Summer 2023

USF Health Pediatrics Newsletter Summer 2023

Chair's Message

Welcome to the 2024 academic year. As we speed into the fall season, we want to review department highlights from the summer. There is much to celebrate. We capped off last year with a wonderful graduation of our fellows and residents. Congratulations to all our faculty who were recognized by their trainees. These awards reflect your passion for teaching and mentorship and are an honor. We finished summer with our first hurricane of the season, Idalia. We need to thank many people who helped secure our clinics and make sure our patients were safe and cared for. Following the hurricane, several of us participated in the FCAAP annual conference and cheered on our student and resident presenters and our amazing USF Brain Bowl participants. Finally, we want to welcome our new staff, house staff and faculty to USF Pediatrics.   I hope you take some time to review these milestones, the many accomplishments and support your new colleagues as we head towards 2024!

Kudos

Dr. Larry Dishaw was awarded $681,876 from the National Science Foundation for his study titled Prophages and How They Manipulate Model Microbiomes. He will be collaborating with a colleague from the University of Minnesota.

Dr. Racha Khalaf was awarded $393,00 from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for her study titled Impact of Triple CFTR Therapy on Esophageal Microbiota and Inflammation.

Dr. Jennifer Takagishi has been appointed the Interim Secretary of the Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The Division of Nephrology earned 100% Top Box Score on Overall Provider Performance in Quarter 4 of 2022!

The following providers scored in the 100th percentile for Overall Care Provider in Quarter 3 of the Press Ganey survey – many others were very close to 100%! Drs. Antoinette Spoto-Cannons, Vinita Kiluk, Sara Garcia, Jillian Childres, Racha Khalaf, and APRNs Nieves Munoz and Alicia Marion.

Dr. Jean-Claude Guidi, MedPeds PGY2, was inducted into the Gold Humanism Society.

Dr. Racha Khalaf and her team in the Division of Gastroenterology are the first in the southeast and the third in the nation to offer the esophageal string test for sampling the esophagus.

Drs. Michelle Blanco and Jennifer Takagishi participated in the 2023 FCAAP Disaster Preparedness Ambassador webinar project which culminated in the production of the video Hurricane Ready Florida: Disaster Preparedness for Children and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs. Final video is at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPmyww0SloU

Bailey Hamner was awarded funding from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s 2023 Student Traineeship Award for her project titled Impact of Acid Blockade on the Pulmonary and Nutritional Outcomes of Pediatric Patients with Cystic Fibrosis. Bailey works with Dr. Racha Khalaf. She presented an oral abstract at the FCAAP’s Medical Student Research Forum on Sept. 2, for which she won 2nd place.

Dr. Priya Patel has been elected Vice Chair of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Fellows-in-Training Committee.

Farewells

Dr. Stephen Poff will retire October 1^st. He has been with Student Health Services for 21 years. During this time, he also served as the Faculty Advisor for the University Emergency Medicine Student Association (UEMSA) and as the Medical Director for the USF Medical Response Unit (MRU). In addition, he has served on the TGH Ethics Committee. Congratulations and thank you for your service!

Research Funding Opportunity

Thanks to a generous gift, USF Peds is sponsoring the Valente Scholarship Fund, which supports early career pediatric faculty, fellows and postdocs in pursuing their research interests. This year’s deadline for the $5,000 - $10,000 award is October 15. The scholarship information was sent via email. For more information, please contact Barbara Cockream. 

Clinical Team Members of the Month

June: Sheryle Sims-Green, LPN, ACH OCC Clinic

July: Yarine Castillo, RN, 17 Davis Clinic

August: Brenda Davis, RN, 17 Davis Clinic

Happenings

Back to School Fairs were held at Blake High School, Pizzo School, and Swindle Medical Center in Plant City. There was a great showing of preceptors and trainees!

