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 winter comes to an end, I want to take a moment to reflect on the past year and share my gratitude for this incredible community. Since stepping into the role of Chair, I have been inspired by the dedication and passion of our faculty, trainees, staff, and alumni who continue to shape the future of pediatric medicine. Your impact—whether through patient care, research, advocacy, or mentorship—extends far beyond Charlottesville, and we are so proud of all you do.

At UVA Pediatrics, we continue to grow and innovate. This season, we celebrate new faculty joining our ranks, exciting research advancements, and ongoing efforts to enhance the care we provide to children and families.



Thank you for your continued support and commitment to our department. I hope this winter brings you moments of rest, joy, and inspiration. Please stay in touch—we love hearing from you and celebrating your successes.

Wishing you a happy and healthy start to the new year!

Warm regards,

Madhu Misra, MD, MPH

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

Physician-in-Chief, UVA Children’s Health

The Department of Pediatrics had a fantastic holiday party on Saturday, December 7th, at Pro Re Nata! The evening was filled with great food, lively conversations, and festive cheer as we celebrated the season and Dr. Madhu Misra’s one-year anniversary as Chair. A special thank you to Cody Ragland, Project Manager, for organizing the event and ensuring every detail was perfect. We also want to express our gratitude to Nora and the Pro Re Nata team for their exceptional hospitality and flawless coordination, which made the celebration truly memorable. Here's to a wonderful year and the amazing people in our department!

We are proud to share that the UVA Health Children’s Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Health Clinic officially opened at the UVA Health Medical Park Riverside in Albemarle County. This important clinical care milestone was commemorated earlier today at 9 a.m. with a ribbon-cutting event attended by numerous UVA Health and Sentara leaders, as well as elected officials.

This new clinic, established in partnership with a significant investment by Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital, built on the services offered at our Battle Building location and greatly expanded much-needed access to pediatric neurodevelopmental and behavioral health care in Central Virginia. This need was underscored by national and state data:

• The CDC reported that one in six children ages two to eight had been diagnosed with a mental, behavioral, or developmental disorder.
• The Virginia Department of Health found that in 2019, one in three high school students in Virginia reported feeling sad or hopeless for at least two weeks in a row.

To address these challenges, the clinic expanded outpatient neurodevelopmental, behavioral, and mental health services at UVA Health Children’s. This expansion reduced wait times, significantly improved access to services, and brought together developmental pediatricians, pediatric psychologists, child psychiatrists, and integrative medicine specialists to provide comprehensive care. The clinic accepted private insurance and Medicaid while ensuring equitable access for all children, regardless of a family’s ability to pay.

The UVA Health Children’s Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Health Clinic stood as a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation in addressing pressing community needs. By offering care that was accessible, comprehensive, and family-centered, we made a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families in our region.

Please join us in congratulating our UVA Health Children’s team on this significant milestone, marking yet another way they provided extraordinary care to our youngest patients. Together, we transformed health and inspired hope for Virginians of all ages.

Dr. William G. Wilson to Retire After 46 Years at UVA

After more than four decades of dedicated service, William G. Wilson, MD, will retire from the UVA Department of Pediatrics on February 28, 2025. Dr. Wilson has been a UVA faculty member since 1979 and has served as chief of the Division of Genetics since 2001.

A leader in the field of genetics, Dr. Wilson has played a pivotal role in diagnosing and managing metabolic diseases detected through newborn screening as a consultant to the Virginia Department of Health. He has provided expert care for patients with a wide range of genetic conditions, including inherited metabolic disorders and lysosomal storage diseases. Under his leadership, the Division of Genetics established an enzyme replacement therapy program for Fabry disease, Pompe disease, Gaucher disease, and multiple forms of mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS). His team also helped expand UVA’s cardiogenetics program and developed a network of clinics to improve access to genetic services across central and western Virginia.

A Morehead Scholar, Dr. Wilson earned his undergraduate and medical degrees from UNC-Chapel Hill, followed by pediatric training at both UVA and UNC, including a genetics fellowship. Throughout his tenure at UVA, he has been a passionate educator, serving on multiple School of Medicine committees and advancing genetics education at all levels.

Please join us in celebrating Dr. Wilson’s remarkable career and contributions as he embarks on his well-earned retirement!

Celebrating Our 2025 Graduating Residents & Fellows!

Join us in congratulating our outstanding residents and fellows as they prepare to graduate this June!

Pediatrics Residency Graduates:

• Caitlyn Arno
• Catherine Blackburn
• Andrew Burns
• Ashlee Commeree
• Heather DeReus
• Kira Dubester
• Anna Hakkenberg
• Rebecca Hu
• Christopher Stadnick
• Ava Tennant
• Spiridon Vonortas

Pediatric Fellowship Graduates (Graduating in June or a few months later due to maternity leave):

• Liza Hashim
• Chelsea Miller
• Sage Timberline
• Norbert Donias
• Erica Steele
• Cherise Brackett
• Patricia "Tricia" Moran
• Presley Volkema (Parkes)

We are so proud of all you've accomplished and can't wait to see the incredible impact you'll make in the future.

Congratulations to our Chair for being featured in the CEO's List

Madhusmita Misra, MD

Since joining us in 2023, Dr. Madhu Misra has had a profound impact on UVA Health, strengthening our Children’s hospital through clinical excellence, groundbreaking research, and a commitment to education and community engagement. As Chair of the Department of Pediatrics and Physician-in-Chief of UVA Health Children’s, she has fostered vital collaborations, expanded research, and recruited promising new clinicians to advance pediatric care. Her active role in the leadership of UVA Health has not stood in the way of her personal accomplishments. Her most recent NIH R01 grant focuses on improving bone health in young women. Additionally, the publication of her latest book, “Pediatric Endocrinology: A Practical Clinical Guide,” reflects her dedication to shaping and influencing her field. Dr. Misra’s efforts to enhance training programs and deepen community partnerships continue to strengthen UVA Health Children’s, ensuring a lasting impact on patients, families, and the next generation of pediatric specialists. We are grateful for her leadership and the many ways she has made UVA Health a destination for children’s care.

