Department of Pediatrics Annual Report – 2024

Fellowship

2024 Pediatrics Annual Report banner

The Department of Pediatrics and NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital have 84 postdoctoral trainees in 16 subspecialty training programs, with multiple NIH T32 grants. Fellows have extensive clinical responsibilities and are encouraged to participate in local and national activities including conferences, journal clubs, and seminars to complement the activities of their specific programs. 

The focus of all programs is clinical, translational, and basic investigative endeavors, and we ensure that mentorship and scholarly oversight of fellows is a high priority. The subspecialty training programs in endocrinology and  gastroenterology are supported by Institutional National Service Awards (NIH T32), and some fellows have pursued research training in anesthesiology, bioinformatics, genetics, and patient safety through additional T32 training grants. In addition, the Department offers the Lawrence R. Stanberry Fellowship Research Grants to support research projects that are not otherwise funded in the areas of clinical research, basic science, medical education, quality improvement, health services research or translational research.   

Through the Fellows Academy, fellows attend annual professional development workshops. Incoming fellows participate in departmental orientation, second year fellows have a half-day session dedicated to making the most of fellowship, and graduating fellows have a full day session about transitioning to a faculty or independent practice position. Discussions cover a variety of topics in career development including networking, mentorship, healthcare finance, and work-life harmony. In addition, the department offers workshops in CV and cover letter writing.   

Fellows Research Symposium and Oberfield Prizes 

In the spring of 2024, the department held its 26th annual Pediatric Fellows Research Symposium. This event includes postdoctoral fellows in basic science and graduate students within Pediatrics. Over twenty posters were on display and each of the five prize winners, below, gave research talks. 

Fellow Awards 

Basic Science

  • Ileana Serrano Herrera, Nephrology.  “Female mice with low nephron endowment are more sensitive to salt-induced hypertension than males revealing sex dimorphisms.”  Mentors:  Fangming Lin, Pamela Good 

Clinical Science

  • Danielle LoRe, Neonatology.  “Parental perspectives on quality of life of infants born extremely preterm: a mixed methods study.”  Mentor:  Kathleen Brennan 

Medical Education

  • Anjali Vora, Primary Care.  “Public Health and Medicine at Columbia (PHAM-C) Pilot Curriculum .”  Mentor:  Marina Catallozzi 

Postdoctoral Fellow Award 

  • Postdoctoral Science:  Tara Marcink, Critical Care.  “Subnanometer structure of an enveloped virus fusion complex on viral surface reveals new entry mechanisms.”  Mentor:  Anne Moscona 

Graduate Student Award 

  • Predoctoral Science:  Shira Eisman, Allergy / Immunology / Rheumatology.  “The role of CXCR4-CXCL12 in the development and migration of human natural killer cells.”  Mentor:  Emily Mace 

Lawrence R. Stanberry Fellowship Research Grant Recipients 

  • Dr. Daniel Critchfield (Cardiology, mentor Dr. Tarif Choudhury) – Use of High Fidelity Simulation to Study Latent Safety Threats During Deployment of ECPR ​ 
  • Dr. Andzelika Dechnik (Emergency Medicine, mentors Dr. Cindy Roskind and Lauren Chernick) - Career Mentorship in Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellowship​ 
  • Dr. Deji Otufowora (Hematology / Oncology, mentor Dr. Melissa Beauchemin) - From Use to Disposal: An Assessment of Opioid Use Patterns and Disposal Practices for Unused Opioids in a Survivorship Clinic ​ 
  • Dr. Ami Patel (Neonatal / Perinatal Medicine, mentor Dr. Tina Leone) – Lung ultrasound scores to predict need for PDA treatment 

Babies Hospital Alumni Association Honors and Awards 

  • Rustin McIntosh Fellow Award 
    • This award honors a pediatric postgraduate fellow who best exemplifies the attributes of Dr. Rustin McIntosh, Chair of the Department of Pediatrics and Director of the Pediatric Service from 1933-1960. 2024 recipient Virginia Byron, MD, completed her adolescent medicine fellowship at NYP/Columbia.  After graduation, she began work in Tanzania, utilizing a community -based participatory research approach to create a mechanism for the transition of healthcare from pediatric to adult settings for young people with sickle cell disease. 
  • Milton Singer Memorial Fellowship 
    • This fellowship is awarded to a talented graduating pediatric fellow planning a career in research in the children’s conditions that held a special interest for Dr. Singer, particularly cerebral palsy and prematurity. Toni Iurcotta, MD, who received the prize in 2024, completed her Pediatric residency training at Cohen Children’s Medical Center at Northwell Heath.  After successfully completing her Neonatal-Perinatal Fellowship, Toni joined the Neonatal Faculty at Columbia University Irving Medical Cente. 
  • Metropolitan Fellowship 
    • The Metropolitan Fellowship is awarded annually to a fellow demonstrating excellence in the field of hematology, oncology, and stem cell transplantation. Alejandra Ramirez, MD, 2024 awardee, went above and beyond to support families during difficult times, fostering strong relationships with Spanish-speaking families in particular. She also conducted groundbreaking research on financial distress during cancer therapy. 
  • Jen Tien Wung, MD, Award for Clinical Excellence 
    • This award was established in 2020 in the Division of Neonatology in honor of Dr. Jen Tien Wung. The award is presented annually to a graduating neonatology fellow who has demonstrated excellence in the clinical care of neonates that Dr. Wung so manifestly displayed during his long and distinguished career. Wendi Gu, MD, 2024 award recipient, completed her Neonatal-Perinatal Fellowship and then joined the Neonatal Faculty at Westchester Medical Center / Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital.