Fall is here and we have had snippets of cool weather to ease the transition into this busy season. Transitions seem to be the theme of this newsletter. In June we celebrated our residents’ and fellows’ graduations, in July we welcomed many new housestaff, and this month the last of our new faculty for FY23 arrived. We welcome all the new members of the department. Other transitions we celebrate include the retirement of two dear collaborative faculty members- Dan Riggs and Rick Martinez. Our Rothman endowed chair, Dr Tanya Murphy, completed an amazing career in August and received the honor of emeritus faculty status. We are so grateful for the clinical expertise and incredible education these faculty provided throughout their tenure at USF. Recognizing academic excellence in all missions is something our promotion committee has been doing throughout this month. I am so grateful to chair, Dr. Carina Rodriguez, Jane Carver, ad hoc member, and all of the members for their participation and expertise. We had a number of faculty apply for promotion this year- another important transition in their careers. This season of celebrations can also be a season of stress and uncertainty. The economy and political environment can create anxiety among all of us. I hope that in our department, we can foster an environment of tolerance, curiosity not judgement, and support between each other and with our patients. Cultivating collaboration and connection within our teams is one important way to address burnout and promote wellness. I am grateful for all that you do to promote learning and healing. |  | |
- Dr. Jennifer Takagishi was elected as the Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (FCAAP) Region 3 Representative.
- Dr. Juan Rico was elected to the FCAAP Board of Directors as the Vice President.
- Congratulations to Drs. Carina Rodriguez and Elizabeth Bruce and the infectious diseases team on the Emergency Use Authorization approval of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine.
- Congratulations to Dr. Jane Carver, who is an editor for Advances in Pediatrics. The 2021 edition received a 4-star review and contained content from USF teams that included Drs. Melinda Murphy, Michelle Blanco, Tiffany Chenneville, Brooke Bavinger, Sara Garcia, Carol Lilly, Patricia O’Brien, Michelle Hojnicki and Matthew Gates.
- The Healthpark team was featured in the 2021 Tampa General Hospital Annual Report for their patient care in clinic and at the annual Back to School Health Fair with Hillsborough County.
- The USF Rothman Center for Pediatric Neuropsychiatry has been granted designation for 3 more years as a Tourette Association of America Center of Excellence for Tourette Syndrome and Tic Disorders.
- Congratulations to Drs. Melinda Murphy (Member-at-Large) and Erika Abel (Secretary-Treasurer) for their elections as Medical Staff Officers at Tampa General Hospital.
- Congratulations to Drs. Melinda Murphy (Chief) and Jaime Flores-Torres (Vice Chief) for their elections in the Tampa General Hospital Department of Pediatrics.
- Thank you for Dr. Alfonso Campos for 40 years of service to Tampa General Hospital.
- Our department achieved an average ranking of 90% on Press Ganey for care providers overall.
- Congratulations to Dr. Antoinette Spoto-Cannons for being accepted to the Association of American Medical Colleges Mid-Career Women’s Conference.
- Thank you to Dr. Tanner Wright for his “Great Catch” reporting false positive results to the Utilizing the Safety Huddle to Empower Residents as Safety Stewards (USHERSS) Program.