Laura Shaffer, PhD, on CEO Spotlight

Dr. Lynn McDaniel has been selected to serve on the Board of Directors for the Society of Hospital Medicine, a national organization representing both pediatric and adult hospital medicine. This prestigious appointment recognizes her leadership and dedication to the field. As a board member, Dr. McDaniel will help guide the society’s mission to advance hospital medicine and improve patient care. She will officially assume her duties in April. Congratulations, Dr. McDaniel, on this well-deserved honor!

Neonatal Kidney Collaborative Board Gathers at UVA to Advance Neonatal Kidney Health

The Neonatal Kidney Collaborative (NKC) Board of Directors convened for their annual in-person meeting from January 29-31, 2025 in Charlottesville Virginia, under the leadership of Dr. Jennifer Charlton, a pediatric nephrologist at UVA. The meeting brought together experts in neonatal nephrology including neonatologists, intensivists, and pediatric nephrologists to discuss strategic priorities, and collaborative efforts to advance the understanding of neonatal kidney disease. As part of the event, NKC members had the opportunity to engage with the broader pediatric and research communities by presenting at the Pediatric Grand Rounds and the Child Health Research Center (CHRC) Seminar Series, fostering important discussions on neonatal kidney health and its lifelong impact.

Martha Hellems, MD was honored at the AMIA 2024 Annual Symposium with a prestigious award recognizing her outstanding contributions to the field.

The conference provided an excellent opportunity to connect with colleagues and celebrate her achievements. A special thank you goes out to AMIA for their support as a Corporate Partner, fostering connections and innovation within the community.

Congratulations, Dr. Hellems, on this well-deserved recognition! 

Global Impact: George McDaniel's Dedication to Teaching and Advancing Pediatric Cardiology in Africa

Doctor George McDaniel's passion for teaching and global health has led to meaningful collaborations with physicians across Africa. Over the past several years, he has cultivated relationships with medical professionals to strengthen local expertise in pediatric cardiology.

In July, Dr. McDaniel joined a group of cardiologists on a mission to Tanzania with Madaktari Africa, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing expertise in Cardiology and Neurosurgery in sub-Saharan Africa. Using their "Train-Forward" model, the organization focuses on empowering local medical personnel through hands-on training and education. As the only pediatric cardiologist on this trip, George trained a local cardiologist in placing a pacemaker in a child with congenital heart disease, a skill that will have a lasting impact on the region's healthcare.

Last month, George embarked on his fifth trip to Johannesburg, South Africa, where he was once again invited to lecture at the South African Heart Congress, the nation’s premier cardiology conference. During his visit, he taught residents and fellows at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital—the largest hospital in Africa and the seventh largest globally. Alongside his South African colleague, Dr. Adele Greyling, the only pediatric electrophysiologist in sub-Saharan Africa, George tackled several complex cases.

The collaboration between George and Dr. Greyling continues year-round through telemedicine, ensuring that children in sub-Saharan Africa receive the specialized care they need. His commitment to teaching and fostering global partnerships exemplifies the transformative power of knowledge-sharing in improving healthcare outcomes worldwide.

Accolades

Research Achievement Awards

• Brynn Sullivan, MD: One of the top 25 sponsored funding recipients for 2025.
• Dean’s Outstanding Research Awards: Rachel Moon, MD, Madhu Misra, MD, and Sana Syed, MD

Critical Care

• Sage Timberline, MD: selected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.

Endocrinology

• Melissa Schoelwer, MD (PI) received a $100,000 LaunchPad grant to study an AI-based insulin bolus dose calculator for insulin delivery devices.

Genetics

• Christina Peroutka, MD, FAAP, FACMG, received approval from Governor Youngkin to serve as a governor’s appointee for this council.

Pediatric Cardiology

• Congenital Cardiac Catheterization Project on Outcomes (C3PO)
• The lowest serious adverse event ratio (SAER) in the group along with moderate AE rates at ~40% of expected, despite;
• 17% increase in case volume from 2022
• Complexity on par with large volume institutions
• UVA represents ~3% of the total case volume of the database; however, we account for:
• 14% of atretic valve perforations (PA/IVS) and 
• 7% of neonatal aortic valvuloplasties
• Hemodynamic vulnerability scores greater than database averages
• Procedure times 20-30% shorter than the median across all radiation exposure categories (REC).
• Radiation exposure to the patients 10-40% lower across all radiation exposure categories.

Neonatology

• Jon Swanson, MD, MSc, MBA, was appointed to the State Child Fatality Review Team by the Governor’s office.

Newborn Emergency Transport System (NETS)

• Alix Paget-Brown, MD, was named to the Charlottesville Albemarle Rescue Squad Board of Directors. 

Neurodevelopmental Peds

• Governor Youngkin appointed Beth Ellen Davis, MD, MPH, to the Virginia Autism Advisory Council.

Primary Care Pediatrics

• Amy Wrentmore, MD: Dean’s Excellence in Teaching Award 2024
• UVA Children’s received excellent scores in the CDC 2024 Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care (mPINC) survey.

Psychology

• Emily Gonzalez, PhD, was Selected to serve on the Presidential Task Force for the Protection of Children Affected by Violence in the Middle East. 

Telehealth

• Karen Rheuban, MD, has received the 2024 Meritorious Service Award from the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association (VHHA).