Emergency Medicine
The Division of Emergency Medicine in the Department of Pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine is dedicated to the clinical care, research, education, quality improvement and advocacy of pediatric emergency care. The faculty in our division is comprised of board-certified pediatric emergency medicine physicians and pediatricians.
Patient care is provided through our clinical affiliate, at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.
Our goal is to improve the health of acutely ill or injured children by tranforming patient care and through cutting-edge research and advocacy. We constantly and consistently work to excel in each of these missions through rigorous quality improvement methods and to train others to provide outstanding care with our commitment to and leadership in medical education."
— Elizabeth R. Alpern, MD
Division Chief, Emergency Medicine
What We Do
Research
The division's research includes a diverse range of topics related to emergency care, precision medicine, injury prevention, health services, medical education, advocacy and pre-hospital care. The division collaborates with several multicenter networks, including the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network. We have a large portfolio of funded studies, including those supported by the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Health Resources and Services Administration. View our publications feed.
Education
The division's program offers students, residents and fellows outstanding education and training in the emergent care of ill and injured children at Lurie Children's. Faculty members lead the kidSTAR Medical Education Program, a simulation-based training program. Division faculty are active participants and leaders in education programs at Feinberg, including the Feinberg Academy of Medical Educators. The division offers a three-year, ACGME-accredited pediatric emergency medicine fellowship. Candidates should apply through the Electronic Residency Application Service.
Patient Care
At the Lurie Children's Division of Emergency Medicine, physicans and pediatricians provide care for a diverse population of acutely ill, injured and medically complex children, with an annual census of over 55,000 patients. Lurie Children's is a Level I trauma center and provides access to pediatric subspecialties. Division faculty members also provide services at Lurie Children's–affiliated pediatric emergency departments at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital and Northwest Community Hospital.
Advocacy
Division faculty and staff are actively involved in policy and legislative discussions at the local, state and national levels. Areas of focus include expanding pediatric emergency medical preparednes, increasing health equity for all children, utilizing a public health approach to violence prevention, guiding legislation decrease child abuse and to improve sexual abuse victims' access to care and leading injury prevention public health campaigns.
Meet Our Team
Programs
Learn more about other initiatives aimed at impacting and enhancing pediatric emergency care led by our faculty and staff.
Telemedicine
Through Lurie Children's Emergency Care Connect, division faculty participate in a telemedicine program that leverages technology to improve pediatric subspecialist access for children.
Quality Improvement Initiatives
In constant pursuit of higher quality care, faculty members lead quality improvement projects within emergency departments at Lurie Children's and those of our outreach partners.