USF Health Pediatrics Newsletter Spring 2025 | | |
“Changes in latitudes changes in attitudes nothing remains quite the same. For all of our running and all of our cunning, if we couldn’t laugh, we would all go insane.”
I am a big fan of Jimmy Buffett and still mourn this death. He was an amazing poet and commentator on life. This is a quote from one of my favorite songs of his - Changes in Latitudes. We have many folks changing their latitudes this June. It is a time for transitions when senior residents and fellows graduate and often relocate. Summer is also a time when many of us take a break and travel on vacation to visit family or go on adventures. Near or far, time away does change your perspective and provides needed attitude adjustments. It also reminds us of how alike people are; no matter where in the world you visit, you meet people who care about their family, who love their country, who are interested in food and culture, and who are more alike than different from you. It is important to gain this perspective as we juggle the changes, say goodbye and handle the uncertainty of new people and current events. I wish Godspeed and all the best to all of our departing fellows, residents, and faculty. May they carry with them some of the values and relationships fostered here at USF. For the rest of us, I hope that a little bit of travel and summer fun can help us laugh during these changing times.
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LEWIS A. BARNESS LECTURE AND FELLOWS FORUM
The 2025 Lewis A. Barness Lecture, held on April 17, was presented by Dr. Mark L. Hudak, Professor and Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Florida, and Chief of the Division of Neonatology at the University of Florida College of Medicine. Dr. Hudak delivered an outstanding lecture titled Perspectives on Lessons Learned in Neonatology Over 50 Years. Following the lecture, Dr. Hudak participated in the Fellows Forum.
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The retirement of Dr. Alfonso Campos was celebrated with an alumni reception on June 5. Dr. Campos joined USF Peds in 1982 and has been an integral member of the faculty since that time. He started the renal transplant program at TGH, which celebrated its 40th year of pediatric transplants in 2022; they have transplanted 398 kidneys and contributed to TGH being number one in kidney transplant procedures. Dr. Campos has served as Medical Director of the USF/TGH Pediatric Dialysis Unit since 1991 and Clinical Vice Chair of USF Peds since 2009. His dedication to patients is exceptional, and he is a beloved teacher, having been named the Pediatric Faculty Teacher of the Year 11 times. TGH is recognizing his achievements by establishing a yearly award titled the Campos Legacy Award for Pediatric Kidney Care. Events celebrating Dr. Campos will be held on June 26th at TGH, and on June 27th at the Chalsty Clinic. Thank you for your many years of service, Dr. Campos!
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Dr. Michelle Edward, a fourth-year Med-Peds resident, and Dr. Jennifer Takagishi, Vice President of the Florida Chapter of the AAP, participated in Children's Week in Tallahassee to advocate against Medicaid cuts and to promote support for vaccinations.
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The retirement of Dr. Laura Weathers was celebrated on April 10th. Dr. Weathers joined USF Peds in 1992, and her long and distinguished tenure included service as Chief of the Division of General Pediatrics, Medical Director of Well Baby Services at TGH, Chief of the Division of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and Medical Director of the 17 Davis Pediatric Clinic.
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JHACH held an event to celebrate Dr. Allen Root’s 50 years of service on April 3. Dr. Root was a founding faculty member for USF Peds, joining the department in 1973. He is a world-renowned pediatric endocrinologist who also served as director of the Pediatric Residency Program at All Children’s Hospital.
| | | | | Dr. Heather Agazzi traveled to the University of Ankara through an Erasmus+ KA171 award to support a doctoral student adapting HOT DOCS for Turkish families. | | This May, we proudly celebrated National Nurses Week and recognized their incredible dedication, compassion, and hard work. | | On Wednesday, April 23rd, we celebrated Administrative Professionals Day. A big thank you to all our amazing administrative staff! | |
Congratulations to Bay Area Early Steps for being awarded the contract for another 3 years, beginning 7/1/25!
| | We also had a farewell lunch for Dr. Nathan Brinn who after ten years at USF is moving to Colorado to practice Med-Peds. Dr. Brinn has served as Associate Program Director for the Med-Peds residency program, and as a major preceptor in the clinic. He won outstanding patient satisfaction awards for eight years in a row. He will be greatly missed. | | Congratulations to our APRNs on their promotion to Instructor II for the 2025-2026 academic year! | | |
Congratulations to Drs. Marta Toth and Karyn Gerstle on being awarded the USF Peds Valente Research Award. Dr. Toth, a post-doc in the Walter lab, will investigate transcriptional regulation of age-associated B cells in immune dysregulation. Her proposal is titled Transcriptional Regulation of Age-Associated B Cells (ABCs) in Immune Dysregulation in Partial Recombinant Activating Gene Deficiency (pRD). Dr. Gerstle’s proposal is titled A Culinary Medicine Elective for Medical Trainees: Addressing the Gap in Nutrition
Curriculum in Undergraduate and Graduate Medical Education. She will develop a culinary medicine elective for trainees to address gaps in nutrition education. Congratulations to both — we look forward to hearing more about these important projects.