·        Swindle Medical Center: Dr. Chelsea Torres, preceptor. Drs. Havlicek, Shastereni, Sullivan, Barnes, Ezzi

·        Blake High School: Dr. Meredith Plant, preceptor. Drs. Ferrer, Carrero, D’Arrigo, Vlasik, John, Bernard, McGee, Ezzi

·        Pizzo School: Drs. Karyn Gerstle and Dabrow, Preceptors. Drs. Pluguez, Trasamonte, Holler, Johnson, Robinson 

Graduation Awards

Caroline Clark: TGH-NICU Department Intern Award

Constance Bindernagel: TGH-PICU

Jameson Kuang – TGH ER

Cherishma Patel and Aubrey Schley: Cardiology- ACH/PCA

Paola Blanco: TGH GI

Camille Carre: Creativity and Innovation Award

Jameson Kuang: Perlman Award of Excellence

Constance Bindernagel: Allen Root Award

Andrea Lafnitzegger: Generalist Pediatrician of the Year

James Kuang: MP Doctor’s Doctor of the Year

Stefanie D’Arrigo: Intern of the Year

Chelsea Torres: TGH Generalist Attending of the Year

Kristy Wesighan: ACH Generalist Attending of the Year

Valerie Panzarino: TGH Specialist Attending of the Year

Daniel Mauriello: ACH Specialist Attending of the Year

Paola Blanco and Sukjoo Cho: Resident Student Educators

Keyur Donda: Neonatal Fellow Teaching Award

Welcome New Faculty and Clinical Providers

William Hudson, MD, MS, MA: Dr. Hudson will serve as assistant professor and medical director of the Rothman Center for Neuropsychiatry. He completed his MD, residency in general psychiatry and fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at USF.

Jameson Kuang, MD: Dr. Kuang will serve as assistant professor in MedPeds. He completed his MD and residency at USF.

Carine Stromquist, MD: Dr. Stromquist will serve as associate professor in Neonatology in a part time status. She completed her MD at the State University of Ghent, Belgium, and her residency and neonatology fellowship at the University of Oklahoma. Dr. Stromquist previously served as an assistant and associate professor at USF, and has recently been an attending neonatologist at the NCH North Naples Hospital.

 Luis Seguias, MD, Hospitalist, will serve at TGH. He completed his MD at the Universidad Central de Venezuela and his residency at Albert Einstein. He joins us from the University of Florida.

  Cristina Marie del Valle-Avila, MD, Hospitalist, will serve at St. Joseph’s Hospital. She completed her MD at the University of Puerto Rico and her residency at USF.

 Christine Lopez, DO, Hospitalist, will serve at St. Joseph’s Hospital. She completed her DO at Lake Eric College of Osteopathic Medicine and her residency at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital.

 APRNs:

•     Neonatology, TGH

Fairicy del Cid

Kelsey Smith

Kathryn Scheidit-Stroud

Gloribel Medina

•     General Pediatrics, Newborn Nursery, TGH

Terri Persinger

Danielle Winston

•     Neurology, CMS and TGH Healthpark

Nicole Babulal-Francis

•     Nephrology, JHAC

Marianna Broz Gisoldi

•     Allergy and Immunology, St. Petersburg

Ariane Rice

Maria Sofia Quiñonez

•     General Pediatrics, St. Joseph’s Hospital

Danyelle Kula

Pam Bremmer



Genetic Counselor



Andrea Shields, MSPH, MS

Welcome New Residents and Fellows

Our resident class of 2026:

·        Kelly McGee, USF

·        Ian Robinson, Morehouse School of Medicine

·        Jessica Holler, St. George’s University

·        Grace Dittmar, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine

·        Ali Ezzi, Florida International University

·        Zainab Bhuriwala, Aga Khan University, Pakistan

·        Ariel Johnson, Michigan State

·        John Wiegan, University of Central Florida

·        Jordan Bernard, Rocky Vista College of Osteopathic Medicine

·        Alexaundria Barnes, Florida Atlantic University

·        Ciara Alvarez, Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine

·        Marina Sorial, University of South Carolina-Greenville

Our new fellows:

Neonatology:

·        Jenny Gutwein: MD, St. George’s University; residency, Broward Health

·         Stephanie Morales: DO, Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine; residency Zucker

School of Medicine

Allergy and Immunology

·        Constance Bindernagel: DO, Kansas City University; residency USF

·        Kranthi Nomula: MD, SVS Medical College, India; residency Jo DiMaggio Children’s

Hospital



Welcome Chief Residents

Dr. Ivy Wilson, who was Intern of the Year in 2020-21, is interested in pediatric hospital medicine and pediatric pulmonology. She enjoys advocating for our residents, and looks forward to expanding her leadership and education skills as chief. She will be based at TGH.

