Schneider Children's Hospital; NEONATOLOGY, Our Staff

NEONATOLOGY

Our Staff
Dennis Davidson, MD, is Chief of Neonatology at Schneider Children's Hospital and Director of Neonatal Services for the North Shore - Long Island Jewish Health System. He is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and performs basic and clinical research in neonatal lung and brain disorders. Dr. Davidson graduated from Loyola Stritch School of Medicine. He did his Pediatric residency and subspecialty training in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine at Babies Hospital, Columbia - Presbyterian Medical Center in New York. At Columbia he became a member of the neonatal faculty and received the Trudeau Scholar Award of the American Lung Association. He came to Schneider Children's Hospital (SCH) in 1987 as a staff neonatologist. At SCH, his basic research on inhaled nitric oxide led to his involvement as a principal investigator for a national clinical trial and an advocate for drug approval by the FDA. Inhaled nitric oxide is a life-saving therapy used in hypoxemic respiratory failure. His experience with this therapy helped lead to the development of national practice guidelines for neonatologists. His current scientific interests involve the molecular biology of chronic lung diseases and inflammation in the newborn, funded by a grant from the NICHD. In addition, he was recently the the local principal investigator for the successful clinical trial entitled Selective Brain Cooling for the Prevention of Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (prevention of a form of cerebral palsy). He played a principal role in the development of the Neonatal Lung and Brain Rescue Centers for the region, based at Schneider Children's Hospital. He enjoys teaching and empowering the outstanding neonatal nursing and neonatal nurse practitioner staff and has won several awards by the house staff for teaching and clinical commitment. He has led the development of a database at both major campuses for rapid communication to referring physicians, quality assurance, and benchmarking outcomes to other institutions so that the best clinical practices are used and can be continuously updated throughout the neonatal services of the NS-LIJ Health System.

Recently he has been very involved in the expansion of neonatal services and design of the new NICU which will be completed at the end of 2008. This includes the recruitment of academic and clinical neonatologists as well as neonatal nurse practitioners. He is particularly pleased that the concept and design of a Neonatal Stabilization Unit (NSU), one of his primary long term missions, will be incorporated into the new Women's Hospital, now under construction and attached to SCH. The NSU will provide the highest level of neonatal monitoring and care with the baby's first breath after birth.

Richard J. Schanler, MD, is Chief of the Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine and Associate Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at Schneider Children's Hospital at North Shore, and Professor of Pediatrics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He is a clinical investigator in neonatal nutrition research at the NSLIJHS Feinstein Institute for Medical Research. His research interests include studies on feeding and the use of human milk in premature infants. Dr. Schanler did his training in Pediatrics at the University of Colorado and his Fellowship in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine at Brown University. Before his move to New York, he was a neonatologist and clinical investigator, as well as the Director of the Neonatal Nutrition & Lactation Services, at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. His research has been supported by the NIH, USDA, and industry grants. Dr. Schanler is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a member of the Executive Committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics' Section on Breastfeeding. He is the Senior Editor of the AAP/ACOG publication, Breastfeeding Handbook for Physicians. He is an elected member of the American Pediatric Society, Society for Pediatric Research, American Society for Nutrition. He serves on the Health Advisory Board of La Leche League International. Dr. Schanler is a Founding Member and former President of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, and Past President of the International Society for Research in Human Milk and Lactation. He has published more than 150 articles, chapters, and abstracts in the field of neonatal nutrition. He frequently is an invited speaker at international symposia on neonatal nutrition and has developed the NSLIJHS nutrition guidelines. Accordingly, the NSLIJHS newborn service is on the cutting edge of neonatal nutrition research and practice. Specialized nutrition for our neonatal patients is critical for optimal physical and mental outcomes.
Mohamed Ahmed, MD, Ph.D, is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and performs basic and clinical research in neonatal lung injury induced by hyperoxia. Dr. Ahmed graduated from Suez Canal University, School of Medicine, Egypt. He did his Pediatric residency at the University of North Carolina (UNC) and subspecialty training in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine at Duke Medical Center, NC. The Ph.D in Medical Genetics was earned from Suez Canal University, Egypt. At the Medical College of Wisconsin, he became a member of the neonatal faculty, then moved to New Hanover Medical Center, affiliated with UNC. He became a Consultant Professor for Research at Duke Medical Center 2005 - 2008. He received the C. Scott Venable Award of the American Lung Association. He came to Schneider Children's Hospital in 2008 as a staff neonatologist. His basic research focuses on hyperoxia induced lung injury among premature neonates and developing protective strategies by augmenting their antioxidant systems. He is using a gene therapy technique to induce certain genes which lead to over expression of antixodiants enzymes in the lung of neonates.

