. PHM25 Conference Clinical Quick Hits, July 2025.

“Hot Topics in Pediatric Surgical Co-management: Pre-op to Post-op Care” Russell C, Miller D, Liao Y. PHM25 Conference Mini Plenary, July 2025.

“Baby Steps, Boss Moves: Hands on Pediatric and Neonatal Resuscitation Skills” Miller D, Szkola S, Hopkins S, Thakrar S, Jameel A. PHM25 Pre-conference, July 2025.

www.med.unc.edu/pediatrics/neph

In 2025, Pediatric Nephrology completed a significant transition from a section within the Department of Medicine’s Division of Nephrology to a division within the Department of Pediatrics. This change was a significant step in the institutional goal for Children’s service line reconfiguration. The transition was made possible through the exceptional leadership of Dr. Keisha Gibson, whose vision and persistence were instrumental in achieving this milestone. The move has already fostered new opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and integrated care delivery across pediatric disciplines.

The division welcomed several new team members whose expertise strengthens clinical care, education, and operations. Dr. Ana Cortez joined as an Assistant Professor in February 2025, bringing a strong commitment to health equity and scholarly work. In addition to providing care in Raleigh, Dr. Cortez plays a key role in expanding outreach clinics in Sanford and Wilmington, improving access to pediatric nephrology services across the region. Dr. Ashley Carver joined the faculty as an Assistant Professor in October 2025 following fellowship graduation With a strong interest in medical education, Dr. Carver assumed the role of Associate Program Director for the Pediatric Nephrology Fellowship

Clinical operations were further enhanced by the addition of experienced nursing leadership. Julie Le, RN, joined as nurse coordinator, bringing extensive experience from Levine’s Children’s Hospital and quickly establishing herself as an indispensable member of the care team. Dawn St. Louis, RN, transitioned seamlessly into the role of Pediatric Transplant Coordinator, leveraging her longstanding experience with the abdominal transplant program to support both pre- and post-kidney transplant care. Administrative leadership was strengthened with the arrival of Shanta Smith as Division Administrator.

The division also honored the retirement of Lynn W. McCoy, RN, CNN, in May 2025. With more than three decades of service at UNC, including over 20 years dedicated to pediatric kidney transplant coordination, Ms. McCoy’s professionalism, compassion, and unwavering dedication left an enduring impact on patients, families, and colleagues alike.

Educational Achievements

The division continued to distinguish itself in medical education It remains one of the few programs nationally to offer a combined Med-Peds Nephrology Fellowship - the fourth fellow in this program scheduled to begin in summer 2026.

KEISHA L. GIBSON, MD, MPH

Division Chief

PROFESSORS

Keisha L. Gibson, MD, MPH

ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS

Keia Sanderson, MD

Katherine D Westreich, MD

ASSISTANT PROFESSORS

Ashley Carver, MD

Ana Lucia Cortez, DO

Dorey Glenn, MD

Elizabeth Kotzen, MD

FELLOWS

Kathleen Herman, DO

Pankhuri Mohan, MD

Logan Webb, MD

STAFF

Julie Le

Lynn Woodall McCoy, RN, CNN

Jaelyn Pulkrabek

Shanta Smith, MPA

Dawn St Louis

Lynn W. McCoy, RN, CNN

CLINICAL CARE AND PROGRAM GROWTH

Clinical services experienced meaningful expansion and optimization throughout 2025. Pediatric Nephrology relocated from the adult-centered Eastowne environment to the pediatric multispecialty clinic in Raleigh, creating a more integrated and family-centered care experience.

The Wilmington outreach clinic, initially launched in 2023, continued to experience high demand. In response, the division successfully added a second clinic day every other month, supported by recent faculty recruitment. This expansion significantly improved access to specialized care for families in southeastern North Carolina.

Technological advancement was also a major highlight with the introduction of Aquadex therapy at UNC. This innovative system allows for precise fluid management in critically ill pediatric patients who require fluid removal but may not otherwise need dialysis. Dialysis nursing staff and faculty began comprehensive training in 2025, with plans to extend education to critical care nursing teams, further enhancing multidisciplinary care capabilities.

RESEARCH AND SCHOLARLY ACTIVITY

Research remained a cornerstone of the division’s mission. Dr. Gibson continued her role as Principal Investigator on a Phase 2, open-label study sponsored by Travere Therapeutics, Inc., evaluating the safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics of sparsentan in pediatric patients with selected proteinuric glomerular diseases. This study advances therapeutic options for children with rare kidney conditions As a recognized international expert in glomerular disease, Dr. Gibson was a writing group member for the 2025 American College of Rheumatology Guidelines for the treatment of lupus nephritis and International Pediatric Nephrology Association Guidelines for the treatment of IgA Nephropathy and Vasculitis.

Dr. Glenn continued as Principal Investigator on the NIH-sponsored, multi-year study, Protecting Patients with Glomerular Disease from Vaccine-Preventable Infections. This work addresses critical gaps in understanding vaccine effectiveness and immunogenicity in a high-risk population, with the potential to reduce preventable infections, healthcare utilization, and morbidity

Dr. Sanderson advanced multiple impactful research initiatives, including her K23 award, “Machine Learning Risk Stratification for Pediatric Kidney Disease After Preterm Birth”. This project aims to identify perinatal risk factors and develop a prototype clinical decision support tool to guide early risk stratification. She also served as a co-investigator on the global CHIME trial evaluating caffeine therapy in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and as Co-Site Principal Investigator for AWAKEN 2.0, a multinational study examining neonatal acute kidney injury. These projects provided valuable publication and training opportunities for undergraduate students, medical students, and pediatric fellows

DEVELOPMENT, RECOGNITION, AND AWARDS

Faculty achievements in 2025 reflected national recognition for leadership, scholarship, and professional development. Dr. Keia R. Sanderson, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine, was elected to the National Council of the American Society of Pediatric Nephrology (ASPN), underscoring her influence and leadership within the field.

Dr. Katherine D. Westreich, was selected for the inaugural THRIVE cohort Transforming Horizons through Reflection, Inspiration, Vitality, and Engagement a prestigious, year-long faculty development program sponsored by the National Academy of Distinguished Educators in Pediatrics Selection for this program reflected her thoughtful engagement, professional vision, and commitment to sustaining career vitality and excellence in academic medicine.

Katherine Westreich, MD

Keia Sanderson, MD, MSCR

Dorey A. Glenn, MD, MPH

ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Advocacy and education extended beyond the academic medical center. Dr. Carver developed and delivered a curriculum on acute kidney injury and glomerular filtration rate estimation for general pediatricians, providing education directly to primary care practices.

Dr. Sanderson received the 2025 ASPN Equity, Social Justice, and Advocacy Award, recognizing her leadership in advancing equity and justice within pediatric nephrology.

Dr. Gibson continued collaborative efforts with industry partners and the FDA to promote the inclusion of children in clinical trials, ensuring that pediatric patients with rare kidney diseases have access to emerging therapies.

ResearchAwards

Received support from Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Inc in the amount of $22,201 for the project 'A Prospective Observational Registry of Patients Treated with LUPKYNIS™ (voclosporin) in the US'.

Received support from Aurinia Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in the amount of $27,023 for the project 'VOCAL: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Dose Escalation Study to Assess the Efficacy, Safety and Pharmacokinetics of Voclosporin in Adolescents with Lupus Nephritis'.

Received support from NIH National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) in the amount of $194,722 for the project 'Protecting Patients with Glomerular Disease from Vaccine-Preventable Infections'.

Received support from NIH National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases (NIDDKD) in the amount of $199,450 for the project 'Machine Learning Risk Prediction of Kidney Disease After Extremely PretermBirth'.

Ashley Carver, MD

Keisha L. Gibson, MD, MPH

Dorey A. Glenn, MD, MPH

Keia Sanderson, MD, MSCR

FeaturedPublications

New Index Demonstrates Association between Social Vulnerability, Environmental Burden, and Kidney Failure Risk among Individuals with Glomerular Disease.

Dass LW, Smith AR, Krissberg J, Wang CS, Robinson BM, Gbadegesin RA, Dave G, Gibson KL. Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

Proteinuria as an End Point in Clinical Trials of Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis.

Mariani LH, Trachtman H, Thompson A, Gillespie BS, Denburg M, Diva U, Geetha D, Greasley PJ, Hladunewich MA, Huizinga RB, Inrig JK, Komers R, Laurin LP, Little DJ, Nachman PH, Smith KA, Walsh L, Gibson KL. American Journal of Kidney Diseases.

Executive summary of the KDIGO 2025 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Nephrotic Syndrome in Children.

Floege J, Gibson KL, Vivarelli M, Liew A, Radhakrishnan J, Balk EM, Gordon CE, Adam G, Tonelli M, Earley A, Rovin BH Kidney International

The intergenerational metabolic-cardiovascular life course: maternal body mass index (BMI), offspring BMI, and blood pressure of adolescents born extremely preterm.

Sanderson K, Oran A, Singh R, Gogcu S, Perrin EM, Washburn L, Zhabotynsky V, South AM, Jensen ET, Fry RC, O’Shea TM. Pediatric Nephrology.

Glucocorticoid Exposure and Infection in Children and Adults With Glomerular Disease: Findings From the Cure Glomerulonephropathy Study.

Glenn DA, Andrews C, Liu Q, Zee J, Mansfield S, Smith A, O'Shaughnessy MM, Bomback A, Gibson K, Greenbaum LA, Falk RJ, Hogan SL, Mottl A, Denburg MR; CureGN Consortium. American Journal of Kidney Diseases.

Proteinuria Trajectory and Disease Progression in Children and Adults with IgA Nephropathy/Vasculitis.

Glenn DA, Carver AW, Helmuth ME, Smith AR, Lafayette RA, Ravipati P, Oliverio AL, Rizk DV, Novak J, Lugani F, Bartosh SM, Mucha K, Kiryluk K, Saha MK, Nast CC, Hou J, Biederman LE, Messias N, Rosenberg AZ, Reich HN, Canetta PA, Nachman PH, Nester C, Bou-Matar R, Wadhwani S, Mariani LH, Khalid M; CureGN IgA Working Group. Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

2024 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Guideline for the Screening, Treatment, and Management of Lupus Nephritis.

Sammaritano LR, Askanase A, Bermas BL, Dall’Era M, Duarte-García A, Hiraki LT, Rovin BH, Son MBF, Alvarado A, Aranow C, Barnado A, Broder A, Brunner HI, Chowdhary V, Contreras G, Felix C, Ferucci ED, Gibson KL, Hersh AO, Izmirly PM, Kalunian K, Kamen D, Rollins B, Smith BJ, Thomas A, Timlin H, Wallace DJ, Ward M, Azzam M, Bartels CM, Cunha JS, DeQuattro K, Fava A, Figueroa-Parra G, Garg S, Greco J, Cuéllar-Gutiérrez MC, Iyer P, Johannemann AS, Jorge A, Kasturi S, Kawtharany H, Khawandi J, Kirou KA, Legge A, Liang KV, Lockwood MM, Sanchez-Rodriguez A, Turgunbaev M, Williams JN, Turner AS, Mustafa RA. Arthritis Rheumatology.

The humanistic burden of immunoglobulin A nephropathy on patients and care-partners in the United States.

Szklarzewicz J, Floege U, Gallego D, Gibson K, Kalantar-Zadeh K, Helm K, Robinson D, Schneider B, Smith P, Tullus K, Poyan-Mehr A, Hendry B, Balkaran BL, Jauregui AK, Wang A, Nason I, Hazra NC, Xu C, Liu J, Zhou ZY, Bensink M. Quality of Life Research.