Congratulations to Dr. Anthony Sochet for promotion to Collaborative Associate Professor for USF Peds. Dr. Sochet is a faculty member at JHACH in critical care, whose research is federally funded.
Congratulations to Dr. Lisa Sanders who was recognized as the Mentor of the Year by the medical students and RISE office.
Congratulations to Dr. Irina Cooley, first year neonatal fellow who was accepted into the inaugural class of the Association of Pediatric Program Directors (APPD) program titled Supporting Medical Education Research Fellows Scholars. The program provides mentoring and support for medical education research for pediatric subspecialty fellows.
Congratulations to Drs. Claudia Espinosa and Ali Sanati-Mehrizy on their appointment as Faculty Council Representatives, and thank you to Drs. Claudia Gaviria and Amol Purandare for their two years of service.
Kudos to Dr. Katiana Garagozlo on her appointment to the American Lung Association’s Gulf Coast Local Leadership Board.
| | Congratulations to Dr. Andrew Galligan who won the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine award. | | Kudos to Dr. Meredith Plant on her induction into the Gold Humanism Honor Society. | | Kudos to Dr. Erica Abel on her induction into the AOA Honor Society. | |
Dr. Chelsea Torres served as a presenter at the Senior Student and Faculty Academic Awards Ceremony on May 7, 2025. Alanis Rosado received the Department of Pediatrics Outstanding Medical Student Award, Karla Geigel received the FCAAP Luther W. Holloway Award and Tam Nguyen received the Lewis A. Barness Award.
| | Congratulations to Dr. Chantal Angueyra on her appointment as Chair of the TGH Ethics Committee. | |  | Dr. Elimarys Perez-Colon is the recipient of the Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine’s MPPDA Brendan P Kelly Award for her work on Global Health with our Med-Peds and Peds residencies. | | | Clinical Team Members of the Month | | April: Karissa Torres, LPN; 17 Davis clinic | | | May: Kelly Lowery, RN; Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology | | | Tyler Yates, MD, will serve as Assistant Professor in the Division of Allergy & Immunology. Dr. Yates received his MD from Georgetown University in Washington DC, followed by pediatric residency at Phoenix Children’s Hospital and a fellowship in allergy/immunology at Duke University Medical Center. Prior to joining USF, he served as an assistant professor of pediatrics at Oregon Health & Science University, where he founded a pediatric immunology program. | | | Bandi Chaithanya Reddy, MBBS, MD, will serve as Assistant Professor in the Division of Neurology. Dr. Reddy received his medical degree and completed residencies in pediatrics and pediatric neurology in India, followed by a fellowship in epilepsy at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. His board certification includes an added competency in EEG/epilepsy. | | | Emily Owens, Physician Assistant, Student Health | | Dr. Jessica Holler and Dr. Ariel Offu have been chosen to serve as the 2026-2027 Chief Residents. | | Drs. Alaina Mui, Miranda Sullivan and Jonathan Slimovitch have been chosen to serve as the Med Peds Chief Residents. | | | | |
Congratulations to Med-Ped residents Drs. Gautam Koipallil and Jean-Claude Guidi for being recipients of the Office of Medical Education’s Exceptional Educator Award for April 2025. They were each nominated by a medical student for going above and beyond during a teaching experience.
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USF Pediatrics residents participated in Day of Giving on April 29. Groups of residents volunteered at several sites around Tampa Bay, including Metropolitan Ministries, the Ronald McDonald House, and Feeding Tampa Bay.
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Congratulations to Drs. Sri Narayanan and Akriti Jalla who were elected to the GME Resident Advisory Committee for FY 2025-2026.
Congratulations to Peds resident Dr. John Wiegand on his research project, supported by Johns Hopkins All Children’s Clinical and Translational Research Program, titled: Pulmonary Hypertension Outcomes after Closure of Atrial Septal Defect in Infants with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) or Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH): A Retrospective Review.
