Critical Care

Research Faculty

Division HeadHide

Hector R. Wong, MD Director, Division of Critical Care Medicine

Hector R. Wong, MD, is a clinician with a translational research program focused on sepsis. The centerpiece of the research program involves genome wide expression analyses from blood samples of children with sepsis representing multiple institutions. These data are directing three major areas of focus: stratification of sepsis through biomarkers and gene expression signatures; the development of sepsis diagnostic biomarkers; and testing of novel sepsis targets and pathways in the laboratory.
Visit the Wong Lab.

513-636-4259 hector.wong@cchmc.org

Clinical DirectorShow

Erika L. Stalets, MD Medical Director, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

Erika L. Stalets, MD, is a clinical intensivist interested in quality improvement and patient safety. She is a Quality Scholar and working toward her MS in clinical and translational research. Her interests include decreasing and eliminating hospital acquired infections and the reliable delivery of evidenced-based care to pediatric patients with septic shock.

513-636-4259 erika.stalets@cchmc.org

FacultyShow

Matthew N. Alder, MD, PhD

Matthew N. Alder, MD, PhD, studies the function of the immune system in patients with sepsis and septic shock. We use patient samples and animal models to better understand how we can treat patients with sepsis.

513-636-4259 matthew.alder@cchmc.org

Ranjit S. Chima, MD, FAAP

is a clinical assistant professor within the UC Department of Pediatrics with an interest in critically ill stem cell transplant recipients. His research is focused on predicting and improving outcomes for critically ill stem cell transplant recipients. This work is done in close collaboration with the Division of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Immunodeficiency.

513-636-4259 ranjit.chima@cchmc.org

Maya Dewan, MD, MPH Attending Physician, Division of Critical Care Medicine

Maya Dewan, MD, MPH, is an attending physician and assistant professor in the Division of Critical Care Medicine within the Department of Pediatrics. The focus of Dr. Dewan’s research is clinical decision support with a specific focus on using implementation science to improve the outcomes for high risk pediatric patients.

513-636-4259 maya.dewan@cchmc.org

Lesley A. Doughty, MD Physician, Division of Critical Care Medicine

is a clinician scientist whose basic science research program focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying the inflammatory synergy observed during viral and bacterial co-infection. Specific areas of focus include the impact of influenza and antiviral cytokines on TLR signaling.

513-636-4259 lesley.doughty@cchmc.org

Jennifer M. Kaplan, MD, MS

Jennifer M. Kaplan, MD, MS, is an attending physician in the PICU who has basic and translational research programs. Her laboratory focuses on understanding the inflammatory responses in sepsis, with a specific interest in the role of the nuclear receptor PPAR gamma. Dr. Kaplan is conducting a Phase 1 clinical trial to evaluate the pharmacokinetic characteristics, safety profile, and effect on inflammatory markers of pioglitazone in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. Pioglitazone belongs to a class of drugs called thiazolidinediones (TZDs), which are commonly used in patients with type 2 diabetes and ligands for PPAR gamma. Her laboratory also focuses on the increased susceptibility of diet-induced obesity to sepsis. She focuses on the critical links between the inflammatory pathways in sepsis and obesity.
Visit the Kaplan Lab.

513-636-4259 jennifer.kaplan@cchmc.org

Andrew J. Lautz, MD Physician, Division of Critical Care Medicine

Andrew J. Lautz, MD, studies myocardial dysfunction in pediatric critical illness, with a specific interest in alterations in mitochondrial biology. Current areas of focus include septic shock and cardiac arrest.

513-636-4259 andrew.lautz@cchmc.org

Sue E. Poynter, MD, MEd Director, Pediatric Residency Training Program

Sue E. Poynter, MD, MEd, is a co-director of the Pediatric Residency Training Program with an interest in medical education, curriculum development and educational research.

513-636-4906 sue.poynter@cchmc.org

Carley L. Riley, MD, MPP, MHS, FAAP Attending Physician, Division of Critical Care Medicine

Carley L. Riley, MD, MPP, MHS, FAAP, aims to generate actionable knowledge to inform multi-sector interventions to foster creation of high well-being populations. She aims to encourage a paradigm shift in how health and heath creation are viewed, with research in healthcare and non-healthcare investments in health, including social determinants of health as a central feature, with projects from the PICU to the community.

513-636-4259 carley.riley@cchmc.org

Steve Standage, MD Attending Physician, Division of Critical Care Medicine

Steve Standage, MD, investigates the molecular underpinnings of organ system failure in sepsis with a goal to elucidate targetable mechanisms with therapeutic potential. His laboratory currently focuses on understanding and manipulating metabolic and functional changes in the heart in sepsis.

513-803-7685 steve.standage@cchmc.org

Ken Tegtmeyer, MD

Ken Tegtmeyer, MD, develops multimedia medical education tools involving video as well as 2- and 3D animations to enhance medical education. Dr. Tegtmeyer is also interested in resuscitation and is in charge of the code and MRT processes.

513-636-4259 ken.tegtmeyer@cchmc.org

Brian M. Varisco, MD Clinician Researcher, Division of Critical Care Medicine

Brian M. Varisco, MD, investigates the stretch-dependent mechanisms of lung development, injury, repair, and regeneration.
Visit the Varisco Lab.

513-803-2485 brian.varisco@cchmc.org

Derek S. Wheeler, MD, MMM, MBA Chief of Staff

Derek S. Wheeler, MD, MMM, MBA, is a pediatric intensivist who has translational and clinical research interests in the fields of pediatric sepsis and shock. He is also the associate chief of staff. Additional research interests include hospital-acquired infection, quality improvement and patient safety.

513-803-1422 derek.wheeler@cchmc.org

Matthew W. Zackoff, MD, MEd Attending Physician, Division of Critical Care Medicine

Matthew W. Zackoff, MD, MEd, investigates the use of innovative technology and novel educational strategies to improve clinical competence and care delivery to impact patient outcomes. This is accomplished by through a background in biomedical engineering, a Masters in Medical Education, and experience with improvement science methodologies to optimize eventual implementation of successful interventions. His work to date has leveraged emerging technologies such as virtual reality and augmented reality to improve the fidelity of simulation training and provide exposure to clinical conditions and situations that were previously unable to be optimally simulated. He is additionally exploring the use of artificial intelligence to facilitate the creation of simulation tools that can truly be used for just-in-time and just-in-place training. He is additionally engaged in scholarship around raising the quality of educational research to meet the same standards as basic science and clinical research – viewing education as a tool to improve clinical outcomes. Overall, the goal of his research is to explore the intersections of technology, education, quality improvement, and systems science to enhance our care delivery systems and ultimately patient outcomes.

513-636-4825 matthew.zackoff@cchmc.org

Basilia Zingarelli, MD, PhD Director, Basic Science Research

Basilia Zingarelli, MD, PhD, focuses on molecular mechanisms of organ injury during sepsis, trauma and hemorrhage. Her research also involves the identification of age-dependent pathological mechanisms, with special focus on anti-inflammatory nuclear receptors, whose activation may have a clinical therapeutic application in the treatment of critically ill patients.
Visit the Zingarelli Lab.

513-636-8704 basilia.zingarelli@cchmc.org

Critical Care

Research Faculty

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