University of Colorado Department of Pediatrics

Dear Faculty and Friends,

Welcome to the 2022 year-end edition of the Department of Pediatrics Newsletter. Here you will find a sampling of all the amazing activity happening within the Department of Pediatrics and at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Thanks to all our talented faculty, trainees, and staff who make this the best Pediatrics Department in the country!

Sokol Named Distinguished Professor 

Ronald J. Sokol, MD (Professor, Section of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition and Children’s Hospital Colorado Chief Scientific Officer) has been named a University Distinguished Professor. The title "Distinguished Professor" is the highest honor that the University of Colorado bestows on its own faculty members. This title is extended to recognize the outstanding contributions of tenured faculty members to their academic disciplines. Dr. Sokol was recognized for his work focusing on pediatric liver disease and pediatric liver transplantation, as well as his outstanding track record of success in mentoring junior faculty and trainees who have gone on to lead successful independent careers. Congratulations, Dr. Sokol!

SOM Names Reese to Wellness Leadership Role

The University of Colorado School of Medicine has named Jenny Reese, MD (Professor and Head, Section of Hospital Medicine) as Assistant Dean of Faculty Well-being. This comes in recognition of Dr. Reese’s long-standing efforts to improve faculty well-being and for her ongoing work and collaboration in driving system-level improvements to improve the work environment.

Stenmark to Lead PVRI 

Kurt R. Stenmark, MD (Professor and Head, Section of Critical Care) has been named President of the Pulmonary Vascular Research Institute (PVRI) for a two-year term beginning January 1, 2023. PVRI is an international organization of scientists, clinicians and academics working to reduce the global burden of pulmonary vascular disease. Stenmark’s nomination and selection as President by the PRVI Board of Directors and Trustees reflects his reputation as a highly esteemed academic leader in the field.

Major AHRQ Award for Rao 

Suchitra Rao, MD (Associate Professor, Section of Hospital Medicine) has been awarded a 5-year, $2 million Research Demonstration and Dissemination Project (R18-HS028569) award from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) for her project titled, “The INFLUENTIAL Trial – Inpatient FLU Vaccination Program Effectiveness: National Trial Implementing Best Practices And Learning Collaboratives.” Dr. Rao’s project will establish a stakeholder-informed, standardized inpatient influenza vaccination program and examine its effectiveness in increasing influenza vaccination rates of hospitalized children across diverse U.S. pediatric health systems. The program has important public health implications for influenza vaccine delivery to high-risk children, with indirect benefits to other vulnerable populations, including the elderly, and could be expanded to other needed vaccines, patient populations, and healthcare settings.

Immunology Program Earns Center of Excellence Status 

Congratulations to the Section of Allergy and Immunology for their selection by the Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies (FOCIS) as a FOCIS Center of Excellence (FCE). The FOCIS Center of Excellence network includes 72 leading academic medical centers that facilitate collaboration on grants, research, career opportunities, and educational programs. FOCIS exists to improve human health through immunology by fostering interdisciplinary approaches to both understand and treat immune-based diseases. Elena Hsieh, MD (Associate Professor, Section of Allergy and Immunology) led the Section’s application for FCE designation that included highlighting the group’s expertise in advancing clinical immunology research and application as a multidisciplinary field.

Kohler Named ASH Scholar 

M. Eric Kohler, MD, PhD (Assistant Professor, Section of Hematology, Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant) has been selected as recipient of the 2023 ASH Junior Faculty Scholar Award in basic/translational research. This award from the American Society of Hematology, provides $150,000 over a two or three-year period to support blood scientist in the development of their research program.

ASTCT Recognition for Nuechterlein 

The American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT) has honored Brandon Nuechterlein, PA-C (Senior Instructor, Section of Hematology, Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant) with their Advanced Practice Provider Special Interest Group 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award. The award is made in recognition of outstanding work and dedication to APP practice in hematopoietic cell transplantation and cellular therapy. Nuechterlein was specifically recognized consistent for his high-quality contributions to the field through publications, presentations, mentorship, and leadership. He will receive his award at the ASTCT annual meeting in February in Orlando.

TEAM Yields Results

The Section of Hospital Medicine’s Teaching Excellence Among Medical Providers (TEAM) program has published the first of its findings in Academic Medicine (the Journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges). As presented by Jessica Landry, MD (Assistant Professor), Barry Seltz, MD (Associate Professor), and Kimberly O’Hara, MD (Assistant Professor), in their manuscript titled, “TEAMwork! An Innovative Hospital Medicine Teaching Program to Enhance Learners’ Educational Experience,” the program has demonstrated a significant improvement in helping achieve individualized learning goals. Launched in fall 2019, TEAM provided a small group of education focused scholars; each with enhanced teaching and feedback skills, the opportunity to observe the attending/trainee interface on each of the Hospital Medicine teaching services. During TEAM shifts, these faculty observed, provided feedback, completed evaluations, and led teaching sessions for learners, all without the expectation of providing direct patient care. Based on program feedback to date, the TEAM model is a promising strategy for improving the learner experience and improving clinical teaching and workplace-based assessment. Congratulations to all the members and participants of the TEAM program, and with special mention to Dr. Landry and Dr. O’Hara for their leadership in the design and implementation of the program.

2022 Career Teaching Scholars

Congratulations to Sandra Friedman, MD, MPH (Professor, Section of Developmental Pediatrics), Bruce Doenecke, MD (Clinical Professor of Pediatrics), Mary Zavadil, MD (Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatrics), and Glenn Furuta, MD (Professor, Section of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition) on being named the 2022 Career Teaching Scholar award winners. All four were honored at the December 9 Department Grand Rounds for their outstanding contributions to pediatric education throughout their careers.

As always, for these and other exciting Department of Pediatrics news stories, please visit our Pediatrics News web page.

As we approach the year-end holiday season, I want to again acknowledge what a challenging year this has been for many in our Department. I am especially proud of the amazing spirit of collegiality demonstrated by all those faculty and trainees who have volunteered to cover much needed shifts in our Emergency and Hospital Medicine units during the unprecedented surge in patient volume across our entire care system. I am grateful for everyone’s hard work, dedication and perseverance and hope that the holidays afford an opportunity for down time spent with family and friends.

Best wishes to all for a safe and healthy holiday and to a welcome start to the 2023 New Year!

Sincerely,

Stephen R. Daniels, MD, PhD
Professor and Chair
Department of Pediatrics | University of Colorado School of Medicine
Pediatrician-in-Chief | Children’s Hospital Colorado