Christopher Siracusa, MD

Biography

As a pediatric pulmonologist, I specialize in the care of patients with various lung conditions, specifically asthma, bronchiectasis, chronic cough, cystic fibrosis (CF) and dyspnea.

My area of expertise is cystic fibrosis. The Cystic Fibrosis Center at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center strives to go 'above and beyond the guidelines' to set our patients up for success.

Our team uses a collaborative approach to care. We believe patients and families are the most important members of the team. Services we offer include advanced imaging, bronchoscopy, exercise testing and pulmonary function testing. We partner with researchers for atypical cystic fibrosis diagnostics — providing national and international referrals. Together with doctors at the Cincinnati Children’s Pancreas Center, we help patients with recurrent pancreatitis related to cystic fibrosis.

My goal in chronic disease management is to minimize health risks, maximize health potential and interfere with life as little as possible. I always say, "My job is to provide you with the information, then we can make the decisions together."

I was drawn to pulmonology by my interest in the physiology of the lungs. I always knew I wanted to work in pediatrics. My first interactions with cystic fibrosis patients sparked my career interest. For me, it was the right combination of interesting physiology, complicated microbiology, chronic disease management and psychosocial support. I enjoy the continuity of care I provide. It's exciting to watch a patient I have followed for many years reach life milestones like learning to walk, learning to drive or graduating from high school.

My research focuses on the psychosocial and behavioral determinants of cystic fibrosis outcomes. I am an original member of the CF Foundation’s Success with Therapies Research Consortium, formed in 2015. I serve as the principal investigator at Cincinnati Children’s for multiple, multi-center studies related to adherence patterns and barriers in cystic fibrosis. Some of my clinical research studies involve the relationship among treatment complexity, burden and clinical outcomes in cystic fibrosis.

In my free time, I enjoy traveling, cooking, hiking, watching movies, and spending time with friends and family. I have lived in downtown Cincinnati since moving here in 2012 and love to experience all the city offers.