Susana Castro-Alcaraz, MD is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics affiliated with the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She is a clinician and is involved in medical student, pediatric resident and neonatal fellow education. Her major scientific focus at present is on chronic lung disease of prematurity/bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Presently she is conducting molecular biological research at the gene level, to help find safe and effective therapy for premature infants with chronic lung disease. She attended medical school at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. She completed a residency in pediatrics and a neonatal-Perinatal fellowship at Babies and Children's Hospital of New York. She is the recipient of the American Medical Women's Association Janet M. Glasgow Memorial Achievement Citation for Scholastic Achievement, Edward C. Curnen, Jr. Award for humane and compassionate patient care in Pediatrics, and New York Perinatal Society - Roy H. Petrie Award for Best Presentation at 23rd Scientific Session. She was a collaborating local investigator for the selective brain cooling trial. Her present interests involve gentamicin pharmicodynamics, for which she has support from the GCRC at the Feinstein Institute. She is also the Education Director for the Division of Neonatology and hence responsible for the lecture curriculum for the fellows throughout the year. Her outside interests include cooking, traveling and snorkeling/scuba diving.

Howard Heiman MD, FAAP, is Associate Chief of Neonatology at Schneider Children's Hospital and Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine. A charter-class graduate of the F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine at the Uniformed Services University (1976 - 1980), Bethesda, MD, Dr Heiman completed pediatric residency at Walter Reed Army Medical Center (1980-83), in DC which included award-winning research in macrophage lysozyme activity (1983). He served as an army pediatrician in Germany before studying Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine in Washington, DC (1985 - 87). His fellowship publications revealed the impact of transplacental and breast milk antibodies in an animal model of neonatal Group B. Streptococcal infection. A full-time academic neonatology career began at Brooke Army Medical Center Pediatric Residency Program in San Antonio, TX. Dr. Heiman was as productive director of resident research, award-winning educator and pursued research in transport and resuscitative medicine. At Brooke Army Medical Center he became Chief of the Neonatology Service, Tri-Service Neonatal Transport Coordinator, and Assistant Chief of Pediatrics. In 1996 when the pediatric residency and neonatology fellowship at Brooke merged with Wilford Hall Medical Center, he soon became Neonatal-Perinatal Fellowship Program Director, and Chief of the Neonatology Service (1998, 1999; to 2002). As the Army Surgeon General's Neonatology Consultant he managed army neonatologists throughout the world. Dr Heiman joined the neonatal division at SCH in 2002 and was promoted to Associate Director in 2007. Dr. Heiman currently conducts research in high frequency - inhaled nitric oxide transport ventilation; nutrition; computerized education models and participates in various national trials (high frequency jet vs. oscillator ventilation for air leak syndromes, and human milk nutrition). He is the "superuser" for the Voyager/Inhaled Nitric Oxide/High Frequency Transport System, the only system in the region. This equipment plays a critical role in the Neonatal Lung Rescue Center at SCH. His hobbies include traveling; family adventures; outdoor recreation (e.g. biking); and computer web-surfing/correspondence.

