Peds R Us
Department of Pediatrics
Rutgers RWJMS
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Enjoy our newsletter. Your feedback and comments are welcome! |
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Dr. Sally Radovick Honored at Human Growth Foundation Gala |
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Sally Radovick, MD, Henry Rutgers Term Chair and professor of pediatrics and senior associate dean for clinical and translational research, was presented with the Inaugural Dr. Robert M. Blizzard Founder's Award during the 17th Annual Human Growth Foundation's (HGF) Virtual Awards Gala on Dec. 15.
The HGF serves as a global leader in endocrine research, education, patient advocacy, and support. Their vision is to help children with growth disorders, adults with growth hormone deficiency, and healthcare providers reach new heights by providing awareness/outreach programs. Dr. Radovick was honored for her lifelong impact on growth and development in children and her research in the genetics of growth hormone deficiency.
Congratulations, Dr. Radovick!.
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Dr. Patricia Whitley-Williams Honored by the New Jersey Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics |
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Congratulations to Patricia Whitley-Williams, MD, professor and director of allergy, immunology and infectious diseases and associate dean for diversity and inclusion!
She was honored at the annual New Jersey Children's Ball, hosted by the New Jersey Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Dr. Whitley-Williams was recognized as one of this year's Champions for Children, "for her dedicated approach to healthcare, devoted mentoring of trainees and compassion for all children."
She shared the honor with State Senator Loretta Weinberg and Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt, as well as Virtual Pediatric Mobile Services.
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Dr. Emanuel DiCicco-Bloom Named AAAS Fellow |
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Emanuel DiCicco-Bloom, MD, professor of neuroscience and cell biology and pediatrics, is one of a dozen Rutgers professors named Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) this year in January.
AAAS, the world's largest multidisciplinary scientific society and a leading publisher of cutting-edge research, announced the newest fellows on Jan. 26. It is among the most distinct honors within the scientific community.
A pediatrician who specializes in child neurology and developmental disorders, including autism, Dr. DiCicco-Bloom was honored for his distinguished contributions to the field of neuroscience, particularly neurodevelopmental disabilities, advocacy, and communicating and interpreting science to the public.
Learn more about Dr. DiCicco-Bloom's selection and work below.
Congratulations Dr. DiCicco-Bloom on this prestigious honor!
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Dr. Sunanda Gaur and Pediatric Vaccine Trial Featured in Nationwide Newsletter |
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The Society for Pediatric Research featured a news article in its newsletter in which Sunanda Gaur, MD, professor of pediatrics and director of the Clinical Research Centers, answered three important questions about the Pfizer pediatric vaccine, the clinical trial for which was managed in New Jersey by the Pediatric CRC.
The three key questions focused on the smaller dose of the pediatric version of the vaccine for children age 5 - 11; potential side effects, which were shown to be mild in the trial; and when a vaccine for children under age 5 could be expected.
The SPR feature was sent nationwide to a multidisciplinary network of diverse researchers who are improving child health in exceptional ways.
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ACHIEVEMENTS AND APPOINTMENTS |
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Division of Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Diseases
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Four nurses in the department of pediatrics recently earned their doctorate degrees from Rutgers University that were conferred in December 2021. Congratulations!
Paulette E. Forbes, PhD, MPH, APN-BC, CPON
Northern Caribbean University Diploma, Primary Education, 1980
Muhlenberg Hospital School of Nursing/Union County College Diploma/A.S., 1987
Pace University MSN, Family Nurse Practitioner, 1997
City University of New York –Hunter College MPH, Urban Health, 2001
Rutgers University PhD, Urban Health, 2021
Dr. Forbes was awarded a PhD in Urban Health, she is an APN on the pediatric hematology unit at BMSCH. Dr. Forbes was the 2011 recipient of the Humanitarian Award from the Organization for International Development, Inc., and the 2018 Black History Month Trailblazer Award at RWJBH in New Brunswick. She has written multiple articles for the Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses (APHON) newsletter. She also co-authored a chapter in the Pediatric Acute Care, 2nd edition textbook. She was recently appointed to the New Jersey Pediatric Cancer Research Advisory Group.
