Welcome to the inaugural Pediatric Faculty newsletter! This publication is designed to connect all our faculty members, both current and former. Our goal is to strengthen the ties within our network, locally and nationally, ensuring we remain connected no matter where your journey has led you. Let’s continue to support and celebrate each other as a vibrant community. If you’re considering a return, we have open faculty positions—be sure to check them out here: https://apply.interfolio.com/50272/positions  

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Introduction to Department Chair, Madhusmita Misra, MD, MPH 

Pediatrics faculty and alumni,

I am delighted to write you as the newly appointed Chair of the Department of Pediatrics and Physician-in-Chief for UVA Health Children’s. On December 1, 2023, I had the honor of assuming this role, following my tenure as the chief of the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology at Massachusetts General Hospital and as the Talbot Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School.

Throughout my career, I have been committed to groundbreaking NIH-funded research, high-quality patient care, and mentoring colleagues and physicians in training. The UVA Department of Pediatrics stood out to me due to its culture of clinical and academic excellence, scientific advancement, and the evident camaraderie among faculty. During my interviews, I was impressed by the passion for teaching and the desire to advance to the next level that resonated within the department.

Academic medicine is my driving force. It enables me to wake up each morning with a smile, knowing that I can contribute to unparalleled clinical expertise, mentor the next generation of clinicians, educators, and scientists, engage in collaborative research, and advocate for those who need our voice. My inspiration to become a pediatrician stems from my great uncle, the first licensed pediatrician in our state in India. His kindness, wisdom, and empathy left an indelible mark on me, and I am grateful to work with children and families in this fulfilling specialty.

In the field of Pediatrics, exciting developments abound. Gene therapy is becoming a viable treatment option, new medications are emerging for chronic conditions, and community-based research, along with the use of big data and AI, continues to expand our horizons.

Thank you for your continued support and I look forward to collaborating with you all as we advance our mission to improve child health.

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 will be hosting a reception at the Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting (PAS 2025) in Honolulu, April 24-28! Exact date/time/location details will be sent out closer to the event.
• Our search committees for the Division Directors of Pediatric Primary Care, Infectious Diseases, and Genetics are working to find the next incumbents for these important roles.  
• We were approved for the expansion of the residency program by 1 slot per year, with the potential for further increases depending on an ongoing workforce evaluation
• Jon Swanson, MD, MSc, MBA has been appointed Division Director of Neonatology.
• We are delighted that Brooke Vergales, MD will be the Lead Fellowship Director for the Department of Pediatrics.
• Amy Wrentmore, MD will be the Associate Program Director for curriculum development for the Department of Pediatrics. 
• We are thrilled to announce that Rose Emily Gonzalez, PhD, has been appointed Associate Chair of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) for the Department of Pediatrics effective June 15, 2024. 
• We are delighted to announce that Susan Gray, MD, is our new Vice Chair for Academic Affairs.  
• We are delighted to announce that Anshu Gupta, MD, from VCU, will be our new Vice Chair for Education. 
• We are currently searching for our Vice Chair for Research

UVA Health Children’s Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Health Clinic

We are eagerly preparing for the launch of a new clinic of UVA Health at Riverside this fall that marks a significant milestone in addressing the high demand for pediatric neurodevelopmental disabilities and mental health services. The UVA Health Children’s Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Health Clinic will be the only outpatient clinic in the state to combine the expertise of developmental pediatricians, child psychologists, integrative medicine specialists, and child psychiatrists.

