Summer 2024

USF Health Pediatrics Newsletter Summer 2024

Chair's Message

I’ve been thinking a lot about resilience. Resilience is the ability to cope with adverse experiences – to bounce back. Recently, my father-in-law passed away at 104. During his youth, he faced the Great Depression, death of both parents and entering WW2 at age 18. He had many adverse experiences in his early life and certainly saw his share of trauma in the Battle of the Bulge. Yet he thrived as a successful lawyer, father, grandfather, and community leader. His faith was strong, and he had a wonderful wife and good friends. At his funeral, I learned many examples of his generosity and service to others.

Resilience is an important skill that we should work to develop in ourselves and our department. Like strength training for the physical body, building mental strength to handle uncertainty and all types of setbacks takes practice. During childhood, positive childhood experiences such as having a supportive family member, friends, safety and community traditions help to mitigate adverse experiences. In adults’ positive relationships, a support system, a sense of purpose, continual learning and goal setting all contribute to our resilience.

I feel that our department has a great sense of purpose. Our mission is clear—taking care of children and teaching the next generation of pediatric providers. We need to remind ourselves of this as we struggle with the daily frustrations of quirky computer systems, endless reporting, scared, frustrated parents and distracted colleagues. We need to build in time to be mindful, to take care of our health, to celebrate wins and to support each other. The power of relationships and finding joy in our everyday work help build a resilient department. I am inspired by the example of my father-in-law who found purpose in faith, family and his profession. In this newsletter, I know that you will find many examples of inspiring work, service and resilience.  

Kudos

Dr. Panida Sriaroon was nominated as Food Allergy Champion by Tampa Food Allergy Support and Education (FARE).

Dr. Adam Lewin is now President-Elect (2025) of the Society for Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, a 3000-member organization.

Dr. Constance Bindernagel is the PI of a grant titled "Noninvasive Eosinophilic Esophagitis Monitoring Utilizing 3-Bromotyrosine as a Urinary Biomarker.” that was awarded $6,000 in funding through the 2024-25 GME Research Grant Proposals. Co-investigators include Drs. Khalaf, Tabatabaian, Balasubramaniam, Tsalatsanis and Noujaim. 

The Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and the College of Public Health have been awarded a supplemental Ryan White Part D grant for $198,500 to strengthen organizational capacity to respond to the changing healthcare landscape and streamline data integration and reporting other reporting needs for Children, Youth, and Women living with or affected by HIV. Drs. Carina Rodriguez, Lisa Sanders, and Ryan Reed, APRN will lead its implementation in collaboration with COPH and EPIC IT.

Drs. Katiana Garagozlo and Tanuja Kothinti are the department’s two new Faculty Council representatives; they will be joining Drs. Claudia Gaviria-Agudelo and Amol Purandare who have renewed their terms for another year. Thanks to Drs. Chris Griffith and Andrew Galligan who completed their terms this year.

We are very proud that Dr. Adam Lewin has been appointed the new Faculty Council Vice President. This provides an important seat at the leadership table for our department during this time of growth and transition. Congratulations Adam!

Dr. Tina Ho and her colleagues from the Colleges of Nursing, and Arts and Sciences are the recipients of a $15,000 Women’s Health Collaborative Seed Grant Award for their proposal titled Association of Human Milk Feeding in VLBW Infants and Development of Anemia of Prematurity and the Gut Microbiome.

In June Dr. Karen Paltoo was named the St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital Physician of the Quarter.

Christine Shaw, MSW, has been appointed the new Lead Case Coordinator for the Child Protection Team based at Mary Lee’s House. Also, congratulations to Tonya Fleming- Fuller on her retirement from USF and the CPT Assistant Director position. 

Dr. Carina Rodriguez was appointed to the USF Research Committee.

The Ybor Youth Clinic recently completed the recertification process through the University of Michigan’s Adolescent Health Initiative, achieving gold status as an Adolescent Friendly Clinic. The recertification team, led by Executive Director Dr. Lisa Sanders, also included Cheri Mitchell, Director of Outreach, and Danielle Lewald, who heads YYC’s Healthy Start-funded peer navigator program. Healthy Start employee Tanner Cobb worked with Youth Advisory Board members to assess the clinic environment to ensure that it continues to be welcoming to youth.