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Graduating Residents
A resident graduation banquet was held on June 8th at the Rusty Pelican. We wish our graduating residents well as they embark on their careers!
Peds
Natasha Carrero-Mercado; General Pediatrics, Riverview
Caroline Clark; Chief Resident
Jessica Creech; Allergy/Immunology Fellowship, USF
Kristin DeMayo; Critical Care Fellow, Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
Anggie Mesa; General Pediatrics, Vero Beach
Jennifer Markwood; Safety/QI Fellowship, TGH
Morsal Osmani; General Pediatrics, Pediatric Health Care Alliance
Angela Pluguez; Chief Resident
Avram Rago; Cardiology Fellowship, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
Stefanie Scarpone; Neonatal Hospitalist/Complex Care Pediatrician, USF
Monica Singh; Neonatology, University of Florida
Emily Vlasik; General Pediatrics
MedPeds
Michelle Edward; Hospitalist, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
Jean Claude Guidi; Hospitalist, USF Internal Medicine
Emily Shipley; Medicine Pediatrics, Reno, Nevada
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TGH-NICU Award: Ciara Alvarez
TGH-PICU Award: Stefanie Scarpone
Cardiology-ACH/Pediatric Cardiology Associates: John Wiegand and Zainab Ezzi
USF GI Award: Sri Narayan
USF Peds ID Award: Jayme Verdi
Hospitalist-ACH: Emily Vlasik and Angela Pluguez
Creativity and Innovation Awards: Jean Claude Guidi
Perlman Award of Excellence: Caroline Clark
Allen Root Award: Stephanie Scarpone
Generalist Pediatrician of the Year: Emily Vlasik
Doctor’s Doctor Award: Emily Shipley
Intern of the Year: Ian Alvardo-Velez
Attending of the Year-Generalist: Sara Garcia and Jamie Graham
Attending of the Year-Specialist: Jacqueline Larson and Scott McKinley
Resident Student Educator: Stephanie Scarpone, Emily Vlasik and Morsal Osmani
AAP Award: Caroline Clark
MP Attending of the Year: Andy Brinn
ACH ER Award: Angela Pluguez
| | Faculty and trainees are reminded that all investigator-initiated studies need to be submitted for departmental scientific review prior to being submitted to the IRB. Departmental review is required before the IRB will consider the application. Please send your protocols and any inquiries about the process to Jane Carver (jcarver@usf.edu). | | |
Peds faculty are authors on three articles published in the 2025 issue of Advances in Pediatrics, Volume 72:
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Markwood J, Fugate K, Woodard A, Godcharles C, Gerstle K. Helping Support our Families Reach Their Breastfeeding Goals. Published online March 28.
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Tabulov C, McGee K, Marin Ruiz B. Pharmacology in Pediatric Renal Solid Organ Transplantation. Published online March 15.
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Perry A, Siraj S. Quality Improvement in Pediatrics. Published online February 27.
Roberts Al, Vallabhaneni Nikhil, Russi BW, Delaney K, Leiding J, Sochet A. Azithromycin for Critically Ill Children with Bronchiolitis: A U.S. Pediatric Health Information Systems Registry Study, 2013–2022. Pediatric Critical Care Medicine March 28, 2025.
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Council on Medical Student Education in Pediatrics meeting. Indianapolis, April 2-5
Nabower A, Nackers K, Berger S, Lee V, Gupta K, Hannum C, Galligan D, Spears A. presented Full Throttle Teaching: Driving Student Engagement Through Technology
Galligan D, Tierno B, Kiluk V, Weiss A, Guidi J-C, Kukora S. presented Moving Beyond Yes And... Using Medical Improv to Navigate Difficult Conversations
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Association of Pediatric Program Directors meeting. Atlanta, March 25-28
Dr. Jean-Claude Guidi gave a presentation titled Promoting AI Learning during Residency.
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USF Peds made a great showing at PAS in Honolulu this year, held April 24-28.