Dr. Andrea Lafnitzegger is interested in pediatric mental and behavioral health, particularly for adolescents. She is a certified Crisis Text Line counselor. Dr. Lafnitzegger will be primarily based at JHACH.

·        Chief Residents for 2024-25 will be Drs. Jasmin Shahrestani and Taylor Tragesser

Welcome New Staff

Leigh-Anne Worthington: Research Scientist, Neonatology

Angie-Michelle Nieto: Insurance Specialist, Early Steps

Michele Keller: Caseworker, Early Steps

Sreya Malladi: Caseworker, Early Steps

Megan Moncrief: Caseworker, Early Steps

Ana Gutierrez: Human Services, Infectious Diseases/YYC

Kevin Castellanos: Administrative Specialist, Neurology/GI

Melanie Barron: RN, CMS Referral Center

Gabrielle Henry: Technical/Paraprofessional, Genetics

Tocara Jackson: Human Services, Child Development

Jessica Andrews: Human Services, Child Development

Lisa Marie Birchfield: Caseworker, Early Steps

Danielle Stephenson: Human Services, Child Development

Sonia Pitts: Human Services, Child Development

Shriya Bhatnagar: Program Planner, Child Development

Julia Jordan: Intern, Child Development

Dhara Patel: Intern, Child Development

Tiffany Dangleben: Intern, Child Development

Publications

Bricoune O, Gieron-Korthals M. Challenges in Diagnosing and Treating Myasthenia Gravis in Infants and Children with Presentation of Cases. Adv. Pediatr. Vol 70, 2023.

Flores-Torres J, Sanchez-Valle A, Duncan JR, Panzarino V, Mane J. Lower Urinary Tract Obstruction in Newborns. Adv. Pediatr. Vol 70, 2023.

Walter J. AAP Advocacy Conference 2023 Reflections. FCAAP News, August 2023.

Clark C, Dabrow S. Reflections from a Meaningful Cultural Experience Through the Eyes of Pediatric Resident. FCAAP News, August, 2023.

Lopez MC …Csomos K… Walter JE. Separating the wheat from the chaff in asthma and bronchiectasis: the saga trajectory of a patient with adult-onset RAG1 deficiency. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2023 Apr 21:S2213-2198.

Gupta S, DeAngelo J, Melamed I, Walter JE et al. Subcutaneous Immunoglobulin 16.5% (Cutaquig®) in Primary Immunodeficiency Disease: Safety, Tolerability, Efficacy, and Patient Experience with Enhanced Infusion Regimens. J Clin Immunol PMID: 37160610 PMCID: PMC10169187.



Ballow M, Ziegler JB.  Must Reads for Clinicians Seeking a Better Understanding of Primary Immune Deficiency Disorders and Related Disorders J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2023 Jun;11(6):1703-1705.

Wilsey MJ…. Sriaroon P et al. Extensively Hydrolyzed Formula Improves Allergic Symptoms in the Short Term in Infants with Suspected Cow's Milk Protein Allergy Nutrients. 2023 Mar 30;15(7):1677.

Wilsey MJ… Sriaroon P et al. Short-term symptom improvement in infants with suspected cow's milk protein allergy using amino acid formula: a prospective cohort analysis. Front Nutr. 2023 Jun 20;10:1208334. 

Presentations

Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics Annual Conference, Orlando, September 1-3, 2023

Clinical Immunology Society Meeting, St. Louis, May 2023

Dr. Jolan Walter moderated a symposium titled Identifying and managing patients with APDS.

