Division Chief
Peter J. Giannone, MD
Key Interests
Neonatal Morbidities
Inflammation
Infant Brain Injury
Translational Research
Bio
Dr. Giannone is available to serve as either a primary mentor or co-mentor for a fellow.
Fellowship Program Director
Thitinart Sithisarn, MD, PhD
Key Interests
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS)
Neonatal Brain Injury and Development
Stress Axis
Behavior Outcomes
Animal Models
Bio
My research interests focus on neonatal brain injury and development, NAS and the effects of substance of abuse on brain development, stress axis and neurobehavioral outcomes. I have developed in-vitro and in-vivo animal models to address research questions. I have been working with the fellows in clinical studies finding biomarkers for NAS clinical severity and outcomes. I am closely involved with NICU graduate clinic to study the outcomes in high-risk infants.
Dr. Sithisarn is available to serve as either a primary mentor or co-mentor for a fellow.
Faculty
Elie Abu Jawdeh, MD
Key Interests
Preterm Infant
Neonatal Pulmonology
Respiratory Control
Intermittent Hypoxemia
Retinopathy of Prematurity
Bedside Monitoring
Clinical and Translational Studies
Bio
I am interested in neonatal pulmonology and control of breathing and have special interest in bedside monitoring of cardio-respiratory events in preterm infants. I am currently actively collecting data for funded clinical studies related to predictors and consequences of cardio-respiratory events/intermittent hypoxemia in preterm infants. In collaboration with biomedical engineering, we are developing neonatal cerebral blood flow and oxygenation sensors to monitor brain hemodynamics. I am also the site PI for multi-center studies related to neonatal pulmonology/Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia and Respiratory Distress Syndrome/Surfactant. In addition to being a full time faculty, I am completing my PhD in Clinical and Translational Science University of Kentucky.
Dr. Abu Jawdeh is available to serve as either a primary mentor or co-mentor for a fellow.
Susana Arriagada-Alvarado, MD
Key Interests
Preterm Infant
Neonatal Outreach
Simulation and Education of Community Healthcare Providers
Improving Outcomes of Outborn Infants
Regional Healthcare Quality
Bio
My interests are especially in the area of enhancing outreach and improving regional outcomes. We provide several outreach activities to healthcare providers in the region including: Transport reviews and workshops in neonatal care (NAS, RDS, HIE, tiny baby, lines and Neopuff training); We teach STABLE and NRP classes throughout the region. QI projects include: Temperature control during transport and at the outside hospital in infants with HIE, management of tiny babies prior to transfer and Telementoring as an innovative model of education; We have received the District Grants from American Academy of Pediatrics in 2015 and 2017. Fellows are welcome to participate in all our activities and projects.
Dr. Arriagada-Alvarado is available to a co-mentor a fellow as a team member.
Henrietta S. Bada, MD, MPH
Key Interests
Infant
Newborn Brain Disorders
Neurobehavior
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS)
Physiologic Monitoring
Follow-up and Child Development
Clinical Trials
Bio
My interests are primarily related to investigation of pathogenesis using prospective cohort studies, randomized clinical trials, and prospective evaluation of outcomes. Designing studies with an intervention component makes for a very interesting and exciting research which hopefully will culminate in excellent support for the expected outcomes.
Dr. Bada is available to serve as either a primary mentor or co-mentor for a fellow.
Hubert O. Ballard, MD
Key Interests
Preterm Infant
Term Infant
Extracorporeal Life Support (ECLS
ECMO)
Respiratory
Pulmonary
Clinical
Bio
I am interested in research projects that are driven by quality improvement for both ECMO and respiratory outcomes. I am currently collaborating with multiple individuals to improve patient outcomes and to better understand our current clinical practice variation. An example of a current ECLS project is evaluating oxidative injury in ECMO and pre-ECMO neonates. I am also collaborating with respiratory therapy and looking at the utility of spontaneous breathing trials in premature babies who are <28 weeks.
Dr. Ballard is available to serve as either a primary mentor or co-mentor for a fellow.
John A Bauer, Ph.D.
Key Interests
Bio
Dr. Bauer is
Prasad Bhandary, MD
Key Interests
Tiny Baby
Red Cell Transfusions
IVH
ECMO
Bio
I lead a multidisciplinary work group that is focused on improvement of clinical care for ELBW neonates (tiny baby). Our group has successfully completed multiple quality improvement projects that have been presented at national conferences. We also have currently ongoing quality improvement projects including IVH reduction, phlebotomy reduction, kangaroo care. My other research/clinical interests included extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation. I currently have ongoing projects including therapeutic hypothermia, fluid overload.
Dr. Bhandary is available to serve as either a primary mentor or co-mentor for a fellow.
Melvin D Cunningham, MD
Key Interests
Preterm Infant
Neonatal Pulmonology
Ventilation Support
Medical Practice Variation
Bio
I am interested in the evaluation of performance and outcomes of UK Neonatology division clinical practices for ventilatory support of infants in NICU with acute respiratory failure.
Dr. Cunningham is available to serve as either a primary mentor or co-mentor for a fellow.
Sumit Dang, MD
Key Interests
Medical Simulation
Neonatal Resuscitation
Medical Education
Bio
My interests are in newborn resuscitation, simulation and medical education. Currently working with the Newborn HAL Simulation model and was instrumental in starting NICU Simulation Program. My current research initiatives include improving delivery room outcomes using Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) simulation model. I am also involved with a variety of educational initiatives for residents at UK and am currently acting in the capacity of NICU simulation and resident education director.
Dr. Dang is available to serve as either a primary mentor or co-mentor for a fellow.
Nirmala S Desai
Key Interests
Bio
Dr. Desai is
Ricki F. Goldstein, MD
Key Interests
Infant
Neurodevelopmental follow-up of NICU Graduates
Pediatric Complex Care
Neonatal Palliative Care
Bio
Dr. Goldstein is available to serve as either a primary mentor or co-mentor for a fellow.
Mina Hanna, MD
Key Interests
Preterm Infant
Acute Kidney Injury (AKI)
Biomarkers
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
Consequences
Precision Medicine
Omnics
Bio
My research focuses on predictors of renal development and injury in preterm infants, as well as long-term consequences of AKI in this vulnerable population. These studies include: Animal model of chorioamnionitis: looking on the effect on nephrotoxic renal injury on renal development; Biomarkers of AKI in preterm infants; Long term consequences of AKI.
Dr. Hanna is available to serve as either a primary mentor or co-mentor for a fellow.
Murali Palla, MD
Key Interests
Preterm Infant
Neonatal Neurology
Healthcare Quality
Bio
My research interests are in the areas of preterm infant brain injury, including Hypoxic/ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE), seizures, Intraventricular Hemorrhage and long-term consequences during developmental follow up
Dr. Palla is available to a co-mentor a fellow as a team member.
Aparna Patra, MD
Key Interests
Extremely Premature Infant
Brain Injury
Lung Disease
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD)
Protective Ventilation
Difficult Conversations in NICU
Kangaroo Care
Clinical
Bio
I have several ongoing projects in areas that address improvements in NICU care, including: 1) Clinical care strategies for prevention of Intraventricular Hemorrhage in extremely premature babies; 2) Training for difficult communications in NICU; 3) Use of kangaroo care in the NICU to improve outcomes; 4) Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) collaborative workgroup to optimize ventilation strategies in premature babies.
Dr. Patra is available to a co-mentor a fellow as a team member.
Lori A Shook, MD
Key Interests
NAS Prevention/Treatment
Integrative and Complementary Health