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Dr. Tara Randis was co-chair and speaker for a PAS post-graduate course titled Tackling Neonatal Infections: Current Debates and Expert Opinions
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Dr. Claudia Gaviria-Agudelo was session moderator for Infectious Diseases 2 and was co-chair and speaker for the Hot Topics lecture titled Adventures and Misadventures in the World of Special Host Vaccination
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Dr. Jennifer Takagishi led the workshop titled Don’t Improvise Your Leadership: Essential Leadership Skills for Physicians at all Levels, she presented Strategies for Negotiating Toward an Ideal State as chair of a special interest group session, and she led a special interest group session titled Faculty Development and Well-being: A Values-Based Approach to Negotiating Toward the Career You Really Want
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Dr. Chelsea Torres was moderator for the session titled Medical Education 5: Trainees
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Oral presentations:
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Clark C, Morrison J, Maua, Mosha, Kiskaddon A. Haloperidol Use in Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome: A Multi-center Retrospective Cohort Study
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Young et al. and Tanner Wright: NIH Group. Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Outcomes at 2 Years for Infants in the Eating, Sleeping, Consoling for Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal (ESC-NOW) Study (NIH Group)
- Laptook et al. and Tanner Wright: NIH Group. A Multicenter Randomized, Blinded Trial of Weaning Opioids for Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NIH Group)
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Poster presentations:
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Cornwall M, Kneusel M, Abby L. Schneider, Wright, T. Outcomes of Maternal-Infant Dyads Affected by Substance Use Disorder with Access to Responsive Technology Bassinets
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Gutwein J, Kosyluk K, Kneusel M, King M, Cornwall M, Bhaskar S, Kendle A, Wright T. Decreasing Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Healthcare Providers' Stigma Toward Pregnant and Post-Partum Persons with Opioid Use Disorder.
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Hoeman A, Wright T, Chaphalkar C, Kendle A. Benzodiazepine Prescriptions During Pregnancy, Neonatal Outcomes, and Factors Associated with Sedative Use Disorder
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Pluguez A, Jabre N, Machry J, Teppa Sanchez B, Krzyzewski J, Morrison J. Factors Associated with 7-day Hospital Readmission After Tracheostomy Associated Respiratory Infection: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study
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Andrew N. Carr, Fadayel G, Bohman L, Byrd J, Wright T. Evaluation of Diapered Area Skin Characteristics from Babies with Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS)
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Pearah A, Lindon A, Dominguez K, John-Lewis Edwards N, Handel, Zelaya Aparicio C, Darch S, Randis T. Candida Albicans Impacts Group B Streptococcus Virulence
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John-Lewis Edwards N, Pearah A, Lindon A, Darch S, Randis T. Advancing Group B Streptococcus Research: Human Intestinal Organoids as a New Model for Neonatal Infections
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Singh M, Morrison J, Calhoun K. Children with Neglect Evaluated in the Emergency Department and Factors Associated with Hospitalizaions
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Espinosa C, Randis T, Kendle A, Kneusel M, Chaphalkar C, Fugate K, Wright T. Implementation of Targeted and Expanded Congenital CMV Screening in the NICU Using Saliva Polymerase Chain Reaction
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Narkhede A, Hoeman A, Donda K, Ho, T. Evaluating the Effectiveness of Pharmacological Treatment of PDA After One Week Postnatal Age
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DeMayo K, Havlicek E, Palumbo J, Soto-Campos G, Betensky M, Goldenberg N, Sochet A. Diabetic Ketoacidosis and Hospital-Acquired Venous Thromboembolism in Children and Young Adults
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Morales S, Riley V, Kneusel M, Ford S. Body Composition in Low-Birth-Weight Preterm Infants Fed Mother's Own Milk vs. Donor's Breast Milk and Formula
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Deall T, Donda K, Alvarez C, Sawangkum P, Markel L, Duncan J, Elseed Peterson E. Timing of Antenatal Corticosteroids: Association with Mortality in Periviable Infants
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Stein Elger R, Ratta A, Reid C, Foti T, Mangini L, Finster J, Marshall J, Wright T. Strengthening Wraparound Care for Families with Opioid Use Disorder in the PEDI Clinic Network
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The Fellows Forum held April 17th included oral presentations by seven fellows:
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Bindernagel C, Tabatabaian F, Khalaf R. Noninvasive Eosinophilic Esophagitis Monitoring Utilizing 3-Bromotyrosine as a Urinary Biomarker
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Gutwein J, Kendle A, Kosyluk K, Kneusel M, King M, Bhaskar S, Cornwall M, Wright T. Decreasing Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Healthcare Providers’ Stigma Toward Pregnant and Post-Partum Persons with Opioid Use
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Nomula K, Walter J. Understanding the Role of Age-Associated B Cells in Monogenic Inborn Errors of Immunity
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Shaffren S, Sriaroon P. Using Component Testing to Predict Responses to Baked Egg and Baked Milk Oral Food Challenges
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Osmani T, Kneusel M, Wright T. Racial/Ethnic Variation in Parental Visitation on Neonatal Outcomes in Very Low Birthweight Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
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Morales Chavez S, Ford S, Riley V, Kumar A. Body Composition in Low Birth Weight Preterm Infants Fed Mother's Own Milk vs. Donor's Breast Milk and Formula
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Mendez P, Patel P, Hajirawala M. Research Data Repository for Drug Allergy Patients: United States Drug Allergy Registry (USDAR)
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Posters for the Resident Forum on Quality Improvement and Research were presented on April 15th.