- Physicians in our department were recognized as Best Doctors in Tampa Bay Metro Magazine:
Gen Peds
Dr. Sharon Dabrow
Dr. Carol Lilly
Dr. Jennifer Takagishi
- Physicians in our department were recognized as Top Docs in Tampa Magazine’s Top Doctor’s List 2022:
Allergy & Immunology
Dr. Panida Sriaroon
Developmental
Dr. Tanuja Kothinti
Dr. Carol Lilly
Endocrinology
Dr. Dorothy Shulman
Gastroenterology
Dr. Racha Khalaf
Gen Peds
Dr. Vinita Kiluk
Med-Peds
Dr. John McCormick
Neurology
Dr. Maria Gieron-Korthals
Pulmonology
Dr. Yanerys Colon Cortes
Dr. Marisa Couluris
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Nicole Misner, under the mentorship of Dr. Racha Khalaf, was awarded $5,000 for the project A Single Center Initiative to Identify Prevalence of and Diagnoses Associated with Food Insecurity Amongst Pediatric Gastroenterology Patients from the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition (NASPGHAN) Foundation. | |
Pediatric Alum Dr. Philip Matar was featured on FOX13 in a story about a new device being developed that helps prevent child drownings- click here. | |
Our Healthpark team Cathy Moore (Nurse Manager), Dr. Jennifer Takagishi (Medical Director), Dr. Sara Garcia (Attending), and Tanya Smith (APRN) were interviewed for the Florida SHOTS August newsletter- click here. | |
Dr. Cameron Nereim was interviewed for the USF Health Minute about Problematic Interactive Media Use- click here to watch the interviews or click here to read the transcript. | |
During a November 3rd Teams event we will celebrate Dr. Tanya Murphy and her remarkable career. Since joining USF in 2008 until 2022 she served as Chief of the Pediatric Neuropsychiatry Division and Rothman Endowed Chair of Pediatrics. Dr. Murphy developed the Rothman Center for Pediatric Neuropsychiatry into an internationally-recognized center, and her research on pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders and Tourette’s syndrome has had a significant impact on the care of children with these disorders. She has been an author on over 300 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, and has been an investigator on numerous federally-funded research projects. She has served as the USF Pediatrics Vice Chair of Academic Affairs and Chair of the Promotion and Tenure Committee. In July of this year Dr. Murphy was appointed USF Professor Emeritus. We thank her for her remarkable contributions, and wish her the very best in her retirement! | |
Dr. Amber McClain, Assistant Professor, attended Florida State University College of Medicine, completed her pediatric residency at the University of Florida at Orlando Health, and her pediatric gastroenterology fellowship at the University of Utah in 2019. She has worked as a pediatric gastroenterologist at the University of Utah and as a UF Health physician in Pensacola since completing her fellowship. | |
Dr. Jenelle Fernandez, Assistant Professor, attended Ross University School of Medicine, completed her pediatric residency at the Medical Center of Central Georgia, and her fellowship in pediatric gastroenterology at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in 2022. | |
Dr. Jamie Clute attended the Medical University of Ohio and completed his pediatric residency at Mercy Children’s Hospital/Medical University of Ohio in 2002. He has worked as a pediatric hospitalist at facilities ranging from Florida to California to Hawaii. He most recently worked at Valley Children’s Hospital, UCSF Fresno/Stanford. | |
Dr. Marie-Éva Desrosiers attended the Perelman School of Medicine and completed her pediatric residency at Children’s Hospital at Montefiore in 2001. She has worked as a pediatric hospitalist and served on the teaching faculty at Harlem Hospital and Arnold Palmer Hospital, and since 2014 has worked at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Primary Care/Kinder Clinic, and Community Hospital Partnership. | |
Dr. Patoula Panagos, Associate Professor, attended medical school at USF, completed her pediatric residency at the University of Florida Orlando Health, and her fellowship in neonatology at Tufts Medical Center in 2014. She has worked at the Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University and Rush Medical College, and most recently served as an associate professor at the University of Central Florida. | |
Dr. Erica Peterson, Assistant Professor, completed medical school, pediatric residency and fellowship in neonatology at USF, graduating this past summer. We are pleased that she decided to remain here at USF! | |
Dr. Chantal Angueyra, Assistant Professor, attended medical school at the National University of Columbia in Bogota, completed her pediatric residency at Harlem Hospital, Columbia University, where she served as chief resident. In 2022 she completed her fellowship in neonatology at Irving Medical Center, Columbia University, and completed a bioethics fellowship at Harvard Medical School. | |
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Allergy & Immunology
Dr. Monica Hajirawala, Assistant Professor, attended medical school at Florida International University, completed her pediatric residency at Louisiana State University/Children’s Hospital of New Orleans where she served as chief resident. She competed her allergy and immunology fellowship at Tulane University in 2022.
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Infectious Disease
Dr. Amol Purandare, Assistant Professor, attended Florida State University College of Medicine and completed his pediatric residency at St. Louis University. After he completed his fellowship in pediatric infectious disease at Children’s National Medical Center in 2018, he has been serving as an assistant professor at the University of Missouri and the University of Kansas School of Medicine.
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General Pediatrics
Dr. Karyn Gerstle, Assistant Professor, attended medical school at the University of Miami and completed her pediatric residency at the University of Chicago in 2020. She has been working as a pediatric hospitalist for the NorthShore University Health System in Chicago.