Dr. Forbes dissertation, Young Adults with Sickle Cell Disease in Pediatric Care: Crisis in Transitioning to Adult Care, examined the lived experiences of young adults aged 18-30 years as the age out of pediatric care. The findings from her study underscore the necessity of implementing comprehensive, multidisciplinary transition program years before transfer to adult system is done.
Maureen A. Madden, DNP, RN, CPNP-AC, CCRN, FCCM, FAAN
Columbia University BSN, 1993
University of Pennsylvania MSN, 1994
Rutgers University DNP, 2021
Dr. Madden was awarded a Doctorate in Nursing Practice. She is a professor of pediatrics in the division of pediatric critical care and CPNP in the PICU at BMSCH. Maureen A. Madden is a professor of pediatrics at the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and a nurse practitioner in pediatric critical care at the Bristol Myers Squibb Children's Hospital. Her doctoral work was titled: The effectiveness of post pyloric versus nasogastric feeding in critically ill children admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit: A systematic review.
She is the recipient of numerous awards including, the American Association of Critical Care Nurses Circle of Excellence in 2012 and the 2017 Society of Critical Care Norma J. Shoemaker Award for Critical Care Nursing Excellence. Her leadership pioneered the first multimodal international training program, known as Pediatric Fundamentals of Critical Care Support (PFCCS) course. Her expertise led to being an invited editor for the textbook Pediatric Acute Care 2nd edition, development of inter-professional practice guidelines with the American College of Critical Care Medicine (ACCM), and a selected leader for practice and education on the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Certification Board. She was recently elected at Secretary-General for the American College of Critical Care Medicine and serves as a department editor and editorial board member for the Journal of Pediatric Health Care.
Minette Markus-Rodden, DNP, BSN, MSN, ANCC, was awarded a Doctorate in Nursing Practice. She is an assistant professor of pediatrics in the division of pediatric critical care; chief nursing officer and director, Quality, Safety and Patient Experience for RWJMS Faculty Practice; and an ANCC in the PICU at BMSCH.
Dr. Rodden’s dissertation evaluated the incidence of workplace violence among Pediatric ICU nurses and the reporting of those incidents. Her past research efforts include NSF funded research evaluating teamwork and technology in safety critical settings and the effects on errors. Additionally, as part of her PhD studies, she evaluated the contribution of nursing vigilance to patient safety. She has led multiple performance improvement initiatives and believes effective leadership is dependent upon leading team members upward towards achieving professional goals.
Through her volunteerism and commitment to the community, her school district received a national award granted by the USDA, which was awarded at The White House by Mrs. Michelle Obama. She is committed to ensuring a safe work environment for healthcare workers thereby enabling our workforce to significantly improve the health and wellness of the individuals in our care.
N. Colleen Whelan, DNP, APRN, PNP-BC
Rutgers, College of Nursing BSN, 1994
Rutgers, College of Nursing MSN, 2001
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, ANCC Board Certified- 2001
Rutgers, School of Nursing, DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) 2020
Dr. Whelan was awarded a Doctorate in Nursing Practice. She is a PNP and nurse case manager for the RWJ pediatric AIDS Program in the division of pediatric Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Diseases. She served as adjunct faculty for Rutgers, School of Nursing from 2013-2018 teaching in the second-degree BSN program. She is currently on staff as a pediatric nurse practitioner within the pediatric infectious disease division for the Robert Wood Johnson Aids Program serving infants to young adults living with HIV. Capstone Project: Healthcare Transition from Pediatric to Adult Care: Implementation of a Readiness Assessment Tool.
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Maureen A. Madden, DNP, RN, CPNP-AC, CCRN, FCCM, FAAN |
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Minette Markus-Rodden, DNP, BSN, MSN, ANCC |
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N. Colleen Whelan, DNP, APRN, PNP-BC |
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Congratulations, Dr. Kelly, on this well deserved appointment! |
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Dr. Michael Kelly Selected to Chair AAMC's Group on Resident Affairs |
Michael Kelly, MD, associate professor of pediatrics, and associate dean for graduate medical education, has been elected as chair-elect to the National Steering Committee for the Group on Resident Affairs (GRA) of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). Following his year as chair-elect, Dr. Kelly will serve one year each as chair and past chair of the GRA.
