Department of Pediatrics

Isabelle De Plaen, MD, is an attending physician in the Division of Neonatology (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) at Lurie Children’s, Professor of Pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and the co-director of the Center for Intestinal and Liver Inflammation Research at Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute.

My interests are within the Children's Hospital Neonatal Consortium (CHNC: http://www.thechnc.org). The CHNC has developed a database focusing on infants with uncommon congenital anomalies and/or acquired complications related to preterm birth in 41 regional NICUs since 2010 in the United States and Canada. We aim to describe the care and outcomes for a population of critically-ill infants that has not been a traditional area of focus in existing registries. Our long term goals are to: (1) establish standards of care and clinical practice guidelines for infants with uncommon but high-acuity il...

Priya Verghese, MBBS (MD), MPH is a pediatric nephrologist with Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital. Having been born and brought up in the United States, she moved to India at the impressionable age of ten and eventually secured admission into one of India’s top five medical colleges. She returned to the USA to complete pediatric residency at the University of Illinois at Chicago where she declined an invitation to be chief resident to pursue a pediatric nephrology fellowship and a subsequent transplant fellowship at the University of Washington while simultaneously earning a degree in ...

My primary clinical and research activities relate to the care of marginalized youth populations including HIV+ and LGBT young people. Our research is largely HIV prevention in nature, mostly targeting either young men who have sex with men or transgender individuals. A new area of research and clinical interest involves working with young gender variant children and families

Dr. Chang’s research focuses on understanding how brain injury, that occurs around the time of birth, leads to movement disorders like cerebral palsy. In her lab, Dr. Chang uses mouse models to study how intrauterine growth restriction and high oxygen exposure lead to brain injury and how that injury manifests in movement disorders. Her research uses a combination of unique cellular techniques, MRI, and motor tests. The ultimate goal of Dr. Chang’s research is to develop techniques for early detection and treatments for babies with brain injuries to ensure the best possible neurodevelopmental ...

Dr. Foster is a primary care pediatrician with a career interest in health care delivery innovation for children with medical complexity and technology dependence. She received her undergraduate degree from Columbia University and medical doctorate from Harvard University. She received her health services research fellowship training from the University of Washington and Seattle Children's Hospital after a year as chief pediatric resident. As a physician-investigator, she develops evidence-based health care interventions for children with medical complexity (i.e., multiple co-morbidities, tech...

Dr. Voller is a neonatologist in the neonatal intensive care units at Prentice Women's Hospital and Lurie Children's Hospital. She also follows high-risk infants in the NICU-Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Clinic. Her interests include identifying early risk factors and potential interventions that can lead to improved neurodevelopmental outcomes in premature infants.

Currently I am an associate professor at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine and an attending physician at the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, splitting my time between research and clinical care. I have been fortunate to train and practice at Lurie Children's. Prior to practicing medicine I pursued advanced degrees in secondary education and biochemistry, both of which have enhanced my skills as a pediatrician.   I am honored and privileged to be part of the care team for the many children and their families I see.  I am dedicated to educating youth a...

My expertise is taking care of critically ill and/or medically complex neonates, as well as developing and enacting specialized postnatal plans. I utilize and encourage a team approach to patient care which includes family participation. As Co-Director of the Chicago Institute for Fetal Health, I meet with families before birth for prenatal consultations to help them understand the fetal diagnosis and create a plan for any baby suspected to have a challenging diagnosis or need for specialized medical care after birth. I collaborate with the pediatric and OB/MFM specialists as well as each indi...