 The new clinic will:

• Expand outpatient neurodevelopmental, behavioral, and mental health services at UVA Health Children’s.
• Care for youth with neurodevelopmental disabilities such as Autism, Down Syndrome, and complex ADHD.
• Provide evidence-based therapies for children with mental health concerns such as anxiety and depression regardless of medical or developmental status.
• Be the only clinic in our region outfitted for Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, an evidence based behavioral parent training therapy to address behavior concerns in early childhood.
• Incorporate integrative health practices (i.e., yoga, mindfulness, & meditation) and become the home of our nation’s first pediatric medical yoga clinic.
• Serve historically underserved youth and provide equitable access to all children, regardless of their family’s language preference or insurance status and ability to pay.
• Coordinate and collaborate with community partners serving children & teens
• Be the cornerstone for a more robust behavioral health system of care at UVA Health Children’s to include behavioral health services in primary care and medical subspecialty settings.
•  Thank you to all our generous donors, community advisors, and team members who have helped make the new clinic a reality! Construction is underway at the Riverside clinics on Route 29 North at 2335 Seminole Lane. Initially, appointments will be by provider referral as we build services and staff. We understand there is a tremendous need for these services and will work to proactively meet the evolving needs of our community. 

Clinical Retreat



• Chaired by Dr. Ann Kellams
• On March 21st and 22nd, 2024, the Department of Pediatrics convened for their clinical retreat. Key stakeholders were invited and asked to respond to a pre-retreat survey designed to hone retreat priorities and focus. The existing strategic plan for the Children’s Hospital and current metrics were reviewed. The Department’s mission, vision, and goals statements were reviewed and revised. Priority was given to important clinical updates for staffing, budget, and facilities/operations. To foster and optimize participation, engagement, and joy during the retreat, including team-building exercises and meaningful, impactful guest speakers. Guest speakers included a patient and her family, the Health System Chief Strategy Officer, the new Health System COO (the first woman, and an immigrant), and a coach from UVA Human Resources Talent Development. Brainstorming was accomplished first in the full group, followed by smaller group discussions so everyone had the chance to be heard. At the conclusion, leaders were assigned to each action item and plans were made to create a dashboard to track progress. Feedback will be obtained in a post-survey.

Education Retreat



• Chaired by Drs. Jeremy Middleton and Linda Waggoner Fountain.
• On April 24, 2024, the Department of Pediatrics convened an education retreat to define the vision and goals of the Department under the leadership of Dr. Misra. More than thirty Departmental faculty interested in discussing the strengths and opportunities for the undergraduate and graduate medical education programs gathered for the half-day retreat. Dr. Neeral Shah, the director of the School of Medicine’s Academy for Excellence in Education, led the group in refining the newly developed departmental mission statement as it relates to our educational values in the Department of Pediatrics. He also helped the group define key concepts that are core to our educational mission. Drs. Jeremy Middleton and Linda Waggoner-Fountain presented local and national data regarding learners in pediatrics. Smaller breakout groups met to establish short- and long-term priorities for the education of medical students, pediatric residents, and pediatric fellows. The retreat created marching orders for future working groups to implement ideas for improvement as well as energize department educators.  

The UVA Medical Alumni Association and the Department of Pediatrics hosted a reception for alumni and friends in Toronto at the Pediatric Academic Societies meeting. It was so fun to see former faculty, students, residents, and all of the current crew who were there to present their work. 

NICU / PICU Expansion

• NICU has expanded to 60 beds. 
• PICU grew to 23 beds in June - the goal is to get to 25
• We are on track to expand to 60 NICU beds and 25 PICU beds by the end of Summer 2024. Plans for further NICU expansion into the shelled space in the South Tower are ongoing with a successful launch of fundraising efforts in April 2024.   

Reorganization of our General Pediatrics Division

We are excited to announce the reorganization of our General Pediatrics division into two distinct entities:



1. Division of Pediatric Hospital and Integrative Medicine

2. Division of Primary Care Pediatrics

This strategic realignment aims to enhance leadership and integration within our growing department.

As part of this transition, Dr. Anne Ranney will serve as the Interim Division Director of Primary Care Pediatrics. Dr. Ranney, the Medical Director of Northridge Pediatrics, is a well-respected leader known for her outstanding team and exceptional leadership.

Dr. Lynn McDaniel will assume the role of Director for the Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, which includes Hospital, Newborn, Breastfeeding, and Integrative Medicine. With over 20 years of experience as a pediatric hospitalist, Dr. McDaniel is a Senior Fellow of the Society of Hospital Medicine. She currently serves as the Medical Director of the Acute Pediatric units and Director of Patient Progression at UVA Children’s Hospital. Additionally, she chairs the SHM Pediatrics SIG and is a state delegate on the Virginia AAP Board.