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In addition, two of our core pediatric faculty are transitioning into new roles. | |
Dr. Maya Balakrishnan, who has been a member of the Division of Neonatology since 2010, is now serving as a neonatal hospitalist at the TGH NICU. She will continue her work in the area of quality improvement. | |
Dr. Patricia O’Brien, has been a member of our hospitalist division, primarily at St. Joseph's Children's since 2018. She recently transitioned to a new position serving full time as a hospitalist and newborn attending at Tampa General Hospital. | |
- Lan Tran: Research Support Specialist, Genetics
- Nicole Liciaga-Silva: Medical Assistant, Genetics
- Melis Ylimaz: Student Assistant, Allergy & Immunology
- Melis Ylimaz: Student Assistant, Allergy & Immunology
- Barbara Cockream: Office Manager, Chair’s Office
- Gina Alazo: Fiscal and Business Specialist, Administration
- Rebecca Schall: Client Services Assistant, Ybor Youth Clinic
- Danielle Torquato: RN, Infectious Diseases
- Maraiah Burch: RN, Infectious Diseases
- Danielle Torquato: RN, Infectious Diseases
- Mariah Burch: RN, Infectious Diseases
- Ashley Thompson: Human Services Practitioner, Child Protection Team
- Shania Gainey: Community Outreach Caseworker, Early Steps
- Raine Walters: Community Outreach Caseworker, Early Steps
- Susan Davis-Strauss: Community Outreach Caseworker, Early Steps
- Erin Foster: Community Outreach Caseworker, Early Steps
- Eliana Rosenbluth: Child Find Specialist, Early Steps
- Shania Gainey: Community Outreach Caseworker, Early Steps
- Barbara Peterson: Learning Instructor, Child Development
- Barbara Peterson: Learning Instructor, Child Development
- Katrina Scarimbolo: Intern, Child Development
- Leanna Rosinski: Intern, Child Development
- Tylor McCoy: Intern, Child Development
- Katrina Scarimbolo: Intern, Child Development
- Leanna Rosinski: Intern, Child Development
- Tylor McCoy: Intern, Child Development
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Clinical Team Members of the Month | |
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July 2022
Michael Littles, LPN, Riverview
Michael is known for his calm demeanor and kindness. Beyond providing quality care to patients, he is an incredible resource to the clinical float team and assists with training and education.
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August 2022
Jennifer Boucourt, LPN, Children’s Medical Services (CMS)
Jennifer is radiant and has been helpful in training several other nurses. She is collaborative with the multi-disciplinary team and excels in customer service.
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September 2022
Sonia Thomas, LPN, 17 Davis 2
Sonia is known as a champion and cheerleader at the clinic. She is a great asset to all of the attendings, residents, students and patients.
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October 2022
Sabine Premier, Clinical Secretary, 17 Davis 1
Sabine has made a difference to effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction at USF Health. She is commended for her work ethic, joy of life and care for patients and their families however she can.
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During October 2022, four residents participated in the American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference and Exhibition (AAP NCE) conference in San Diego, California. | |
Havilecek E (pictured above). Invasive Mechanical Ventilation and Risk of Hospital-Acquired Venous Thromboembolism Among Critically III Children: A Multi-center, Retropective Cohort Study. | |
Bindernagel C (pictured above), Plott N, Crocus C, Zabalo S, Sullivan S, Dabrow S, Sriaroon P. Evaluating Knowledge and Implementation Of the AAP-Endorsed Early Peanut Introduction Guidelines in Florida. | |
Blanco P (pictured above). Abdominal Pain, Diarrhea, Nausea, and Weight Loss Related to a Mucinous Neoplasm: A Rare Diagnosis in a Pediatric Patient. | |
Lazara M (picturred above). Improving Continuity in Pediatric Ambulatory Clinics. | |
Recruiting season has started! For the next two and a half months every Monday, Wednesday and Friday our pediatric and med-peds faculty and residents will be hosting a number of candidates online. Once again this year recruitment is done through Teams. Many thanks to all the faculty and staff that make this happen. | |
USF-TGH Pediatric Complex Clinic Annual Holiday Party | |
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The USF-TGH Pediatric Complex Clinic Annual Holiday Party will be held December 3, 2022. This special event is hosted for our complex pediatric patients and their families. There will be Santa, music, snacks, crafts, and gifts - a wonderful opportunity for these amazing and resilient children to celebrate!
