Welcome to the Pediatric Department Newsletter! This publication is designed to connect our academic team members— faculty, staff, and trainees alike. Our goal is to strengthen the bonds within our community, locally and nationally, ensuring we stay connected no matter where your journey has taken you. Let’s continue to support, celebrate, and uplift each other as a vibrant academic network. If you’re considering returning, we also have open faculty positions—be sure to explore them here: https://apply.interfolio.com/50272/positions.

Please stay connected to us:

As summer draws to a close, I am delighted to reconnect with you through our seasonal alumni newsletter. It has been a remarkable year of growth, innovation, and collaboration across our department, and I am continually inspired by the dedication and excellence that define our pediatric community.

I’ve had the privilege of witnessing firsthand the passion our faculty and trainees bring to clinical care, research, and education. From groundbreaking NIH-funded studies to transformative teaching initiatives, our department continues to push boundaries while nurturing the next generation of pediatric leaders.

This summer, we welcomed a vibrant new class of residents and fellows, celebrated the achievements of our graduating trainees, and advanced several strategic initiatives—including expanding our research footprint and enhancing community-based care. I invite you to explore these updates and more in the pages ahead.

Thank you for your continued support and engagement. Your legacy and leadership remain vital to our mission, and I look forward to building even stronger connections with you in the months to come.

Warm regards,

Madhu Misra, MD, MPH

Benjamin Armistead Shepherd Professor and Chair, Department of Pediatrics, UVA

Physician-in-Chief, UVA Children’s Health

Administration

Casey Robinson Named Vice Chair for Research

We are delighted to announce that Dr. Casey Robinson (Hoffman) has been appointed as our Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Pediatrics. Casey has been serving as our Scientific Research Program Director, and has already been carrying out most of the responsibilities of this role—making her an ideal fit for this faculty leadership position. The Search Committee noted that Casey is already excelling in this work, and her appointment formally recognizes her outstanding contributions. She is being appointed as a faculty member at the Associate Professor rank.

Dr. Robinson brings extensive experience in research program leadership, grant development, and mentorship. In her roles she has guided strategy and funding development for researchers, and has launched numerous pilot programs. She has also directed major initiatives such as UVA’s Precision Health Initiative and the Trans University Microbiome Initiative, overseeing multi-million-dollar budgets, industry partnerships, and the development of shared research resources. In addition, Dr. Robinson serves as Associate Director of the NIH-funded Infectious Diseases T32 Training Program, supporting early-career scientists through structured career development programming and mentorship. Her background as a microbiome and infectious disease researcher, combined with her proven ability to build collaborative, cross-disciplinary teams, uniquely positions her to advance our department’s research mission. Within the Department of Pediatrics, Dr. Robinson has worked on establishing a process for bridge/gap funding, a K club and mock study section, has organized resources available to the department for data management and analysis, and a process for department funded pilot grants.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Robinson on this well-deserved appointment. We look forward to her leadership in fostering innovation, supporting investigators at all career stages, and strengthening the Department of Pediatrics’ national research profile.

Community Outreach

Clinical

Education

Where Our 2025 Pediatric Fellows Are Going Next

The Pediatric Educators Retreat proudly celebrates the achievements of our 2025 graduating fellows and announces their next destinations as they embark on the next chapter of their careers:

• Norbert Donias – Pediatric GI of El Paso
• Sage Timberline – Phoenix Children’s Hospital
• Chelsea Miller – Interventional Year (Pittsburgh)
• Liza Hashim – Imaging Year (UT Houston)
• Presley Volkema – Winchester Medical Center
• Cherise Brackett – Wake Med
• Patricia Moran – West Virginia University

We congratulate each fellow for their dedication and wish them continued success as they join leading institutions and specialty programs across the country. Their commitment to pediatric care will have a lasting impact on children and families in their new communities.

Research

Celebrating Excellence in Pediatric Science: 2025 Award Winners Announced

The pediatric science community proudly honors outstanding contributions and achievements at this year’s awards ceremony:

• Lifetime Achievement Award in Pediatric Science: Dr. Rachel Moon, recognized for her enduring impact and leadership in the field.
• Kendig Award (Trainee Competition): Dr. Sage Timberline, celebrated for exceptional contributions to pediatric research and care.
• Hiroko Nishimura Award (Best Oral Presentation, Trainee Competition): Congratulations to co-winners Dr. Patricia Moran and Dr. Hiroki Yamaguchi, MD, PhD, for their compelling and innovative presentations.