In 2025, the Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine advanced its mission through exceptional care, discovery, and training strengthening its impact locally and globally while setting a strong foundation for future growth Strategic investments in faculty, advanced practice providers, nursing, and research personnel strengthened the division’s capacity to deliver highly specialized, compassionate care to the most vulnerable newborns while expanding its academic and scholarly impact.

The division welcomed several outstanding new team members. Erin Plosa, MD, joined UNC in July 2025 as an Associate Professor, bringing deep expertise in neonatal lung disease and basic science research. Annie Westlund, MSN, NNP, began clinical practice in the Newborn Critical Care Center (NCCC) in January 2025, further enhancing advanced practice coverage and bedside excellence. Research operations were bolstered with the addition of Traci Clark, RN, C-NPT, as research nurse coordinator supporting clinical trials led by Dr. Matthew Laughon and Dr. Wes Jackson, and Alice Hoffsten, MD, PhD, who joined Dr Misty Good’s lab as a postdoctoral associate from Sweden Additionally, in recognition of sustained scholarly and leadership excellence, Dr. Melissa Bauserman was promoted to Professor of Pediatrics in March 2025.

Clinical Excellence

Clinical innovation was a hallmark of 2025 In July, the division launched a specialized Small Baby Unit, the Tiny Tar Heel Unit, led by Co-Medical Directors Andrea Trembath, MD, MPH, and Sarah Croop, DNP, NNP. This multidisciplinary unit provides highly specialized care for infants born at less than 28 weeks’ gestation, enhancing monitoring, continuity, and outcomes for the most vulnerable patients.

The division also implemented a neonatologist in-house night call program, ensuring 24/7 on-site attending coverage in the Newborn Critical Care Center (NCCC). Following the expansion of the NCCC, clinical volumes increased substantially. Since January 1, 2025, patient days rose by 11% and admissions per day increased by 13%, with patient days exceeding 26,000 in 2025.

MISTY GOOD, MD, MS

Division Chief

PROFESSORS

Soﬁa Aliaga, MD, MPH

Melissa Bauserman, MD, MPH

Matthew Laughon, MD, MPH

Susan Lynch, MD

Martin McCaﬀrey, MD

Michael O'Shea, Jr., MD, MPH

Wayne Price, MD

Andrea Trembath, MD, MPH

Karen Wood, MD

Misty Good, MD, MS

Wes Jackson, MD, MPH

Jackie Patterson, MD, MPH

Erin Plosa, MD

INSTRUCTORS

SusanGutierrez,BSN,RN,CPHQ,LSSYB

EHRA NON-FACULTY

Lauren Frazer, MD, PhD

Katie Paul, MD

Vijaya Reddy, MD, MRCP

Laura Reniker, MD

Genny Taylor, MD

Yukihiro Yamaguchi, PhD

Erika Yazawa, MD

KeithCochran,MLT(ASCP),MS,PMP,LSSBB

Corey Jania

NEONATAL-PERINATAL MEDICINE

The Special Infant Care Clinic (SICC) expanded substantially, now offering clinical psychology services, enhanced nutrition follow-up, and integrated social determinants of health screening with weekly interdisciplinary review. SICC now operates four days per week and recorded more than 1,200 patient visits in the past year.

The multidisciplinary Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia Program continued its weekly interdisciplinary model for a third consecutive year, demonstrating associations with reduced mortality, improved growth, and shorter length of stay. Amy Scofield, MSN, PNP, led a Gross Motor Assessment initiative enhancing the early identification of cerebral palsy

Cara Beth Carr, MD, was appointed Director of the UNC Neonatal Point-of-Care Ultrasound Program and Katie Paul, MD, was appointed Associate Director of the UNC Collaborative for Maternal and Infant Health.

EDUCATION

Educational programs continued to thrive. New fellows Alicia Grant, MD, and Shannon Isennock, MD, joined the program, while graduating fellow Amalia Lee, MD, accepted a faculty position at Atrium Health/Levine Children’s and received the Robert C. Cefalo Annual House Officer Award Fellowship complement expansion from two to three fellows per year was approved, with full implementation planned by July 2028

The division appointed its inaugural Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Chief Fellows, Emily Cox, MD, and Kelly Orgel, MD, PhD. Cara Beth Carr, MD, co-led the Triangle’s multiinstitutional NICU fellows boot camp. Fellows earned national recognition through Society for Pediatric Research awards and international presentations, reinforcing the division’s role as a leader in neonatal education and scholarship.

The UNC NICU NNP team received the Spring 2025 MSN Acute Care Preceptor Award from the Duke University School of Nursing, recognizing exceptional contributions to graduate nursing education

Jackie Patterson, MD, MPH, received the NPM Kcal Award from graduating fellows, recognizing her profound influence on their professional and personal development.

ADVANCED PRACTICE PROVIDERS

Kelly Allis, MSN, NNP

Alison Blake, MSN, NNP, IBCLC

Krista Bonner, MSN, NNP

Jenny Bowles-White, MSN, NNP, PNP

Riley Welch Bramley, MSN, NNP

Kristen Brandt, MSN, NNP

Theresa Campbell, MSN, NNP

Sarah Croop, DNP, NNP

Rani Delaney, DNP, NNP

Tina DeLoache, MSN, NNP

Katie DesJardin, MSN, NNP

Mary Earp, MSN, NNP

Kristey Evans, MSN, NNP

Nathan Glorioso, MSN, NNP

Lauren Hughes, MSN, NNP

AmyScofield,MSN,PNP

CaraBethCarr,MD

Christian James, MSN, PNP

Nicole Kuhn-Bostian, MSN, NNP, PCP

Sherry LeBlanc, MSN, NNP

Beth Lee, MSN, NNP

Lauren Lucas, MSN, NNP

Matthew Massaro, MSN, NNP

Sue Meier, ND, NNP, MBA, MPH

Jenny Miedema, MSN, NNP, PNP

Kimberly Nail, MSN, NNP

Madi Rooney, MSN, NNP

Amy Scoﬁeld, MSN, PNP

Ayla Sherman, MSN, NNP

April Smithwick, MSN, NNP

Felicia Soza, MSN, NNP

Sydney Stryker, MSN, NNP

FELLOWS

Catherine Bernstein, MD, MPH

Emily Cox, DO Amalia Lee, MD

Anna DePrenger, DO

Alicia Grant, MD

Shannon Isennock, MD

STAFF

Lauren Bolzan Gwen Burrows

Olivia Cassidy

Traci Clark

Jennifer Leonard Sneha Makhijani

Rachel Levy, MD

Kelly Orgel, MD, PhD

Jeanette Van Steyn, MD

Vikram Puri

Kalyn Purnell

Catherine Rizzuto

Owen Roque

Danielle Sklar

Jackie Patterson, MD, MPH

NEONATAL-PERINATAL MEDICINE

DEVELOPMENT, RECOGNITION, AND AWARDS

Faculty, advanced practice providers, and nursing staff earned numerous prestigious honors reflecting a culture of mentorship, professionalism, and patient-centered care

Michael O’Shea, MD, MPH, was named the 2025 UNC Pediatrics Mentor of the Year, underscoring decades of transformative mentorship.

Melissa Bauserman, MD, MPH, was elected to the American Pediatric Society, recognizing national and international academic distinction

Katie Paul, MD, completed the faculty development program Passing the Torch: Fostering Medical Humanism through Develop g y Jenny Bowles-White, MSN, PNP, NNP, received the Carolina for the Kids Award for Excellence in Patient and Family-Centered Care.

Lauren Frazer, MD, PhD, was selected for multiple national career development programs, including the Neonatal Early Career Exchange Program, the Compass Program, the EMBO Laboratory Leadership Course, and the AAMC Women’s Early Career Faculty Leadership Development Program.

The APP Center named Wayne Price, MD, as 2025 APP Physician Partner in Excellence. Additional nominees include:

·Excellence in Clinical Practice: Kristina DeLoach, NNP and Mary Elizabeth Lee, NNP Excellence in Leadership (Formal): Amy Scofield, PNP and April Smithwick, NNP

·Excellence in Teaching: Matthew Massaro, NNP and Rani Delaney, NNP

·Unsung Hero: Sarah Croop, DNP, NNP

Karen Wood, MD, received a Carolina Care Provider Superstar Award based on Press Ganey patient experience survey results. Erika Yazawa, MD, was selected for the UNC IHQI Improvement Scholars Program for her quality improvement work reducing unplanned extubations.

Misty Good, MD, MS, Division Chief, was elected to the American Society for Clinical Investigation and accepted as a Fellow in the Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) program.

Reena Joseph, RN, was honored with the DAISY Award® for extraordinary compassion and clinical excellence.

MelissaBauserman,MD,MPH

Kathryn J. Paul, MD

Karen S. Wood, MD

Michael O’Shea, MD, MPH

NEONATAL-PERINATAL MEDICINE

ADVOCACY

Advocacy efforts emphasized equity and awareness. Katie Paul, MD, and Rachel Levy, MD, launched the FOR ALL curriculum, applying a fairness lens to clinical case discussions and guideline development. The Good Lab led NEC Awareness Day activities in May, engaging staff and families while raising visibility for this devastating condition

RESEARCH

Research productivity and global impact expanded in 2025. Melissa Bauserman, MD, MPH, and Jackie Patterson, MD, MPH, continued NIH-funded work through the Global Network grant and launched two new clinical trials, including a UNC–Kinshasa School of Public Health collaboration evaluating caffeine therapy for hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.

Misty Good, MD, MS, co-chaired the 2025 Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) Symposium in Chicago, sponsored by UNC Children’s in partnership with the NEC Society and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Several members of the Good Lab presented their work reflecting national leadership in NEC research. Dr. Good received a generous donation to her lab to support her ongoing biobanking efforts. She also received the Yang Biomedical Scholar Award which provided significant support for laboratory investigation, and was elected Co-President of the Association of Academic Neonatal Division Directors.

Rachel Levy, MD

MelissaBauserman,MD,MPH

NEONATAL-PERINATAL MEDICINE

Received support from Duke University in the amount of $62,200 for the project 'Improving Neonatal health Through Rapid malaria testing in Early Pregnancy with high-sensitivity Diagnostics (INTREPiD)'.

Received support from NIH National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) in the amount of $596,694 for the project 'The University of North Carolina-Kinshasa School of Public Health Research Partnership in the Democratic Republic of Congo; a Model for Improving Women's and Children's Health Through Research'

Received support from Research Triangle Institute (RTI International) in the amount of $1,239,484 for the project 'CHIME Study: Caffeine for treatment of Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy'.

Lauren Frazer, MD, PhD

Misty Good, MD, MS

Received support from NIH National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) in the amount of $174,114 for the project 'Regulation of signaling pathways mediating epithelial cell injury in the neonatal intestine'.

Received support from Mother's Milk is Best, Inc. in the amount of $174,168 for the project 'SBIR: Point of Care maternal milk concentration device to optimize neonatal growth with targeted nutrition support'

Received support from NIH National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) in the amount of $725,129 for the project 'Reprogramming intestinal immunity in preterm neonates to prevent and cure necrotizing enterocolitis'.

Wes Jackson, MD, MPH Was awarded new funding from Duke University in the amount of $4,500 for the project 'Pharmacokinetics, Safety and Preliminary Efficacy Study of Montelukast in Critically Ill Infants with Developing Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (PRISM)'.

Received support from NIH National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) in the amount of $172,581 for the project 'Dose Optimization for Novel Drugs for Infants with Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy'.

Received support from Duke University in the amount of $600 for the project 'Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, and Safety Profile of Understudied Drugs Administered to Children per Standard of Care (POPS) Task Order 2'.

Received support from Duke University in the amount of $87,000 for the project 'Safety of Sildenafil in Premature Infants with Severe Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia'.