Andrew Armstrong, APRN, was one of the two top performers in the Care Providers category for the Quarter 2 Press Ganey scores for USF Health. Andrew’s score of 97.77% was in the 99^th percentile – congratulations!

Drs. Patricia Emmanuel and Lisa Sanders, and Tammy Fried, LCSW were recently awarded a DOH grant, Partners 4Mental Health, to implement and expand the Clinical Social Workforce to provide behavioral health services at Ybor Youth Clinic and 17 Davis Clinic. 

Dr. Rene Gomez was selected as a participant of the NASPGHAN Inaugural DEEP Program - Developing Educators and Expert Presenters.

Clinical Team Members of the Month

June : Tiffany McCullough, RN; JCACH Outpatient Care Center

July : April Scavelli, LPN; Curran Children’s Center

Happenings

Dr. Panida Sriaroon was interviewed on WTSP and Bay News 9 about the recent approval of Xolair to treat patients with severe food allergies.

Many thanks to all residents, faculty and nurses who participated in three Health Fairs throughout the region in July, including Plant City, Pizzo Elementary, Just Elementary. The Back 2 School Health Fairs are held throughout the country, where healthcare volunteers do physicals and vaccinations.

Resident News

GRADUATING RESIDENTS

A resident graduation celebration was held at the Rusty Pelican. We wish our graduating residents well as they embark on their careers!

Peds

Elizabeth Havlicek; PICU Fellowship, Utah

Jade Walter; General Pediatrics, University of Florida

Jessica Hukill; Neonatology fellowship, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital

Celisse Zabalo; Hospitalist, Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago

Bini John; General Pediatrics, Florida Health Care Alliance

Krizia Marie Trasmonte; General Pediatrics, St. Petersburg

Roshini Pudhucode; General Pediatrics, Augusta, Georgia

Nikhil Vallabhaneni; Pediatric Intensive Care Fellowship, Medical College of Georgia

Marion Martin; General Pediatrics, Charleston, SC

Eric Smart; Pediatric Intensive Care Fellowship, UC San Diego

MedPeds

Benjamin Berthet; Med-Peds, Salinas, CA

Sherri Huang; Hospitalist and Informatics position, UCSF

Fatimat Shotande; Locum Tenens, Roanoke, VA

Ashley Perry; QI Fellowship, USF/TGH

Isaac Cha; Med-Peds, Austin TX

Katerine Finley; Adult Cardiology Fellowship, University of Florida

GRADUATION AWARDS

TGH – NICU Division Award: Stefani D’Arrigo

ACH PICU: Nikhil Vallabhaneni

ACH ER: Libby Havlicek

Cardiology – ACH/Pediatric Cardiology Associates: Avram Rago and Libby Havlicek

USF GI: Caroline Clark

USF Peds ID Award: Marina Sorial

Hospitalist – ACH: Taylor Tragesser

Creativity and Innovation Award: Sherri Huang

Perlman Award of Excellence: Ashley Perry

Allen Root Award: Libby Havlicek

Generalist Pediatrician of the Year: Roshini Pudhucode

Doctor’s Doctor Award: Sherri Huang

Intern of the Year: Ariel Offutt

Resident Student Educator: Jessica Hukill

Med-Peds Attending of the Year: Elyimarys Perez-Colon

American Academy of Pediatrics Award: Jade Walter

Attending of the Year – Generalist: Karyn Gerstle USF/Diana Young ACH

Attending of the Year – Specialist: Alfonso Campos and Frank Ayestaran

WELCOME NEW HOUSESTAFF

Peds:

Sara Beshara; University of Miami

Martin Cheramie, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis

Danielle Gantar, Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine

Sean Griffin, Florida Atlantic University

Amanda Hernandez, USF

Alyson Hill, Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Jenny Lee, Medical College of Georgia

Lidia Lopez, Indiana University School of Medicine

Manda Mainville, Nova Southeastern University

Keyshla Munoz, San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, Puerto Rico

Sridevi Narayanan, Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences

Chris Raskey, Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences

MedPeds:

Ian Alvarado Velez, University of Puerto Rico

Nelson Franqui-Rios, Ponce School of Medicine

Jessica Guynes, University of South Alabama

Anthu Trinh, West Virginia School of Medicine

Brendan Wheldon, USF

Fellowship News - Welcome New Fellows

Neonatology

Irina Cooley, MD, completed her pediatric residency at Nemours Children’s Hospital, and worked there as a neonatal hospitalist.

