A Message to Our Department on COVID-19
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Above, Ellen Wald, MD (Chair and Professor, University of Wisconsin Department of Pediatrics) stands in the lobby of American Family Children's Hospital.
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Dear colleagues and friends,
It is hard to believe that it has been nearly a month since we took drastic measures to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 to our patients, ourselves and our community and state.
Even though we were aware of the spread of COVID-19 in China, South Korea and Japan, I think very few of us, including me, really anticipated how it would impact the United States, let alone our campus and department. When colleges throughout the state and country began closing their campuses, and schools state-wide closed under the direction of Governor Tony Evers, the seriousness of the problem became our reality. We then got the mandate to clear our workplace and postpone all non-emergent clinic visits and procedures.
Almost a full four weeks later, nearly every aspect of our lives has been altered by COVID-19. We are leveraging telehealth and technology whenever possible to serve our patients and families. We are working remotely and physically separating ourselves from colleagues through social distancing. When in clinic, we are adjusting to the sight of empty waiting rooms and hospital halls. Finally, we continue to prepare for the time when our inpatient facility may be filled with COVID-19 patients who are seriously ill. These changes, while significant, do not even begin to touch on the new personal pressures many of us are facing, including caring for young or school-aged children at home, coping with a partner or family member’s job loss, managing personal and financial stress, and much more.
As I reflect on the many changes we have experienced both professionally and personally over the past month, I am in awe at how our department has remained poised and works cohesively as we respond to the evolving COVID-19 crisis. Additionally, there are many things I am grateful for:
- The outstanding leadership throughout the University of Wisconsin and UW Health, which led to a very well-coordinated effort to get through numerous workflows and establish necessary collaborations. I believe we are meeting the challenges of this truly unprecedented occurrence for which few had the benefit of comparable previous experiences.
- UW Health’s Incident Command has been responsive to suggestions and concerns and has made incredible efforts to communicate openly with faculty and staff.
- Our own American Family Children’s Hospital leaders, intensivists and hospitalists have likewise put in, and are continuing to devote, tremendous energy, commitment and creativity in adjusting our workflows and preparing for a possible surge in patients.
- Finally, I am incredibly proud of what I have witnessed from all of those who work within our Department of Pediatrics. I could truly name every provider and staff member here, as each of you have pulled together and are trying hard to make the best of a very challenging situation.
My ask for all members of this department is that we continue to pull together as we have. When we look back on this situation in the months to come, let us know that we did the best that we could, that we provided the best care we could for our patients and families, and that we took care of each other. That is all that I ask of you, and it is what I ask of myself.
Sincerely,
Ellen Wald, MD
Chair and Professor, Department of Pediatrics
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Match Day 2020: Department of Pediatrics Announces Incoming Residents
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The University of Wisconsin Department of Pediatrics is delighted to welcome the following incoming residents for the 2020-21 academic year. These residents will join the department in June and embark upon a residency program which prepares pediatrician leaders who provide exceptional care to patients and families, who advocate for the health of children, and who engage in lifelong learning and service. Photos of each individual are available on our website.
Pediatrics
Aisha Ansar, MD, Aga Khan Medical School
David Bergstrand, MD, University of Minnesota Medical School
Samantha Cordum, MD, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine
Laura Dos Reis, MD, Boston University School of Medicine
Christiana Ekezie, MD, Abia State University
Emily Lai, MD, Georgetown University School of Medicine
Mariana Montero Jaques, MD, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
Olawale Oduru, MD, Saba University School of Medicine
Brenna Redemann, MD, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
Kelsi Rogers, DO, West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
Hannah Schumacher, MD, University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine
Tyler Sternhagen, MD, University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine
Samantha Tyler, DO, Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Anna Uhing, MD, Medical College of Wisconsin
Therese Woodring, MD, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria
Preliminary Pediatrics
Allison Nackers, MD, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
Child Neurology
Megan Berry, DO, Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific
In addition to welcoming this exceptional group, the Pediatric Education Program would also like to thank Kari Bruckner (Education Program Manager), Bethany Hutchins (Residency Coordinator), Ronni Peterson (Education Programs Assistant), and all of the faculty who participated in the selection process.
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New Grants
Dr. Yury Bochkov and Team Awarded R01 Grant from NIH
 Congratulations to Yury Bochkov, PhD (Senior Scientist, Division of Allergy, Immunology & Rheumatology) who was recently awarded an R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIH/NIAID) for his project titled “Mechanisms of Enhanced Neutralizing Antibody Responses to Rhinovirus C.” This five-year, $3.9 million award will allow Dr. Bochkov, along with Co-Investigators James Gern, MD and Daniel Jackson, MD, as well as Ronald Gangnon, PhD, from the Departments of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics and Population Health Sciences, to identify host and viral determinants of neutralizing antibody responses, determine antigenic cross-reactivity between rhinovirus C (RV-C) types, and map major neutralizing immunogenic epitopes. The ultimate goal of this project is to enable formulation of a broadly protective multivalent RV-C vaccine, to be used in the prevention and treatment of wheezing illnesses and exacerbations of asthma in young children.
Pediatrics Resident Receives AAP Travel Grant
 Stephanie Syu, MD (Department of Pediatrics PL2 Resident) was awarded the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Section on Hospital Medicine Resident Travel Grant to attend the Pediatric Hospital Medicine (PHM) Conference in Lake Buena Vista, Florida - July 23-26, 2020. PHM 2020 is the premier educational conference for pediatric hospitalists and other clinicians who care for hospitalized patients. The conference provides an all-inclusive arrangement of educational and networking opportunities for pediatric hospital medicine professionals.
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“Dr. Connor was a wonderful clinician to work with; she consistently demonstrates an excellent bedside manner and clearly takes the time to connect with her patients and put them at ease while advocating for them. She motivates residents to actively participate in the care of patients and make clinical decisions on our own. She provided excellent teaching moments and was very considerate and respectful of all the members of the team.”
"Thank you for staying all day, post-call, to be available for T's family after they received grim news. Please know that your skill and presence made an impact not only on the family, but also for the staff at the bedside. Our PICU is very lucky to have you."
Brittany Johnson