Matthew Laughon, MD, MPH

Received support from Duke University in the amount of $122,478 for the project 'Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Study of Montelukast in Infants with Developing BPD (PRISM)'.

Received support from Duke University in the amount of $22,065 for the project 'Transfusion of Prematures Early School Age Follow-Up (TOP 5)'.

NEONATAL-PERINATAL MEDICINE

ResearchAwards

Matthew Laughon, MD, MPH

Martin McCaffrey, MD

Received support from Duke University in the amount of $40,189 for the project 'Duke NRN Fixed Rate Subawards'.

Received support from Duke University in the amount of $19,998 for the project 'Eunice Kennedy Shriver NICHD Cooperative Multicenter Neonatal Research Network'.

Received support from NCDHHS Division of Health Benefits (DHB) (Formerly NCDHHS Division of Medical Assistance) in the amount of $225,350 for the project 'FY22 FY23 FY24 PQCNC State Contract'.

Received support from DHHS Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) in the amount of $248,275 for the project 'PQCNC Building AIM Capacity'

Received support from NCDHHS Division of Health Benefits (DHB) (Formerly NCDHHS Division of Medical Assistance) in the amount of $901,400 for the project 'FY26 FY27 PQCNC State Contract'.

T. Michael O’Shea, MD, MPH

JackiePatterson,MD,MPH

Wayne Price, MD

FeaturedPublications

Received support from Ann Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago in the amount of $122,148 for the project 'Long-term Endotypes of Prematurity Associated Respiratory Disease (LEOPARD)'.

Was awarded new funding from Laerdal Foundation in the amount of $450,000 for the project 'Making Every Newborn birth a Learning Event'.

Was awarded new funding from Chiesi USA, Inc. in the amount of $2,373 for the project 'North Carolina Combined Neonatal-Perinatal Fellowship Bootcamp 2025'.

Population Pharmacokinetics of Caffeine in Infants with Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy: A Phase I, DoseEscalating Trial.

Thompson EJ, Gonzalez D, Dumond J, Hornik CP, Kilborn A, Laughon MM, Jackson WM Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.

Early Intratracheal Budesonide to Reduce Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia in Extremely Preterm Infants: The Budesonide in Babies (BiB) Randomized Clinical Trial. Ambalavanan N, Carlo WA, Nowak KJ, Wiener LE, Cosby SS, Bhatt AJ, Watterberg KL, Poindexter BB, Keszler M, D'Angio CT, Brion LP, Narendran V, Rau CA, Cotten CM, Laughon MM, Das A, Rysavy MA, Hibbs AM, Fuller J, Puopolo KM, Katheria A, Patel RM, Bermick JR, Laptook AR, Prelipcean I, Wyckoff MH, Moore R, Merhar SL, Ohls RK, Yoder BA, Perez M, Ghavam S, Meyer LR, Chock VY, DeMauro SB, Jackson WM, Handa D, Walsh MC; National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network. Journal of the American Medical Association.

Detection of an intestinal cell DNA methylation signature in blood samples from neonates with necrotizing enterocolitis.

Frazer L, Chu T, Shaw P, Boufford C, Naief LT, Ednie M, Ritzert L, Green CP, Good M, Peters D. Epigenomics.

Darbepoetin, Red Cell Mass, and Neuroprotection in Preterm Infants: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Ohls RK, Das A, Tan S, Lowe JR, Schibler K, Beauman SS, Bell EF, Laptook AR, Baserga M, Patel RM, Carlton DP, Flibotte J, Grisby C, Higgins RD, Shankaran S, Watterberg K, Hibbs AM, Carlo WA, Colaizy TT, Van Meurs KP, Kicklighter SD, Moore R, Sollinger C, Chalak LF, Ghavam S, Poindexter BB, Tyson JE, Cotten CM, Baack ML, Fathi O, DeMauro SB, Laughon MM, Reynolds AM, Duncan AF, Winter S, Wilson-Costello DE, Peralta-Carcelen M, Vohr BR, Harmon HM, Hintz SR, Cavanaugh B, Heyne RJ, Merhar S, Mosquera R, Sewell E, Malcolm WF, Richards LA, Benninger KL, Trembath A; Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network. Journal of the American Medical Association Pediatrics.

Whole-Body Hypothermia for Neonatal Encephalopathy in Preterm Infants 33 to 35 Weeks' Gestation: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Faix RG, Laptook AR, Shankaran S, Eggleston B, Chowdhury D, Heyne RJ, Das A, Pedroza C, Tyson JE, Wusthoff C, Bonifacio SL, Sánchez PJ, Yoder BA, Laughon MM, Vasil DM, Van Meurs KP, Crawford MM, Higgins RD, Poindexter BB, Colaizy TT, Hamrick SEG, Chalak LF, Ohls RK, Hartley-McAndrew ME, Dysart K, D'Angio CT, Guillet R, Kicklighter SD, Carlo WA, Sokol GM, DeMauro SB, Hibbs AM, Cotten CM, Merhar SL, Bapat RV, Harmon HM, Sewell E, Winter S, Natarajan G, Mosquera R, Hintz SR, Maitre NL, Benninger KL, Peralta-Carcelen M, Hines AC, Duncan AF, WilsonCostello DE, Trembath A, Malcolm WF, Walsh MC; Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network. Journal of the American Medical Association Pediatrics.

Furosemide Safety in Preterm Infants at Risk for Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Greenberg RG, Lang J, Smith PB, Shekhawat P, Courtney SE, Hudak ML, Moya F, Iyengar A, Eldemerdash A, Bloom B, Go M, Hanna M, Rhein L, Aliaga S, Lewis T, Febre A, Kiefer AS, Bhatt-Mehta V, Khoury JA, Selewski D, Anand R, Martz K, Payne EH, Zimmerman KO, Benjamin DK Jr, Laughon M; Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act – Pediatric Trials Network Steering Committee. The Journal of Pediatrics.

Associations among positive child health measures in the environmental influences on child health outcomes (ECHO) cohort.

Taylor GL, Burjak M, Ray D, Blackwell CK, Santos HP, Ganiban J, Dunlop AL, Elliott AJ, Aschner JL, Stroustrup A, Bekelman TA, Barone C, Camargo CA Jr, McEvoy CT, Tung I, Schweitzer JB, Herbstman J, Wright RO, Wright RJ, Akinkugbe AA, Kelly RS, Hartert TV, Patterson BL, Bendixsen C, Cassidy-Bushrow AE, O'Shea TM, Fry RC; program collaborators for Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes. Quality of Life Research.

Cost-effectiveness of intrapartum azithromycin to prevent maternal infection, sepsis, or death in lowincome and middle-income countries: a modelling analysis of data from a randomised, multicentre, placebo-controlled trial.

Patterson JK, Neuwahl S, Kirsch S, Moore JL, Tita ATN, Carlo WA, Lokangaka A, Tshefu A, Mwenechanya M, Chomba E, Kavi A, Metgud MC, Goudar SS, Derman RJ, Shivkumar P, Waikar M, Patel A, Hibberd PL, Nyongesa P, Esamai F, Ekhaguere OA, Bucher S, Jessani S, Tikmani SS, Saleem S, Wylie BJ, Goldenberg RL, Billah SM, Lennox R, Haque R, Petri WA, Mazariegos M, Krebs NF, Hemingway-Foday JJ, Babineau D, Koso-Thomas M, McClure EM, Bauserman M. The Lancet Global Health.

Establishment of a neonatal resuscitation registry in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: An open cohort study.

Mackay A, Ishoso D, Mafuta E, Eilevstjønn J, Gomez P, Carlo W, Bauserman M, Bose C, Patterson JK. Public Library of Science One.

Preclinical usability evaluation of the Liveborn app: A mobile health application that provides feedback for neonatal resuscitation.

Ishoso D, Mafuta E, Bettinger K, Bose C, Chi BH, Haug I, Gomez P, Eilevstjønn J, McRea A, Myklebust H, Tshefu A, Patterson JK. Public Library of Science Digit Health.

EMERGENCY MEDICINE

CHERYLJACKSON,MD

Division Chief

PROFESSORS

Cheryl Jackson, MD

Amy Levine, MD

Rebecca Matthews, MD

William Mills, MD, MPH

ASSOCIATEPROFESSORS

Daniel Park, MD, MBA

Shiva Zargham, MD, MSc

ASSISTANT PROFESSORS

Kristen Capito, DO

Robert Clemmons, MD, MPH

Marie-Pier Lirette, MBChB, MSc

Maura Olcese, MD

Amanda Rosemarie Saad, MD

ADVANCEDPRACTICE

PROVIDERS

Latonya Logan, MSN

Alexandria Whitted, MSN

STAFF

Brittney Stone, MS, MBA

The Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine experienced a year of growth and transition. Strategic investments in people, systems, and environments strengthened care delivery and reinforced the mission to provide safe, compassionate, and evidence-based emergency care for children. In 2025, the addition of new team members and recognition of departing colleagues further strengthened operations and a culture of collaboration, innovation, and familycentered care

New team members joining the division included Katie Smith, RN, who assumed the role of Nurse Manager, bringing strong leadership and operational expertise. Emma Breakey joined as a Child Life Specialist, enhancing psychosocial support for pediatric patients and families. The physician team expanded with the addition of two new providers:

Dr. Amanda Saad joined the team as an Assistant Professor in March 2025. Dr. Saad earned her medical degree from the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, completed her pediatric residency at Duke University Hospitals, and completed a fellowship in Pediatric Emergency Medicine at UNC.

Dr. Marie-Pier Lirette joined the team as an Assistant Professor in August 2025. Dr. Lirette earned her medical degree from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, completed her pediatric residency and fellowship in Pediatric Emergency Medicine at the Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto.

The division also recognized the departure of a valued colleague. Heartfelt appreciation is extended to Heather Domenick, CCLS, for outstanding service to Children’s Urgent Care from February 2020 through May 2025 As a Child Life Specialist, Heather Domenick consistently demonstrated compassion, creativity, and dedication in supporting children and families during some of their most vulnerable moments

CLINICAL EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION

Clinical operations in 2025 reflected a sustained commitment to quality, efficiency, and patient-centered care. Pediatric Urgent Care successfully met all quality metrics established through the UNC Health Urgent Care Improvement Collaborative, reinforcing high standards of access, safety, and clinical outcomes.

Workflow enhancements were achieved through the implementation of multiple new Epic clinical pathways, supporting evidence-based management of asthma, oral rehydration, measles, sepsis, and bronchiolitis. These pathways improved clinical consistency, supported timely decision-making, and enhanced interdisciplinary coordination in high-acuity and high-volume scenarios.

System-wide leadership in clinical pathway development was also recognized. The Care Redesign team acknowledged outstanding contributions to the AgileMD platform (Pathways@UNC). Dr. Daniel Park led the development of multiple pediatric pathways with a focus on improving care delivery in emergency and acute care settings This work supported the integration of standardized, evidence-based tools into daily clinical practice, promoting efficiency, reliability, and high-quality outcomes Dr. Park’s leadership exemplified collaboration and innovation, core drivers of care redesign at UNC Health

EMERGENCY MEDICINE

The patient care environment was further enriched through visual enhancements, including new murals within the Pediatric Emergency Department space. These improvements contributed to a more welcoming and child-friendly atmosphere, supporting emotional comfort for patients and families during emergency visits.

EMERGENCY MEDICINE

DEVELOPMENT, RECOGNITION, AND AWARDS

The division earned recognition for quality improvement and professional excellence in 2025. An Institute for Healthcare Quality Improvement (IHQI)–sponsored project, “Debriefing after Clinical Events in the Pediatric ED,” led by Dr. Shiva Zargham, received the 2025 UNC Hospitals and Faculty Practice Quality and Safety Award. The initiative standardized debriefing processes, driving system improvements through interdisciplinary collaboration and reinforcing a culture of safety and continuous learning.

