Researcher Recognition, November 2024

Post Date: November 27, 2024 | Publish Date:

honors

Congratulations to these Cincinnati Children’s scientists who have recently been recognized in their fields of expertise.

Amy Shikany elected to the American Board of Genetic Counseling Board of Directors

Amy Shikany, MS, CGC, genetic counselor III, Heart Institute, was elected to the American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC) Board of Directors. The organization’s mission is to create standards of competence for certified genetic counselors and advance their value as leaders in precision health to safeguard and serve the public. Read an ABGC interview with Shikany from May 2024.

Chris Peltier Receives Ohio AAP’s Immediate Past President Award 2024

Christopher Peltier, MD, director of the community section of General and Community Pediatrics as well as an associate professor, received the American Academy of Pediatrics Ohio Chapter’s Immediate Past President award for 2024. Melissa Wervey Arnold, CEO of the Ohio chapter, said “Dr. Peltier has been integral to the growth and success of Ohio AAP over the past two years. We would not be where we are today without his leadership, and we are proud to honor him with our Past-President Award.”

Craig Erikson, Bob Ammerman Edited Issue of Pediatric Clinics of North America

Craig Erikson, MD, and Bob Ammerman, PhD, edited the most recent issue of Pediatric Clinics of North America focused on “Innovative Approaches to Addressing Pediatric Mental Health.” Tina Cheng, MD, MPH, serves as the journal’s consulting editor. The journal provides the latest clinical information on health issues for children and adolescents. Explore the issue.

Eight Faculty Elected to American Pediatric Society

Eight faculty members were elected to the American Pediatric Society (APS) for 2025. APS’ 1,800-plus members are recognized leaders of extraordinary achievement who work together to shape the future of academic pediatrics. Those elected from Cincinnati Children’s include:

Henry Akinbi, MD, Perinatal Institute
Katherine Auger, MD, MSc, Hospital Medicine
Rebecca Brady, MD, Vaccine Research Center
Tanya Froehlich, MD, MS, Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics
Heather Kaplan, MD, MSCE, Perinatal Institute
Eneida Mendonca, MD, PhD, Biomedical Informatics
Christopher Peltier, MD, General and Community Pediatrics
Kimberly Yolton, PhD, General and Community Pediatrics

Engraft Learning Health Network Receives National Marrow Donor Program’s 2024 Innovate Award

Engraft Learning Health Network at Cincinnati Children’s received the National Marrow Donor Program’s Dennis Confer Innovate Award, which recognizes an individual or group whose work has resulted in new solutions that have driven improvements in transplant outcomes or experiences for patients, donors and/or providers. Engraft is a network of experts across the country that collaborate, innovate, share and conduct research to advance health outcomes for the transplant and cellular therapy community. The network is led by Christopher Dandoy, MD, MSc, executive director; John Huber, MS, lead analyst; Georgia Kent, MHA, program manager; and Steffani Maier, DNP, quality improvement director.

Watch a video about Engraft’s work.

Four Faculty Elected to Society of Pediatric Research

These faculty have been elected to the Society of Pediatric Research (SPR):

Mary Carol Burkhardt, MD, MHA, associate professor and associate division director of Primary Care, General and Community Pediatrics
Mary Greiner, MD, MS, professor and medical director, CHECK Foster Care Center
LaQuita Jones, DO, assistant professor, Oncology
Francis “Joe” Real, MD, MEd, associate professor, associate director of the General Pediatrics Research Fellowship, and co-lead for Digital Simulation in the Center for Simulation and Research, General and Community Pediatrics

Jareen Meinzen-Derr Receives CCTST JEDI-A Award

Jareen Meinzen-Derr, PhD, MPH, received the CCTST JEDI-A Award. This award recognizes an individual, partnership or team that exemplifies a sustainable commitment to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility within basic, clinical or translational health research. She is co-director of the Center for Clinical and Translational Science & Training, co-director of Faculty Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, and a professor in the Department of Pediatrics and UC Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, UC Department of Environmental Health.

Megan Narad Receives Behavioral and Mental (BAM) Health Funding Mechanism

Megan Narad, PhD, associate professor, Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, received the Behavioral and Mental (BAM) Health Funding Mechanism, a new research grant from the Mental and Behavioral Health Institute. Her project, “Exploring the Role of Epigenetic Factors in Mental Health Outcomes after Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Adolescents,” will explore the association between DNA methylation and new or worsening mental health symptoms after mild traumatic brain injury.

Michael Sorter: Tireless Mental Health Care System Builder

Many dedicated people have contributed to Cincinnati Children’s becoming the nation’s largest provider of inpatient pediatric mental health services. Few have been more impactful than Michael Sorter, MD. After a long career entirely practiced in Cincinnati, including 21 years as director of the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, he has stepped down as the health system’s longest tenured divisional leader. He remains a faculty member and will continue his clinical roles.

Nick Newman and Lead-Free Ohio Program Receive Program of the Year Award from Ohio AAP

Nick Newman, DO, MS, and the Lead-Free Ohio Program received the Leonard P. Rome, MD, FAAP Program of the Year award from the Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). This team was selected for their groundbreaking work to improve the prevention of childhood lead poisoning. Newman is an attending physician and associate professor, General and Community Pediatrics, and medical director of the Pediatric Environmental Health and Lead Clinic.

Nicole White Selected as FASEB Fellow for the Future

Nicole White, PhD, MBA, program manager of Shared Facilities and assistant professor, Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, was selected as a 2024 Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) Fellow for the Future. This cohort program supports early-career researchers from historically excluded groups who want to become change agents to make scientific societies more inclusive. She was selected for her focus on disability issues related to core facilities and research.

Patrick Ryan Named a 2024-25 NIH Climate and Health Scholar

Patrick Ryan, PhD, MS, faculty member, Biostatistics and Epidemiology, was named a 2024-25 NIH Climate and Health Scholar. The program was established in 2023 to help build climate and health research capacity and to support NIH institutes, centers and offices (ICOs) in developing a stronger climate and health knowledge base. Each Climate and Health (CH) Scholar is hosted by an NIH ICO and are invited to collaborate with NIH staff on a diverse array of activities to share their scientific knowledge with NIH intramural investigators, program staff, and the broader NIH community. Read about the scholars.

Tara Calhoun Selected For YWCA Rising Star Equity Leadership Program

Tara Calhoun, MD, assistant professor, Division of Hospital Medicine, was selected to participate in the 2025 YWCA Rising Star Equity Leadership Program. This experience strengthens leadership skills and prepares participants for nonprofit board service while connecting them to a powerful network of accomplished women leaders. Learn more about the program.

Tanya Froehlich Appointed DBP Representative of CoPS

Tanya Froehlich, MD, MS, division director, Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, was appointed as one of two representatives for the developmental and behavioral pediatrics subspecialty on the Council of Pediatric Subspecialties (CoPS). CoPS advances child health through communication and collaboration within its network of pediatric subspecialties and liaison organizations.

Tina Cheng Among Cincinnati Business Courier’s Women Who Mean Business

Tina Cheng, MD, MPH, chief medical officer, chair of Pediatrics and director of the Cincinnati Children’s Research Foundation, has been named one of the Cincinnati Business Courier’s 2024 Women Who Mean Business. Started in 2016, this annual award recognizes Greater Cincinnati women whose accomplishments have made a meaningful impact on the region.