Department of Pediatrics
About UsDedicated to understanding and promoting child health.
What We Do
Faculty Spotlight
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics (Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics)
Dr. O'Neill specializes in the comprehensive care of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. She completed her undergraduate degree in psychology and pre-professional studies at the University of Notre Dame, her medical school degree at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, a general pediatrics residency at Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago, and a neurodevelopmental disabilities combined residency/fellowship at the Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD. She is triple-board certified in General Pediatrics, Neurology with special qualification...
Professor of Pediatrics (Advanced General Pediatrics and Primary Care), Medical Social Sciences, Medicine (General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics) and Preventive Medicine
I am general pediatrician/internist with deep interest and multifaceted activities in population-centered, timely health services and policy research within the context of community needs. I also have strong interests in interdisciplinary research that stretches over the lifecourse, and translational research that connects medical advances with community impact. My central areas of methods expertise are survey research and policy-focused analyses of health services data, and my areas of subject matter expertise include vaccines and health insurance.
Professor of Pediatrics (Hematology, Oncology, and Stem Cell Transplantation)
Dr. Alexis Thompson is currently the Hematology Section Head at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois. She holds the A. Watson and Sarah Armour Endowed Chair for Blood Diseases and Cancer at Lurie Children’s. She is also a Professor of Pediatrics at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Dr. Thompson is also the Associate Director for Equity and Minority Health at the Robert H. Lurie Cancer Center and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She has served on regional and national on advisory committees for governmental agenc...
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics (Neurology and Epilepsy) and Medical Education
Joanna Blackburn, MD received her medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine, completed her pediatrics residency at NYU and her child neurology residency at Northwestern University/Children's Memorial Hospital (now Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago). She then completed a fellowship in pediatric movement disorders at University of Rochester. She joined the faculty at Northwestern University/Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago in 2012. Additionally she has been the program director for the child neurology residency training program since 2013.
Associate Professor of Pediatrics (Hematology, Oncology, and Stem Cell Transplantation)
As a former social worker turned physician, I am acutely aware of the way in which the psycho-social atmosphere contributes to the treatment of cancer in children, adolescents, and young adults. As a physician, I try to incorporate that view into my treatment of young people with cancer.
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics (Infectious Diseases)
I am a Pediatric Infectious Diseases specialist with an academic focus and clinical expertise in neonatal and congenital infections. I am passionate about understanding microbial exposures in utero, perinatally, and in the first months of life, the interaction of microbes (viruses, bacteria) and the developing immune system, and the role of the microbiome in health outcomes.
Associate Professor of Pediatrics (Emergency Medicine)
Dr. Florin is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He is Director of Research for the Division of Emergency Medicine at Lurie and Head of the Grainger Initiative for Pediatric Emergency Medicine Research. Dr. Florin is a nationally recognized expert in the field of respiratory infectious diseases in the acute care setting. His work has been funded by an R34 from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, a K23 and R03 from the National Institute o...
Instructor of Pediatrics (Hospital-Based Medicine)
Dr. Cheema has been a member of the Division of Hospital Based Medicine at Northwestern Medicine and Lurie Children's Hospital for over 13 years. She is board certified in pediatrics. Her clinical interests include care of preterm infants and neonatal delivery room resuscitation.
Associate Professor of Pediatrics (Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition)
My primary clinical and research interest is IBD (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) where I am the medical director of the IBD program at Lurie Children's, which now includes physician/APN/PA specialists, a psychologist, nurse clinicians, dieticians, and a dedicated social worker. I focus on translational and clinical research, including investigation of novel biomarkers, collaboration with overlapping specialists at Lurie and participation in numerous clinical trials. We are an active participant on the international IBD quality improvement and research consortium, Improve Care Now.
Associate Professor of Pediatrics (Endocrinology)
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...
Our Home
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Lurie Children's is the Feinberg School of Medicine's affiliated hospital dedicated to pediatric care. Lurie Children's is Illinois' only freestanding hospital exclusively for children and offers patients access to world-class care in a modern, kid-friendly environment.
Faculty Development
Our faculty is one of our greatest resources. To support them on the paths to successful, fulfilling careers, we make faculty development a priority.<