This follows a previous elected term as an at-large member of the GRA Steering Committee, where he served with distinction.
The mission of GRA is to provide a national forum for the promotion, development, and conduct of graduate medical education (GME) in academic medicine. In this leadership position, Dr. Kelly will represent GRA to inform the AAMC on requests for information, identify emerging issues, and contribute to AAMC policy deliberations on GME-related issues.
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Dr. Dalya Chefitz Receives Appointment with the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education |
The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) has unanimously approved the six-year appointment of Dalya Chefitz, MD, professor of pediatrics, as an appeal panel member for pediatrics.
The ACGME is a not-for-profit organization that sets standards for U.S. graduate medical education (residency and fellowship) programs and the institutions that sponsor them and renders accreditation decisions based on compliance with these standards.
Congratulations, Dr. Chefitz, on this most recent achievement!
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Dr. Wayne Fisher and Dr. Brian Greer inducted into the Society for Pediatric Research
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The mission of the SPR is to create a multi-disciplinary network of diverse researchers to improve child health. Membership is granted to faculty members engaged in independent, hypothesis-driven research in pediatrics. Through membership, Drs. Fisher and Greer will be able to connect and collaborate with some of the country’s best pediatric researchers.
Congratulations, Drs. Fisher and Greer!
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Wayne Fisher, PhD
Professor of Pediatrics
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Brian Greer, PhD
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
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SPR Feature: Can Babies Be Tested for COVID? Here's What to Know About COVID Testing for Kids |
Dealing with COVID-19 concerns has been a way of life for families for almost two years. But with the rapid rise of the highly infectious Omicron variant — particularly in kids — it’s understandable to have new questions and concerns about what to do if your baby or child develops symptoms of the virus. After all, can babies even be tested for COVID? Yes, babies can be tested for COVID-19. "Babies can be tested right from birth," says SPR member Sunanda Gaur, M.D., professor of pediatrics at the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Jersey. "Even premature babies are routinely tested when they are born to a COVID-positive mother."
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Dr. Manuel Jimenez Joins Institute of Implementation Science Scholars |
Manuel Jimenez, MD, MS, FAAP, assistant professor of pediatrics and family medicine and community health, was accepted into the Institute of Implementation Science Scholars (IS-2) at Washington University in St. Louis. IS-2 is a competitive national training program for investigators interested in applying dissemination and implementation methods and strategies to reduce the burden of chronic disease and address health inequities. The program provides national mentorship, intensive didactic workshops, grant writing support, and networking.
Congratulations, Dr. Jimenez!
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Population Health, Quality and Implementation Sciences |
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Shilpa Pai, MD, associate professor of pediatrics, was appointed as Co Lead, Pediatrics / Childhood Infections Work Group for the New Jersey Kids Study (NJKS) in February 2022.
In addition, she joined the Association of American Medical Colleges Health Equity Special Interest Group in March 2022.
Congratulations, Dr. Pai!
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Gastroenterology and Nutrition |
Melissa Weidner, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics, is a member of the Executive Committee for the NJ Kids Study. Currently in the development phases, this large longitudinal study will include pregnant women and their children evaluating contribution of several factors on human health and disease, including the microbiome.
Kudos, Dr. Weidner!
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ARTICLES AND
PUBLICATIONS
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Divisions of Hospital Medicine, Pulmonology and Rheumatology |
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Guglielmo-Roxby T, Louissaint V, Ettinger A, Llanos A, Cahill E, Chefitz D, Boneparth A, Amato I, Moorthy LN. Assessment of Resident Knowledge in Pediatric Rheumatology. Glob Pediatr Health. 2021 Dec 17;8:2333794X211062020. doi: 10.1177/2333794X211062020. PMID: 34993280; PMCID: PMC8725020.