Allergy and Immunology

Phil Mendez, DO, MPH, completed his pediatric residency at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine and his MPH at the University of Florida.

Allergy and Immunology

Serena Shaffren, MD, completed her pediatric residency at the University of Florida.

Collaborative Faculty Promotions

Congratulations to Dr. Stacie Stapleton and Dr. Jorge McCormack, who were promoted to Collaborative Professor, Clinical Care. Dr. Stapleton is Chief of the Oncology Division at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, while Dr. McCormack is with Pediatric Cardiology Associates and JHACH. 

Welcome New Faculty

Gabriel Daniels, MD, will serve as an assistant professor in the Division of General Pediatrics. He earned his MD at the University of Florida and completed his pediatric residency, and a fellowship in hospice and palliative medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. 

Carol Fraley, MD, will serve as assistant professor in the Division of General Pediatrics. She earned her MD at Florida International University and completed her pediatric residency at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt University. Since 2022 she has been working for St. Petersburg Pediatrics. 

Jessika Guerard, PhD, will serve as assistant professor in the Division of Child Development. She earned her PhD in counseling, psychology and human systems from Florida State University, completed a pre-doctoral internship at Tulane University School of Medicine, and has served as a postdoctoral resident in psychology at the Rothman Center for Pediatric Neuropsychiatry since 2021. 

Himali Jayakody, MD, will serve as an assistant professor in the Division of Neurology. She earned her MD at the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, completed her pediatric residency and child neurology residency at the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital, and her clinical neurology fellowship at USF. Since 2018 she has been employed as a pediatric neurologist/epileptologist at Pediatric Epilepsy & Neurology Specialists in Tampa. 

Madison Lake, MSPH, CGC, will serve as a genetic counselor for the Division of Genetics & Metabolism. She earned her MSPH at USF with a concentration in genetic counseling and is board-certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling. Since 2022 she has been working as a genetic counselor at the University of Florida. 

Tyler McCoy, Psy.D. will serve as assistant professor in the Division of Child Development. She earned her MS and PsyD in the school of psychology at Nova Southeastern University, completed her predoctoral professional psychology internship at USF, and her research and clinical postdoctoral pediatric health psychology fellowship at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital.

Chantell Melgarejo, DO, MS, will serve as assistant professor in the Division of General Pediatrics, and is a hospitalist at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital. She earned her MS in biological sciences at Barry University, her DO at the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, and completed her pediatric residency at HCA Palms West Pediatric Residency Program, where she served as chief resident. 

Brett Russi, MD, will serve as assistant professor in the Division of Critical Care Medicine. He earned his MD at Florida State University, completed his pediatric residency at USF, and recently completed his fellowship in critical care medicine at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. 

Welcome New APRNs

Lhin Tangco: Neuropsychiatry

Tina Fetalvo and Lea Duran: Neonatology

Welcome New Staff

Adriana Lopez-Sanchez, Research Support Specialist; Allergy/Immunology

Daryl Gibson, Research Technician; Allergy/Immunology

Zaria Simmons, Community Outreach Caseworker; Early Steps

Rose Huszar, Research Scientist; Neonatology

Chelsea Hoyt, Research Support Specialist; Genetics

Molly Brinkhoff, Occupational Therapist; Early Steps

Phatcharapon Tulyakul, Technical and Paraprofessional; Genetics

Destiny Collier, Technical and Paraprofessional; Neurology

Melissa Whitebread, Learning and Development Facilitator; Child Development

Denise Grey, Community Outreach Caseworker; Early Steps

Carlos Marquez Hernandez, Community Outreach Caseworker; Early Steps

Marcela Bernardini, Community Outreach Caseworker; Early Steps

Publications

Abraham J, Natarelli N, Boby A, Wei G, Hennessy K, Moore S, Bindernagel C, Dabrow S, Soylu L, Brinker TJ, Seminario-Vidal L, Albers S. A photoaging smartphone application to promote sun safety behaviors among youth in late childhood and adolescence. Pediatric Dermatology. 2024; 41(4):641-645.