Additionally, Dr. Daniel Park was named Associate Chief Medical Officer for UNC Children’s, reflecting the division’s leadership in advancing clinical excellence and system-level impact.

Professional excellence among advanced practice providers was also recognized. The APP Center nominated LaTonya Logan, PNP, for the 2025 APP Excellence in Clinical Practice Award, highlighting exemplary clinical skill, dedication to patient care, and leadership within the pediatric emergency setting. Alexandria Whitted, PNP was also nominated for the 2025 APP Excellence Award as an Unsung Hero.

ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Advocacy and statewide collaboration remained central to the division’s mission in 2025. Dr. Cheryl Jackson served as Chair of the North Carolina Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) Advisory Committee. In this role, Dr. Jackson partnered with pediatric emergency medicine leaders across North Carolina to advance the quality of emergency care for children in both pre-hospital settings and emergency departments statewide. This leadership supported system-level improvements, strengthened communication across care environments, and amplified the voice of pediatric emergency medicine in policy and practice discussions.

FeaturedPublication

A Case Series of the Use of Intranasal Dexmedetomidine for Procedural Sedation in the Pediatric Emergency

Gregory, H., Bethel, C., Anton, G., Whitaker, M., Zargham, S. Journal of Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics.

Pain Management in Pediatric Trauma: A Multidisciplinary, Patient-Centered Approach. Gregory H, Wiemer KN, Park DB. Advanced Emergency Nursing Journal.

Department.

TEAM MEMBERS

Arshiya Ahuja, MD

Thomas Alexander, MD, MPH

Melissa Bauserman, MD, MPH

Sylvia Becker-Dreps, MD, MPH

Ross Boyce, MD, MSc

Emily Ciccone, MD, MHS

Elizabeth Fitzgerald, MD

Dorey A Glenn, MD, MPH

Adriana Herrera, MD, MPH

Nadia Hoekstra, MD

Tisungane Mvalo, MBBS

Jackie Patterson, MD, MPH

Indriati Hood Pishchany, MD, PhD

Raquel Reyes, MD, MPA

Sahal Thahir, MD

Peyton Thompson, MD, MSCR

Alyssa Tilly, MD

Steven Weinberg, MD

Kate Westmoreland, MD

The Global Health Pathway continued to serve as a key training platform for residents committed to careers in global child health. Established in 2020, the Pathway provides a structured, longitudinal curriculum designed for residents in Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, and Medicine Pediatrics who wish to develop advanced competencies in both international and local underserved settings.

The 2025 cohort included three incoming residents and celebrated three graduates who completed capstone projects reﬂecting a wide range of global health interests In addition to international work, Pathway residents continued to engage in community-based initiatives supporting refugee and immigrant populations, reinforcing the program’s commitment to global health engagement both abroad and at home.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Dr. Arshiya Ahuja developed a comprehensive online modular curriculum and toolkit designed to support global health educators working with learners from diverse training backgrounds. This resource enhances faculty capacity and broadens access to high quality global health teaching materials.

Dr. Adrianna Herrera launched a new resident‑focused newsletter to highlight global health opportunities at UNC and internationally, improving communication, awareness, and engagement among trainees. Additionally, the program completed its ninth annual Global Health Simulation Course, oﬀering residents intensive, hands-on training in the management of critically ill children and adults in low-resource settings

Dr. Elizabeth Fitzgerald expanded her educational and research collaborations in Malawi, working closely with medical students and residents on clinical training initiatives. Her eﬀorts also focused on developing new UNC partnerships to strengthen global health research and program development in the region

RESEARCH & IMPROVING CARE

UNC Pediatric faculty work around the globe in discovery research, implementation science, clinical care, and advocacy.

AFRICA

Dr. Alyssa Tilly furthered her leadership in pediatric palliative care, presenting her work from Malawi at both the African Palliative Care Association and the African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer.

Dr. Sahal Thahir continued his longstanding partnership in western Kenya investigating poor vaccine efficacy of the RTSS/AS,01E malaria vaccine in young children from sub-Saharan Africa Using systems immunology techniques, he has developed early markers for potential correctable environmental and nutritional determinants.

Dr. Emily Ciccone continued her longstanding work in western Uganda studying the use of diagnostics to improve antibiotic stewardship for pediatric acute respiratory illnesses.

Dr. Melissa Bauserman and Dr. Jackie Patterson continued to advance neonatal and maternal health through sustained NIH and Gates Foundation funded initiatives. In partnership with the UNC–Kinshasa School of Public Health, the team launched two major clinical trials this year, including a landmark randomized controlled clinical trial evaluating caﬀeine as a potential therapy for hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, a major cause of newborn mortality and long-term neurodevelopmental impairment This trial will be conducted in DRC, Zambia, Guatemala, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh.

Dr. Patterson led a cluster randomized trial of the LIVEBORN app, a mobile health app that delivers audio-visual real-time guidance and supports debriefing for newborn resuscitations, with midwives in the DRC (Funder: NICHD). She also leads the “Making Every Birth a Learning Event” program which is in its fourth year collecting data on resuscitation care in a health facility in Kinshasa (Funder: Laerdal Foundation).

Dr. Nadia Hoekstra continued to expand her global respiratory health research through work in South Africa and Bangladesh focused on digital auscultation and effort independent lung function testing in children. Her contributions support the development of innovative diagnostic tools to improve respiratory care for children worldwide

Dr. Peyton Thompson continues to lead the UNC/DRC hepatitis research group in DRC, established in 2018. The group recently completed the COMBAT RCT (NCT#05705427), a placebo-controlled trial funded by Doris Duke Foundation to evaluate a simplified approach to preventing vertical transmission of hepatitis B.

Dr. Kate Westmoreland oversees her ongoing NIH-funded pediatric oncology research group at UNC Project Malawi, where she focuses on improving understanding of treatment related toxicities in pediatric Burkitt lymphoma by studying methotrexate pharmacokinetics and incorporating patient reported symptom outcome measures.

Dr. Gugu Mapurisa completed his patient oncology fellowship training, co-sponsored by UNC’s D43 and Dr Westmoreland’s Robinson Malawi Fund He was recently returned to UNC Project Malawi and was awarded a NIH UJMT Fogarty fellowship award that will start in July 2026.

SOUTHEAST ASIA

Dr. Thomas Alexander collaborates with pathology and oncology teams in Pakistan, India, and Brazil to develop and implement resource-appropriate diagnostics for pediatric cancer classification. The work includes assessment of barriers and facilitators, training, data analysis, and advocacy.

CENTRAL AMERICA

Dr. Sylvia Becker-Dreps directs the School of Medicine’s Office of Global Health Education, supporting UNC medical students, residents, and fellows interested in global health. She also researches pediatric infectious diseases, such as diarrhea and Zika, and child development in Central America and has worked to increase research capacity in the region.

TONI DARVILLE, MD

Division Chief

PROFESSORS

Thomas Belhorn, MD, PhD

Toni Darville, MD

Catherine O’Connell, PhD

Xiaojing Zheng, PhD

ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS

Zachary Willis, MD, MPH

ASSISTANT PROFESSORS

Bryce Duncan, PhD

You Li, PhD

IndriatiHoodPishchany,MD,PhD

Taylor Poston, PhD

Marsha Russell, MD

Peyton Thompson, MD, MSCR

Matthew Vogt, MD, PhD

INSTRUCTORS

Sahal Thahir, MD

EHRA NON-FACULTY

Jenna Girardi, BS

Muzammel Haque, PhD

Will Hendrick, PhD

Timothy Thoner, PhD

FELLOWS

Marielys Collazo-Roman, MD

POST DOCS

Lorellin Durnell, PhD

Eun Sol Kim, PhD

STAFF

Nefer Batsuli

Aakash Bhardwaj

Camille Campbell

Laura Gallaher, LCSW

Dawn Garner, CPNP

Erica Klaiber

Kathryn McFadden

Karen Sharpe

Colleen Vavra, MHA

In 2025, the Pediatric Division of Infectious Diseases strengthened its academic and operational foundation through strategic faculty recruitment, high-impact scholarship, leadership in professional societies, and meaningful engagement in institutional and global health initiatives. These combined efforts further positioned the Division as a leader in advancing child health locally and worldwide.

The Division welcomed several new team members whose expertise and accomplishments enhanced its research and training missions. Sahal Thahir, MD, joined the faculty as a Research Instructor following completion of his fellowship training at UNC Dr. Thahir was awarded a prestigious $130,000 Burroughs Wellcome Fund/ASTMH Postdoctoral Fellowship to support his study, “Malaria Vaccine Antibody Responses in Africa,” underscoring the Division’s commitment to global infectious disease research.

Tim Thoner, PhD, joined as a Research Associate working with Dr. Matthew Vogt. Also, Nefer Batsuli joined the team as a Research Specialist working with Dr. Peyton Thompson and Dr. Toni Darville.

CLINICAL PROGRAMS

Clinical services within the Division experienced significant growth in 2025, reflecting both increased patient volume and expanding clinical scope.

The division continues to work toward the opening of a new Travel Clinic, expanding access to pre-travel consultation, immunizations, and post-travel evaluation for pediatric patients and families. This service supports both local and global health needs and complements the Division’s strong expertise in tropical medicine and travelrelated infections.

System-wide leadership in clinical pathway development was also recognized. The Care Redesign team acknowledged outstanding contributions to the AgileMD platform (Pathways@UNC). Dr. Zachary Willis played a key leadership role in creating multiple pediatric care pathways, including those for asthma, sepsis, appendicitis, H5N1, oral rehydration, and measles. His efforts have significantly contributed to reducing clinical variation and enhancing decision support at UNC Health.

EDUCATION AND FELLOW ACHIEVEMENTS

Educational excellence remained a cornerstone of the Division’s mission. Dr. Marielys Collazo-Roman, received the prestigious PIDS Plotkin and Sanofi Pasteur Fellowship Award, including $100,000 in support of her project, “The Role of Dengue Virus Envelope Protein Dimer Binding Antibodies in Serotype-Cross Protective Immunity.”

ZacharyWillis,MD,MPH

INFECTIOUS DISEASES

EDUCATION AND FELLOW ACHIEVEMENTS

Dr. Collazo-Roman was offered the position of Katz-Denny Fellow within the Duke University/University of North Carolina Unified Program for Therapeutics in Children (UPTiC) T32 program, including 75% protected research time and additional funds for research expenses.

Additionally, Dr. Collazo-Roman joined the UNC Global Health Scholars Program and the Carolina Child Health Scholars Program.

RESEARCH

The Division sustained a robust and diverse research portfolio in 2025, supported by numerous extramural and institutional grants.

Dr. Peyton Thompson served as Co-Investigator on a $1.66 million Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation award focused on Treponema pallidum genomic epidemiology to inform syphilis vaccine development. She also led an Open Philanthropy/Coefficient Giving award totaling $625,000 to study hepatitis B and D prevalence and adherence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and received a $150,000 Simmons Scholar Award addressing healthcare inequities among pregnant and postpartum individuals affected by hepatitis B and C.

Dr. Indriati Hood-Pishchany served as Lead Principal Investigator on a $499,886 Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation award supporting VMRC bacterial community co-culture preclinical studies

Dr. Matthew Vogt received support through an NIAID/NCI contract for the Pandemic Response Repository (PREMISE) Enterovirus D68 Pilot Study and additional funding through UNC TTSA to investigate immunologic determinants of enterovirus D68 neuropathogenesis.