Cahill E, Sukhdeo S, Moorthy LN, Uppaluri L. A Case of Possible Shrinking Lung Syndrome in a 13-Year-Old Girl with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Spring Issue, NJ Pediatrics 2022.
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HONORS, AWARDS, AND
GRANTS
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More Than a Dozen Researchers Receive Grants from the New Jersey Health Foundation |
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Division of Child Neurology & Neurodevelopmental Disabilites |
Emanuel M. DiCicco-Bloom, MD, Professor of Neuroscience and Cell Biology and Pediatrics
Dr. DiCicco-Bloom received a 1-year grant from the New Jersey Health Foundation for his project entitled “Effects of NND Genetic Risk and Antibiotic-Induced Microbiome Dysbiosis on Postnatal Neurogenesis” in the amount of $35,000.
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L. Nandini Moorthy, MD, MS Professor of Pediatrics
Dr. Moorthy received a 1-year grant from the New Jersey Health Foundation for her project entitled “COVID (Combating COVID Vaccine Hesitancy in Pediatrics) at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Department of Pediatrics” in the amount of $25,000.
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Division of Immunobiology |
Derek Sant’Angelo, PhD Professor of Pediatrics
Dr. Sant'Angelo received a 1-year grant from the New Jersey Health Foundation for his project entitled “The Effectiveness of Checkpoint Inhibitors Requires a Specialized T Cell Subset: Implications for Cancer Immunotherapy” in the amount of $35,000.
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Congratulations Drs. DiCicco-Bloom, Moorthy and Sant'Angelo!
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Dr. Lawrence Kleinman Receives Award from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) |
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Lawrence C. Kleinman, MD, MPH, FAAP, professor and vice chair for academic development and pediatrics, along with colleagues on the COVID-19 Common Data Elements Working Groups, received the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Collaboration Award.
The award, presented recently during a virtual ceremony, recognizes individuals who have advanced the institute's mission through successful collaboration with partners across NICHD or outside of the institute.
Dr. Kleinman has made it his mission to work in partnership with other researchers, especially during COVID. He stresses the importance of collaboration, sharing, “This award reflects my attitude towards research—collaboration moves the field forward. When you have multiple perspectives, you can learn better and the work is more meaningful.” He shared that during COVID, different areas of the country have unique findings to their specific area, often at different times. According to Dr. Kleinman, collaboration enables researchers to get ready for what might be coming in their area and also helps with faster dissemination of information to the community.
In a letter informing Dr. Kleinman of the award, NICHD's president Diana Bianchi, MD, said: "NICHD's greatest asset in advancing its mission is dedicated and talented individuals, and your accomplishments exemplify the best of what we do."
Congratulations, Dr. Kleinman!
Read more in article on media outlets such as Yahoo!
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RWJMS to Lead National Study of Long-Term Effects of COVID in Children
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Robert Wood Johnson Medical School served as a national hub for pediatric sites as part of the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) $470 million RECOVER research initiative. The school was projected to receive approximately $30 million, establishing a critical partnership with RECOVER to study long-term and delayed impacts of COVID-19 in children and lead a national collaboration with the potential to recruit from any state to investigate these outcomes.
"Children and adolescents are susceptible to long-term symptoms. Some have brain fog. Others lose their stamina and with it their ability to participate in athletic activities. We are still learning what [long-term effects of COVID] may look like in children, as well as in adults. Pain, headaches, fatigue, anxiety, depression, fever, cough and sleep problems have all been reported," said Lawrence Kleinman, MD, MPH, professor and vice chair for academic development in the Department of Pediatrics and lead investigator for the Collaborative Long-term study of Outcomes of COVID-19 in Kids (CLOCK) consortium at Rutgers.
The CLOCK team will recruit children, adolescents and young adults from across the United States into the NIH's cohort study.
"CLOCK will make essential contributions to the RECOVER Cohort's ability to identify the nature of PASC (post-acute sequelae of COVID-19), what makes children susceptible to PASC and ultimately what we can do to prevent and treat this frightening and potentially debilitating condition in children, as well as in adults,” Dr. Kleinman said.