Kavita Kasat, MD, is a staff Neonatologist at Schneider Children's Hospital and the North Shore - Long Island Jewish Health System. Dr. Kasat graduated from Mount Sinai School of Medicine after completing her undergraduate degree at Lehigh University. She did her Pediatrics residency and subspecialty training in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine at New York University Medical Center. As a fellow at NYU, Dr. Kasat focused her basic science research on B cell development in neonates. She has presented her work at national conferences including the PAS and ESPR meetings. She was awarded the Best Poster Award at the New York Perinatal Society meeting in 2007. Dr. Kasat became a faculty member at Schneider Children's Hospital in July 2008. Her research focuses on infection, inflammation and immunity in the perinatal period. In her leisure time, Dr. Kasat enjoys traveling, reading and cooking.

Robert Koppel, MD, is an Attending Neonatologist at Schneider Children's Hospital. He is an Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Koppel graduated from McGill University Faculty of Medicine. He did his pediatric residency and subspecialty training in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine at The Hospital for Sick Children. He came to Schneider Children's Hospital in 1993 as a staff neonatologist. His scientific interests involve development of a non-invasive method for screening asymptomatic newborns for critical cardiovascular malformations using pulse oximetry. His work has received state, national and international recognition because the screening method he developed allows babies to be safely discharged from the hospital, without the worry that they have a heart problem that needs immediate surgical intervention. In addition, he is developing a method for detecting left to right ductal shunting in preterm infants or right to left shunt in infants with pulmonary hypertension by analyzing arterial and plethysmographic waveforms. He enjoys teaching and is a recipient of the Attending of the Year Award. He is active in the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation serving on the Program Services Committee of the Long Island Division and the Grants Review Committee of the Greater New York Chapter. In 2007, Dr. Koppel was made the Regional Perinatal Center Director for Schneider Children's Hospital at LIJMC. In this role he is responsible for education and quality assurance at SCH-affiliated hospitals.

Jerrold Schlessel, MD, is Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics and Clinical Obstetrics/ Gynecology at the New York University School of Medicine. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Medical School in 1974. He completed his Pediatric Residency at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (1977) and a Fellowship in Neonatology at New York Hospital - Cornell University Medical College (1981). He has been a staff neonatologist at Schneider Children's Hospital at North Shore University Hospital since 1981. His clinical expertise includes infant apnea monitoring, working with families of infants home on apnea monitors and interpreting pulmonary function studies. He consults on infants with chronic lung disease (bronchopulmonary dysplasia, ventilator-dependent) on pediatric units at SCH at NS. Dr. Schlessel is in charge of the monthly Neonatal Teleconference. This interactive case review conference includes expert subspecialty discussions and is broadcasted to all hospitals of the NSLIJ Health System as well as in Israel. Dr. Schlessel has also been instrumental in the development of the Tender Loving Care (TLC) Foundation. TLC is headed by parents of our NICU graduates who want to help provide philanthropic support to our NICUs as well as direct support to new families with babies in our NICUs.

Regina Spinazzola, MD, is an Attending Neonatologist at North Shore University Hospital-Manhasset. She is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the New York University School of Medicine. Dr. Spinazzola graduated from New York Medical College in 1980. She completed a pediatric residency at NYU-Bellevue and subspecialty training in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine at Babies Hospital-Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York. She came to North Shore University Hospital in 1986 as a staff neonatologist. Her research interests involve multiple gestations, developmentally supportive care and neuro-developmental follow-up. Dr Spinazzola has served as a site investigator for several multi-center clinical trials. She is the coordinator of the Multiple Birth Center at North Shore University Hospital and also works closely with colleagues in the Division of Behavior and Development to direct the follow-up clinic for graduates of the North Shore University Hospital NICU. She enjoys teaching at all levels, especially residents and fellows. She is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the AAP Committee on the Fetus and Newborn, AAP Section on Perinatal Medicine, and the Nassau Pediatric Society. Dr. Spinazzola is responsible for coordinating the attending neonatologists' work schedule between the two major campuses and the affiliate hospitals. The rotation of attending physicians within the NS-LIJHS encourages uniform and best practices for all of our sites.

