Research: Innovation and Collaboration
Research efforts within the Department of Pediatrics encompass a broad range of topics and subspecialties, with our overall goal to improve care for kids. Through basic science, translational and clinical studies, and with more than $12 million in annual sponsored support, we are making discoveries that improve the understanding and treatment of childhood diseases both inside and outside the walls of our hospital.
Explore the innovative research at CHoR
The Department of Pediatrics/Children's Hospital of Richmond and Bon Secours Richmond have created a joint recruitment process to enhance access to clinical trials across health systems. Contact us for help applying this model to other hospital partnerships.
Child Health Research Institute
The mission of the Child Health Research Institute at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU is to ask and answer critical research questions that will lead to improved health and a better future for our children.
To enhance cross-disciplinary collaborations and foster innovative investigations, we have established four research focus areas:
- Emergency care/intensive care/cardiac/pulmonary
- Health equity
- Neurosciences
- Translational and personalized medicine
Research Faculty
Jennifer Accardo, M.D.
Developmental Pediatrics
Jennifer Accardo, M.D.
Developmental Pediatrics
Pediatrics, Neurology
Associate Professor
Frances Austin, M.D.
Hematology and Oncology
Frances Austin, M.D.
Hematology and Oncology
Pediatrics
Assistant Professor
Jesse Bain, D.O.
Critical Care
Melanie Bean, Ph.D.
Endocrinology
Melanie Bean, Ph.D.
Endocrinology
Pediatrics
Associate Professor
Co-Director, Health Lifestyle Center
Timothy Bunchman, M.D.
Nephrology and Rheumatology
Timothy Bunchman, M.D.
Nephrology and Rheumatology
Pediatrics
Professor
Laura Caccavale, Ph.D.
Endocrinology
Samuel L. Casella M.D., M.P.H.
Cardiology
Samuel L. Casella M.D., M.P.H.
Cardiology
Pediatrics
Assistant Professor
Nayef Chahin, M.D.
Neonatal Medicine
Nayef Chahin, M.D.
Neonatal Medicine
Pediatrics
Assistant Professor
Assistant Program Director, Pediatrics Residency
Jeffrey Donowitz, M.D.
Infectious Diseases
Jeffrey Donowitz, M.D.
Infectious Diseases
Pediatrics
Assistant Professor
Nadirah El-Amin, D.O.
Hematology and Oncology
Nadirah El-Amin, D.O.
Hematology and Oncology
Pediatrics
Assistant Professor
Nikki Miller Ferguson, M.D.
Critical Care
Nikki Miller Ferguson, M.D.
Critical Care
Pediatrics
Associate Professor
David Friedel, M.D.
Infectious Diseases
David Friedel, M.D.
Infectious Diseases
Pediatrics
Assistant Professor
Robin Foster, M.D.
Emergency Medicine, Child Protection
Robin Foster, M.D.
Emergency Medicine, Child Protection
Pediatrics
Professor
Emily Godbout, D.O.
Infectious Diseases
Emily Godbout, D.O.
Infectious Diseases
Pediatrics
Assistant Professor
Director, Pediatric Antimicrobial Stewardship
Madhu Gowda, M.D.
Hematology and Oncology
Madhu Gowda, M.D.
Hematology and Oncology
Pediatrics
Assistant Professor
Anshu Gupta, M.D.
Endocrinology
Anshu Gupta, M.D.
Endocrinology
Pediatrics
Associate Professor
Program Director, Pediatric Endocrinology Fellowship
Marieka Helou, M.D.
Vice Chair of Education, Interim Residency Program Director
Marieka Helou, M.D.
Vice Chair of Education, Interim Residency Program Director
Pediatrics
Associate Professor
Karen Hendricks-Muñoz, M.D., M.P.H.
Interim Chair
Karen Hendricks-Muñoz, M.D., M.P.H.
Interim Chair
Pediatrics
Interim chair, Department of Pediatrics
Interim physician-in-chief, CHoR
Vice chair of diversity, equity and inclusion and faculty development
Professor and chief, Division of Neonatal Medicine
Inaugural William Tate Graham Professor of Neonatal Medicine
Sarah Hensley, M.D.
Endocrinology
Jennifer Hinesley, Psy.D.
Joseph Khoury, M.D.
Neonatal Medicine
Tiffany Kimbrough, M.D.
General Pediatrics
Tiffany Kimbrough, M.D.
General Pediatrics
Pediatrics
Assistant Professor
William Koch, M.D.
Infectious Diseases
William Koch, M.D.
Infectious Diseases
Pediatrics
Associate Professor
Philip Kum-Nji, M.D.
General Pediatrics / Primary Care
Philip Kum-Nji, M.D.
General Pediatrics / Primary Care
Pediatrics
Associate Professor
Santhosh Kumar, M.D.
Allergy and Immunology
Santhosh Kumar, M.D.
Allergy and Immunology
Pediatrics
Associate Professor
Apparao Kummarapurugu, Ph.D.
Kelly Lastrapes, M.D.
Hematology and Oncology
Kelly Lastrapes, M.D.
Hematology and Oncology
Pediatrics
Assistant Professor
Suzanne Lavoie, M.D.