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Dr. Wayne Fisher Recipient of the Michael Hemingway Award |
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Dr. Michael Lewis Invited By the VinFuture Foundation |
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Wayne Fisher, PhD, BCBA-D
Director, Rutgers University Center for Autism Research, Education and Services (RU-CARES), Henry Rutgers Endowed Professor of Pediatrics
On March 19, 2022, Dr. Fisher received the Michael Hemingway Award from the Behavior Analysis Certification Board, which is given for distinguished contributions:
To the development of public policy related to behavior analysis,
To increase the availability of behavior-analytic services.
Congratulations, Dr. Fisher!
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Michael Lewis, PhD
Director, Institute for the Study of Child Development, Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry
On March 22, 2022, Dr. Lewis was invited by the VinFuture Foundation in Vietnam to be an Official Nominator for the 2022 VinFuture Prize.
The VinFuture Prize is set up to honor breakthrough scientific research and technological innovations that create meaningful change in the everyday lives of millions of people.
Congratulations, Dr. Lewis!
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Autism Speaks awards nearly $600,000 in Research Planning Grants |
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Autism Speaks announced grant funding to two research teams working to develop a model of care for autistic people across the lifespan who are experiencing severe behavioral challenges. Researchers will also design a method to evaluate the efficacy of this model, with the goal of developing a program that can be replicated by clinicians and service providers in broader communities.
Wayne Fisher, Ph.D., BCBA-D, professor of pediatrics, along with colleagues are one of the two research teams that have been awarded.
Their project is entitled: 'Developing a randomized controlled trial (RCT) for assessing and treating significant challenging behavior in persons with autism'.
Congratulations, Dr. Fisher and team!
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Dr. Manuel Jimenez
Inducted Into
The American Society
for Clinical Investigation
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Dr. Elizabeth Goodman
Invited as Guest Speaker for the Gold Humanism Honor Society Induction Ceremony
Class of 2022
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Manuel E. Jimenez, MD, MS, FAAP
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
The American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI) is pleased to announce the election of 95 new members for 2022.
These new members come from 46 different institutions and represent excellence across the breadth of academic medicine. For the 2022 membership nomination cycle, the Council considered 227 nominations and recommended 95 nominees for election. The Active and Senior segments of the membership voted on the recommendation, with 45% of eligible voters submitting their ballots by the deadline. The vote was overwhelmingly in favor of approving the recommendation.
They were officially inducted into the Society at the ASCI Dinner and New Member Induction Ceremony, held on April 8, 2022, as part of the AAP/ASCI/APSA Joint Meeting, April 8-10, at the Swissotel Chicago.
Congratulations, Dr. Jimenez!
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Elizabeth Goodman, MD
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Dr. Goodman was invited to be the guest speaker for the upcoming Gold Humanism Honor Society induction ceremony for the Class of 2022! After polling the incoming inductees, she received the most student votes to be invited to speak!
Letter of invitation included "As someone who is so involved in medical education at the medical student level, we would be so honored to have you as guest speaker at our ceremony if you are available."
"Thank you so much for all you do for the medical students!"
The ceremony was held on Wednesday, April 27th at 6pm in the Main Lecture Hall on the medical school campus.
Congratulations, Dr. Goodman!
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CONFERENCES, SEMINARS,
AND
WEBINARS
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*UPCOMING WEBINAR*
Register Now for a Candid Conversation on COVID-19 Vaccines in Pediatrics and Young Adults
May 12, at 6:30 p.m.
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Better Together - Zoom Webinar
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Join us on May 12 from 6:30 - 8 p.m., for a webinar that will answer key questions about COVID-19 vaccinations in children and young adults, including:
• Is the COVID-19 vaccine safe?
• What are the side effects?
• Why should my child get the vaccine?
• How will the vaccine interact with my child’s chronic illness?
• Whom can I trust with correct information?
