March 2026 Pediatric Pulse

Dear Yale Pediatrics Family,

It's March and we're finally starting to see some snow melt and enjoy some "false spring" days in New Haven! Let's enjoy it while they last! We're gearing up for a great season and look forward to the PAS conference in Boston in late April and the 14th Annual Pediatric Research Forum in May.

A quick reminder that voting is open for U.S. News and World Report's "Best Children's Hospital" rankings. If you are board certified in any of the specialties listed below, you can log in to Doximity and vote or register on Doximity if you haven’t already (see these instructions if you have questions). Your prompt vote is vital to promoting our outstanding specialty programs and the exceptional care we provide to patients.

• Neonatology
• Pediatric Cancer
• Pediatric Cardiology & Heart Surgery
• Pediatric Diabetes & Endocrinology
• Pediatric Gastroenterology & GI Surgery
• Pediatric Nephrology
• Pediatric Neurology & Neurosurgery
• Pediatric Pulmonology & Lung Surgery

Warmly,

Cliff

The Department of Pediatrics is launching a search for two inaugural leadership roles: Associate Vice Chair for Clinical Affairs and Associate Vice Chair for Ambulatory Operations. Job descriptions for both positions are below. If you are interested, please submit your nomination using the appropriate link below. Nominations should include a letter of interest and a current CV. The nomination period will remain open until March 30, 2026.

• Associate Vice Chair for Clinical Affairs
• Associate Vice Chair for Ambulatory Operations

Applications are open for the Yale-Boehringer Ingelheim Biomedical Data Science Fellowship Program. This competitive, three-year fellowship supports some of the brightest and most innovative minds in biomedical data science from diverse disciplines across Yale and around the world. This year’s program has an exciting new theme: Advancing AI-Driven Biomedical Research for Drug Discovery. Applicants are invited to submit research proposals for consideration in the program beginning Feb. 2, and until March 30, 2026. This fellowship program, Cohort 5, will start on Sept. 1, 2026. There are two or more Cohort 5 fellowships currently available.

Postdoctoral researchers are invited to submit research proposals for consideration. To learn more or to apply, please visit the fellowship webpage. We encourage all eligible candidates to apply for this exciting opportunity. Please feel free to forward this announcement to any potential candidates. For any questions, please contact: yalebifellow@yale.edu.

A reminder of the requirements and obligations applicable to you if you would like to hold a program for children and youth.

• Join us in congratulating YNHH Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit on their sustained outstanding work and re-designation into the 1,000 Day Club! The Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit has successfully surpassed 2,000+ days without a Catheter-associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI); no recorded infection since the unit opened in July 2020!
• Antonio Riera, MD, promotion to professor, (emergency medicine) clinician educator-scholar track, effective July 1, 2026.
• Noa Fleiss, MD, promotion to associate professor (neonatal-perinatal medicine), academic clinician track, effective July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2031.
• Shannon O’Malley, MD, promotion to associate professor (hospital medicine), academic clinician track, effective July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2031.
• Juan Vasquez, MD, promotion to associate professor (hematology/oncology), clinician scientist track, July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2028 (two-year term).
• Melissa Langhan, MD, MHS, and Lindsay Johnston, MD, MEd, have been admitted to the National Academy of Distinguished Educators in Pediatrics, which aims to build a strong academic foundation for future educators through mentorship, coaching, and more.
• This month, Kimberly Hieftje, PhD, will travel to Daegu, South Korea to showcase “Year of the Cicadas” at the IEEE VR Conference in the XR Gallery.

• Nitya Bakshi, PI – Emory University Integrative Training Program for Pediatric Sickle Cell Pain
  • Project Period: 9/1/25-8/31/26
  • Total awarded to Yale $37,605

• Andie Asnes, PI – Connecticut Children’s Alliance - CT Child Advocacy Center Enhancement Project
  • Project Period: 7/1/25-6/30/26
  • Total awarded to Yale $231,029

• Lakshmanan Krishnamutri, PI – University of Connecticut Health Center - UCONN Sickle Cell Subk 25-26
  • Project Period: 7/1/25-6/30/26
  • Total awarded to Yale $26,300

• Prasanna Ananth, PI – University of Colorado - Advancing the Science of Palliative Care Research Across the Lifespan (ASCENT)
  • Project Period: 8/6/25-7/31/26
  • Total awarded to Yale $42,164

• Matthew O'Brien, PI – American Heart Association - Integrating Genetic Architecture and Outcomes in Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
  • Project Period: 1/1/26-12/31/27
  • Total awarded to Yale $178,924

• Frances Cheng, PI – Elena’s Light - A Collaborative Learning Initiative for PCOR/CER in Refugee Communities
  • Project Period: 7/1/25-6/30/27
  • Total awarded to Yale $100,391