Critical Care

The Division of Critical Care is committed to providing excellent clinical care, education of learners at all levels, and the advancement of knowledge through pursuit of biomedical research. We offer a complete spectrum of care for critically ill or injured children at the Stead Family Children's Hospital, a designated Level 1 pediatric trauma center.

Education

The Division of Critical Care is dedicated to educating the next generation of academic pediatric intensivists. The division includes 10 faculty (four with further training in Cardiac Intensive Care), six fellowship positions, and seven nurse practitioners.

Fellowship Program

Our Critical Care Fellowship Program was initiated in 2002 and has steadily grown to include six critical care fellowship positions. Our fellows are involved in basic and clinical research projects, and have consistently presented their work at national scientific meetings.

A Faculty-focused Academic Medical Center

UI Health Care faculty enjoy defined academic time, plus benefits like doubling your retirement contribution. With a short commute and low cost of home ownership, it's no surprise we attract the best academically trained providers.

Research

Our pediatric critical care research aims to better the lives of children.

All current Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) faculty are engaged in research projects across the spectrum of clinical, translational, and basic science. Faculty study the role inflammation and the innate immune system play in the pathogenesis of traumatic brain injury; and also the role of macrophage/microglia programming in the resolution of inflammation. They are also focused on how the fetal environment impacts cardiovascular development and disease, as well as using an exposure model to investigate the effects of the antidepressant sertraline on cardiac development.

Division Investigators

Aditya Badheka, MD, MS: Studies optimal position of inferior vena cava filters, extracorporeal oxygenator failure, cardiovascular fluid dynamics, and use of computer-based technology in clinical teaching.
Sarah Haskell, DO: Laboratory work on how the fetal environment impacts cardiovascular development and disease using an exposure model to investigate the effects of the antidepressant sertraline on cardiac development
Elizabeth Newell, MD: Studies the role of inflammation and the innate immune system in the pathogenesis of traumatic brain injury; and also the role of macrophage/microglia programming in the resolution of inflammation.
Cody Tigges, DO: Studies readiness of referring institutions and health care providers to provide initial resuscitation to critically ill children.

Recent Division Publications

Our research supports the rapid translation of laboratory discoveries into new treatments.

Clinical Care

Clinical care is provided in a 28-bed combined medical/surgical intensive care unit, including highly specialized management of the cardiac intensive care population and patients requiring ECMO support.

Our critical care faculty, in collaboration with the pediatric critical care nurse practitioners and our specialized bedside nursing staff, are focused on the delivery of excellent clinical care, with patient satisfaction scores consistently greater than the ninetieth percentile.

The quality of care provided in our Intensive Care Unit is analyzed by participation in the Virtual Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Performance System (VPS) for benchmarking and data sharing. Learn about our Pediatric Critical Care Units.

Clinical Faculty