Department of Pediatrics

Dr. Pachman's translational team studies Juvenile Myositis (JM), an often chronic pediatric systemic vasculopathy associated with skin inflammation and proximal muscle weakness of unknown etiology. Her laboratory has identified genetic, immunologic and environmental factors that play a role in the onset of symptoms and govern outcome. RNASeq, miRNA and Gene expression micro array studies of untreated children's diagnostic muscle biopsies identified massive dysregulation of IFN-a induced genes in JDM. Epigenetic and miRNA studies of diagnostic muscle biopsies indicate critical differences assoc...

My primary clinical interest is in infections in immunocompromised patients, including stem cell and solid organ transplant recipients. I am involved in numerous clinical trials involving vaccines, anti-infectives and diagnostics, in both the immunocompromised population and in other pediatric infections. I also study the pathogenesis of viral encephalitis, using models which focus on host-pathogen interactions in neurologic disease due to herpes simplex virus in newborns.

I have an enduring interest in medical ethics, especially ethical issues in pediatrics, end-of-life care, research on human subjects, transplantation, children with differences of sex development (DSD) and gender identify nonconformity (GIN), medical and surgical innovation, transplantation and conscientious objection to requested care by health care professionals. My main clinical interests are in pediatric palliative and hospice care, multidisciplinary care of children with DSD/GIN and parent support for difficult decisions under conditions of uncertainty. More recently I have developed inte...

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.

My interest in Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics covers a broad range of topics--all which are related to the optimal developmental and behavioral functioning of the child and the family. I have spent the majority of my professional time focusing on the care of the fussy baby and developing new models of clinical care and support for the family.My expertise, leadership, training in developmental and behavioral pediatrics has many facets and include mentoring from Dr. T Berry Brazelton, Dr. Steven Porges, and Mr. Fred Rogers.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects approximately 20% of US population. Primary causes for CKD varies from genetic disorder to metabolic problems, but many are unknown. Regardless of the primary cause, CKD progresses with two essential phases; injury to podocyte, the primary barrier for filtration units of kidney, and progressive scarring of kidney, which would eventually obliterate the filtration units and lead to loss of kidney function.My research goal is to understand the molecular mechanisms underlining these two features of CKD in order for developing novel therapeutic approaches for CK...

After having served on the faculty at both Duke and UNC, Dr. Jhaveri joined the faculty at Lurie/FSM in October 2018. He currently serves as Associate Division Head for Pediatric Infectious Diseases.Dr. Jhaveri is active in leadership of several infectious diseases society at the national level. From 2015-2019, he served as a member of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society Board of Directors. He is the current Vice-Chair of the Infectious Diseases Society of America Leadership Institute working group and the IDSA Standards, Practice and Guidelines Committee. He is a member of the AASLD-IDS...

As a hospital-based pediatrician, Dr. Wicks works at both Lurie Children's Hospital and Prentice Women's Hospital with clinical areas of focus including management of critically ill newborns in the Neonatal ICU. Dr. Wicks' interests also include clinical education of medical students and residents.

My research interest are primarily related to children suffering from chronic cough and/or exercise induced shortness of breath