Trainee Competition Winners:

• 2nd Place: Dr. Sage Timberline
• 3rd Place: Dr. Alexandrine Ratnani
• 4th Place: Dr. Lucas Ferreira de Almeida, PhD

Poster Competition Winners:

• 1st Place: Claire Williams
• 2nd Place: Sarah Dudley
• 3rd Place: Dr. Manako Yamaguchi, MD, PhD

To relive the highlights and special moments from the event, view the commemorative Mixbook here: 2025 Pediatric Science Awards Memory Book

Congratulations to all the honorees for their remarkable achievements and contributions to pediatric science!

Accolades

Excellence in Performance Awards (from the School of Medicine EPA Leadership Group)

• Kira Dubester, MD
• Nicole Troyer, MD
• Evelyn Aboagye, MD
• Alexandra De Leon, MD
• Elizabeth Schinstock, MD
• Susan Murray, MD
• Tom L’Ecuyer, MD

Inducted into the Academy of Excellence in Education

• Anshu Gupta, MD, Eliza Holland, MD, and MJ Sacco, MD

Administration

• Cody Ragland, Project Manager, was named U-Team Member of the Month for his outstanding service that exemplifies commitment to our ASPIRE values
• Kate Schoenster, Alex Torres, & Katie Putnam have been awarded the Uteam Member of the Month for the School of Medicine!
• We are delighted to announce that Dr. Casey Robinson (Hoffman) has been appointed as our Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Pediatrics

Adolescent Medicine and Teen Health

• Serwa Ertl, MD: UVA award for Excellence in Public Service for her work on human trafficking
• Jennifer Louis-Jacques, MD: Participated in the first faculty Curriculum Development Bootcamp

Allergy/Immunology/Rheumatology (a Division starting July 2025)

• April Bingham, MD, pediatric rheumatologist from Penn State/Hershey Medical Center - Start date 07/01/25 as Professor of Pediatrics and Section Head, Pediatric Rheumatology

Behavioral Health

• Rebecca Scharf, MD, published a news article in Scientific American
• Alisa Bahl, PhD: Jefferson Trust Award on PCIT has been featured in numerous news outlets and links:
• UVA Health Clinic Expands Mental Health Therapy for Children, Caregivers https://news.med.virginia.edu/clinical/alisa-bahl-phd-awarded-80000-from-the-jefferson-trust-for-flagship-clinic-using-parent-child-interaction-therapy/
• UVA Health initiative aims to increase access to therapy for children | News | cbs19news.com
• The Science of Parenting—VIRGINIA Magazine
• Lisa Letzkus, PhD, has been invited as a guest speaker at the upcoming Cerebral Palsy Research Network (CPRN) National Conference. She will be presenting on recent advances in the early detection of cerebral palsy, highlighting our latest work and collaborative efforts in this important area of pediatric care and research.
• Emily Gonzalez, PhD, and Melanie Morse, PhD, were awarded a 30,000$ seed grant from UVA TYDE (Thriving Youth in a Digital Environment). This funding will provide the base for future grant applications
• Emily Gonzalez, PhD, and Melanie Morse, PhD, were awarded a seed grant through the TYDE Grand Challenge to support a feasibility project using VR technology to mitigate anxiety in community pediatric patients
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• Emily O'Gorman, PhD, was accepted into the 2025–2026 Junior Faculty Development Program
• Melanie Morse, PhD, was accepted into the 2025–2026 Junior Faculty Development Program

Cardiology

• Mike Hainstock, MD, & the Pediatric Cath Lab were recently featured as top enrollers in this industry-sponsored clinical trial.
• Mike Hainstock, MD's recent publications over the last few months. All of them have a clinical component.

1. Miller C, Shorofsky MJ, Hainstock M. Transcatheter occlusion of the neoaorta to augment mechanical circulatory support after stage 1 single ventricle palliation. Progress in Pediatric Cardiology. 2025 Apr 1:101830.
2.  Millette TJ, McCulloch MA, Yao Q, Hainstock MR. RVOT Stenting and Trametinib in an Infant With Noonan Syndrome, Pulmonary Stenosis, and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. JACC: Case Reports. 2025 Feb 12:103224.
3.  Yeh MJ, Bjornlund E, Gauvreau K, Ali F, Aslam N, Batlivala SP, Berman D, Bocks ML, Chenault K, Doyle T, Gudausky T, Hainstock M, Holzer R, Ibla J, O’Byrne M, Quinn B, Shahanavaz S, Sharma R, Trucco S, Whiteside W, Bergersen L, Armstrong A. Formulation of Quality Improvement Methodology for Risk Mitigation in Congenital Cardiac Catheterization. Pediatric Cardiology. 2025 Jan 14:1-2.
4.  Hainstock MR, Castro BA, Kidney SR, Lim DS. Transhepatic Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve Replacement. JACC: Case Reports. 2024 Aug 21;29(16):102475.
5.  Shorofsky MJ, Zhao X, Spaeder MC, Lim DS, Dong H, Hainstock MR. Patient-specific computational fluid dynamics modeling accurately predicts systolic pressure gradients across stenotic right ventricular outflow tracts. Progress in Pediatric Cardiology. 2024 Aug 9:101747. 
6. Keochakian ML, Barry OM, Boe BA, Divekar AA, Eilers LF, Foerster SR, Gauvreau K, Hagel J, Hainstock M, Holzer RJ, Justino H. A Multicenter Predictive Model for Clinically Meaningful Adverse Events in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Pulmonary Vein Interventions. Journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions. 2024 May 1;3(5).

