Skip to main content

Department of Pediatrics

About Us

Dedicated to understanding and promoting child health.

What We Do

Faculty Spotlight

Pooja Patel

Instructor of Pediatrics (Rheumatology)

Dr. Patel joined the Division of Rheumatology in 2020. She is experienced in all areas of general pediatric rheumatology but has a special clinical and research interest in complex rheumatic diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus and systemic vasculitis. Dr. Patel is fascinated by the pathophysiology of autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases. She enjoys taking on complex cases with diagnostic and therapeutic challenges and tailoring immunosuppressive therapies to help patients achieve the best quality of life possible. She works with families to help them understand their child’s di...

Jennifer L Trainor

Professor of Pediatrics (Emergency Medicine) and Medical Education

Dr. Trainor is Professor of Pediatrics and Medical Education at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in the Division of Emergency Medicine. She is the Associate Chair for Education in the Department of Pediatrics and oversees activities across the educational spectrum from medical student to residency and fellowship programs within the Department of Pediatrics. She is a pediatric emergency physician with special expertise in pediatric acute care simulation-based instruction and debriefing and is a member of the kidSTAR Medical Education training program at Ann & Robert H. Lurie ...

Roger A de Freitas

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics (Cardiology)

I completed complete training in pediatrics and pediatric cardiology as well as adult internal medicine and adult cardiology. This affords me both a unique perspective on the long-term management of patients born with congenital heart disease, but allows me to fully integrate into the care of patients across the full age spectrum. This is reflected in my clinical responsibilities, which range from attending on the consultation service at Lurie Childrens, assessing pediatric patients from neonates to adolescents, to my primary responsibilities attending to adults with congenital heart disease a...

Kelly L Cox

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics (Cardiology)

I am an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and an attending physician in Cardiology at Lurie Children’s Hospital. I completed my general pediatric training at NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. I completed my clinical cardiology training at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford University Medical Center, followed by completion of non-invasive cardiac imaging training. 

Rudy J Allen

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics (Hematology, Oncology, and Stem Cell Transplantation)

My clinical interest is the treatment of childhood cancer, particularly tumors affecting the central nervous system. I also have particular interest in brain tumor survivorship, including the diagnosis and treatment of long term effects of therapy for childhood central nervous system tumors.  I have a strong interest in quality and safety improvement as Medical Director of the 17th Floor Inpatient Unit as well as the Ambulatory Infusion Center.

Margot A Paisley

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics (Hospital-Based Medicine)

Dr. Paisley is a hospital-based pediatrician. She received her medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania and her completed her residency training at the former Children's Memorial Hosital (now Lurie Children's) where she served as chief pediatric resident. Her interests include improving communication with patients and families, and teaching and advising in undergraduate and graduate medical education.

Laura C Torchen

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics (Endocrinology)

I am a clinical pediatric endocrinologist and physician-scientist engaged in clinical research focused on reproductive and metabolic disorders in children. I also have a strong interest in medical education and teaching medical studies, residents, and fellows. 

Sameer Patel

Associate Professor of Pediatrics (Infectious Diseases)

I am the Director of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. I lead efforts to promote judicious use of antibiotics and limit the emergence of antibiotic resistance. My clinical and research interests include antimicrobial stewardship, multi-drug resistant infections, and patient safety and quality.

Peter R Koenig

Associate Professor of Pediatrics (Cardiology)

As a clinical educator, my goals are to combine my clinical interests in general pediatric cardiology as well as more specialized clinical expertise in echocardiography and exercise medicine, with my interests in fellow education.

Our Home

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

Lurie Children's is the Fein­berg School of Medicine's affiliated hospital dedicated to pediatric care. Lurie Children's is Illinois' only freestanding hospital exclusively for children and offers pa­tients access to world-class care in a modern, kid-friendly environment.

Visit Lurie Children's

Faculty Development

Our faculty is one of our greatest resources. To support them on the paths to successful, fulfilling careers, we make faculty development a priority.<

Learn More

Follow Pediatrics on