Wang C, Shi Y, Lim XR, Walter JE. The clinical spectrum of thymoma-associated immunodeficiency: Good syndrome and beyond. Eur J Intern Med. 2024 Apr 13:S0953-6205(24)00160-2.

Nguyen MHN, Bruening R, Abel T, Lyons S, Denhardt B, Moore J, Sriaroon P, Hajirawala M, Kim AY. A 14-step desensitization protocol for sebelipase alfa hypersensitivity in a patient with Wolman disease and secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2024 Apr;35(4):e14121

Dr. Jolan Walter is an author on:

• A novel transmembrane CXCR4 variant that expands the WHIM genotype-phenotype paradigm. Blood Adv. 2024 May 20
• Impaired B-cell function in ERCC2 deficiency. Front Immunol. 2024 Jul 11;15:1423141
• Expanding CXCR4 variant landscape in WHIM syndrome: integrating clinical and functional data for variant interpretation. Front Immunol. 2024 Jul 8;15:1411141.
• Infant with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma identified postmortem with homozygous founder Slavic RAG1 variant: a case report and literature review. Front Pediatr. 2024 Jul 4;12:1415020

Dr. Adam Lewin guest edited a special issue titled “Identifying Tics in Children” in Evidence-Based Practice in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Volume 9, Issue 2 (2024). The issue includes articles from several USF faculty, staff and trainees:

• Lewin AB, Peris TS, Himle J. The Challenges of Identifying Tics in Children
• Lewin AB, Murphy TK, Mink JW, Small BJ, Adams HR, Brennan E, Agustine EF, Vermilion J, Vierhile A, Collins A, Kudryk K, Dickinson S, Danielson ML, Bitsko RH. Brief Youth Self-Report Screener for Tics: Can a Subscale of the Motor Tic, Obsession and Compulsion, and Vocal Tic Evaluation Survey (MOVES) Identify Tic Disorders in Youth?
• Lewin AB, Erin Brennan E, Small B, Bolton C, Dickinson S, Murphy TK. Development of a Tic Screener: The Motor or Vocal Inventory of Tics (MOVeIT-14)



Presentations

Stevens M, Paturu T, Ward C, Palaca G, Roberts S, Torres CM. Incidence of diaper dermatitis following intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis. Digital poster at the American Academy of Dermatology Meeting, San Diego, CA, March 2024.

Nomula K, Gokbak MN, Patel PK, Potts DE, Walter JE. Immune dysregulation presenting as treatment-refractory autoimmune cytopenia in Kabuki Syndrome. Poster presentation at the Eastern Allergy Conference, Palm Beach, FL, May 30-June 2.

Dr. Carina Rodriguez presented Preliminary safety, efficacy, and acceptability of bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide in children and infants from 1 month old weighing 6-<14kg at the International Workshop on Pediatrics & HIV, Munich, Germany July 19, 2024.

Dr. Jolan Walter presented The ever-changing genetic landscape of IEI and diagnostic challenges in inborn errors of immunity at the Recent Advances in Primary Immune Dysregulation Disorders Conference, Doha, Qatar, May 9-10.

Dr. Jolan Walter gave the keynote talk, titled Pearls for the diagnosis and management of PIDS, along with Diagnosing and managing secondary vs primary antibody deficiencies at the Louisiana Society of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology held in New Orleans in June.

International OCD Foundation Conference, Orlando, July 25-28

Drs. Scarimbolo and Hudson represented USF Rothman Center at the meeting, where Dr. Scarimbolo conducted a workshop for youth with OCD and research examining treatment differences in anxiety and body focused repetitive behaviors, titled OCD and Me: Monster Mash. Dr. Lewin’s team’s research on treatment decision making was also presented in two posters:

Scarimbolo K., Bradley-Klug K, Suldo, S, Ferron JM, Nadeau JM. Examining Treatment Differences in Anxiety Disorders and Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors and Related Disorders in a Pediatric Clinic Sample.

Milgram L, Toranzo T, Mathews R, Ehrenreich-May J, Lewin AB. Treatment Barriers, Preferences, and Treatment-related Decision-making Among Individuals Receiving Treatment for Obsessive-Compulsive Related Disorders.