Dr. Taylor Poston led a $200,000 Vaxcyte-sponsored project to refine a benchmark CPAF vaccine for Chlamydia trachomatis and served as Co-Principal Investigator on a $125,000 UNC Institute for Convergent Sciences award focused on antigen-adjuvant conjugate vaccine development.

Dr. Marsha Russell received $91,100 through a Duke University/HRSA award supporting comprehensive medical services for HIV-infected women, children, and youth.

Dr. Bryce Duncan received the UNC Junior Faculty Development Award.

Dr. You Li received a UNC Core Facility Coupon Award to support innovative spatial transcriptomic analysis of hepatitis A virus pathogenesis. Dr. Li also received an STTR Phase II grant as subaward PI for “Hepatoselective Dihydroquinolizinone (HS-DHQ) Molecules for Treatment and Prevention of Hepatitis A Virus (HAV) Infection”.

PeytonThompson,MD,MSCR

I.Hood-Pishchany,MD,PhD

MatthewVogt,MD,PhD

YouLi,PhD

BryceDuncan,PhD

INFECTIOUS DISEASES

DEVELOPMENT, RECOGNITION, AND AWARDS

Division faculty received multiple honors and recognitions in 2025, reflecting their sustained contributions to clinical excellence, research innovation, and academic leadership.

Dr. Matthew Vogt received a James W. Woods Junior Faculty Award. The James W. Woods Junior Faculty Award is one of the most prestigious awards given to School of Medicine junior faculty members The award recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of the recipients and bestow a monetary award that the awardees can use at their discretion to further their research programs. Dr. Vogt also served as an ad hoc reviewer for leading scientific journals, including PLOS Pathogens, Nature Microbiology, ASM Case Reports, Cell Host & Microbe, and eLife.

Faculty members also continued to contribute their expertise through service on national and international review panels and committees. Dr. Indriati Hood-Pishchany served as a reviewer for the NC TraCS Clinical and Translational Science Pilot Awards and as an ad hoc reviewer for both the Swiss National Science Foundation and the UK Research and Innovation Medical Research Council Career Development Award. Dr. Marsha Russell continued her service as a member of the UNC Infection Control Committee and the Duke/UNC Ryan White WI Committee, contributing to institutional and regional HIV care strategies

Peyton Thompson, MD, PhD, maintained active membership in the International Society of Travel Medicine and served as an ad hoc reviewer for numerous journals, including Tropical Medicine and Health, Bulletin of the World Health Organization, Vaccine, Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, and JPIDS.

Taylor Poston, PhD, MPH, was a recipient of a 2026-2027 UNC Junior Faculty Development Award. Funded by IBM and R.J. Reynolds Industries, Inc., these awards support junior faculty in advancing their research and scholarship. In addition, Dr. Poston served as Review Editor for Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, NPJ Vaccines, and MDPI Vaccines, and also reviewed grants for the UNC TraCS CTS Pilot Grant Program.

Tom Belhorn, MD, PhD, received the 2025 Emonson Award. The Emonson Award is presented annually to a nurse, resident, and faculty member who best represents the mission and spirit of UNC Children’s. These annual awards highlight professionalism among all those who work to further child health. Dr. Belhorn continued extensive institutional service as a member of the Hospital Infection Control Committee, UNC Hospitals CDI Core Workgroup, UNC CASP Committee, UNC Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee, and the Antibiotic Subcommittee. He also served as a reviewer for Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, Pediatrics, PLOS One, Journal of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, and other pediatric subspecialty journals

In addition to her broad leadership roles, Toni Darville, MD, continued to serve as the CoDirector of the UNC SOM medical scientist training program and UNC School of Medicine Physician-Scientist Training Program Selection Committees, supporting the next generation of clinician-scientists and reviewed NIH Fellowship grants for NIAID/NIH.

ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Division faculty demonstrated a strong commitment to advocacy and community engagement. Catherine O’Connell, MD, remained actively involved with the Preeclampsia Foundation’s Vision and PJP Pappas grant programs, served on an NIH study section, and continued as an Associate Editor for Frontiers in Immunology. She also served on the Reviewer Board for Vaccines, the Department of Pediatrics Promise Grant Review Committee, and as an ad hoc interviewer for the UNC Biological & Biomedical Sciences Program.

INFECTIOUS DISEASES

ResearchAwards

MarielysCollazo-Roman,MD,MSc Was awarded new funding from Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (PIDS) in the amount of $50,000 for the project 'The role of dengue virus envelope protein dimer binding antibodies in serotype-cross protective immunity'.

Was awarded new funding through the Duke/UNC Unified Program for Therapeutics in Children (UPTiC) program.

ToniDarville,MD

Grace Polson, graduate student in the Darville Lab, was awarded funding from NIH National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) in the amount of $36,856 for the project 'Determining the efficacy and protective mechanism of a bivalent Chlamydia vaccine'.

Received support from Pfizer Inc (Connecticut) in the amount of $849,361 for the project 'mRNA Vaccine Against Chlamydia Trachomatis'

Received support from NIH National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) in the amount of $1,925,693 for the project 'Development of a recombinant protein vaccine for Chlamydia trachomatis' .

IndriatiHood-Pishchany,MD,PhD Was awarded new funding from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in the amount of $500,000 for the project 'Validating EVE as a preclinical model to support nextgeneration LBP development'.

YouLi,PhD

Taylor Poston, PhD, MPH

Was awarded new funding from Harlingene Life Science LLC in the amount of $279,491 for the project 'STTR: Hepatoselective Dihydroquinolizinone (HS-DHQ) Molecules for Treatment and Prevention of Hepatitis A Virus (HAV) Infection'.

Received support from Vaxcyte, Inc in the amount of $200,000 for the project 'Refining a benchmark CPAF vaccine for Chlamydia trachomatis'

Marsha Russell, MD Received support from Duke University in the amount of $91,100 for the project 'Coordinated Comprehensive Medical Services for HIV Infected Women, Children and Youth'.

PeytonThompson,MD,MSCR Was awarded new funding from Coefficient Giving in the amount of $624,994 for the project 'Prevalence and Adherence for the Control of HepaTitis B and D in the DRC (PACT-DRC)'.

Matthew Vogt, MD, PhD Was awarded new funding from University of Colorado Denver in the amount of $261,580 for the project 'Pandemic Response Repository - Microbial and Immune Surveillance and Epidemiology (PREMISE): Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) Pilot Study Phase IV'.

Received support from NIH National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) in the amount of $150,011 for the project 'Human antibody modification of enterovirus D68 infection'.

Received support from NIH National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) in the amount of $611,746 for the project 'Human Antibody Cross-Reactivity in Non-Polio Enteroviruses'.

Zachary Willis, MD, MPH

Received support from Merck Sharp and Dohme Corp. in the amount of $12,492 for the project 'A Phase 3, Multicenter, Randomized, Partially Blinded, PalivizumabControlled Study to Evaluate the Safety, Efficacy, and Pharmacokinetics of MK-1654 in Infants and Children at Increased Risk for Severe RSV Disease'.

INFECTIOUS DISEASES

FeaturedPublications

Perceived Shifts in Routine Vaccine Confidence During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Kinshasa Province, DRC: A Mixed-Methods Approach.

Boisson-Walsh A, Ngimbi P, Morgan CE, Stover AM, Mbonze N, Ntambua S, Matondo J, Yotebieng M, Kashamuka MM, James L, Parr JB, Mampunza S, Thompson P. Public Library of Science Global Public Health.

Pediatric antibiotic stewardship programs: the path forward. Girotto JE, Nichols K, Ogrin SL, Parsons S, Wilson WS. Journal of Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics.

Children with hepatitis B virus infections, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Morgan CE, Powers KA, Edwards JK, Devkota U, Biju S, Lin FC, Schmitz JL, Cloherty G, Muwonga J, Mboyo A, Tshiamala P, Kashamuka MM, Tshefu A, Emch M, Yotebieng M, Becker-Dreps S, Parr JB, Thompson P. Bulletin of the World Health Organization.

Noncanonical poly(A) polymerase TENT4 drives expression of subgenomic hepatitis A virus RNAs in infected cells.

Li Y, Gupta A, Papas B, Aponte-Diaz D, Harris JM, Misumi I, Whitmire JK, Cameron CE, Morgan M, Lemon SM. Viruses.

EV68-228-N monoclonal antibody treatment halts progression of paralysis in a mouse model of EV-D68 induced acute flaccid myelitis.

Rudy MJ, Wilson CJ, Hinckley B, Baker DC, Royal JM, Hoke MP, Brennan MB, Vogt MR, Clarke P, Tyler KL mBio

Hepato-selective dihydroquinolizinones active against hepatitis A virus in vitro and in vivo.

Misumi I, Yue Z, Jiang Z, Karampoori A, Whitmire JK, Cullen JM, Block T, Lemon SM, Du Y, Li Y. Antiviral Research.

Diagnostic-avoiding Chlamydia trachomatis variants detected in cervical and endometrial specimens from women during 16S microbiome profiling.

Jeong S, Tollison T, Brochu H, Chou H, Yu T, Baghaie P, Yount KS, Darville T, Wiesenfeld HC, Hillier SL, Peng X, O’Connell CM. BMC Infectious Diseases.

Impact of elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor on microbiology and antibiotic utilization in people with cystic fibrosis.

Williams CL, Billings J, McGowan H, McDevitt R, Esther Jr CR, McKinzie CJ, Wilson WS, Kam CW. Pediatric Pulmonology.

T cell signatures associated with reduced Chlamydia trachomatis reinfection in a highly exposed cohort. Yount KS, Chen CJ, Kollipara A, Liu C, Mokashi NV, Zheng X, Bagwell CB, Poston TB, Wiesenfeld HC, Hillier SL, O’Connell CM, Stanley N, Darville T. Journal of Clinical Investigation Insight.

Intranasal immunization with CPAF combined with ADU-S100 induces an effector CD4 T cell response and reduces bacterial burden following intravaginal infection with Chlamydia muridarum.

Poston TB, Girardi J, Kim M, Zwarycz P, Polson AG, Yount KS, Hanlan C, Jaras Salas I, Lammert SM, Arroyo D, Bruno T, Wu M, Rozzelle J, Fairman J, Esser-Khan A, Darville T. Vaccine.

www.med.unc.edu/pediatrics/endo

In 2025, the Pediatric Division of Endocrinology demonstrated sustained excellence across clinical care, research innovation, education, and national leadership. Ranked #30 nationally by U.S. News & World Report, the division remains the only pediatric endocrinology program in North Carolina to earn national ranking distinction, reflecting consistent excellence in clinical care, research productivity, and educational impact.

The division continued to strengthen its academic and research foundation through targeted recruitment. New team members included Caitlyn Molloy, PhD, who joined as a postdoctoral research associate, supporting ongoing investigations at the intersection of immunology, metabolism, and endocrine disease.

NANCIE MACIVER, MD, PhD

Division Chief

PROFESSORS

Nina Jain, MD

Jennifer Law, MD, MPH

Amy Levinson, MD

ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS

Nancie MacIver, MD, PhD

ASSISTANT PROFESSORS

Yazan Alwarawrah, PhD

Sara Duﬀus, MD

Camilia Kamoun, MD

Rebecca Vitale, MD

ADVANCED PRACTICE PROVIDERS

Taylor Murphy, MSN

EHRA NON-FACULTY

Amanda Nichols

FELLOWS

Claire Abram, DO

Katie Downes, DO

Rachel Modarelli, MD

Harshini Pyata, MD

POST DOCS

Caitlyn Molloy, PhD

STAFF

Avery Anderson, MS, RDN, LDN

Katie Cooper, LCSW, LCAS

Michelle Curl, MSN, RN, CDCES

Jason Hadley

Michelle Hewitt

Lauren Kager

AmanieKhairullah,PharmD,BCPPS

XiaoyanZhang,BSN,RN,CPN,CDCES

CLINICAL CARE

Clinical operations remained stable and efficient throughout 2025, with consistently high patient volumes and sustained excellence in access, quality, and coordination of care. The division continued to enhance workflow efficiency and interdisciplinary collaboration, ensuring a seamless patient and family experience across clinical settings.