CHRC

• Araceli Santiago, PhD, received a formal invitation from NIH to serve as a permanent member of the Bacterial Virulence Study Section (BV), Infectious Diseases and Immunology A Integrated Review Group (IDIA), CENTER FOR SCIENTIFIC REVIEW (CSR), for a term ending on 06/30/2028. 
• Dr. Ariel Gomez and Dr. Madhu Misra are featured locally, across Virginia, and on TV stations nationally discussing the UVA Health Children’s pediatric research symposium.
• Araceli Santiago, PhD: Paper accepted in Nature, Scientific Reports (reports on how bacteria causing diarrhea in children regulate virulence)
• Patricio Ray, MD: Received R01 award from the NIDDK: New Drosophila, mouse, and human podocyte models to study HIV-APOL1-G1 associated chronic kidney diseases
• Hiroki Yamaguchi and Maria Luisa Sequeira Lopez, MD: paper accepted to Circulation Research (IF 16.2): Calcium Oscillations within Juxtaglomerular Cell Clusters Control Renin Release

Critical Care

• Melissa Sacco, MD, was awarded the Dean's Excellence in Teaching Award
• Melissa Sacco, MD, was awarded funding for her proposal entitled “Coaching across the Continuum: A learner-driven UME to GME Handover.
• 4th Place Trophy for hand hygiene from the Hospital Epidemiology/Infection Prevention & Control team, along with the Hand Hygiene Coalition- achieved 94.1% compliance, maintaining > 90% compliance for 11 months of the fiscal year—one of the highest and most consistent among all inpatient units.

Developmental Pediatrics

• Lisa Letzkus, NP: Contact PI on an R01 grant (NICHD): Physiomarker for early, equitable cerebral palsy prediction     

Education

• Pediatrics resident Dr. Julia Evans writes a post for the American Academy of Pediatrics blog on how to rule out pneumonia.
• Former class of 1998 resident Lori Landon, MD, published Doctors Work in Air Conditioning: An intimate look at Southern culture and the challenges of rural medicine 
• Sage Timberline, MD, received the 2025 Edwin & Mary Kendig Award
• Shreeya Chung, MD, received the 2025 Young Investigator Award.
• Alexandrine Ratnani, MD, will be stepping into the role of Head Pediatric Fellow for the 25-26 academic year.
• Pediatrics resident Dr. Carly Pierson writes a post for the American Academy of Pediatrics blog on flu vaccine options for kids with a history of wheezing.

Endocrinology

• Sanofi has awarded a three-year, $1.3 million grant to optimize mass screening strategies for pediatric islet autoantibodies. The project, led by investigators from the University of Virginia, will offer free testing in six clinics, including UVA subspecialty, general pediatrics, and community pediatrics clinics. The initiative aims to educate clinic staff on the importance of autoantibody screening and compare passive and active engagement methods to determine the most effective approach for encouraging families to participate in screening.
• Madhu Misra, MD, MPH: Contact PI on an R01 award (NICHD): Bone metabolism in adolescents undergoing GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy
• Dave Repaske and Steve Rich: 3-year investigator-initiated $1.3 million grant from Sanofi on “Optimizing Strategy for Mass Screening for Pediatric Islet Autoantibodies”
• Christine Burt Solorzano, MD, spoke on positive healthy living promotion for teens with prediabetes
• Mark DeBoer, MD, spoke with WebMD about how to talk with kids about type 1 diabetes.
• Aaron Misakian, MD: Paper published- Injectable estradiol monotherapy effectively suppresses testosterone in gender-affirming hormone therapy. Endocr Pract 2025 July https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1530891X25009450
• The related poster won the “Poster Highlight Tour and Competition” award in the Reproductive Endocrinology category at the annual Endocrine Society meeting https://www.endocrine.org/meetings-and-events/endo-2025/call-for-abstracts/abstract-awards, and has been selected for an oral presentation at USPATH
• Uzzam Khawaja: nominated for the Hoos Research Champion Awards
• Madhu Misra, MD, MPH: R01 grant (NICHD): Role of estrogen formulation and route of delivery on skeletal outcomes in functional hypothalamic amenorrhea

Gastroenterology

• Stephen Borowitz, MD, has been awarded the Master Educator Award from NASPGHAN for 2025.

