About Us

Quality Initiatives

The Department of Pediatrics is committed to continuous improvement in all domains and focuses on the Institute of Medicine's six domains of healthcare quality. We perform, support and train in improvement science and partner with Northwestern University for more comprehensive training. We will consider our program a success when we view everything as an opportunity for improvement.

Healthcare quality and safety initiatives are critical to providing optimal healthcare as well as reducing variations of care that will facilitate greater learning in all forms of research. Faculty involved in these initiatives help train medical students, residents and fellows in quality and safety.

The Department of Pediatrics is looking to expand the number of faculty members with healthcare quality and safety expertise. We offer several opportunities for faculty to expand their expertise in these areas:

Certificate Course for Improvement Scholars

This six-month course involves multidisciplinary faculty and participants including physicians. Scholars learn in didactic sessions and initiate an improvement project in their microsystem to accelerate their learning.

Journal Writing Club

We have initiated an Improvement Writers group that will advance optimal utilization of SQUIRE guidelines in September 2018. Graduates of this program are expected to submit healthcare quality and safety manuscripts, help teach the ensuing session and serve as mentors for other colleagues working in these areas.

Value in Healthcare

Faculty involved in quality and safety initiatives are currently developing a method for quantifying value in healthcare. This will enable the institution to prioritize work based on metrics that matter most to our patients and their families.

Kristin M Van Genderen

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics (Hospital-Based Medicine)

My clinical work focuses on inpatient pediatrics, including pediatric and neonatal intensive care, intermediate care and observation. My career interests are in global health, medical education, and simulation training.

Jennifer S Wicks

Instructor of Pediatrics (Hospital-Based Medicine)

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 and general pediatric acute care. Dr. Wicks' interests also include clinical education of medical students and residents.

Alanna Higgins Joyce

Associate Professor of Pediatrics (Hospital-Based Medicine) and Medical Education

I am a hospital-based pediatrician and the Pediatric Clerkship Director for the Feinberg School Of Medicine 3rd-year medical students. Interests include medical education and career mentoring, inpatient general pediatrics, newborn medicine, physician handoffs, and otoscopy skills.

Rebecca L Carl

Associate Professor of Pediatrics (Advanced General Pediatrics and Primary Care)

Dr. Carl completed her residency in Pediatrics at the University of Wisconsin. She completed a fellowship in Non-operative pediatric orthopaedics at the University of Wisconsin and a fellowship in Primary Care Sports Medicine at Rush University.

Zarina S Norton

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics (Hospital-Based Medicine) and Medical Education

Dr. Norton's clinical expertise are in general pediatric acute inpatient care, pediatric urgent care and well child care. Her academic interests are in the field of medical education. As a former Pediatric Chief Resident and current Associate Director of the Pediatric Residency Program at Lurie Children's Hospital, Dr. Norton is committed to medical education, particularly in the areas of curriculum development and learner assessment. She has gained national recognition as an educator through the Academic Pediatric Association's Educational Scholars Program and has received grant funding for h...

Peter A Lio

Clinical Assistant Professor of Dermatology and Pediatrics

I am interested in Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema) and alternative medicines. We have created a center called the Chicago Integrative Eczema Center that is devoted to taking care of patients with eczema and their families, with an emphasis on education about the disease. I am also very interested in connective tissue diseases such as lupus and dermatomyositis. I am a medical acupuncturist and am interested in alternative medical approaches to dermatologic diseases. Finally, I am interested in medical student and resident education.

Marta Perez

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics (Neonatology)

Dr Perez's research interest is in neonatal pulmonary hypertension and glucocorticoid signaling. Specifically, Dr Perez's research focuses on the impact of hydrocortisone, a glucocorticoid commonly used in the NICU, on alveolar and pulmonary vascular development as well as effects of glucocorticoids on pulmonary vascular remodeling and nitric oxide signaling pathways.

Deirdre I De Ranieri

Associate Professor of Pediatrics (Rheumatology)

Dr. De Ranieri’s clinical interests are diverse. She sees children with a broad range of systemic autoimmune diseases, such as childhood lupus, dermatomyositis, periodic fevers, juvenile arthritis, and vasculitis. Dr. De Ranieri uses Musculoskeletal Ultrasound (MSK US) in her practice to help accurately diagnose, monitor and treat (via guided intervention) joint and tendon disease in children with JIA. She has served on the Examination Development Committee for the Rheumatology MSK US Certification Exam, and she has taught both beginning and advanced musculoskeletal ultrasound courses at natio...

Jennifer P Rubin

Associate Professor of Pediatrics (Neurology and Epilepsy)

I am a child neurologist who sees children with general neurologic conditions, both in the city and in various outreach clinics. I also have additional specialized training and interest in demyelinating disease (multiple sclerosis, transverse myelitis, neuromyelitis optica) and leukodystrophies. I am the co-director of Lurie's Leukodystrophy Care Center.

Robert I Liem

Professor of Pediatrics (Hematology, Oncology, and Stem Cell Transplantation)

I am the Director of the Comprehensive Sickle Cell Program at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. My clinical interests center on hemoglobin disorders, including pediatric and adult sickle cell disease and thalassemia. I am also a clinical investigator with active research programs in these areas. My major research interests focus on exercise responses, inflammation and vascular function as well as their impact on cardiopulmonary fitness, clinical outcomes and physical functioning in children and young adults with sickle cell anemia. I am also the principal investigator of se...