Clinical Immunology Society Annual Meeting, Minneapolis, May 1-4

Posters:

Gokbak MN, Vamosi B, Goda V, Brigatti KW Sweigert ER, Strauss K, Rider N, Poskitt LE, Wright NAM, Vakkilainen S, Walter JE. Pre-transplant decision-making among patients with cartilage-hair hypoplasia.

Toth M, Ujhazi B, Pott DE, Perrot CY, Czimmerer Z, Bene K, Nagy L, Cancro MP, Walter JE. Expansion of Tbet* T and B cells in the lung of hypomorphic Rag1 mice

Potts DE, Yilmaz M,Ujhazi B, Blair G, Toth M, Franson B, Thauland T, Aldritch M, O’Gorman M, Cornaby C, Andreson K, Ward B, Poskitt L, Brigatti KW, Young M, Verbsky J, Csomos K, Butte MJ, Notarangelo LD, Strauss K, Walter JE. CMV-specific adaptive immune response in U.S. Mennonite patients with hypomorphic RAG1 mutations presenting with clinical variability

Nomula K, Ujhazi B, Yilmaz M, Potts D, Franson B, Csomos K, Cancro M, Kumanovics A, Bacsi A, Walter JE. Assessment and characterization of Tbet+ BCells in various inborn errors of immunity (IEIs)

Franson B, Potts DE, Ujhazi B, Miller R, Blair G, Toth M, Petrov A, Walter JE. Diagnostic approach in a young adult with RAG1 variants initially diagnosed with specific antibody deficiency

Miller R, Creech J, Potts E, Ujhazi B, Blair G, Franson B, Dasso JF, Toth M, Heath J, Kaye K, Rodenas M, Walter JE. Diagnostic approach to complex common variable immunodeficiency patient with phosphoinositide 3-kinase catalytic domain variant of uncertain significance

Cajuste RS, Shaffren S, Nomula K, Blair G, Hajirawala M, Sriaroon P, Dudas B, Walter JE. Novel hypomorphic BTK variant in X-linked agammaglobulinemia of a kindred

Blair G, Geier C, Potts DE, Ujhazi B, Yilmaz M, Speckmann C, EhlS, Neth O, Pilar A, Garcia G, Martinez AD, Alsina L, Sockel K, Schütz C, Miano M, Csomos K, Walter JE, Warnatz K, Salzer U. Characterizing a unique B-Cell precursor population as a potential diagnostic tool for WHIM syndrome and APDS

Westermann-Clark E, Meehan C, Ujhazi B, Meyer A, Potts DE, Patel PK, Franson B, Ellison M, Gokbak M, Nomula K, Yilmaz M, the AIC Consortium, Fliegauf M, Grimbacher B, Cooper M, Snow A, Sriaroon P, Dasso J, Csomos K, Farmer J, Eslin D, Ayala I, Ong MS, Walter JE. Prospective identification of inborn errors of immunity in an autoimmune cytopenia cohort

Florida Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Society, Orlando, July 19-21

Poster:

Bindernagel C, Nomula K, Hajirawala M, Sriaroon P, Barilla-Arias L, Walter JD. A case of MPO deficiency: When the most common phagocytic disorder becomes lethal

Oral presentations:

Walter JE. Diagnosing and managing secondary versus primary antibody deficiencies

Creech J. Diagnostic and treatment journey of an adult with CVID: Is immunoglobulin treatment enough? Mentor: Dr. Walter

Shaffren S. Social and medical challenges in a large kindred with antibody deficiency: Importance of genetic testing. Mentor: Dr. Walter

Mendez P. A case of atopy with high IgE from Food Allergy Center: How to separate the wheat from the chaff. Mentor: Dr. Sriaroon.

Clinical Trials

USF Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery is recruiting subjects for a phase 3, open-label study of apremilast in pediatric subjects from 6-17 years old with mild-to-moderate plaque psoriasis. Contact Lucy Lam, RN at llam@usf.edu

Scientific Review

• 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).

Save the Dates

Sept 5: First Grand Rounds lecture of the academic year

Sept 21: Zoo Tampa Kids Fun Run

Sept 26: 2026 John S. Curran Lectureship in Newborn Health

Nov 1: Dedication of the Chalsty Pediatric Clinic at the CMS/Curran Children’s

Health Center Building

Nov 1: Alumni Celebration – 50 years of MCOM

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Please send content for the next newsletter to pedicom@usf.edu by 9/03/2024