Rollyn Ornstein, MD joined the Pediatric Division of General Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine on June 28, 2024. Dr. Ornstein will serve as the new Section Head of Adolescent Medicine. Dr. Ornstein earned her medical degree at the New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, completed her pediatric residency at Babies and Children’s Hospital of Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York, and her fellowship in adolescent medicine at the Schneider Children’s Hospital of the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, New Hyde Park, NY.

Dr. Ornstein is a Board Certified Adolescent Medicine physician who is also a nationally renowned expert in eating disorders. With an active career in academic medicine for almost 20 years, she brings a wealth of knowledge to the division.

She was previously a Professor of Pediatrics at Penn State University, where she also served as Interim Division Chief of Adolescent Medicine. Most recently, Dr. Ornstein was the Director of Pediatrics and Adolescent Services at the Veritas Collaborative in Durham, North Carolina.

We are thrilled to have Dr. Ornstein’s experience and leadership in our growing Adolescent Medicine section!

UNC Health Value Superstars are teammates who exemplify our system values and make a positive impact on our teammates, patients, and communities. This month’s Value Superstar is Ashley Wallace, MSN, RN, FNP-C.

Ashley, a Nurse Practitioner in the UNC Hospitals Newborn Nursery, is Leading the Way by ensuring that our tiniest patients receive exceptional Carolina Care. Her dedication to providing the highest quality of care has led her to spearhead several projects aimed at standardizing care, resulting in enhanced patient outcomes and streamlined workflows for her teammates.

Spencer Brady, MHA, will serve as interim associate chair for administration for the Department of Pediatrics beginning July 22. Brady currently serves as manager of academic financial analysis and will step away from this role through the interim period. Pediatrics Associate Chair for Administration Jack Curran accepted a new role at the University of Florida and will begin work in his new role on July 23.

We are very pleased to announce that Dr. Andrea Trembath, Professor of Pediatrics, was named the 2023-24 recipient of the “UNC Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Kcal Award”. The awardee is selected by graduating NPM fellows in recognition of excellence in promoting fellow ‘growth’ over their three years of fellowship.

Sofia Aliaga, MD, MPH, Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, has been awarded the Educational Research Mentor Award by the Academy of Educators. Congratulations!

Beginning January 1, 2025, Dr. Emilee Lewis, Associate Professor in Hospital Pediatrics, will be joining the physician advisor team for Care Management at UNC Hospitals.
Dr. Lewis has been a faculty member in Pediatrics since 2019. In addition to her clinical responsibilities, Dr. Lewis is the medical director of the Children’s Short Stay Unit. She also has medical director experience overseeing the prior inpatient pediatrics team at Rex Hospitals.

Emily Vander Schaaf, MD, MPH, Associate Professor in the Division of General Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, has been awarded the Medical Alumni Distinguished Teaching Professorship by the Academy of Educators. Congratulations!

Priyanka Rao, MD was promoted to Associate Professor of Pediatrics effective June 1, 2024. Dr. Rao has been a faculty member in Pediatrics since August 2020. Dr. Rao received her undergraduate degree from UNC Chapel Hill in 2008 and earned her medical degree in 2013 from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine in Iowa City, Iowa. Before returning to UNC, she served as a Neonatal Hospitalist at the University of Michigan C.S., Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Congratulations Priyanka!

We are excited to announce that April Smithwick, ARNP, NNP-BC has accepted the role of Advanced Practice Provider Manager in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine effective May 26, 2024. April joined our NNP team at UNC in 2020 and quickly demonstrated her excellent clinical and leadership skills. We are very proud to welcome her into this new APP leadership role! We know that our NP team will continue to grow and be successful under April’s leadership! Congratulations, April!

Camilia Kamoun, MD, Assistant Professor in Pediatric Endocrinology, was recently awarded a grant by the Greenwall Foundation through its Making a Difference Program, in support of her project, “Moving Away from Race-Ethnicity Based Clinical Care of Early Female Puberty Towards Race and Ethnicity Conscious Puberty Justice”. Congratulations Camilia!