A photo of Ndidi Unaka.

Ndidi I. Unaka, MD, MEd


  • Medical Director, Quality Improvement and Analytics, Population Health
  • Attending Physician, Division of Hospital Medicine
  • Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics
I believe in providing family-centered, evidenced-based and compassionate care. I’m committed to meeting the unique needs of patients and families in partnership with all members of the healthcare team.
Ndidi I. Unaka, MD, MEd

About

Biography

I believe in providing family-centered, evidenced-based and compassionate care. I’m committed to meeting the unique needs of patients and families in partnership with all members of the healthcare team.

As a pediatric hospitalist, I care for children with common general pediatric diagnoses who are admitted to the hospital. I also care for medically complex patients.

I am passionate about diversity and inclusion, and the benefits we can all enjoy when our healthcare workforce reflects the population it serves. I’m honored to teach and mentor students and pediatric trainees and work to foster their understanding of the importance of health equity. I want trainees to embrace their role as an advocate for children and families.

I became a pediatrician because I love caring for children and partnering with families. Medicine's team-oriented approach appeals to me. My clinical work allows me to build strong therapeutic relationships with patients and families. I value the opportunity to advocate for children who do not have a voice.

My research focuses on improving the healthcare experience for our most vulnerable patients and families. I appreciate how effective communication promotes patient safety and builds strong alliances between families and healthcare providers. My training in medical education and quality improvement helps to optimize the family experience at Cincinnati Children’s.

I am honored to have received several awards, including:

  • 2018 Cincinnati Children’s Junior Educational Achievement Award
  • 2018 University of Cincinnati College of Medicine’s Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award
  • 2016 Cincinnati Children’s Patient Education Advocacy Award

In my free time, I love to read, run, and spend time with friends and family.

MD: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 2007.

Residency: Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 2007-2010.

Chief Residency: Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 2010- 2011.

Certification: General Pediatrics, 2010; Pediatric Hospital Medicine, 2019.

Interests

Health equity, quality improvement, medical education, patient and family-centered care

Services and Specialties

Hospital Medicine

Interests

Population health; health equity; quality improvement; medical education

Research Areas

Hospital Medicine

Publications

Out for the count: Hospitalization as an opportunity to intervene for patients experiencing homelessness. Peterson, RJ; Beck, AF; Unaka, N. Journal of hospital medicine (Online). 2024; 19:79-80.

Family-Centered Rounds Requires an Equity Oriented Approach. Ridge, MS; Parente, V; Unaka, N. Hospital Pediatrics. 2023; 13:e342-e344.

Crossing the Quality Chasm and the Ignored Pillar of Health Care Equity. Cheng, TL; Unaka, NI; Nichols, D. Pediatric Clinics of North America. 2023; 70:855-861.

The Autonomy Toolbox: A Multicenter Collaborative to Promote Resident Autonomy. Allen, K; Najjar, M; Ostermeier, A; Washington, N; Genies, MC; Hazle, M; Hardy, C; Lewis, K; McDaniel, L; McFarlane, DJ; et al. Hospital Pediatrics. 2023; 13:490-503.

Reducing Caregiver Hunger During Pediatric Hospitalization. Auger, KA; Demeritt, B; Beck, AF; Shah, A; Litman, S; Pinson, J; Wright, T; Cronin, SC; Casillas, CA; Sauers-Ford, H; et al. Pediatrics. 2023; 151:e2022058080.

The intersection of diversity, equity, and inclusion with pediatric Patient and Family Advisory Councils. Unaka, NI; Hoang, M; Hsu, J; Dardess, P; Casillas, CT; Fanta, M; Dokken, DL; Beck, AF. Patient Experience Journal. 2022; 9:39-54.

Effects of a Curriculum Addressing Racism on Pediatric Residents' Racial Biases and Empathy. Jindal, M; Thornton, RL J; McRae, A; Unaka, N; Johnson, TJ; Mistry, KB. Journal of graduate medical education. 2022; 14:407-413.

Lifting the mask mandate puts our priorities in plain sight. Calhoun, T; Unaka, N. Journal of hospital medicine (Online). 2022; 17:668-670.

US News & World Report and quality metrics: Inclusion of sickle cell disease is a matter of equity. Power-Hays, A; Dandoy, CE; Lorts, A; Perentesis, JP; Unaka, N; Ware, RE; McGann, PT. Pediatric Blood and Cancer. 2022; 69:e29679.

Adapting and responding to a pandemic: Patient and family advisory councils in children's hospitals during COVID-19. Dardess, P; Dokken, DL; Unaka, NI; Hsu, J; Hoang, M; Beck, AF; Johnson, BH. Patient Experience Journal. 2022; 9:62-71.

From the Blog

A Deeper Commitment to Health Justice and Eliminating Health Inequities
Population Health and Equity

A Deeper Commitment to Health Justice and Eliminating Health Inequities

Ndidi I. Unaka, MD, MEd, Andrew F. Beck, MD, MPH ...1/24/2024

Unaka, Patel Honored at PHM22
Health Inequities

Unaka, Patel Honored at PHM22

Ndidi I. Unaka, MD, MEd, Shivani J. Patel, DO, MS, MEd8/12/2022

Patient Ratings and Comments

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4.6
Overall Patient Rating