News | Pediatrics

Dr. Chani Traube Appointment as the Gerald M. Loughlin, M.D. Professor of Pediatrics

July 25, 2024

Dr. Chani Traube has been appointed as the Gerald M. Loughlin, M.D. Professor of Pediatrics, effective August 1, 2024. This appointment recognizes Dr. Traube's role as a groundbreaking researcher in pediatric delirium. Her accomplishments in the field and commitment as leader and mentor bring distinction to Weill Cornell Medicine.

Dr. Oleh Akchurin Promotion to Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics

July 3, 2024

The Department of Pediatrics is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Oleh Akchurin to Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics in the Division of Pediatric Nephrology, effective May 1, 2024.

Dr. Akchurin was recruited to Weill Cornell Medicine (WCM) following pediatric nephrology fellowship at Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center. His research focuses on pediatric chronic kidney disease (CKD), and more specifically on alterations of iron metabolism in CKD and kidney fibrosis. Dr. Akchurin has been independently funded, currently through the R03 award from the NIH National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders (NIDDK). He is a former recipient of the K08 career development award from the NIDDK. He is also a former Rohr Family Clinical Scholar at WCM, and has received additional grants from foundations and philanthropy, including the Hartwell Foundation Individual Biomedical Research Award and the Sy Syms Foundation Award. In addition to his basic science lab, Dr. Akchurin is the PI of the WCM Pediatric CKD registry and biorepository. He has been committed to the education of medical trainees and serves as the Associate Director of the Pediatric Physician Scientist Training Program at WCM.

Youth program expands to help NYS children with special needs

July 3, 2024

Last year, when Amanda Purington Drake took the helm of the ACT for Youth Center for Community Action, a nearly 25 year-old program that promotes adolescent health and well-being in New York state, she called the group together to think about what they wanted for the next 25 years.

The group’s answer was essentially “more.” They wanted to have more impact on more youth, in more areas of their lives. Now a year later, the group has been awarded a five-year, $5 million grant from the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) that will expand and deepen the center’s impact on children and adolescents with special health care needs, including children with physical, behavioral or mental health conditions and intellectual or developmental disabilities.

In collaboration with Weill Cornell Medicine, ACT (Assets Coming Together) for Youth will become a state Center of Excellence for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs, working directly with local health departments to help them connect families with care and navigate the health care system.

Message from the Chair’s Office Associate Vice Chair Announcements

July 2, 2024

The Department of Pediatrics is pleased to announce the appointments of Genevieve Giny Fouda Amou'ou, M.D., Ph.D. as Associate Vice Chair for Basic Science Research, Lisa Giulino-Roth, M.D. as Associate Vice Chair for Translational Research, and Chani Traube, M.D. as Associate Vice Chair for Clinical Research effective July 1, 2024

Appointment of Dr. Camilia Martin

June 11, 2024

The Department of Pediatrics is pleased to announce the appointment of Camilia R. Martin, MD, MS, Endowed Professor and Division Chief of Neonatology, as Vice Chair of Research in the Department of Pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medicine, effective July 1, 2024.

Dr. Martin has served as the Division Chief of Neonatology at Weill Cornell Medicine since May 2022.

In this new role, Dr. Martin will develop and implement a broad departmental vision, mission, and goals for all disciplines of research. She will also create a plan for the different spokes of the research wheel to come together under the unified mission and drive research and academic output. She will work with investigators in the Department to grow the research portfolio and oversee research administration and all laboratory, translational and clinical research. Dr. Martin will lead and expand Pediatric research day and organize institutional/local research conferences, highlighting pediatric research. Furthermore, Dr. Martin will develop a departmental committee to provide an internal mechanism for reviewing grant applications and providing advice on departmental investments in research while supporting mentoring of junior research investigators.

Fetal Care Center

June 4, 2024

In this episode of Kids Health Cast, Drs. Jessica Scholl and Ericalyn Kasdorf give an overview of the services offered at the Fetal Care Center. They discuss the multidisciplinary coordinated care approach to high-risk complex pregnancies. The center also features an onsite level 4 neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), offering services for newborns in need of specialized care and staffed by highly trained neonatologists, surgeons, nurses, and nurse practitioners. They highlight the support available for families and how providers can refer to multiple services across the healthcare system.

Every parent wants what’s best for their children — but in the age of the internet, it can be difficult to navigate what is actually fact-based or pure speculation.

Cut through the noise with Kids Health Cast, featuring Weill Cornell Medicine’s expert physicians and researchers discussing a wide range of health topics, providing information on the latest medical science. Finally, a podcast to help you make informed choices for your family’s health and wellness.

Portrait Celebrates Dr. Loughlin’s Career

June 4, 2024

The portrait of Gerald M. Loughlin, MD, was revealed on May 30, 2024, and is now installed on the 6th floor outside of the Pediatric Library. This portrait celebrates Dr. Loughlin’s career at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine and particularly his 18-year career as the Nancy C. Paduano Professor and Chair of Department of Pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medicine and Pediatrician-in-Chief at NewYork-Presbyterian. The portrait was painted by William Masters.

Throughout Dr. Loughlin’s career he was never a physician who spent his career standing behind a desk but instead was always working directly with children. That is why we wanted a portrait to truly reflect his career and passion for improving children’s health.

Oops! Ouch! Now What? First Aid Basics Everyone Should Know

May 22, 2024

Dr. Nicole Gerber, Associate Director of Clinical Services of Pediatric Emergency provides expert commentary to The New York Times. Read full article here!

Screening for Congenital Cytomegalovirus Podcast with Dr. Christine Salvatore

May 8, 2024

In this Kids Health Cast episode, Christine Salvatore M.D. discusses what parents should know about the new universal screening for congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV). She discusses what parents should know about CMV in newborns. While there is no CMV vaccine currently available to prevent congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV), she discusses the universal screening every baby for cCMV that's taking place in the country, including in New York State. She also shares precautions that adults can take to keep babies safe from the illness.

Every parent wants what’s best for their children — but in the age of the internet, it can be difficult to navigate what is actually fact-based or pure speculation.

Listen to podcast here!

Taking Action for Adolescents with Prediabetes: Lifestyle Interventions

May 8, 2024

In 2022, a report published in JAMA Pediatrics found that nearly one in three adolescents now meet the criteria for prediabetes and the rate among 12- to 19-year-olds had more than doubled from 11% to 28% between 1999 and 2018. “This was very concerning,” says Marisa A. Censani, MD, Director of the Pediatric Obesity Program at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine. “Pediatric patients with obesity are at higher risk for several medical conditions, such as metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, and hyperlipidemia. Importantly, prediabetes is shown to track from adolescence into adulthood.”