Thank you to Dr. Andrew Galligan, Kelly Paulina and Nicole Crawford for their outstanding organization of this year's Resident Research and Quality Poster Forum.
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Dittmar G, Mesa, A, Creech, J, Garagozlo K. Improving Outpatient Pediatric Asthma Care at University of South Florida General Pediatrics Clinics
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Sorial M, Garagozlo K. Mindful Prescribing: Enhancing Resident Awareness of Montelukast's Neuropsychiatric Risks
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Bernard J, Siraj S, Scarpone S, Sullivan M. Beyond Wellness: Trainee-Led Schwartz Rounds, A Quality Improvement Study
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Scarpone S, Fallon K, Arias I, Asencio M, Vigo L, Colen L, Torres C, Blanco M. HealthySteps, Big Leaps: Advancing Care for Children with Medical Complexity
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Creech J, Scarpone S, Vlasik E. Improving Water Safety Education at the Nine Month Well Child Check: A Quality Improvement Project at the University of South Florida
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DeMayo K, Garagozlo K, Bhandare S. Utilizing the Pediatric Asthma Respiratory Score in a Pediatric ICU, a Quality Improvement Study
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Ezzi Z, Wiegand J, Abadeer M, Scully B, Quintessenza J. Late Repair of Native Tricuspid Pulmonary Valve due to Severe Pulmonary Regurgitation Acquired from Transannular Repair of Tetralogy of Fallot
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Clark C, Morrison J, Mosha M, Kiskaddon A. Haloperidol Use in Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome: A Multi-center Retrospective Cohort Study
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Weigand J, Thompson J, Landeck B, Fierstein J, Ashour D, Machry J, Kiskaddon A, Betensky M, Freire G. Pulmonary Hypertension Outcomes after Closure of Atrial Septal Defect in Infants with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia or Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia: A Retrospective Review
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Creech J, Miller R, Walter J. Defining the Clinical Phenotype of the APDS Population and the University of South Florida
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Weigand J, Ezzi Z, Abadeer M, Scully B, Sambatakos P. MD Left Coronary Artery Ostial Isolation in an Infant with a Dysplastic Aortic Valve
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Resident QI Research Initiatives were presented at the May 22nd Grand Rounds:
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Dittmar G, Mesa A, Creech J, Garagozlo K. Improving Outpatient Pediatric Asthma Care at University of South Florida General Pediatrics Clinics
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DeMayo K, Garagozlo K, Bhandare S. Utilizing the Pediatric Asthma Respiratory Score in a Pediatric ICU, a Quality Improvement Study
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Bernard J, Siraj S, Scarpone S, Sullivan M. Beyond Wellness: Trainee-Led Schwartz Rounds, A Quality Improvement Study
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Weigand J, Thompson J, Landeck B, Fierstein J, Ashour D, Machry J, Kiskaddon A, Betensky M, Freire G. Pulmonary Hypertension Outcomes after Closure of Atrial Septal Defect in Infants with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia or Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia: A Retrospective Review
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Creech J, Miller R, Walter J. Defining the Clinical Phenotype of the APDS Population at the University of South Florida
| | Clinical faculty are reminded that USF headshots will be taken at the STC on 7/25, 8/22 and 10/31, and on main campus (7/11, 8/8, 9/12, 10/17, 11/14 at the Faculty Office Building and 9/26 and 12/12 at the Morsani College of Medicine). For additional information contact Gina Rathbun (grathbun@usf.edu) | | Follow the department on Twitter and Facebook | | Follow the pediatrics residents on Instagram and Facebook | | Follow the internal medicine-pediatrics residents on Instagram and Facebook | | Please send content for the next newsletter to pedicom@usf.edu by 9/03/2025 | | | | |
