We are pleased to announce that, Dr. Matt Laughon began his tenure as Vice Chair for Faculty Affairs on July 1, 2022, serving as the Chair’s designate for one of the most important parts of the academic pediatric enterprise. For 11 years, Terry Noah has been the Vice Chair for Faculty Affairs in the Department of Pediatrics. We thank Terry for his years of fiercely dedicated advocacy for pediatrics faculty
On August 1, 2022, Dr. Tom Ferkol joined the department as the new Division Chief of Pediatric Pulmonology. Dr. Ferkol comes to us from Washington University in St. Louis. He earned an undergraduate degree in Biological and Psychology from Case Western Reserve University before pursuing his MD degree at Ohio State University. Subsequently, he completed his Pediatric residency and a year as Chief Resident with us at UNC Hospitals. Dr. Ferkol completed his Pediatric Pulmonology fellowship training at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, Case Western Reserve University in 1992. Beginning in 2000, Dr. Ferkol joined the faculty as a tenured Associated Professor in the Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonary Medicine, Washington University and as the Director of the Comprehensive Washington University Cystic Fibrosis Center. His research has focused on characterizing genetic and molecular factors that contribute to lung disease in cystic fibrosis and primary ciliary dyskinesia.
Please join us in welcoming Tom to the UNC Children’s family!
Raphael Smith joined Genetics and Metabolism on August 1, 2022. In 2005, Mr. Smith received his Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the Appalachian State University. He received a Master of Science in Genetic Counseling from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in May 2022. Welcome Raphael!
The UNC School of Medicine has been selected to participate in a new study to examine the comparative effectiveness of asthma treatments. The project will focus on which of two treatment types – inhaled steroids or specific antibiotics, alone or together – works best in different patients. The UNC site lead investigators are Michelle Hernandez, MD, professor in the UNC Department of Pediatrics, and Katrina Donahue, MD, MPH, professor and vice chair of research in the UNC Department of Family Medicine.
Kori B. Flower, MD, MPH, has been appointed as the Chief for the Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine within the Department of Pediatrics.
Ashlyn Stackhouse joined Genetics and Metabolsim on July 11, 2022. Ms. Stackhouse received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2019. She received a Master of Science in Genetic Counseling from Virgina Commonwealth University in May 2022. Welcome Ashlyn!
The Clinical Trials Unit in the UNC Children’s Research Institute is a site for a national study to assess the efficacy of Paxlovid, a pill to treat COVID in children under 18 at increased risk for severe illness.
With the FDA ordering Juul to stop selling their e-cigarette devices, UNC School of Medicine researchers led by Ilona Jaspers, PhD, published the first study to compare the respiratory immune health effects of different types of devices.
Dr. Erica Brenner joined the Department of Pediatrics as an Assistant Professor is the Division of Gastroenterology on July 1, 2022. Dr. Brenner received her MD from SUNY Upstate Medical University in 2015. She also received a Master of Clinical Research Degree from the UNC Gillings School of Public Health in 2021. Dr. Brenner completed her Pediatric Residency in 2018 and her Fellowship in Pediatric Gastroenterology in 2020, both at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill. She completed an Advanced Inflammatory Bowel Disease Fellowship at UNC-Chapel Hill in 2022. Welcome Erica!
On July 1, 2022, Dr. David Kram joined the Division of Hematology-Oncology in the Department of Pediatrics as an Associate Professor . Dr. Kram received his MD from Tel Aviv University in Tel Avivi, Israel in 2010. Welcome David!