If you would like to contribute monetarily, please Venmo: Michelle-Blanco-1
If you would like to volunteer on the day of the event please email:
[email protected]
If you would like to attend the event please RSVP to:
[email protected]
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Ybor Youth Clinic HerdFunder | |
This year's YYC Herdfunder, conducted in conjunction with USF's Giving Week, reaffirmed the support that the clinic has from USF and the broader community by raising $29,675! Everyone associated with the YYC would like to extend a gracious thank you for the generous gifts we received. These contributions will help us continue to serve as a safe space for our patients and a collaborative partner in the community. | |
USF has provided resources following Hurricane Ian including local action opportunities, information on emergency response organizations, and informational weather resources. Click here to learn more and find out how you can get involved. | |
- Shin H, Huang S, Garcia S, Takagishi J, Blakeman O, and Gaviria C. Vaccinate with Confidence: Targeting Influenza vaccine uptake at two pediatrics clinics in Hillsborough County. FCAAP 2022: The Future of Pediatric Practice. Orlando, Florida. September 2-4, 2022.
- Ballow M. Managing Primary Immunodeficiency (PI): The evolving landscape for Inborn Errors of Immunity (IEI). Educational Program by CSL-Behring. St. Pete, Florida. September 21, 2022.
- Walter J. Investigation of B cell dysregulation in partial RAG deficiency: tolerance breaks, T-bet+ B cells and anti-cytokine antibodies. San Diego Allergy Society Dinner Program. San Diego, California. September 28, 2022.
North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition (NASPGHAN)/Council for Pediatric Nutrition Professionals (CPNP)/Association of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition Nurses (APGNN) 2022. Orlando, Florida. October 12-15, 2022.
- Romano M, DeJesus Y, Patrusky L, Khalaf R (mentor). Improving Rates of Psychology Care in Pediatric Patients with Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders.
- Hamner B, Gieron-Korthals M, Khalaf R (mentor). Unusual Gastrointestinal Presentation of Myasthenia Gravis in a Pediatric Patient.
- Blanco P & Wilsey M (mentor). Abdominal Pain, Diarrhea, Nausea and Weight Loss Related to a Mucinous Neoplasm: A Rare Diagnosis in a Pediatric Patient.
- Trocchia C, Khalaf R (mentor). Pediatric ERCP in the Setting of Acute Pancreatitis: a Secondary Analysis of a Multi-center Cohort Study.
- Fernandez J. Effect of Proton Pump Inhibitors on the Rectosigmoid Colon Mucosal Microbiome and on the H+/K+ATPase Activity.
- Fernandez J. Small Fiber Neuropathy in Children: Not an uncommon finding in patients with GI motility disorders.
- Fernandez J. Child with History of Necrotizing Pancreatitis Found to Have Solid Pseudopapillary Tumor of the Pancreas.
- Misner M & Khalaf R (mentor). Iron-Pill Induced Gastric Ulcer in an Adolescent with Functional Abdominal Pain.
- Blanco P & Khalaf R (mentor). Oral Mucogingivitis: an Initial Presenting Symptom in inflammatory Bowel Disease.
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- Djabri D, Al-Mashal A, Rola D, Galligan A. Arterial Thrombosis of Unknown Etiology in a 10-Year-Old Male. Cureus. May 27, 2022.
- Donato U M, Galligan A. A Case Report on Transient Erythroblastopenia of Childhood in a Female Pediatric Patient. Cureus. June 30, 2022.
- Donato U M, Shoeleh C, Galligan A. Case Report on Aggressive Natural Killer Cell Leukemia in a Pediatric Patient. Cureus. June 3, 2022.
- Donato U M, Donato S, Galligan A. Case Report of a 13-Year-Old Female With Trauma Secondary to a Fall From a Golf Cart, Found to Have Intraparenchymal & Subarachnoid Hemorrhages With Transverse Sinus Thrombosis. Cureus. July 25, 2022.
- Donato U M, Donato S, Galligan A. A Four-Year-Old Female With a Rare P53 Gene Mutation Diagnosed With Li-Fraumeni Syndrome and Concomitant Metastatic Rhabdomyosarcoma: A Case Report. Cureus. July 19, 2022.