We are immensely proud of the significant growth in General Pediatrics, now comprising over 40 dedicated faculty members, including our wage providers. This reorganization will enable us to better serve our community and continue delivering exceptional care and support to our patients and their families.

We would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Dr. Ann Kellams, who has served as the Interim Division Director of General Pediatrics with tremendous leadership and dedication. We are grateful to Dr. Kellams for stepping in when the department needed her most and serving with distinction.

Thank you for your unwavering dedication and commitment to excellence. We look forward to this change's positive impact on our department and the community we serve.

Pediatric Education

Departing Residents

• Dr. Samuel Baldazo, Next Destination: Pursuing fellowship in palliative care
• Dr. Carly Burchfield, Next Destination: Primary Care in Roanoke
• Dr. Nicole Byram, Next Destination: Primary Care in Richmond
• Dr. Joel Canner, Peds Neuro Residency at UVA
• Dr. Hanna Carroll, Next Destination: PICU Fellowship at UNC
• Dr. Jihae Choi, Next Destination: Pursuing hospital medicine fellowship
• Dr. Rebeca Esquivel, Next Destination: Attending at East Carolina University
• Dr. Lauren Ferguson, Next Destination: UVA Chief Year
• Dr. David, Next destination: Private Practice in Stafford, VA
• Dr. Miriam Mae Lobrano Furr, Next destination: UVA Chief Year
• Dr. Jasmine Ragoowansi, Next destination: Cardiology fellowship at Vanderbilt
• Dr. Krista Roncone, Next destination: LOCUMS with Augusta Health and then heading to Jordan to do humanitarian work with the Syrian refugee population
• Dr. Mackenzie Soderstrum, Next destination: Stay at home mom for a few months then General Pediatrics in Louisiana
• Dr. Cassie Weems, Next destination: Endocrine Fellowship at UVA
• Chiefs 2024-2025: Mae Furr and Lauren Ferguson

Departing Fellows

• Joshua Reyes, MD, Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, will join our NDBP division as a faculty member in September.
• Theodore Millette, MD, will stay at UVA for a fourth-year fellowship in advanced imaging.
• Aseel Dabbagh, MD, will be going to Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City to do General Pediatric Cardiology

New & Upcoming Additions

• Julia (Julie) Lovin, 12/1/2024, Starts Assistant Professor position - Ped Cardio 
• Aaron Misakian, 12/1/2024, Endo clinical faculty
• Emily O'Gorman, 12/1/24, Faculty joins Allergy
• Seth Morrison, 11/1/2024, Faculty joins Gastroenterology (75% research)
• Anshu Gupta, 10/12/2024, Faculty joins Endocrinology and a Vice Chair for Education
• Josh Reyes, 9/1/2024, Faculty joins Developmental
• Kara Coffey, 9/1/2024, Faculty joins Respiratory Medicine, Allergy, and Immunology
• Lindsay Riordan, 9/1/2024, Faculty joins General Pediatrics - Northridge
• Curtis Kovaleski, 9/1/24, Faculty joins Critical Care
• Kelly Gurka, 8/21/2024, Research Faculty joins Neurodevelopmental & Behavioral Peds
• Alexandra Biller, 8/19/2024, Faculty joined Gastroenterology
• Anisha Gerber, 8/15/2024, Clinician Investigator joined Nephrology 80% research
• Julia (Julie) Lovin, 8/1/2024, Started Instructor position - Ped Cardio
• Evan Anderson, 7/15/2024, Faculty joined Ped Psychology
• Theodore Millette, 7/1/2024, Faculty joined Ped Cardio
• Megan Yunghans, 7/1/2024, Faculty joined General Pediatrics - Birdsong 
• Emily Carroll, 7/1/2024, Faculty joined General Pediatrics - Northridge