This year, the team worked toward a significant clinical milestone: UNC was the first pediatric center in North Carolina to offer teplizumab, a groundbreaking immunotherapy shown to delay the onset of stage 3 type 1 diabetes by preserving pancreatic insulin-producing cells. This advancement positions the division at the forefront of disease-modifying therapies in pediatric diabetes care and expands access to innovative treatment options for high-risk patients

EDUCATION AND FELLOW ACHIEVEMENTS

Educational excellence remained a defining strength of the division Fellows demonstrated outstanding performance in patient care, scholarship, and teaching, with multiple national conference presentations and active engagement in divisional initiatives.

The fellowship program welcomed Kaitlin Downes, DO, as a new clinical fellow. Rachel Modarelli, MD, successfully graduated from the fellowship program and joined Inova Children’s Hospital, reflecting the program’s continued success in preparing graduates for impactful academic and clinical careers

KatieDownes,DO

RESEARCH

Research remained a central pillar of divisional excellence, with more than $1.4 million in active research funding supporting a diverse portfolio spanning basic science, clinical research, and health equity.

Dr. Nancie MacIver maintained dual NIH awards, including an R21 focused on dietary interventions and the gut microbiome in obesity-related immune dysfunction, and an R01 examining mechanisms by which metformin regulates T cell responses in obesity

Dr. Yazan Alwarawrah continued work supported by a UNC NORC/SPLENDOR-NC Pilot & Feasibility Award for the project “IL-6 metabolic regulation of T cell immune response to viral infection in obesity.”

Dr. Rebecca Vitale advanced her SPLENDOR-NC P&F project, “Exploring Associations Between Executive Function Challenges and Type 1 Diabetes Management and Outcomes,” while also receiving continued support from the NIH K12 DiabDocs Program for research examining diabetes technology use among adolescents and emerging adults with executive function challenges.

Dr. Camilia Kamoun received continued funding from the Greenwall Foundation for the project “Moving Away from Race-Ethnicity–Based Clinical Care of Early Female Puberty Toward Race and Ethnicity–Conscious Puberty Justice,” advancing ethical and equitycentered approaches to pediatric endocrine care.

Dr. Nina Jain continued service as co–principal investigator on a NIH U01 award titled “Mapping Neurocognitive Complications of Pediatric Type 1 Diabetes and Potential Risk and Protective Factors ”

Dr. Jennifer Law served as Clinical Lead for the Early Check Type 1 Diabetes Project, funded by RTI International, supporting early identification and intervention efforts at the population level.

DEVELOPMENT, RECOGNITION, AND AWARDS

Faculty and advanced practice providers achieved notable recognition in 2025, reflecting a strong culture of leadership and professional development.

Dr. Camilia Kamoun served as Chair of the Pediatric Endocrine Society Ethics Group, continuing national leadership in ethical considerations affecting pediatric endocrine care.

Taylor Murphy, MSN, FNP-BC, CDCES, was nominated by the APP Center for the 2025 APP Excellence in Leadership (Informal) Award, recognizing outstanding leadership and clinical contribution.

YazanAlwarawrah,PhD

RebeccaVitale,MD,MPH

CamiliaKamoun,MD,MSME

Dr. Sara Duffus was selected for the 2025–2026 Leadership in Academic Medicine Program (LAMP), a competitive nine-month faculty development initiative supporting junior faculty at UNC. In addition, Dr. Duffus was named Associate Director of Medical Education for the Department of Pediatrics, further expanding leadership influence in medical education. Dr. Duffus also served on the North Carolina Newborn Screening Advisory Board, contributing clinical expertise to statewide public health policy.

Dr. Amy Levenson was elected to the Pediatric Program Directors’ Association & Fellowship Directors’ Executive Committee, reinforcing her strong presence in graduate medical education leadership. Dr. Levenson also continues service as Co-Chair of the Pediatric Endocrine Society Subcommittee for Fellows’ Education.

ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Division members remained deeply committed to advocacy, community engagement, and service in 2025

Dr. Jennifer Law served as Chair of the Pediatric Endocrine Society Turner Syndrome Special Interest Group, as a member of the Professional Advisory Board for the Turner Syndrome Society of the United States, and as Medical Advisor to the Turner Syndrome of the Carolinas.

Dr. Nancie MacIver served as Medical Director at the American Diabetes Association’s Camp Carolina Trails, held August 3–7 at Victory Junction in Randleman, NC. A multidisciplinary UNC team volunteered at camp, providing expert medical care and creating a safe, memorable experience for children living with diabetes. Special thanks to everyone who gave their time: Dr. Rebecca Vitale, Dr. Sara Duffus, Avery Anderson, Dr. Amy Levenson, Dr. Katie Downes, Dr. Hannah Ruggles, Dr. Isaac Sluder, Sara Jacob, Josh Lopez Cabral, Anna Kahkoska, and Isabella Patterson.

NinaJain,MD,MBA

JenniferLaw,MD,MSCR

NancieJ.MacIver,MD,PhD

RebeccaVitale,MD,MPH

Received support from Duke University in the amount of $89,000 for the project 'Impact of Integrated Pet Care on Glycemic Control and Diabetes Responsibility'.

Received support from University of South Florida Tampa in the amount of $2,000 for the project 'TN-01 Natural History Study of the Development of Type 1 Diabetes'.

Received support from Provention Bio, Inc. in the amount of $71,522 for the project 'A Multicenter, Multinational Extension of Study PRV-031-001 to Evaluate the LongTerm Safety of Teplizumab (PRV-031), a Humanized, FcR Non-Binding, Anti-CD3 Monoclonal Antibody, in Children and Adolescents with Recent-Onset Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus PRV-031-003'.

Received support from Ultragenyx Pharnaceuticals in the amount of $107,872 for the project 'An Open-label, Randomized, Active-Controlled, Phase 3 Study of Setrusumab Compared With Bisphosphonates in Pediatric Subjects With Osteogenesis Imperfecta Types I, III or IV'.

Received support from Sanofi US Services, Inc (formerly Sanofi-Aventis) in the amount of $58,875 for the project 'A 52-week Randomized, Double-Blind, PlaceboControlled, Multi-center Phase 2b Study with a 52-week Blinded Extension Assessing Safety and Efficacy of Frexalimab, a DC40L-Antagonist Monoclonal Antibody, for Preservation of Pancreatic ?-cell function in Adults and Adolescents with Newly Diagnosed Type 1 Diabetes on Insulin Therapy'.

Received support from Sanofi US Services, Inc. (formerly Sanofi-Aventis) in the amount of $18,354 for the project 'An Observational, Long-Term Safety Study of Tzield (Teplizumab-MZWV) in Patients With Stage 2 Type 1 Diabetes'.

Received support from Ascendis Pharma Endocrinology Division A/S in the amount of $11,640 for the project 'A Multicenter, Phas3e 2, Randomized, Open-label, Activecontrolled, Parallel Group Clinical Trial to Investigate the Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of Different Dose Levels of Once-weekly Lonapegsomatropin Compared to Daily Somatropin in Prepubertal Individuals with Turner Syndrome.'

Received support from NIH National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) in the amount of $1,506,592 for the project 'Identifying mechanisms by which metformin regulates T cell responses in obesity'

Received support from Stanford University in the amount of $192,888 for the project 'The Impact of Diabetes Technology Use in Adolescents and Emerging Adults with Type 1 Diabetes and Executive Function Challenges'.

Anethicalframeworkforaddressingthedifferentialimpactofsystemicracismandinequitiesontype1andtype2 diabetesmellitusinyouthintheUnitedStates.

KamounC, Huerta-Saenz L, Koren D, Majidi S, Mehta S, Nokoff N, Tremblay ES, Harris RM, Henry R, Marks BE, Raymond JK Hormone Research in Paediatrics

TargetingIL-6receptormediatedmetabolicpathwaystocontrolTh17celldifferentiationandinflammatory responses.

AlwarawrahY, Nichols AG, Patel I, Ball AB, MacIverNJ. Frontiers in Immunology.

ChoresParticipation,Self-Efficacy,andTransitionReadinessinYouthsWithDiabetes:PreliminaryResults.

Rak E, Burford S, Wheat D, Budd M, JainN. Occupational Therapy Journal of Research.

EmbracingDifferenceinIntersexVariations.

KamounC, Dalke KB Clinical Pediatrics

RiskFactorsandRatesforHypocalcemiaAfterPediatricThyroidectomy:ASystematicReviewandMeta-analysis. Aweeda M, Fassler C, Habib DRS, Miller AB, Ortega C, Prasad K, Chen CL, DuffusSH, Belcher RH. OTO Open.

NursingCareManagementandGlycemicControlAmongChildrenWithDiabetesEnrolledinMedicaid.

Jacobson Vann JC, JainN,JacobS,MurphyT,CalikogluAS. Journal for Specialists in Pediatric Nursing.

AlveolarandBoneMarrow-derivedMacrophagesDifferinMetabolismandGlutamineUtilization.

Vigeland CL, Link JD, Beggs HS, AlwarawrahY, Ehrmann BM, Dang H, Doerschuk CM American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology

LowerIndependentSelf-CareReadinessPersistsOverTimeinTeensWithType1DiabetesandExecutiveFunction Challenges.

VitaleRJ, Tinsley LJ, Volkening LK, Laffel LM. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

TeenswithType1DiabetesandExecutiveFunctionChallengesWhoUseInsulinPumpsHaveLowerA1CWithout IncreasedRiskofDiabeticKetoacidosisorSevereHypoglycemia.

VitaleRJ, Tinsley LJ, Volkening LK, Laffel LM. Diabetes Technology and Therapeutics.

NaturalHistoryofMenstrualPainandAssociatedRiskFactorsinEarlyAdolescence.

ModarelliRE, Molsberry SA, Malave-Ortiz S, Calvert M, Lucien J, Denslow S, Zaccaro D, KamounC, Shaw ND. Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology.

HOSPITAL PEDIATRICS

The Division of Hospital Pediatrics experienced a year of notable growth, innovation, and achievement. Throughout the year, the division advanced clinical effectiveness, strengthened educational programs, and celebrated numerous awards and recognitions that underscore its commitment to excellence in pediatric hospital medicine. The division welcomed two new assistant professors, Katie Butler, MD, and Kristin Sundy, MD, each contributing fresh expertise to the clinical and academic missions. The year also marked the departures of Christian Lawrence, MD (July 2025) and Kayce Brantham, MD (August 2025), whose contributions have been appreciated and whose trajectories reflect the division’s tradition of fostering growth and opportunity.

CLINICAL INITIATIVES AND INNOVATIONS

A major milestone for the Children’s Hospital this year was the launch of the UNC Clinical Effectiveness Program (CEP), sponsored by UNC Children’s Quality & Safety. Led by pediatric hospitalists Alex Ahearn, MD, and Emilee Lewis, MD, the CEP aims to ensure all children across the UNC Health system receive consistent, evidence-based, and equitable care. A central element of this initiative, Pathways@UNC, integrates clinical pathways directly into Epic, enabling streamlined, multidisciplinary guidance for commonly encountered pediatric conditions. The early work of the CEP has already demonstrated the power of standardization to reduce variation, improve outcomes, decrease length of stay, and strengthen equity Collaborative efforts with Duke Children’s reflect shared regional commitment to improving pediatric care statewide.

