William D. Hardie, MD

As a pediatric pulmonologist for over 25 years, I have broad experience in many facets of pediatric pulmonary medicine. I enjoy the wide variety of challenges in the patients I see, ranging from wheezing, chronic cough, sleep disorders and recurrent pneumonia, and feel deeply rewarded when I improve the health of children. In additional to my general pulmonary expertise, I am a co-founder of Cincinnati Children’s Cardiorespiratory Sports Clinic which evaluates and treats children and young adults who have shortness of breath or chest pain with exercise. I also initiated a collaborative effort with physicians in surgery and emergency medicine to manage children and young adults who develop primary spontaneous pneumothorax, an abnormal accumulation of air in the space between the lungs and the chest cavity (the pleural space).

Going into pediatrics was a natural choice, as working with children is its own reward. As a student, I remember a pediatrician telling me he liked pediatrics because he felt it made him younger — now that I’m older, I can see he was right. I was drawn to pulmonary medicine during medical school because I enjoyed the respiratory system physiology and research challenges and especially the opportunity to develop longitudinal relationships with patients and families.

In addition to caring for patients I have maintained a basic science laboratory focused on pulmonary fibrosis, which is scarring of the lung. My colleagues and I seek to identify the proteins and cellular pathways associated with this disorder and explore potential novel treatments. We are currently focused on a rare lung fibrosis condition called pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis which can afflict both children and adults. As a clinician and a scientist I have a developed a stronger appreciation for the vital importance of clean air in preserving child health and am involved with state and national organizations advocating for improving air quality.

My wife and I purchased a small “farmette” located between Mason and Lebanon, Ohio where we raised our three children. One of my hobbies is growing fruit trees and making maple and walnut syrup in the winter. I was born and raised in Wilmington, Ohio where as a boy I worked for the Cincinnati Bengals during their summer training camps at Wilmington College. Feel free to drop by and shout out a “Who Dey” if you come to my clinic!