As a pediatric intensivist with an interest in neurocritical care working in a state with a punctuated incidence of pediatric brain tumors, I aspire to carve my academic niche studying pediatric medulloblastomas (MB), the most common malignant brain tumor of childhood. Serving as an intersection for my training in molecular neurobiology, my strong interest in translational science, and my burgeoning expertise in pediatric critical care medicine, I hope to significantly impact the long term survivorship of patients with high-risk medulloblastomas, who suffer high relapse rates and mortality.
My secondary clinical interest lies in the study of acute lung injury and pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS). I am an active member of the Pediatric Acute Lung Injury & Sepsis Investigators (PALISI). We have participated in several landmark study including the Pediatric Acute Respiratory Distress Incidence and Epidemiology (PARDIE) and are now engaged in the Prone and Oscillator in Pediatrics Clinical Trial (PROSpect) aimed at studying treatment strategies in severe PARDS. Over my career, I aspire to actively engage with collaborators in an effort to mitigate PARDS in the field of critical care.
Board Certification
Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
Pediatrics
Education
Training
2009 M.D., Ph.D., Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Sciences, North Chicago, IL
2012 Residency in Pediatrics, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Stanford, CA
2015 Fellowship in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Stanford, CA
Academic Appointments
Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of Nebraska College of Medicine
Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska College of Medicine
Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Creighton University School of Medicine
Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Creighton University School of Medicine
Roles
Director for Research, Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
Primary Interests
1. To define pathophysiologic events triggering neoplastic transformation by studying genetic events targeting chromosome 17p13.3
2. To generate preclinical mouse models, including orthotopic, spontaneous and patient-derived xenografts, using our understanding of pathophysiology
3. To generate novel anti-neoplastic agents using cutting-edge bioinformatics tools that may be tested in our genetically-engineered mouse models
Active Grants
1. LB905 (Pediatric Cancer Research Group)
10/07/2021 – 09/30/2024
Project Title: Developing a Medulloblastoma Core Facility at the University of Nebraska Medical Center
2. PCCTSDP K12 Scholar Award (K12HD047349)
01/01/2021 – 12/31/2023
Project Title: MiR-1253 potentiates cisplatin response in group 3 medulloblastoma through ferroptosis
3. Team Jack Brain Tumor Foundation Award
01/01/2020 – 12/30/2022
Project Title: Chemosensitization of non-SHH/WNT medulloblastoma is regulated by miR-1253
4. American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant
08/01/2020 – 07/31/2021
Project Title: Exploring the oncogenic properties of NFIB in group 3 medulloblastoma
Professional Organizations
- Sigma Xi (1999-present)
- American Academy of Pediatrics (2009-present)
- Fellow (2015-present)
- Section on Critical Care (2016-present)
- NE Chapter Executive Board (2019-present)
- Society for Critical Care Medicine (2012-present)
- American Federation for Medical Research (2015-present)
- Western Section Councilor (2015-2017)
- National Council Executive Board (2017-2020)
- Midwest Section Chair-Elect, Chair, Past Chair (2020-2023)
- Society for Pediatric Research, Junior Section (2016-present)
- Pediatric Acute Lung Injury and Sepsis Investigators Site Director (2016-present)
- American Academy of Cancer Research (2017-present)
- Society for Neuro-Oncology (2018-present)
Honors & Awards
● Alpha Omega Alpha (2008)
● Gold Humanism Honors Society (2009)
● Leonard P. Tow Humanism in Medicine (2009)
● Dean’s Service Award, Chicago Medical School (2009)
● Board of Trustees Scholarship Award, Chicago Medical School (2009)
● Excellence in Teaching, Arnold P. Gold Foundation (2012)
● Inpatient Fellow of the Year, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital (2015)
● Travel Award, Western Society for Clinical Investigation (2015)
● Young Investigator Coaching Program, Society for Pediatric Research (2017)
● Top 10 Abstract, American Academy of Pediatrics Society for Critical Care (2017)
● UNeMED New Innovation Contributor, UNMC (2018)
● Travel Award, Team Jack Brain Tumor Foundation (2020)
● K Award, Midwest Clinical and Translational Science Meeting (2021)
Links and Multimedia
- Full Publication List
- Team Jack Interview on Medulloblastoma Research (2020)
- Rosalind Franklin University “Synapses” Launch (2020)
- Knox College Interview on Clinical Impact of COVID-19 (2020)
- Knox College Interview with Prospective MD, PhD Students (2020)
- IPSO Sepsis Video Case Study (2021)
- Healing Hearts Sepsis Series Podcast (2021)
Lab/Academic Office
University of Nebraska Medical Center
DRC1, 601 South Saddle Creek Road, Omaha, NE 68106
Email: [email protected]
This Provider Practices at:
Children’s Nebraska
8200 Dodge St.
Omaha, NE 68114
402-955-4200
Fax: 402-955-3262