In addition, a panel of renowned Robert Wood Johnson Medical School pediatric specialists will share first-hand knowledge and experiences, and participate in a live Q&A session.
A breakout session for Spanish-speaking families will be provided, as well as a session for health care providers that will offer information on vaccine hesitancy, public health resources, and best practices to effectively deliver COVID-19 vaccine information to patients and families.
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Barbara M. Ostfeld, PhD
Professor of Pediatrics
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Dr. Barbara Ostfeld Presented at the National Cribs for Kids Conference |
Dr. Barbara Ostfeld, professor of pediatrics, program director, SIDS Center of New Jersey presented, "Exploring the Potential Impact of COVID-19 on Social, Health, and Behavioral Risk Factors for Sudden Unexpected Infant Death", on May 3rd at the virtual National Cribs for Kids Conference. The conference also provided information on the new safe infant sleep guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics as well as extensive information on social and health determinants, disparity, implicit bias, provider education and methodologies for public health education.
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Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition |
On February 4, 2022, Melissa Weidner, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics, presented Grand Rounds at the University of Pennsylvania in Princeton, NJ. The title of her lecture was entitled "Pediatric Eosinophilic Esophagitis."
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Dr. Manuel Jimenez, Presented at the APS / SPR March Virtual Chat |
March 21, 2022 at 1 PM CT
Virtual Chat Webinar Series
Yes, You can make a Successful Transition to Independent Researcher!
To address the many challenges facing academic pediatrics, the APS and SPR have jointly created a series of virtual chats on issues presented by outstanding leaders from our societies.
Members and non-members were welcome.
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Manuel Jimenez, MD
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
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Fears, Hesitation and Access: What the Black Community Needs to Know Regarding the COVID-19 Vaccine |
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On March 23, from 6 p.m. - 7 p.m., Patricia Whitley-Williams, MD, professor and director of Allergy, immunology and infectious diseases and associate dean for diversity and inclusion, was one of seven expert panelists invited to discuss solutions to regaining the Black community's trust in the healthcare system. This mistrust extends back centuries from forced sterilization to the Tuskegee experiment.
This important webinar was moderated by Keith Byrd, director of health information management at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) Somerset and co-chair, RWJUH Somerset Black Professionals Network.
The complete list of panelists and QR Code can be found on the attached flier.
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Dr. Shilpa Pai Organized The Events Below |
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Manuel Jimenez, MD, FAAP
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
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Shilpa Pai, MD, FAAP
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
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NEW: PEOPLE, PROGRAMS, AND SERVICES |
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Pediatric Diagnostic Referral Service Now Available |
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The Department of Pediatrics is offering a new pediatric diagnostic referral service designed to provide in-depth consultation for children with rare or difficult-to-diagnose illnesses and conditions.
Led by Joann Alfonzo, MD, clinical assistant professor of pediatrics, the program assists a child’s primary care physician in assessing and managing medical conditions that benefit from a team approach.
The program’s consulting physician will review previous records and evaluations, meet with the child and family members, assess the medical condition, initiate appropriate diagnostic testing, and make recommendations for further evaluations and pediatric subspecialty referrals if necessary. All findings, recommendations and follow-up will be communicated to the family and child, as appropriate, and a written summary will be sent to the child’s referring primary care physician.
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Division of Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Diseases |
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The Department of Pediatrics is pleased to welcome Barrie Cohen, MD, as assistant professor in the Division of Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Disease.
Dr. Cohen is a fellowship-trained pediatric allergist/ immunologist. She received her bachelor of arts degree, magna cum laude, from Stern College of Yeshiva University, New York City, followed by her medical degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY.
Dr. Cohen completed residency training in pediatrics at Children’s Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM), also in the Bronx, including a year as chief resident. She also completed fellowship training in allergy and immunology at Children’s Hospital at Montefiore.
Dr. Cohen provides care for children with food, drug, and environmental allergies; atopic dermatitis; and asthma, as well as patients with concern for immunodeficiency, including abnormal newborn screenings for severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), a rare disorder that causes life-threatening problems with the immune system. She provides skin testing and immunotherapy in the office.
