Katie Jordan, MD was promoted to Associate Professor of Pediatrics effective February 1, 2024. Dr. Jordan has been a faculty member in Pediatrics since 2018. Dr. Jordan earned her undergraduate degree from Williams College and her medical degree from the University of North Carolina. She remained to complete Pediatric Residency training in the Primary Care Program at the University of North Carolina and then served as a Chief Resident. She worked as a General Pediatrician with the Cone Health Group in Greensboro before joining the faculty at UNC.

Yasmina Abajas, MD was promoted to Associate Professor of Pediatrics effective January 1, 2024. Dr. Abajas has been a faculty member in Pediatrics since 2016. Dr. Abajas received her medical degree from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in May 2009. She completed her internship and Pediatric residency at Jackson Memorial Hospital/Jackson Health System Program/University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in June 2012. A Pediatric Hematology/Oncology fellowship was completed at UNC Chapel Hill in June 2015 followed by a year as a Postdoctoral Research Associate with UNC Pediatric Hematology-Oncology.

Stephanie Schwartz, MD was promoted to Associate Professor of Pediatrics effective February 1, 2024. Dr. Schwartz has been a faculty member in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine since 2018. Dr. Schwartz received a BS in Public Health Science from Clemson University in Clemson, SC in 2007 and received her medical degree from the Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University in Greenville in 2011. She completed her Pediatric residency at UNC Hospitals in 2015. Dr. Schwartz completed her fellowship in Pediatric Critical Care at Duke University Children’s Hospital in June 2018.

Dan Lercher, MD was promoted to Associate Professor of Pediatrics effective February 1, 2024. Dr. Lercher has been a faculty member in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine since 2017. Dr. Lercher received a BS in Genetics, Cell Biology and Development from the University of Minnesota in May 2006 and received his medical degree from the University of Nebraska College of Medicine in June 2013. His Pediatric Residency at UNC Children’s Hospital was completed in 2013. Dr. Lercher served as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Pediatrics Division of Emergency Medicine from September 2013 until June 2014 and subsequently completed a Pediatric Critical Care Fellowship in June 2017.

Colin Orr, MD, MPH was promoted to Associate Professor of Pediatrics effective February 1, 2024. Dr. Orr has been a faculty member in Pediatrics since 2019. Dr. Orr received a BS in Biology from Washington University in St. Louis in May 2009 and received his medical degree from Columbia University in May 2013. He completed his Pediatric Residency at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in June 2016. Dr. Orr earned his Masters of Public Health Care and Prevention from the Gillings School of Public Health at UNC in May 2018 and completed his National Research Service Award fellowship in 2019.

The UNC Pediatrics CF team was featured in the January edition of the CFF Network News. Written by Mary Beth Prieur, PhD, the article addresses the increasing importance of mental health among the CF community.

The UNC Children’s Primary and Specialty Care at Carolina Pointe II Team has been recognized as the PCIC FY24 Mid-Year Most Improved Practice. Congratulations to Katie Jordan, MD, Medical Director; Sherri Woody, RN, Nurse Patient Services Manager; and their team for their hard, sustained work in meeting the Primary Care Improvement Collaborative (PCIC) metrics.

The Society of Toxicology has selected Dr. Ilona Jaspers to receive the 2024 Society of Toxicology Education Award. Ilona Jaspers, PhD is a Professor of Pediatrics, Microbiology & Immunology, Environmental Sciences and Engineering, and the Gillings School of Global Public Health. The annual Society of Toxicology Education Award is presented to an individual who is distinguished by the teaching and training of toxicologists and who has made significant contributions to education in the broad field of toxicology.

Two Pediatrics faculty members were recently awarded distinguished professorships by vote of the Board of Trustees for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Appointment to a distinguished professorship is one of the highest faculty honors the University can bestow. Faculty recognized with distinguished professorships have shown distinction and leadership in their field or across disciplines. Distinguished awards allocate funds and an honorary title to the recipients. Congratulations Dr. Joyner and Dr. Savoldo.

Dr. Moya joined the Department of Pediatrics as Professor with the Neonatalogy group in the Wilmington Pediatric Specialty division on January 15, 2024. Dr. Monya recently relocated to the United States from Argentina with his wife and 3 children. He received his medical degree and other post-graduate degrees from the Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, completed his pediatric residency at National Hospital of Pediatrics (Hospital Garrahan) in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and completed his subspecialty training in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, with additional post-graduate training at the Duke University Medical Center. Welcome Martin!