Program Director, Pediatrics Residency
Suzanne Lavoie, M.D.
Program Director, Pediatrics Residency
Pediatrics
Chief, Division of Infectious Diseases
Clifton Lee, M.D.
Co-Director, M3 Pediatric Clerkship
Clifton Lee, M.D.
Co-Director, M3 Pediatric Clerkship
Pediatrics
Associate Professor
Program Director, Pediatric Hospital Medicine Fellowship
Megan Lo, M.D.
Nephrology and Rheumatology
Megan Lo, M.D.
Nephrology and Rheumatology
Pediatrics
Assistant Professor
Jonathan Ma, M.D.
Pulmonary Medicine
Mark Marinello, M.D.
Critical Care
Gita V. Massey, M.D.
Hematology and Oncology
Gita V. Massey, M.D.
Hematology and Oncology
Pediatrics
Associate Professor
Norma Maxvold, M.D.
Critical Care
Michael McVoy, Ph.D.
Infectious Diseases
Tazuddin Mohammed, M.D.
Neonatal Medicine, Neonatal Continuing Care
Tazuddin Mohammed, M.D.
Neonatal Medicine, Neonatal Continuing Care
Pediatrics
Assistant Professor
Kathleen Moyer, M.D.
Gastroenterology and Nutrition
Kathleen Moyer, M.D.
Gastroenterology and Nutrition
Pediatrics
Assistant Professor
Bergen Nelson, M.D.
General Pediatrics / Primary Care
Bergen Nelson, M.D.
General Pediatrics / Primary Care
Pediatrics
Associate Professor
Bryce Nelson, M.D., Ph.D.
Endocrinology
Bryce Nelson, M.D., Ph.D.
Endocrinology
Pediatrics
Associate Professor
Chief, Division of Endocrinology
Michelle Olson, M.D.
Critical Care
Alia O’Meara, M.D.
Critical Care
Gisela Chelimsky, M.D.
Vice Chair of Healthcare Engagement
Gisela Chelimsky, M.D.
Vice Chair of Healthcare Engagement
Pediatrics
Jennifer Rohan, Ph.D.
Hematology and Oncology
Jennifer Rohan, Ph.D.
Hematology and Oncology
Pediatrics
Assistant Professor
Aron H. Lichtman, PH.D.
Interim Vice Chair of Research
Aron H. Lichtman, PH.D.
Interim Vice Chair of Research
Pediatrics
Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology
Director of Graduate Student Affairs
Interim Vice Chair of Research, Department of Pediatrics
Michael Schechter, M.D.
Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine
Michael Schechter, M.D.
Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine
Pediatrics
Professor
Chief, Division of Pediatric Pulmonology
Ashlie Tseng, M.D.
Director, Resident Quality Improvement Education
Ashlie Tseng, M.D.
Director, Resident Quality Improvement Education
Pediatrics
Assistant Professor
Associate Program Director, Pediatrics Residency and Pediatric Hospital Medicine Fellowship
Narendra Vadlamudi, M.D.
Gastroenterology
Narendra Vadlamudi, M.D.
Gastroenterology
Pediatrics
Associate Professor
Judith Voynow, M.D.
Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine
Judith Voynow, M.D.
Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine
Pediatrics
Professor
Joanne Wang, M.D.
Hematology and Oncology
Joanne Wang, M.D.
Hematology and Oncology
Pediatrics
Associate Professor
Edmond Wickham, M.D., FAAP
Endocrinology
Edmond Wickham, M.D., FAAP
Endocrinology
Pediatrics
Associate Professor
Program Director, Adult Endocrinology and Metabolism Fellowship
Co-Director, Healthy Lifestyle Center
N. Romesh Wijesooriya, M.D.
General Pediatrics
N. Romesh Wijesooriya, M.D.
General Pediatrics
Pediatrics
Assistant Professor
Elizabeth Wolf, M.D.
General Pediatrics / Primary Care
Elizabeth Wolf, M.D.
General Pediatrics / Primary Care
Pediatrics
Assistant Professor
Wei Zhao, M.D., Ph.D.
Allergy and Immunology
Wei Zhao, M.D., Ph.D.
Allergy and Immunology
Pediatrics
Chief, Division of Allergy and Immunology
Professor
Research Staff
- Justin Nebel Executive Director, Research Strategy Operations
- Elizabeth Olmsted, CRA Associate Administrator
- Sabrina Minter Research Administrator
- Kala Quinn Assistant Research Administrator
- Kayla Prejean Assistant Research Administrator
- Margaret (Meg) Lessard, CCRC Senior Clinical Research Coordinator
- Erica Memoli, MS, RDN, CNSC Clinical Research Coordinator
- Megan Beatley, BSN, RN, CPHON Clinical Research Nurse
- Bhakti Dave, MPH Clinical Research Coordinator
- Andrea (Andi) Jewell, EMT Clinical Research Coordinator
- Laura Albert Suarez Clinical Research Coordinator
- Andrea Molzhon, Ph.D. Project UPLIFT Manager
- Akilah Pierre-Louis, MS Clinical Research Coordinator
- Megan Scott, CCRC Clinical Research Coordinator
- Aleksandar Subotic, MHA Clinical Research Coordinator