- Mammadova J, Redden A, Cruz R, Ellison M, Gatewood T, Duff C, Canella A, Somboonwit C, Sriaroon C, Dasso JF, Harville T, Ismail-Khan R, Walter J. Case Report: Initial Treatment Adjustments and Complications in Ovarian Cancer Patient With Inborn Error of Immunity. Frontiers in Oncology. Jun 29, 2022.
- Fliegauf M, Kinnunen M, Posadas-Cantera S, Camacho-Ordonez N, Abolhassani H, Alsina L, Atschekzei F, Bogaert DJ, Burns SO, Church JA, Dückers G, Freeman AF, Hammarström L, Hanitsch LG, Kerre T, Kobbe R, Sharapova SO, Siepermann K, Speckmann C, Steiner S, Verma N, Walter JE, Westermann-Clark E, Goldacker S, Warnatz K, Varjosalo M, Grimbacher B. Detrimental NFKB1 missense variants affecting the Rel-homology domain of p105/p50 B. Frontiers in Immunology. Aug 29, 2022.
- • Agazzi H, Dickinson S, Plant RM. Helping our Toddlers, Developing our Children’s Skills: Innovative Behavioral Management for Pediatric Residents. Advances in Pediatrics. Aug 2022.
- Sharma AV, Padhya T, Nallu S. Management of Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea After Failed Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy. Advances in Pediatrics. Aug 2022.
- Panzarino V, Lesser J, Cassini FA. Pediatric Chronic Kidney Disease. Advances in Pediatrics. Aug 2022.
- Choo S, Perry A, Cheng A, Wang C, Rico J. Advances in Hemophilia A Management. Advances in Pediatrics. Aug 2022.
- Lafnitzegger A, Gaviria-Agudelo C. Vaccine Hesitancy in Pediatrics. Vaccine Hesitancy in Pediatrics. Advances in Pediatrics. Aug 2022.
- Geier CB, Ellison M, Cruz R, Pawar S, Leiss-Piller A, Zmajkovicova K, McNulty SM, Yilmaz M, Evans MO II, Gordon S, Ujhazi B, Wiest I, Abolhassani H, Aghamohammadi A, Barmettler S, Bhar S, Bondarenko A, Bolyard AA, Buchbinder D, Cada M, Cavieres M, Connelly JA, Dale DC, Deordieva E, Dorsey MJ, Drysdale SB, Ehl S, Elfeky R, Fioredda F, Firkin F, Förster-Waldl E, Geng B, Goda V, Gonzalez-Granado L, Grunebaum E, Grzesk E, Henrickson SE, Hilfanova A, Hiwatari M, Imai C, Ip W, Jyonouchi S, Kanegane H, Kawahara Y, Khojah AM, Kim VH, Kojić M, Kołtan S, Krivan G, Langguth D, Lau YL, Leung D, Miano M, Mersyanova I, Mousallem T, Muskat M, Naoum FA, Noronha SA, Ouederni M, Ozono S, Richmond GW, Sakovich I, Salzer U, Schuetz C, Seeborg FO, Sharapova SO, Sockel K, Volokha A, von Bonin M, Warnatz K, Wegehaupt O, Weinberg GA, Wong KJ, Worth A, Yu H, Zharankova Y, Zhao X, Devlin L, Badarau A, Csomos K, Keszei M, Pereira J, Taveras AG, Beaussant-Cohen SL, Ong MS, Shcherbina A, Walter JE. Disease Progression of WHIM Syndrome in an International Cohort of 66 Pediatric and Adult Patients. Journal of Clinical Immunology. Aug 10, 2022.
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License Renewal and CME Credit Information | |
Don’t forget to check if your Florida medical license needs to be renewed this year. Remember that your CME must be reported through CE broker as the official site. 40 total hours of CME Education is required. Please review the specific required courses including prevention of medical errors. There are a number of options to complete the required CME, many of them via webinar. | |
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November 9, 2022 at 12:00 pm: Faculty Development Meeting
January 10, 2023: Abstract deadline for USF Research Day
February 2, 2023 at 8:00 am: 2023 Bernard Pollara Resident Lectureship
March 3, 2023 at 9:00 am: 2023 USF Health Research Day
April 6, 2023 at 8:00 am: 2023 Lewis A. Barness Endowed Lectureship
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