October 2025 Pediatric Pulse

Dear Yale Pediatrics Family,

In case you missed it: Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital was nationally ranked in five specialties. U.S. News & World Report (USNWR) announced the 2025-2026 America’s Best Children’s Hospitals rankings. I'm proud to share that Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital is the only children’s hospital ranked in Connecticut and #2 in New England. We earned a spot among the top 50 nationally in five specialties, including Urology (#33), Diabetes and Endocrinology (#40), Neonatology (#45), Gastroenterology and GI Surgery (#48), and Pediatric and Adolescent Behavioral Health (top 50).

This is an enormous accomplishment and we appreciate all of the hard work that goes into earning these coveted rankings. Voting for next year will open in a few months. If you don't have one yet, please make an account on Doximity so you can log in and vote for YNHCH for next year's USNWR America’s Best Children’s Hospitals rankings.

Additionally, President Maurie McInnis and Provost Scott Strobel held an online faculty and staff meeting on September 30. Similar to the meetings hosted in the spring semester, they provided information on the current higher education landscape and outlined plans to address the financial challenges of the tax on endowment income that will take effect on July 1, 2026. They encouraged faculty and staff to submit questions through an online webform.

Applications are now open for YNHH Medical Staff funding to support eligible programs. If you wish to apply, please complete the attached form and email it to me by November 10, 2025. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

Before applying, review the “Guidelines for Project Funding” on the last page of the application to ensure your program aligns with funding criteria.

Funding decisions will be announced in January 2026.

Medical Staff funds support:

1. Administrative functions (e.g., stipends, reserve fund)
2. Medical staff engagement (e.g., social events)
3. Mission-driven initiatives (e.g., teaching, research, patient care, outreach)

Applications are reviewed annually by the MEC Finance Committee, which recommends funding to the MEC for final approval. All programs—new or previously funded—must submit a new application for consideration.

Questions? Contact Marissa Sherwood at Marissa.Sherwood@ynhh.org.

• Anthony Porto, MD, MPH, was promoted to professor of pediatrics (gastroenterology and hepatology) in the academic clinician track, July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2030.
• Ho-Choong Chang, MD, was appointed as associate professor of pediatrics (general pediatrics), in the academic clinician track, November 1, 2024 to June 30, 2029.
• Shruti Gupta, MD, FAAP, FABM, was reappointed as associate professor of pediatrics (neonatal-perinatal medicine), in the academic clinician track, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2031.
• Stephanie Massaro, MD, MPH, was reappointed as associate professor of pediatrics (hematology/oncology) in the academic clinician track, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2031.
• James Pellegrini, BS, MD, was reappointed as associate professor of pediatrics (neonatal-perinatal medicine) in the academic clinician track, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2031.
• Veronika Shabanova, PhD, MPH, was reappointed as associate professor of pediatrics (general pediatrics) in the Investigator Track, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2031.
• Leslie Sude, MD, reappointment as associate professor of pediatrics (general pediatrics) in the academic clinician track, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2031.
• Maryellen Flaherty-Hewitt, MD was selected for the REACH Institute Alumni Leadership Council. The REACH Institute is dedicated to ensuring that the most effective, scientifically proven mental health care reaches all children and families.
• Alfonso Galderisi, MD, PhD, presented "Better models to predict T1D trajectory " at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Vienna, as well as "AI and Diabetes" at AI in Medicine in Rome on September 10, 2025. He presented a consensus document on behalf of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) on AI.
• vTv Therapeutics Inc., a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of cadisegliatin, has appointed a group of experts, including Alfonso Galderisi, MD, PhD, to its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB).
• Martina Brueckner, MD's paper on intracardiac cilia and valve development made the Nature Cardiovascular Research cover! Kathryn Berg (PhD student, now at Boston Children’s) did the artwork.
• Laura Ment, MD was honored in September with the Yale Medicine Distinguished Clinical Career Award. The award honors physicians who have contributed to Yale Medicine for at least 20 years since completing their fellowship training and whose careers are marked by significant accomplishments, exemplary dedication, and important contributions to advancing the practice, the overall medical profession, and the community. The award is intended to honor faculty members who are widely recognized as distinguished clinicians and who have devoted the main part of their careers to Yale.
• Jim Nugent, MD, PhD and Julia Rosenberg, MD, were selected for the American Pediatric Society and Society for Pediatric Research (APS & SPR) Journeys & Frontiers in Pediatric Research program for 2025-2026. The Journeys Program offers engaging virtual sessions designed to inspire and empower early-career investigators in pediatrics. The program includes captivating career journey stories, thought-provoking research discussions, and valuable networking opportunities with experienced Cohort Leaders—providing essential support for early-career physicians in academic medicine.
• Alexis L. Rodríguez, MD, IBCLC, assistant professor in the section of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, will be the new Chair of Pediatrics and director of Well Newborn Services at Griffin Hospital effective October 6, 2025.
• David Hersh, MD, PhD, has been named director of the Yale Pediatric Ethics Program at Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital effective October 8, 2025.

• Prasanna Ananth, PI – Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic – Video inspired discussions about ethical outcomes in Pediatrics (VIDEO-PEDS)
  • Project period: 9/1/25-8/31/26; Total awarded to Yale $24,785

• Nicola Santoro, PI – National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)/NIH/DHHS – Pathogenic mechanisms of obesity and its cardiometabolic complications
  • Project period: 9/13/25-6/30/30; Total awarded to Yale $3,329,661

• Stephanie Samuels, PI – The Medical College of Virginia Foundation –The Medical College of Virginia Foundation
  • Project period: 10/16/25-1/15/28; Total awarded to Yale $240,000

• Asher Marks, PI – The Glimpse Group – Life at 100.4: An Immersive Social Virtual Reality Education Tool for Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Patients and Caregivers and process optimization
  • Project period: 8/27/25-6/30/27; Total awarded to Yale $151,082