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Alaina Doklovic

The Kelly Procedure: A Groundbreaking Approach to Treating Bladder Exstrophy
The Kelly Procedure: A Groundbreaking Approach to Treating Bladder Exstrophy 150 150 Alaina Doklovic

The Kelly Procedure, part of a revolutionary two-step approach to treat bladder exstrophy, provides continence quicker, improves outcomes and shortens recovery. Bladder exstrophy is a rare and complex condition that occurs in approximately one in 10,000 to 50,000 births. With this condition, the bladder develops outside the body, leaving children incontinent and requiring surgical intervention…

Precision Medicine Brings Clarity to Preterm Infant Reflux
Precision Medicine Brings Clarity to Preterm Infant Reflux 1024 492 Alaina Doklovic
Newborn baby in an NICU bed with a nasogastric tube.

Sudarshan Jadcherla, MD, and team aim to distinguish normal reflux from GERD in preterm infants. Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is common in preterm infants regardless of whether they are being fed formula or breast milk, often presenting as irritability, coughing or feeding difficulties. These symptoms often lead clinicians to suspect gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), prompting interventions…

Q&A With Cory Criss, MD: Advancing Pediatric Care Through Innovation
Q&A With Cory Criss, MD: Advancing Pediatric Care Through Innovation 150 150 Alaina Doklovic

Cory Criss, MD, is a pediatric surgeon at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and the founder and director of the Innovation Center. He also serves as the chief operating officer and co-principal investigator of the Midwest Pediatric Device Consortium (MPDC), a multi-million-dollar FDA funded initiative accelerating the development and commercialization of pediatric medical devices. Read on to…

Understanding the Rising Suicide Risk Among Black Youth
Understanding the Rising Suicide Risk Among Black Youth 1024 576 Alaina Doklovic

A new large-scale Medicaid study sheds light on complex factors driving risk and the protective factors that may help save lives. Suicide rates among Black youth (children, adolescents and young adults) have risen sharply in recent years, surpassing those of other racial and ethnic groups. In 2023, it was the third leading cause of death…

Rethinking Neonatal HSV Management: A Less Aggressive, Evidence-Informed Approach
Rethinking Neonatal HSV Management: A Less Aggressive, Evidence-Informed Approach 1024 593 Alaina Doklovic

An alternative approach to neonatal HSV management helps keep mom and baby together during the nursery stay.  Neonatal herpes simplex virus infection (HSV) is a rare but often fatal disease when not treated correctly or in a timely manner. This makes diagnosis and preventive strategies extremely important when expectant mothers have active genital HSV infection when they deliver.   Neonatal HSV is a result of vertical transmission from mother to newborn and most…

Guiding the Treatment of Ballistic Fractures: A New Report Offers Education and Support for Orthopedic Surgeons
Guiding the Treatment of Ballistic Fractures: A New Report Offers Education and Support for Orthopedic Surgeons 1024 657 Alaina Doklovic

Despite firearm injury incidence and severity in children, no guidelines for orthopedic surgeons existed – until now. Firearm-related injury is the leading cause of death in the United States among children and adolescents aged 1 to 19. Despite this alarming statistic, there were no current or up-to-date general guidelines for orthopedic surgeons on the management…

Bridging Care and Curiosity: Mentoring the Physician-Scientists of Tomorrow
Bridging Care and Curiosity: Mentoring the Physician-Scientists of Tomorrow 1024 316 Alaina Doklovic

The resident Research Pathway at Nationwide Children’s uniquely prepares trainees for medical research. Physician-scientists play a key role in bridging scientific discoveries and clinical care. That’s why Nationwide Children’s Hospital is committed to leading the path for the healers and innovators of tomorrow. The Research Pathway at Nationwide Children’s allows residents to pursue scientific and…

From the Operating Room to the Clinic: A New Protocol for Ear Tube Surgery
From the Operating Room to the Clinic: A New Protocol for Ear Tube Surgery 675 450 Alaina Doklovic
Pediatric patient at a follow-up appointment after in-office ear tube insertion, with a doctor examining the child’s ear while the mother provides support.