LINDSAY CHASE, MD

Division Chief

The Children’s Short Stay Unit (CSSU) tinued to evolve, completing a 24/7 pilot m January to March 2025 to expand atient bed capacity. CSSU leadership phasized patient and family experience by ering a hospitality cart with comfort items d expanding access to Smileyscope virtual lity headsets to reduce procedure-related iety. Operational improvements also anced, with 78% of extended recovery ents now discharged directly from the t and only 2% of inpatients exiting through U. The unit continues to contribute to lth-systemwide length of stay initiatives, using on discharge readiness and durable dical equipment coordination

dford, MD

e, MD

Kenya McNeal-Trice, MD

Ashley Sutton, MD

Eric Zwemer, MD

ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS

Alex Ahearn, MD, MPH

Arshiya Ahuja, MD

Jennifer Fuchs, MD

Adriana Herrera, MD, MPH

Emilee Lewis, MD

Amy Liu, MD, MPH

Alison Sweeney, MD

Steven Weinberg, MD

ASSISTANT PROFESSORS

Kayce Brantham, MD

Katie Butler, MD

Virginia Crowder, MD

Wade Harrison, MD, MPH

Christian Lawrence, MD

Kristin Sundy, MD

Kelley Ward, MD

ADVANCED PRACTICE PROVIDERS

Lindsay Mize, CPNP

Lara Reller, CPNP

Athena Samaras, DNP, MPH

FELLOWS

Katie Butler, MD

Vivian Doyle-Mason, MD

Karen Hawks, MD

Paige Lester, MD

Dena Lowing, MD

Kristin Sundy, MD

Ashley Wallace, PNP STAFF

Gonzalo Loza

Tejasi Ravi

AlexAhearn,MD,MPH

EmileeLewis,MD

A major clinical accomplishment included the expansion of the DIVA (Difficult Intravenous Access) initiative, resulting in 75% of patients identified with difficult venous access receiving ultrasound guided PIV placement. This project improved early identification, resource allocation, and overall vascular access quality and continues to expand across inpatient units.

Division faculty also contributed to systemwide care redesign. Dr. Alison Sweeney was recognized for leading the development of the Low Risk Newborn Care Pathway, among the first implemented on AgileMD (Pathways@UNC) Her work also guided consensusbuilding for a systemwide newborn nursery orderset Dr. Kelley Ward advanced faculty development through the creation of the “RUN IT” case discussion framework, promoting reflective clinical dialogue with a focus on psychological safety.

DEVELOPMENT, RECOGNITION, AND AWARDS

Faculty and advanced practice providers throughout the division received significant recognition for excellence in clinical care, leadership, and education. The UNC APP Center named Athena Samaras, DNP, PPCNP-BC, MPH, the recipient of the Excellence in Clinical Practice Award, highlighting her extraordinary skill and dedication to patientcentered care.

Educational excellence was also prominent. Dr. Arshiya Ahuja received a Foundation Phase Teaching Excellence Award at the Academy of Educators Evening of Scholarship. Dr. Ahuja also developed an online, modular global health curriculum now under peer review designed for PHM fellows with an additional module for program directors. Dr. Christian Lawrence received the AOE Application/Individualization Phase Clinical Preceptor Excellence in Teaching Award, recognizing his leadership in clinical education.

ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

The division continued its commitment to family-centered care. Within CSSU, efforts to improve the care experience included access to a hospitality cart for caregivers and virtual reality tools for patients, supporting both comfort and emotional well‑being.

HOSPITAL PEDIATRICS

EDUCATION AND FELLOW ACHIEVEMENTS

Educational programs within the division continued to grow and thrive. The division welcomed new PHM fellows Dr. Paige Lester and Dr. Karen Hawks. Fellow Dr. Dena Lowing received the Dr. Jacob A. Lohr Award for Pediatric Clinical Uncertainty and Medical Decision-Making for her multisite research on how trainees and hospitalists approach uncertainty the first project launched through the PHM Regional Collaborative.

The Global Health Residency Pathway, led by Dr. Adriana Herrera and Dr. Arshiya Ahuja, continued to expand, accepting three new residents and sustaining monthly didactics. By 2026, at least two residents are expected to complete international rotations, supported by foundational training and the program’s successful annual pre departure simulation session.

The PHM Fellowship Program hosted the second annual Regional Collaborative In-Person Conference, drawing 13 fellows and program leadership from five institutions across three states. The event strengthened partnerships, produced new national workshop submissions, and launched multisite research initiatives

Faculty achievements further enhanced the division’s academic profile Dr. Jen Fuchs delivered the second annual Pediatric Fellows’ Health Equity Orientation, providing critical context on health access, financial assistance, Medicaid, pharmacy resources, and language services. Dr. Katie Butler was selected as an IHQI Improvement Scholar for work on improving pediatric vascular access, and Dr. Vivian Doyle Mason received an AAP SOECP Health Equity Grant

At the 2025 Thomas F. Boat Evening of Scholarship, Dr. Kristin Sundy earned multiple honors: the Jerry Fernald Award for Best Quality Improvement Research, the Johnny Carson Award for Best Overall Research, and the Best Education or Advocacy Abstract

DenaLowing,MD

AdrianaHerrera,MD,MPH

JenniferFuchs,MD

KatieButler,MD

VivianDoyleMason,MD

KristinSundy,MD

Ultrasound-Guided Paracentesis. Kumar A, Dancel R, Galen BT, Patel SA, Ma IWY, Cool JA. New England Journal of Medicine.

Relationship Between US Pediatric Resident Burnout and the Learning Environment. Lien ER, Zwemer E, Schwartz A, Wilson PM, Babal JC, Serwint JR, Sieplinga K, Donnelly K, Nichols M, Batra M. Clinical Pediatrics (Phila)

Diagnosing Subgaleal Hemorrhage in Neonates. Clark EE, Zwemer EK, Levy RD. Journal of Pediatrics.

The Frequency of Multiple Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSIs) Occurring in the Same Child: A Five-Year Experience. TP, Troxler HB, Kirkley AM, Joyner BL Jr, Steiner MJ, Donnelly LF. Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety.

Comparison of Six Handheld Ultrasound Devices by Pediatric Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) Experts. Leung SK, Dancel R, Soni RN, Perez-Sanchez A, Mader MJ, Al-Wahab H, Conlon TW, Fraga MV, Lasa JJ, Matho A, Smith H, Soni NJ. Point of Care Ultrasound Journal.

Comparison of Infants Discharged from Birth Hospitalization with Gastrostomy versus Nasogastric Feeding Tube.

Lidsky H, Anderson E, deJong NA, Herrera A, Sutton AG. American Journal of Perinatology.

Women of Color and Intersectionality Initiative: A Workgroup Report on the Continued Need to Support and Retain Women of Color. Harris TB, Givens RH, López A, Tariq S, Knight N, Hackworth JM, Brown ET, Fanning LG, Núñez A, McNeal-Trice K. Journal of Women's Health

Trends in Respiratory Pathogen Testing at US Children's Hospitals. Molloy MJ, Hall M, Markham JL, Cotter JM, McCoy E, Tchou MJ, Collins ME, Steiner MJ, Stephens JR, Yu AG, UgaldeIT, Morse RB, Goyal MK, House SA.. JAMA Network Open.

Shedding Light on Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia: Removing "Breastfeeding Jaundice" From Our Lexicon. Diaz M, Zwemer EK, Sweeney A. Hospital Pediatrics.

Improving Timely Evaluation of Newborns at Risk for Hemolytic Disease From a Positive Maternal Antibody. Samaras AT, Sweeney AE, Lewis EC, Thompson A, Waldrop J Journal of Nursing Care Quality

CRITICAL CARE

MATTHEW PIZZUTO, MD

Interim Division Chief

PROFESSORS

Jenny Boyd, MD

Katherine Clement, MD

S. David McSwain, MD, MPH

ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS

Margaret Kihlstrom, MD

Daniel Lercher, MD, MPH

Afsaneh Pirzadeh, MD

Matthew Pizzuto, MD

Erin Reade, MD, MPH

Stephanie Schwartz, MD

Paul Shea, MD

Melissa Smith, MD

Tracie Walker, MD

ASSISTANT PROFESSORS

Matthew Foglia, MD, PhD

Andrew Hopwood, MD

Kieran Leong, DO

Ann Sweeney, MD

ADVANCED PRACTICE PROVIDERS

KaitlinCampbell,MSN,CPNP-AC/PC

ReneeMilroy,MSN,CPNP-AC

JenniferTalbot,MSN,CPNPAC/PC

DanielleWood,DNP,CPNP-AC

KaseyZawodniak,MSN,CPNP-AC

FELLOWS

Lauren Brown, DO

Elizabeth Hanna Carroll, MD

Sarah Fleisher, MD

Andrew Hayes, DO

Evan Meiman, MD

Allison Steinauer, MD

Catherine Trub, MD

Alison Woods, MD

STAFF

Symone Parker

Amy Spruance

In 2025 , through expanded clinical capacity, exceptional leadership, groundbreaking research, and a thriving educational culture, Pediatric Critical Care Medicine remains a model of excellence in pediatric critical care and a leader in advancing outcomes for the most critically ill children.

This year, the division proudly welcomed three new faculty members whose expertise strengthens an already exceptional team: Dr. Matt Foglia, Dr. Andrew Hopwood, and Dr. Ann Sweeney. Several esteemed faculty earned academic promotion, reflecting distinguished contributions to clinical care, education, scholarship, and service. Dr. Katherine Clement and Dr. Jenny Boyd were promoted to Professor, and Dr. Tracie Walker and Dr. Melissa Smith were promoted to Associate Professor.

A significant investment of time was made by multiple people in the recruitment of a new Division Chief, culminating in the successful appointment of Dr. Ryan Barbaro, who will join the institution in summer 2026. Dr. Barbaro currently serves as the Service Chief of Critical Care and Pediatric ECMO Director at the University of Michigan and is widely recognized as a leader in pediatric critical care and extracorporeal life support. The division expresses deep appreciation to Dr. Matt Pizzuto for his outstanding leadership as Interim Division Chief and to Dr. Misty Good for guiding this pivotal recruitment process.

RESEARCH ADVANCEMENTS

The division maintained a robust research portfolio:

Dr. Tracie Walker led multiple active grants as Site PI, including:

PICU Up – evaluating early mobility interventions Carolina For the Kids – developing educational outreach for critical access hospitals

Understanding COVID – national surveillance and immunologic studies of hospitalized pediatric patients She also partnered with Drs. Lercher and Jackson to develop statewide education and simulation programs for critical access hospitals and served as Site PI for TRACCTOR, a multicenter project standardizing communication during pediatric critical care transport

Dr. Daniel Lercher served as Co-PI on a pilot study evaluating POCUS-guided UVC placement for neonatal transport.

Dr. Matt Pizzuto and Dr. Afsaneh Pirzadeh expanded participation in the PEDI-RESQ network through the OPTIVENT QI research project at CHOP.

Ryan Barbaro, MD. MSc

TracieWalker,MD

CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE

Dr. Katie Clement continued to lead major ECMO research efforts, serving as Site PI for ECMO-CORE and ASCEND, and contributing to the ECMO for Pediatric Trauma Delphi working group.