Andrew M. Steele, MD, FAAC, FCCP,, is Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and is a Faculty Senator. He is Medical Director of Schneider Children's Hospital and Chairman of the Schneider Children's Hospital Performance Improvement Coordinating Group. Also, he is Medical Director of Respiratory Therapy. In the Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, he serves as Coordinator of Neonatal ECMO and Director of the Infant Apnea Program. Dr. Steele received his MD from Downstate Medical Center. He completed his Residency in Pediatrics and Fellowship in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine at Long Island Jewish Medical Center. As an associate in Physiology in the laboratory of the late Professor Phyllis Gootman at Downstate Medical Center, Dr. Steele had additional post-doctoral training in developmental cardiorespiratory neurophysiology. Dr. Steele has been very active in the public health sector having served for many years as co-chairperson of the SIDS Committee of the American Public Health Association. Also, he has been a consultant to the New York State Department of Health, Office of Professional Conduct (OPMC), and Island Peer Review Organization (IPRO). His primary clinical and research interests are in control of breathing and lung mechanics. His hobbies include reading, golf and supporting his family's equestrian endeavors.

Ivana Vancurova, PhD, is Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and Assistant Investigator, North Shore - Long Island Jewish Research Institute. She attended Prague Institute of Chemical Technology (M.S., Magna Cum Laude), Czech Republic, the Institute of Microbiology (PhD), Czech Academy of Sciences, and St. John's University (Postdoctoral Fellow), New York. Her laboratory focuses on the molecular mechanisms regulating expression of pro-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic genes in polymorphonuclear leukocytes (neutrophils), and how it relates to the pathogenesis of neutrophil-mediated inflammatory disorders, such as neonatal chronic lung disease. Using techniques of molecular and cell biology, she studies regulation of the transcription factor NF kappa B, a pivotal regulator of inflammatory genes. Understanding the key molecular mechanisms controlling NF kappa B activity in human neutrophils will lead to the development of potent and selective therapies for the treatment of neutrophil-mediated inflammatory disorders, such as chronic lung disease of prematurity. The research is supported by the National Institutes of Health and by the North Shore - Long Island Jewish Research Institute Foundation. Dr. Vancurova plays an integral part in the academic development of neonatal fellows and physician-scientists in our group, in the exciting area of molecular biology. She enjoys spending time with her family, tennis, outdoor activities and travel.

Champa N. Codipilly, PhD is a Research Scientist in the Division of Neonatology at Schneider Children's Hospital at North Shore. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka and her PhD from SUNY Stony Brook, USA. Her thesis and Post-doctoral research was performed in the Departments of Oral Biology and Pathology of School of Dental Medicine and OB/GYN at the University Hospital at Stony Brook. The focus of her study was related to vaginal ecology and the physiological and chemical changes due to bacterial metabolic activity. Her research outcome helped develop an in-vitro "vaginal microbial flora model" which mimicked vaginal flora, which is utilized to understand and predict vaginal health. This model was then used to investigate bacteria and bacterial metabolic end products linked to development of Bacterial Vaginosis. Her research at North Shore involves preterm infant nutrition, microbiology, immunology, and nutritional value alteration related to human milk storage and banking. Dr. Codipilly plays an integral part in the fellowship research program in the neonatal division. As an undergraduate at University of Peradeniya, she played basketball for the college team. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, playing basketball, soccer, and cricket. Camping and hiking are her favorite summer time activities.

Veronika Miskolci, MS, is a research assistant in the neonatal laboratory at Schneider Children's Hospital. She earned her MS at St. John's University. Veronika is involved in studies to help find safe and effective therapy for chronic lung disease of prematurity under the supervision of Dr. Dennis Davidson. In addition, she participates in the academic development of neonatal fellows by teaching them research and laboratory skills. Veronika has mastered a wide variety of molecular biological skills including gene array analysis. She enjoys reading, cooking, playing with her dog and spending time with her friends and family.