Nationwide Children’s Hospital is one of the only pediatric hospitals to offer in-office ear tubes as an established choice in their standard of care.  In the United States, bilateral myringotomy/ tympanostomy tube insertion (BTI), also known as ear tube surgery, is the most performed ambulatory pediatric surgery with about 667,000 children needing the procedure every…

How One Role is Improving Emergency Department Wait Times
How One Role is Improving Emergency Department Wait Times 150 150 Alaina Doklovic

In any emergency department (ED), many people work behind the scenes to keep things running smoothly so patients receive the care they need, when they need it. At Nationwide Children’s Hospital, one behind-the-scenes position is making a big impact: the triage coordinator. “The role of triage coordinator and the way it works is unique here…

Postpartum Depression Linked to Increased Use of Acute Infant Care
Postpartum Depression Linked to Increased Use of Acute Infant Care 1024 569 Alaina Doklovic

Study results highlight the importance of primary care in infant and maternal support. In a recent study published in Academic Pediatrics, researchers found a link between postpartum depression in mothers and the infants’ use of acute care, which includes emergency department or urgent care visits. Postpartum depression (PPD) is often unrecognized and undertreated. Frequently mistaken…

Treatment for Substance Use Disorder in the Synthetic Opioid Era
Treatment for Substance Use Disorder in the Synthetic Opioid Era 1024 683 Alaina Doklovic

Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) is the recommended first line treatment for adolescents with opioid use disorder (OUD), the chronic use of opioids and/or synthetic opioids that causes clinically significant distress or impairment. Buprenorphine is the most accessible medication for MOUD. Studies show long-term use of buprenorphine decreases opioid use, reduces overdose risk and…

Introducing the Fourth Wave of the Drug Epidemic
Introducing the Fourth Wave of the Drug Epidemic 1024 575 Alaina Doklovic

Drug overdoses and poisoning are the third leading cause of pediatric death. In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of fentanyl-related overdoses, with 15-19 year olds being the most affected. In the Ohio illicit drug supply, as shared by the Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center (ONIC), the emerging drugs, known as…

Harm Reduction: Meeting Patients With Substance Use Disorders Where They Are
Harm Reduction: Meeting Patients With Substance Use Disorders Where They Are 1024 768 Alaina Doklovic

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, fewer than 10% of adolescents with a substance use disorder receive care. Of those 10%, many are not ready to engage in treatment. They are often brought in by a parent or guardian. Harm reduction is an opportunity to engage all adolescents, whether they are…

Featured Researcher – Ruoning Wang, PhD
Featured Researcher – Ruoning Wang, PhD 150 150 Alaina Doklovic

Ruoning Wang, PhD, is a principal investigator in the Center for Childhood Cancer for the Abigail Wexner Research Institute (AWRI) at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, a principal investigator for the Division of Hematology and Oncology at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and a professor in the Department of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. Dr.…

Identifying Ancestry-Based Predictors of Survival in Black Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Identifying Ancestry-Based Predictors of Survival in Black Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia 1024 768 Alaina Doklovic

Researchers use multiomic profiling to understand ancestry-specific aspects of cancer onset and outcomes. In a recent study, published in ­­­Nature Genetics, researchers from Nationwide Children’s Hospital and The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center (OSUCCC – James) compared genomic profiles of patients diagnosed with AML having self-reported and genomically-confirmed African ancestry and to patients diagnosed…

Featured Researcher – Donna Ruch, PhD
Featured Researcher – Donna Ruch, PhD 150 150 Alaina Doklovic

Donna A. Ruch, PhD, is a principal investigator in the Center for Suicide Prevention and Research at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and a faculty member at The Ohio State University College of Medicine in Columbus, Ohio. Her research focuses on behavioral health and healthcare disparities, the epidemiology of suicide and suicidal behavior, and strategies for suicide prevention…

Patient Perspective: Living With Weight-Based Stigma
Patient Perspective: Living With Weight-Based Stigma 1024 376 Alaina Doklovic

In 2019, 15-year-old Paige watched her father die from a disease that was consistently ignored, and his symptoms repeatedly blamed on his weight. He had stage 4 cancer by the time he was properly diagnosed. Shortly after his death, her mother had a 40-pound cyst removed, a surgery that she and other doctors believe could…

Weight-Based Stigma and Its Impact on Children With Obesity
Weight-Based Stigma and Its Impact on Children With Obesity 1024 376 Alaina Doklovic

More children in the United States live with obesity than any other chronic condition. The obesity rate among U.S. children and teens has more than tripled since 1980, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Although there are numerous efforts underway to help children and adults reach and maintain a healthy weight,…

Featured Researcher – Mark Peeples, PhD
Featured Researcher – Mark Peeples, PhD 150 150 Alaina Doklovic

Mark E. Peeples, PhD, is a principal investigator and member of the Center for Vaccines and Immunity at The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and a professor of Pediatrics and of Molecular & Cellular Biochemistry at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. Dr. Peeples’ research focus is respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)…

Featured Researcher – Christopher Bartlett, PhD
Featured Researcher – Christopher Bartlett, PhD 150 150 Alaina Doklovic

Throughout Dr. Bartlett’s career, he has dedicated his time to the development of innovative statistical methods to enhance our understanding of childhood development, from pre-term birth to young adulthood. Specializing in the design and application of data analytic paradigms, his work significantly contributes to elucidating the complex interplay between environmental factors and childhood intrinsic characteristics.…