Dr. Cohen sees patients at Rutgers Health’s Somerset office at One Worlds Fair Drive on Tuesdays and Thursdays. In the coming months, she also will be seeing patients at the Rutgers Health office located at the Child Health Institute of New Jersey in New Brunswick.
To make a referral or schedule an appointment, call: 732-235-7894.
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International Adoption Medicine
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Meet Our Director
Susan Dibs, MD
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Office Location:
89 French Street, Second Floor
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Dr. Dibs is a board-certified pediatrician who has completed a three-year fellowship in pediatric emergency medicine. She also is the mother of a daughter adopted from China and has been practicing International Adoption Medicine since 2008.
International Adoption Medicine
Individuals considering international adoption could face a host of complexities throughout the process, including those resulting from health and developmental challenges for the child they plan to adopt. Rutgers Health’s International Adoption Medicine Clinic can help identify any potential areas of medical and developmental concern and refer families to the services that best fit the child’s special needs.
Our team is committed to providing compassionate, highly specialized care for families who are in the process of adopting a child internationally. We understand and can help you navigate the health issues that may arise for children born outside of the United States.
Working in conjunction with the child’s pediatrician, we offer expert consultation to families and physicians, including common medical problems seen in children who are adopted internationally, whether they are country-specific issues or commonly acquired infections/conditions resulting from your child’s travel to the United States, as well as provide an assessment of the child’s developmental level.
Our Services
The International Adoption Medicine Clinic provides pre- and post-adoption services.
Pre-adoption services include a review of the child's medical records and video footage (commonly known as a "referral evaluation"). Consultation for assistance with the adoption agency's special needs checklist also is offered.
Please note: Pre-adoption services are not billable to insurance. A fee schedule is available.
Post-adoption, initial post-placement medical evaluations are available following the child's arrival home.
These evaluations include:
· Comprehensive examination
· Developmental assessment
· Lab tests
· Immunization plan
· Referral to any necessary subspecialty services
In addition, follow-up visits at 6 months and 12 months are recommended. To Schedule an Appointment: 732-235-7787
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Pediatric Rheumatology Expands Services |
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The Department of Pediatrics' Division of Pediatric Rheumatology has added a third pediatric rheumatologist to the team and expanded its service locations.
Cynthia Salvant, MD, MS, assistant professor, joins professor and director, L. Nandini Moorthy, MD, and Daniel Horton, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics and epidemiology, to provide comprehensive care for children with rheumatologic conditions.
A fellowship-trained pediatric rheumatologist, Dr. Salvant received her medical degree from SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, N.Y. She completed residency training at Cohen Children's Medical Center Northwell Health System, Queens, N.Y., and a pediatric rheumatology fellowship at Children's Hospital Los Angeles.
She has been involved in multiple quality improvement projects and enjoys building bonds with her patients over the course of their lives, as well as providing education to students, residents and the pediatric community. In addition to her educational and mentoring roles, Dr. Salvant is a member of the committee in the recruitment of Underrepresented Minorities in Medicine and is part of the research group focusing on the effects of COVID-19 on immunosuppressed patients. She currently sees patients at offices in New Brunswick and Edison.
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Rutgers Expanding Enrollment of Participants for Pfizer COVID-19 Pediatric Vaccine Clinical Trial |
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Rutgers, a clinical trial site for the Pfizer-BioNTech research study to evaluate the efficacy of its COVID-19 vaccine in children, is looking for participants for a third clinical trial including children ages 6 months to 4 years. The medical school's Pediatric Clinical Research Center -- the only clinical trial site in New Jersey -- is one of the several clinical trial sites for the pediatric study.
“Children can get sick from COVID-19 and can spread the virus to others even if they are asymptomatic. While most children experience mild or no symptoms, some children can get severely ill and could have long-term effects,” said co-lead investigator Simon Li, MD, associate professor of pediatrics. “Maximizing COVID-19 vaccination in all age groups is important to stop the global progression of the disease. Vaccination will also help us feel safer about our children resuming school and daily activities.”