Genetics

• Matt Snyder, MD: Published as 1^st author in August 2025 in the journal of Molecular Genetics and Metabolism: Effective algorithm to differentiate NBS MCADD cases from carriers and non-carriers and an assessment of the utility of the second newborn screen for MCADD
• Christina Peroutka, MD, gave a platform talk at the 2025 National Soft Bones Conference, July 18th-19th, Williamsburg, VA:  “The Genetics of Hypophosphatasia”

HemOnc

• Amanda Lulu, PhD, completed a radio/podcast segment on “Caring Beyond Cancer”
• Stefanie Bailey, PhD, has been honored with the Cancer Center’s Pediatric Pilot Award for her groundbreaking project titled “Leveraging CAR-T Cell Therapy to Remodel the Tumor Microenvironment in High-risk Neuroblastoma.”
• Stefanie Bailey, PhD, received a $600K V Foundation grant on “Targeting PGAM1 to Enhance CAR-T Cell Therapy: A Novel Strategy for Pancreatic Cancer”.
• Jessica Malpass, MD, highlighted in UVACCC News for leading efforts to improve pediatric cancer care through big data and AI



Hospital and Integrative Medicine

• Eliza Holland, MD, was invited to be a Member of the Academy for Excellence in Education
• Jessica Meyer, MD, was awarded the Dean's Excellence in Teaching Award
• Lisa Hainstock, MD, was awarded the Excellence in Performance Assessment award
• Stefanie Bailey, PhD's, lab received two grants: 1) Women Scientists Innovation Award for Cancer Research, The V Foundation & 2) Immunology T32 Training Grant (this one was awarded to my graduate student, Steven Feins)
• Stefanie Bailey, PhD, received a $50K Cancer Center Pediatric Pilot Award for her application titled “Leveraging CAR-T cell Therapy to Remodel the Tumor Microenvironment in High-risk Neuroblastoma.” 
• Stefanie Bailey published the following paper: S.R. Bailey*, H.N. Takei*, G. Escobar*, M.C. Kann, A.A. Bouffard, T. Kienka, V. Supper, A. Armstrong, D. Salas-Benito, M.K. Phillips, F. Birocchi, S. Vatsa, H. Silva, I. Scarfò, M. Wehrli, K. Grauwet, E.P. Darnell, C.E. Graham, M.B. Leick, F. Korell, T.R. Berger, M.V. Maus (2025). IFNg-resistant CD28 CAR-T cells demonstrate increased survival, efficacy, and durability in multiple tumor models. Science Trans Med. doi:10.1126/scitranslmed.adp8166. PMID: 40465687
• Kate Donowitz, MD, has been selected as the newest member of the COMSEP Research and Scholarship Collaborative Leadership Team! 
• Ann Kellams, MD, published a paper in the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine: Current Scope of Practice for Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine Physicians and Providers: Description of an Emerging Subspecialty

Infectious Disease

• Steve Zeichner, MD's, grant recommended for funding by USDA\NIFA: ‘Variant-Resistant Killed Whole Cell Genome Reduced Bacterial Vaccine For Porcine Coronaviruses’; featured in Medicine in Motion

Neonatology

• Karen Fairchild, MD, was highlighted in the Brain Institute newsletter: Meet Karen Fairchild, Professor of Pediatrics | Brain Institute
• Jen Burnsed, MD: "The role of lactate receptor, HCAR1, in neuroprotection after neonatal hypoxic-ischemic injury” has been selected for funding under the 2025 Pediatrics Faculty Pilot Grant Program
• Pete Murray, MD, has received his Master of Arts in Bioethics
• Jon Swanson, MD: Appointed to the State Child Fatality Review Team