Featured Researcher: Henry Xiang, MD, MPH, PhD, MBA
Featured Researcher: Henry Xiang, MD, MPH, PhD, MBA 150 150 Alaina Doklovic

Dr. Henry Xiang is the founding Director of the Center for Pediatric Trauma Research of the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. He is also a tenured full professor at the Ohio State University College of Medicine. Dr. Xiang directs the Pilot Translational and Clinical Studies Program at the NIH-funded Ohio State University…

Featured Researcher – Jamie Jackson, PhD
Featured Researcher – Jamie Jackson, PhD 150 150 Alaina Doklovic

Jamie Jackson, PhD, is a principal investigator in the Center for Biobehavioral Health in the Abigail Wexner Medical Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, an assistant professor of Pediatrics and Psychology in the College of Medicine and Department of Psychology at The Ohio State University, and a licensed clinical health psychologist. Dr. Jackson attended graduate…

What Pediatricians Need to Know About Cannabinoid Hyperemesis
What Pediatricians Need to Know About Cannabinoid Hyperemesis 1024 683 Alaina Doklovic

In a recent PediaCast CME episode, guest host Alicia McVity, FNP talks with Leah Middelberg, MD, and Alek Adkins, MD, about the rise of cannabinoid hyperemesis cases in emergency rooms, and how Ohio’s recent legalization of marijuana may have an impact on this number. Listen to the PediaCast CME Episode Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is…

Turning Complications into Fuel for a New Approach to Better Outcomes
Turning Complications into Fuel for a New Approach to Better Outcomes 1024 418 Alaina Doklovic

A new web application enhances Morbidity and Mortality data storage and actively improves patient care. Morbidity and Mortality (M&M) Conferences are mandated meetings that occur regularly at all academic medical centers and are powerful opportunities for learning and reflection. These conferences have been around for decades and provide opportunities to learn from medical errors, complications…

Featured Researcher – Rajan Thakkar, MD
Featured Researcher – Rajan Thakkar, MD 150 150 Alaina Doklovic

Rajan K. Thakkar, MD, FACS, is a pediatric surgeon, the Trauma Medical Director, and the co-Director of the Burn Center at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. He is an associate professor of Surgery and Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine and is a principal investigator at the Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences Research…

Featured Researcher – Elaine Mardis, PhD
Featured Researcher – Elaine Mardis, PhD 150 150 Alaina Doklovic

Elaine Mardis, PhD is co-Executive Director of the Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine (IGM) at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and holds the Rasmussen Nationwide Foundation Endowed Chair in Genomic Medicine. She is also a Professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. Dr. Mardis is an internationally recognized expert in…

At the Heart of a First R01 Grant
At the Heart of a First R01 Grant 150 150 Alaina Doklovic

Allison Bradbury, MS, PhD, is a principal investigator in the Center for Gene Therapy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and an assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University. She recently received her first R01 grant to develop novel therapeutic strategies for tubulin folding cofactor D (TBCD)-related developmental and epileptic encephalopathy. This…

Featured Researcher – Rolf Stottmann, PhD
Featured Researcher – Rolf Stottmann, PhD 150 150 Alaina Doklovic

Rolf Stottmann, PhD, is a principal investigator in the Institute for Genomic Medicine at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and professor at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. He joined Nationwide Children’s in 2021. Dr. Stottmann has an unwavering interest in the genetics of structural birth defects. He is especially focused on structural brain malformations and…

Changing the Landscape of Blood Disorder Treatments: A Long Time Coming
Changing the Landscape of Blood Disorder Treatments: A Long Time Coming 150 150 Alaina Doklovic

New therapies, from virus-mediated gene therapy to CRISPR-based treatments, are poised to change the clinical landscape of blood disorder treatments and outcomes. For more than two decades experts have been searching for curative therapies for blood disorders. They have invested time, money and expertise to bring these therapies to fruition, something that the Division of…

Featured Researcher – Amrik Khalsa, MD
Featured Researcher – Amrik Khalsa, MD 150 150 Alaina Doklovic

Amrik Khalsa, MD, is a physician and principal investigator in the Center for Child Health Equity and Outcomes Research (CCHEOR) in the Abigail Wexner Research Institute (AWRI) at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. He is dual medically trained and board certified in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics and has research expertise in observational research design, community-engaged research, and…

Fetal Surgery for Spina Bifida: Supporting A Bright Future Closer to Home
Fetal Surgery for Spina Bifida: Supporting A Bright Future Closer to Home 150 150 Alaina Doklovic

During her 20-week ultrasound appointment, Brittany Badenhop learned her baby had spina bifida, a term used to describe many disorders that occur during the development of the central nervous system. Spina bifida occurs very early on in a pregnancy as the embryo forms. Brittany and her husband Jared learned that their baby’s spine was not…