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Jennifer McAllister, MD, IBCLC


  • Medical Director, West Chester Hopsital Special Care Nursery
  • Medical Director, University of Cincinnati Newborn Nursery
  • Medical Director, Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS) Follow-Up Clinic
  • Associate Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics
I enjoy working with new parents and their infants as they start their journey into parenthood.
Jennifer McAllister, MD, IBCLC

About

Biography

I am a pediatrician with specialized interests in newborn care, breastfeeding, and the follow-up care of infants with prenatal opioid exposure. I am passionate about supporting new parents as they begin their journey into parenthood and helping families navigate the challenges and milestones that come with welcoming a new baby.

In my clinical practice, I approach each patient with the same care and attentiveness I would offer my own family and friends. I value open, collaborative conversations and emphasize evidence-based guidance tailored to each family’s needs. Seeing myself as both a clinician and an educator, I strive to create a supportive environment where parents feel comfortable asking questions and sharing concerns.

As an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), I provide expert guidance to families throughout their breastfeeding journeys, celebrating successes while thoughtfully addressing challenges. I also serve as the director of the Cincinnati Children’s Supporting Those with Exposures (STEP) Clinic, where I lead care for infants and children affected by prenatal opioid exposure. My clinical research focuses on understanding the short- and long-term medical and developmental outcomes for this population, breastfeeding, and standardizing newborn care.

Outside of my professional work, I enjoy traveling, spending time with my family, and participating in triathlons.

MD: University of Toledo College of Medicine, Toledo, OH, 2007

Residency: Pediatrics, University of Michigan Mott Children's Hospital, Ann Arbor, MI, 2010

Certifications: Pediatrics, 2010

Interests

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome; newborn care; breastfeeding

Interests

Follow up care of infants treated for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

Research Areas

Insurance Information

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Publications

Knowledge and Training About Caring for Children With Intrauterine Opioid Exposure: A Multisite Pediatrician Survey. Shedlock, KE; Goyal, NK; Demharter, NS; Gibbons, E; Gregory, EF; Mcallister, JM; Shedlock, AR; Sibinga, EMS; Rohde, JF. Academic Pediatrics. 2026; 26(3):103222.

Breastfeeding and Developmental Outcomes in Infants with Prenatal Cannabis Exposure: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Nidey, N; Mcallister, JM; Terplan, M; Kair, LR. Breastfeeding Medicine. 2025.

Barriers and Facilitators to Exclusive Breastfeeding in Cincinnati Latina Women. Ward, LP; Mcallister, JM; Chlon, C; Mena, K; Tamayo, O; Stephenson, R; Calvopina, A; Liu, C; Ehrlich, S; Rule, A. Clinical Lactation. 2025; 16(3-4):188-206.

Pediatricians' Attitudes Toward and Use of Terminology About Mothers With Opioid Use Disorder. Ratner, JA; Chaiyachati, BH; Demharter, NS; Gannon, M; Hossain, J; Larkin, O; Mcallister, JM; Peera, F; Schiff, DM; Sibinga, EMS; Rohde, JF; Goyal, NK. Journal of Addiction Medicine. 2025; 19(6):646-654.

Early childhood growth following prenatal opioid exposure and Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome. Mcnelis, K; Gerdts, G; Khan, M; Mcallister, J. Pediatric Research. 2025; 98(4):1395-1402.

Reducing Racial, Ethnic, and Socioeconomic Disparities in Frenotomy Practice. Kelly, A; Wexelblatt, S; Ward, L; Nidey, N; Mcallister, J. Breastfeeding Medicine. 2025; 20(10):715-721.

Effects of Prenatal Opioid Exposure on the Brain and Neurodevelopment. Mcallister, JM; Merhar, SL. Pediatric Clinics of North America. 2025; 72(5):805-823.

The Impact of Frequency of Cannabis Use on Hypertensive Disorders During Pregnancy. Nidey, N; Raff, E; Ferdous Khan, MT; Watkins, SL; Mcallister, JMJ; Kair, L; Terplan, M; Greiner, A. Journal of Addiction Medicine. 2025; 19(5):611-614.

Instrument-based vision screening and outcomes in young children following prenatal exposure to buprenorphine or methadone: a retrospective cohort study. Bush, E; Nidey, N; Merhar, S; Wexelblatt, S; Schwartz, T; Weber, S; Mcallister, J. Journal of AAPOS. 2025; 29(4):104259.

A neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome: Diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes. Mcallister, J. Neurotoxicology and Teratology. 2025; 109:107471.

From the Blog

Podcast | Infant Series: Tongue Ties and Feeding Concerns
Podcast The Young & Healthy Podcast

Podcast | Infant Series: Tongue Ties and Feeding Concerns

Jennifer McAllister, MD, IBCLC, Young & Healthy Podcast4/26/2024

Follow-Up Crucial After Fetal Opioid Exposure
Perinatal

Follow-Up Crucial After Fetal Opioid Exposure

Jennifer McAllister, MD, IBCLC6/30/2019

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