Posters:

Zuhdi K, Yilmaz M, Patel P, Ujhazi B, Nguyen M, Sullivan-Sotoudeh S, Cooper M, Csomos K, Ayala I, Walter JE. Diagnostic and Treatment Challenges in a Pediatric Patient with Progressive Refractory ALPS-like Disease

Jacovas VC, Zelnick M, Cowan M, Ghosh R, Hershfield M, Piazza M, Puck JM, Verbsky J, Walter JD, Yuan B, Martin M, Pan X, McNulty S, Johnson B, Chinn IK. Recommendations from the ClinGen SCID VCEP: Implementation of ACMG/AMP Variant Curation Guidelines for Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Disease

Alas E, Blair G, Ujhazi B, Yilmaz M, Potts DE, Gordon S, Kraus M, Hassunah P, Nguyen M, Sullivan S, Patel P, Shin H, Martin S, Dasso J, Hajirawala M, Fliegaug M, Csomos K, Grimbacher B, Walter JE. Variable Clinical Presentation, Diagnostic and Treatment Challenges in a family with a novel variant of NFKB1

Potts DE, Patel P, Nguyen M, Yilmaz M, Alas E, Dasso J, Ujhazi B, Gordon S, Csomos K, Hajirawala M, Walter JE. COVID-19-Related Encephalitis in a Child with PIK3CD Defect

Taunk S, Potts D, Dasso J, Yilmaz M, Creamer A, Smith H, Younger E, Heimall J, Goldman S. Walter JE. Understanding of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency and Carrier Status in the U.S.-Based Irish Traveller Population

Zabalo C, Bindernagel C, Nieves D, Khan F, Yilmaz M, Potts DE, Ujhazi B, Csomos, Walter JE. A Case of X-Linked Moesin-Associated Immune Deficiency in a Pediatric Patient”

Dasso JF, Shaffren S, Illes P, Ujhazi B, Gordon S, Alas E, Szymanski AM, Csomos K, Walter JE. Anti-interferon alpha autoantibodies in patients with inborn errors of Immunity and rheumatic diseases before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

Yilmaz M, Ujhazi B, Sotoudeh S, Patel P, Nguyen M, Csomos K, Stephens A, Butte M, Wang JY, Farmer JR, Lucas C, Walter JE. Characterizing A Novel Variant in ABCB1 in a Family with APDS-like Presentation

Grace Blair, Sumai Gordon, Boglarka Ujhazi, Melis Yilmaz1,2, Joseph Dasso, Caterina Cancrini, Francessco Licciardi, Karlla Brigatti, Kevin Strauss, Krisztian Csomos, Jolan E Walter. “Characteristics and Clinical Implications of Anti-IFN-α cytokine antibodies in pRD patients before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic”

Volodashchik T, Polyakova E, Mikhalevskaya TM, Sakovich I, Dubrovski A, Belevtsev MV, Dzmitry V, Walter JE, Svetlana S. 1-year male with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma post-mortem identified with founder Slavic RAG1 variant

Csomos K, Ujhazi B, Blazso P, Yilmaz M, Potts DE, Blair G, Franson B, Gordon S, Toth M, Herrera JL, Varadi E, Tipton CM, Scharer C, Dasso JF, Czimmerer Z, Komatsu M, Notarangelo LD, Cancro MP, Walter JE. Partial RAG deficiency induces dysregulated peripheral lymphocyte development and humoral tolerance defect with accumulation of T-bet+ B cells.

Save the Dates

Sept 22, 2023: Dr. Lana Soylu Farewell Reception

Oct 20-24, 2023: AAP National Conference & Exhibition

Nov 2, 2023: John S. Curran MD Endowed Lecture in Newborn Health

Jan 24, 2024: Bernard Pollara Resident Lectureship

April 18, 2024: Barness Lecture and Fellows Forum

May 3-6, 2024: Pediatric Academic Society Meeting

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Please send content for the next newsletter to pedicom@usf.edu by 12/01/2023.