Pediatricians and parents who are interested in their children being considered for the vaccine clinical trial can click here.
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Congratulations Dr. Leva!
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Welcome!
The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities
April - Jillian E. Guzik, Program Assistant
Division of Cardiology
January - Ryan Wilcox, Ultrasonographer
Division of Endocrinology
January - Amanda Knowles, Staff Nurse
February - Jaclyn Edwers, Staff Nurse
Division of Gastroentrology
April - Hannah C. Cai, Nutritionist
Division of Medical Genetics
January - Aishwarya Udayan, Research Assistant
Division of Child Neurology & Neurodevelopmental Disabilities
April - Anna W. Ku, Advanced Practice Nurse
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Division of Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Diseases |
"May the God of hope, faith, and healing be with us in this coming year.
Let us treat each other with kindness and respect. Treat each other the way we would want to be treated. Say good morning to each other. Learn something new about someone you have the least desire to know better. Show appreciation for the work that people around you do.
I wish for peace – not war. I wish that health care becomes a right for everyone –not a privilege for a few.
I wish for justice that every citizen has the right to walk down any street unharmed and can vote in a safe, secure, and honest way. I wish that we have a safe and loving haven to return to each day when we leave the workplace. I wish for a world free of bias, hatred, racism, sexism.
In every dark corner, each light must shine, you in your small corner and I in mine."
--Patricia N. Whitley-Williams, MD
Professor of Pediatrics and Associate Dean for Inclusion and Diversity
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In Memoriam:
It is with profound sadness to share that Suzanne Anderson, program assistant for the Office of Inclusion and Diversity, passed away on Jan. 18. Suzanne also served as the program assistant for the Department of Pediatrics, Chair's Office, and Division of Pediatric Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Diseases.
Patricia N. Whitley-Williams, MD, professor of pediatrics and associate dean for inclusion and diversity, shared a message about Sue:
"Sue was a team player and invaluable member of the administrative team. She was awarded the 2021 Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences Chancellor Award for Sustained Service last fall. Sue was an extremely creative, outgoing, friendly person with an infectious personality who was never afraid of a big challenge. Suzanne's smile and hearty laugh would light up the room, and she had that ability to put visitors, staff, students, residents, faculty, and all others coming into the office at ease. She was a sister to me, a dear friend and my right hand. In spite of her significant health challenges over the past year, she continued to work. She will be missed more than any words can express.
With a heavy heart, yet a better person for having known Sue, I am asking you to keep her family and loved ones in your thoughts and prayers at this sad time."
--Deans Weekly View: 1/21/22
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Simon Li, MD, associate professor, chief of the division of pediatric critical care, and a principal investigator in the latest Pfizer pediatric clinical trial, was featured on NBC in Philadelphia last Sunday.
Dr. Li detailed the effectiveness of the vaccine in children ages 6 months to 4 years old, the rate of infection, and shared how soon the vaccine could become available to this younger age group.
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Kids and COVID: What We Know |
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In a recent discussion with On the Pandemic, a Rutgers podcast that explores the COVID-19 pandemic, its impact and recovery across the university, Lawrence C. Kleinman, MD, MPH, FAAP, professor and vice chair for academic development and pediatrics, shared that "kids are surviving the pandemic but they are struggling as well."
He explained that while we know children are less likely to get seriously ill or die from the virus than adults, it's not because the virus is safe for children but because this is such a dangerous disease in adults.
“We have lost sight of the meaning of each individual case," Dr. Kleinman said. "The forest is making us forget what the experience of the trees are…of each individual who is suffering loss.”
He continued, “Children are suffering loss as parents, grandparents and other people in their lives are dying. That’s one thing. And then they are suffering loss as a result of illness, and that’s another, and their life experience has been altered in ways that have been challenging and for some children, the impact of the disease results in isolation and loneliness."
Dr. Kleinman was recently awarded two grants from the National Institutes of Health to explore which children are more likely to get sick in the short term (acute COVID) and who gets long-term or delayed effects over an extended period of time.
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