Dr. Meg Kihlstrom and Jennifer Talbot, MSN, CPNP AC/PC each received a Carolina for the Kids grant supporting bereavement resources for families

CLINICAL HIGHLIGHTS

The PICU was clinically very busy with over 1000 admissions in 2025. The team developed plans to open the new Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit on 3 Anderson in the spring of 2026. This will expand the total pediatric critical care capacity to 33 beds from the current 20 beds The division also achieved a major quality milestone, reducing CLABSI rates by an average of 66%, demonstrating sustained commitment to patient safety

EDUCATION AND FELLOW ACHIEVEMENTS

Fellows distinguished themselves through national presentations, scholarly contributions, and substantive clinical training. Program Director Dr. Paul Shea presented on the MultiInstitutional Educational Collaborative, a cross-institutional fellowship curriculum initiative.

Dr. Andrew Hayes, third-year fellow, presented a poster at the 2025 AAP Conference highlighting UNC’s over 50% reduction in central line infections, informed by his work with the Fine Lines Committee.

Dr. Sarah Fleisher, third-year fellow, presented her Pediatric Code Stroke Project at multiple prestigious venues, including PNCRG, the Thomas F. Boat Evening of Scholarship, and the IHQI Scholars Symposium.

Second-year fellow Dr. Allison Steinauer completed the “Focus on POCUS” workshop in Seattle, gaining advanced hands-on training from national experts

The division was strongly represented at the 2025 SCCM Congress in Orlando: Dr. Catherine Trub presented a nationwide survey on emotional resilience training for PICU fellows.

Dr. Lauren Brown presented her QI project on transitioning to bivalirudin as the primary ECMO anticoagulant.

DEVELOPMENT, RECOGNITION, AND AWARDS

Faculty, advanced practice providers, and fellows earned numerous honors for leadership, innovation, and excellence.

Dr. Jenny Boyd completed the Executive Leadership in Healthcare Program at Drexel University in May 2025, describing renewed appreciation for the civility, respect, and collaborative culture that define the institution. Dr. Boyd was also named Chief Quality Officer for UNC Hospitals, recognizing her fifteen years of transformative work in patient safety, operational leadership, and quality improvement.

Dr. Meg Kihlstrom presented at both the Association of Pediatric Program Directors Annual Conference and its Spring Meeting

Dr. Afsaneh Pirzadeh received a 2025 Medical Staff Physician Excellence Committee (MSPEC) Award for Physician Excellence in Clinical Care.

CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE

New PCCM IHQI Awards were earned by teams committed to improving outcomes: Dr. Erin Reade and Renee Milroy, MSN, CPNP – Central Lines Initiative Dr. Andrew Hopwood, Christy Rowe, and Dr. Katie Clement – Unplanned Extubations Initiative

Dr. Tracie Walker was selected to join the ICU Centers of Excellence Oversight Workgroup within the Society of Critical Care Medicine and served as course leader for the 2025 SCCM Pediatric ICU Liberation Simulation Course in Chicago.

The Friends of Epidemiology honored Dr. Erin Parrish Reade with the 2025 Friend of Epidemiology Award, recognizing her leadership in PICU infection prevention and her instrumental role in developing UNC HEEL (Holistic Evaluation of Every Line).

The UNC APP Center recognized exceptional advanced practice leaders with two nominations:

Renee Milroy, MSN, CPNP – Excellence in Leadership (Informal) Award

Kasey Zawodniak, MSN, CPNP-AC– New Teammate Award

Danielle Wood, DNP, CPNP-AC, received the Early Advanced Practice Career Award from the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, honoring her expertise and advocacy within pediatric advanced practice.

Dr. Matt Foglia presented at the annual conference of the Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies in San Diego, CA

Amy Spruance, Division Administrator, was a panelist on “Real World Impact on the Front Lines,” at the UNC Health AI Symposium: Stronger Together in 2025.

ReneeMilroy,MSN,CPNP

ResearchAwards CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE

Kieran Leong, DO

Stephanie Schwartz, MD & Tracie Walker, MD

Received support from University of Michigan (UMICH) in the amount of $8,000 for the project 'Pediatric Influence of Colling duration of Efficacy in Cardiac Arrest Patients (P-ICECAP)'.

Received support from Boston Children's Hospital in the amount of $34,990 for the project 'Project Title: Respiratory Virus Surveillance and COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness (VE) in preventing Severe COVID-19, Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS-C), and related Complications in US Children'.

FeaturedPublications

Evaluating post-cardiac arrest blood pressure thresholds associated with neurologic outcome in children: Insights from the pediRES-Q database. Ushpol A, Je S, Christoff A, Nuthall G, Scholefield B, Morgan RW, Nadkarni V, Gangadharan S; pediRES-Q investigators: Afsaneh Pirzadeh. Resuscitation.

Refractory Chylothorax: Descriptive Analysis and Predictive Model in Children with Postoperative Chylothorax.

Frank DU, Kasmai CT, Winder MM, Reeder RW, Bertrandt R, Debroux B, Bhaskar P, Schwartz SP, Lay A, Matiasek M, Raymond TT, Das A, Bautista AN, Puente BN, Tollison A, Lyman A, Holmes K, Bailly DK. Pediatric Cardiology.

A Standardized Approach to Reduce Fluid Overload in Critically Ill Children.

Hopwood AJ, Schade Willis TM, Starr MC, Hughes KM, Malin SW Pediatric Quality & Safety

Fluid Management Bundle in Critically Ill Children With Respiratory Failure Is Associated With a Reduced Prevalence of Excess Fluid Accumulation.

Foglia MJ, Bedoyan SM, Horvat CM, Fabio A, Fuhrman DY. Pediatric Critical Care Medicine.

Graduating Residents' Readiness for Unsupervised Practice.

Schumacher DJ, Michelson C, Winn A, Henry D, O'Connor M, Li ST, Blair RJ, Velazquez-Campbell M, Kihlstrom MJ, Borman-Shoap E, Ponitz K, Salvador-Sison J, Kinnear B, Turner DA, Martini A, Burrows HL, Patel R, Newhall LM, Osborn R, Mallory M, Scheurer JM, Grant M, Myers RE, Griego EC, Kravtchenko S, Jain S, Vu T, Schwartz A; Association of Pediatric Program Directors Longitudinal Educational Assessment Research Network (APPD LEARN) Crosswalk Study Group. Pediatrics.

Electrocardiographic Changes at Presentation and Over Time in Children with Anomalous Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery: A Multicenter Analysis.

Amula V, Radman M, Loomba RS, Kwiatkowski DM, Beshish A, Flores S, Bakar AM, Capone CA, Suguna Narasimhulu S, Pizzuto MF, Karki KB, Cashen K, Niu MC, Mastropietro CW; and the Collaborative Research from the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Society (CoRe-PCICS) Investigators. Pediatric Cardiology.

Eliminating the AI digital divide by building local capacity.

Gulamali F, Kim JY, Pejavara K, Thomas C, Mathur V, Eigen Z, Lifson M, Patel M, Shaw K, Tobey D, Valladares A, Vidal D, Augenstein J, Beecy A, Bergkvist S, Burns M, Draugelis M, Ehrenfeld JM, Henwood P, Jagneaux T, Jeffries M, Khuory C, Liao FJ, Liu VX, Longhurst C, Mack D, Maddox TM, McSwain D, Miff S, Miller C, Murray SG, Patterson BW, Payne P, Price Ii WN, Rimal R, Sheppard MJ, Singh K, Sosseh A, Stoll J, Stroum C, Tarabichi Y, Trujillo S, Wiley L, Hasan A, Kpodzro JS, Balu S, Sendak MP. Public Library Of Science Digital Health.

CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE

Trends in Pediatric In-Training Exam Scores and Association With Clinical Encounters Across the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Rao P, Jordan K, Burrows H, Helms L, Perin R, Crawford MA, Kang D, Morgan A, Kihlstrom M, Zwemer E. Curēus.

Nirsevimab Effectiveness Against Intensive Care Unit Admission for Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Infants24 States, December 2024-April 2025. Zambrano LD, Simeone RM, Newhams MM, Payne AB, Halasa NB, Orzel-Lockwood AO, Calixte JM, Kamidani S, Crandall H, Cameron MA, Schuster JE, Maddux AB, Chiotos K, Irby K, Shein SL, Staat MA, Martin LM, Bhumbra SS, Nofziger RA, Chauhan JC, Zerr DM, Gertz SJ, Guzman-Cottrill JA, Kong M, Hume JR, Coates BM, Michelson KN, Levy ER, Bradford TT, Schwartz SP, Walker TC, Stockwell MS, Biggs A, Hogan AH, Lindsey K, Campbell AP, Randolph AG; Overcoming RSV Investigators. Morbidity And Mortality Weekly Report.

CriticalCareFacultyNightOut

MultidisciplinaryECMOSimulation foropeningofnewPCICUon3Anderson.

PICUTeammade dinneratRonaldMcDonald’sHouse.

FrankFre

September September

Endocrinolo Endocrinolo

KathySlater

May 8, 1944 May 8, 1944 —

Chapel Hill Ped Chapel Ped

JosephBell,MD

FrederickW.Henderson,MD

June 2, 1945 - March 17, 2025 June 2, 1945 - March 17, 2025

Infectious Diseases Infectious Diseases

DianeDuffy,MD

April 12, 1959- June 16, 2025

Catawba Indian Health Service Unit

Catawba Indian Health Service Unit and Children’s Health Pembroke and Children’s Health Pembroke

June 7, 1963 October 12, 2025

June 7, 1963 — October 12, 2025

President of the Denny Society President of the Denny Society Burlington/Mebane Pediatrics Burlington/Mebane Pediatrics

25 20

HolliGall,AssistantVicePresident,Philanthropy holli_gall@med.unc.edu

MaryGard,ExecutiveDirectorofDevelopment maryjean.gard@unchealth.unc.edu

123W.FranklinStreet Suite510

ChapelHill,NC27516

919-843-2915

unchealthfoundation.org/initiatives/childrens-health

Charlotte Weaver, Director of Communications

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Email content & photos to peds news@med.unc.edu

UNC Pediatrics 2025 Annual Report

UNC PEDIAT ANNUAL REPORT

2025

Friends and Colleagues,

A NOTE FROM THE CHAIR

DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP

DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP

Administrative Leadership Division Administrators

Chair’s Oﬃce

Finance

Contracts & Grants

EDUCATION - LEADERS

EDUCATION - LEADERS

EVENING OF SCHOLARSHIP

2025-2026 Chief Residents

First Year Residents, June 2025

2025 Graduating Residents & Chiefs

CHILD HEALTH SCHOLARS PROGRAM

FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM LEADERS

FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM LEADERS

FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM LEADERS

FELLOWSHIP COORDINATORS

2025 Graduating Fellows

CHILDREN'S RESEARCH

CHILDREN'S RESEARCH

CHILDREN'S RESEARCH

CRI STAFF

NEW FACULTY & PROVIDERS

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FACULTY PROMOTIONS

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NC Children’s Quick Facts: NC Children’s Quick Facts:

UNC CHILDREN’S SERVICE LINE

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2025ServiceLineAccomplishments

FAMILY PARTNERS PROGRAM

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Top 3 Posts

FACULTY DEVELOPMENT AND RECOGNITION

CLINICAL INNOVATION AND PERFORMANCE

STAFF

RESEARCH ACHIEVEMENTS

EDUCATION AND FELLOW ACHIEVEMENTS

ALLERGY-IMMUNOLOGY

ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

ALLERGY-IMMUNOLOGY

ResearchAwards

ResearchAwards ALLERGY-IMMUNOLOGY

FeaturedPublications

GENETICS & METABOLISM

www.med.unc.edu/pediatrics/gene

DEVELOPMENT, RECOGNITION, AND AWARDS

CLINICAL EXCELLENCE

GENETICS & METABOLISM

DEVELOPMENT, RECOGNITION, AND AWARDS

RESEARCH

DIETITIANS

GENETICS & METABOLISM

ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

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GENETICS & METABOLISM

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