Department of Pediatrics

The Smith lab seeks to understand the role of neuronal activity in the development of the prenatal brain. We leverage modern genetics and classic neurobiology approaches to develop translational research insights, in a effort to treat early life ion channel diseases. Our training philosophy is to equip young scientists with skills to perform leading research and technology development, while also focusing on pressing issues in the scientific community.

I am a physician scientist with a research interest in the developmental origins of obesity. I study metabolism in pregnancy and the near and long-term metabolic outcomes in children. My long-term goal is to facilitate early intervention to prevent obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

I received my medical degree from Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in 2013. I then went on Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago/McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University to complete my residency in Pediatrics in 2016 and fellowship in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/Stem Cell Transplant in 2019. After graduation, I joined the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/Stem Cell Transplant Division as a faculty member with a specialization in Hematologic Malignancies. 

Clinically, I am a pediatric cardiac intensivist and I care for children of all ages with congenital and acquired heart disease who require critical care. Academically, I focus on medical education through the teaching and learning of students, trainees, staff, and faculty. I am most interested in faculty development in medical education as well as career development. I also use simulation to teach cardiac physiology and resuscitation.

I am interested in caring for children with any pediatric infectious disease. I primarily cover inpatient and outpatient infectious disease at Central Dupage Hospital in Winfield, IL. My clinical interests include bone & joint infections, Kawasaki disease, prolonged and recurrent fevers, lymphadenitis, skin and soft tissue infections. I work with the medical providers at CDH to implement appropriate clinical guidelines, develop hospital specific antibiotic stewardship, as well as various quality improvement projects to enhance safety and effectiveness of treatment provided to our patients.

I am a clinician-educator in the Division of Adolescent and Young Medicine with interests in mental health care for adolescents, suicide prevention, LGBT health, and gender-affirming health care.  I work with young people in our Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine Clinic and in the Gender Development Program offering a range of services including mental health care.

I am a hospital-based physician, in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at Northwestern Memorial and Lurie Children's Hospitals. I co-lead the Medical Decision Making (Evidence-based Medicine) course at the medical school and serve as core clinical faculty within the Internal Medicine Residency, which affords me additional opportunities to mentor and teach.

My interest in Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics covers a broad range of topics--all which are related to the optimal developmental and behavioral functioning of the child and the family. I have spent the majority of my professional time focusing on the care of the fussy baby and developing new models of clinical care and support for the family.My expertise, leadership, training in developmental and behavioral pediatrics has many facets and include mentoring from Dr. T Berry Brazelton, Dr. Steven Porges, and Mr. Fred Rogers.

Susan Slattery , M.D., MS is an attending physician in the division of Neonatology and Center for Autonomic Medicine in Pediatrics (CAMP). Her long-term goal is to define the development of respiratory and autonomic control in premature and term infants; identify maturational milestones of physiologic stability in infants to optimize opportunity for growth and neurodevelopment; and provide ongoing clinical care for high-risk children with related deficits to optimize well-being, neurocognitive outcomes, and quality of life for each patient and their family.