Department of Pediatrics

Primary research focused on clinical outcome measures in Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and surrogate outcomes for clinical trials, and exercise and participation in SMA. Board member participating in collaborative efforts developing and providing competency based education for those engaged with patients with SMA and their families STEP-IN SMA. Lead the Northwestern PT GoBabyGo! Program examining early mobility adaptations and use in young children. Also a member of Pediatric Assessment Labs (PALs) at PTHMS.

Dr. Flais engages in clinical care of pediatric patients in the outpatient setting, medical student and graduate medical education, and authoring/editing parenting book titles with the American Academy of Pediatrics.

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.

My goal is to establish a long-term relationship with you from the first newborn appointment to the last pediatric visit before college or trade school. I aim to provide you with quality medical care in a child-friendly environment. I am happy to meet with you, for wellness visits and school/sports/camp physicals, to provide your family with guidance for optimal health and wellness.

Kristen Kester is a Pediatric Emergency Medicine faculty member and attending physician practicing at the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and at Northwestern Medicine’s Central DuPage Hospital. She graduated from Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine in 2015, earning her combined MD/MPH degrees. Kristen completed her Pediatrics residency training at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City. She subsequently joined the faculty at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons as an Acute Care Pediatrician in the Emergency Department before r...

I have dedicated my career to decreasing health and educational disparities among low income children, through clinical work, education and advocacy. I am a primary care pediatrician at Lurie Children’s Uptown Clinic, an academic community health center, where I also teach Northwestern residents and medical students. I am also Associate Medical Director of the Patrick M. Magoon Institute for Healthy Communities, Medical Director for the Schreiber Center for Early Chilcdhood Health and Wellness, and Associate Chair for Compassion and Wellness Initiatives for Lurie's Department of Pediatrics.  I...

Joanna Blackburn, MD received her medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine, completed her pediatrics residency at NYU and her child neurology residency at Northwestern University/Children's Memorial Hospital (now Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago). She then completed a fellowship in pediatric movement disorders at University of Rochester. She joined the faculty at Northwestern University/Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago in 2012. Additionally she has been the program director for the child neurology residency training program since 2013.

Dr. Becker has extensive training and experience in the practice of Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) and has written a number of book chapters and articles on this approach to examining and addressing public health problems. He has applied this methodology to examine and address the impact of stressful community conditions on the health of women raising children, youth violence prevention, and the impact of the social and physical environment on physical activity. Dr. Becker serves as scientific lead for qualitative and evaluation research methods and community-engaged research in...

My academic interests are primarily focused on improving neonatal care and neonatal patient safety through quality improvement efforts.  I participate in both Illinois Perinatal Quality Collaborative (ILPQC) and Children's Hospital Neonatal Consortium initiatives.

Dr. Talia Shear is a child neurologist and palliative care physician who works with children and their families to support values-based shared decision making and quality of life in the face of serious medical illness.