Nephrology

• Agnes Urban, MD's recent accolades:
• Poster Presentation at ISEV 2025
• Event: International Society of Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV) 2025 Annual Meeting
• Location: Vienna, Austria
• Date: April 23-27, 2025
• Title: Role of Lemur Tail Kinase in Remodeling Cystic Fibrosis Lung
• Authors: Yavuz H, Donovan J, Erdbruegger U, Swiatecka-Urban A
• Summary: Presented groundbreaking research on the role of lemur tail kinase in cystic fibrosis lung remodeling at a prestigious international conference.
• Abstract Presentation at World Congress of Nephrology
• Event: World Congress of Nephrology
• Location: San Francisco, CA
• Date: September 2025
• Title: Risk Stratification of Chronic Kidney Allograft Failure in Donor-Recipient (D-R) Pairs
• Authors: Chen WM, Miszczuk M, Koeppel A, Lobo P, Rao S, Brayman K, Khutshsivili K, Vitko I, Pelletier S, Ruiz P, Doyle A, Swiatecka-Urban A
• Summary: Invited to present an abstract on risk stratification in chronic kidney allograft failure, highlighting significant contributions to nephrology.
• Featured Talk at North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference
• Event: North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference
• Date: October 25, 2025
• Title: Metabolic Health and Cardiovascular Disease Risk
• Summary: Delivered a featured talk on metabolic health and cardiovascular disease risk, showcasing expertise in cystic fibrosis research.
• Workshop Chair at North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference
• Event: North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference
• Date: October 24, 2025
• Title: EPP-PTAC/CFTR: Extrapulmonary Manifestations & Mechanisms
• Summary: Chaired a workshop on extrapulmonary manifestations and mechanisms of cystic fibrosis, demonstrating leadership in the field.
• Anisha Gerber, MD, was accepted into the 2025–2026 Junior Faculty Development Program.
• Jen Charlton, MD, Ayah Elmaghrabi, MD, and others: called out in a letter by a grateful parent of a child who received a renal transplant for their amazing care and compassion
• Research in Motion: Jennifer Charlton, MD - Research - Medicine in Motion News
• Anisha Gerber, MD: mentioned in Medicine in Motion (new faculty research seminar)
• Agnes Urban, MD, has taken on the role of BioLab Director, effective July 1st. She will be responsible for recruiting applicants to the program by visiting the Polish institutions with which we partner, as well as overseeing the day-to-day operations of the program.

Primary Care Pediatrics

• Rachel Moon, MD, recipient of the 2025 “Lifetime Achievement Award in Pediatric Science for this year’s Research Day.
• Kate Donowitz, MD, has been selected as the newest member of the COMSEP Research and Scholarship Collaborative Leadership Team.
• Rachel Moon, MD, was featured on NPR Stations Nationwide about the elimination of the federal ‘Safe to Sleep’ program
• Evelyn Aboagye, MD: Family Medicine Award for Excellence in Clinical Education
• Jessica Meyer, MD, was awarded the Dean’s Excellence in Teaching Award
• LT Hainstock, MD, was accepted into the APPD LEAD program
• Meg Keely, MD, was awarded the Harrison Award.
• Diane Pappas, MD, received funding for her grant program "Decreasing Food Insecurity for Families at UVA Pediatrics Orange." 

Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine

• Debbie Froh, MD: Paper accepted: Felix A Ratjen, Sanja Stanojevic, Samal Munidasa, David Roach, Jaime Mata, Deborah K Froh, Brandon Zanette, Giles Santyr, Sean B Fain, Michael J Rock, Laura L Walkup, and Jason C. Woods. Multi-center Study of Hyperpolarized Xenon MRI in Children with Cystic Fibrosis Following Initiation of CFTR Modulator Therapy (HyPOINT). Annals of the American Thoracic Society
• 2025 American Thoracic Society International Meeting in San Francisco)
• Brittany Wall, MD: Lead Facilitator for a Poster Session on Childhood Interstitial Lung Disease
• Richard Kravitz, MD: 
• Lecture on Chronic Mechanical Ventilation and participated in 2 hands-on teaching sessions (mechanical ventilation and interpretation of pulmonary function testing) for incoming pediatric pulmonary fellows
• Received the designation of American Thoracic Society Fellow, a title signifying dedication, contributions, and accomplishments to the fields of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine

Respiratory

• Gerry Teague, MD, published an article with Judith Woodfolk and Naomi Bryant looking at T cell responses to rhinovirus infection in children with asthma. 
• Gerry Teague, MD: elected to join the Editorial Board of The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice for a five-year term (2025-2030)
• Brittany Wall, MD, was Lead Facilitator for a Poster Session on Childhood Interstitial Lung Disease at the 2025 American Thoracic Society International Meeting in San Francisco
• Richard Kravitz, MD, gave a lecture on Chronic Mechanical Ventilation and participated in 2 hands-on teaching sessions (mechanical ventilation and interpretation of pulmonary function testing) for incoming pediatric pulmonary fellows at the 2025 American Thoracic Society International Meeting in San Francisco
• Richard Kravitz, MD, received the designation of American Thoracic Society Fellow, a title signifying dedication, contributions, and accomplishments to the fields of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine