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Transforming Care and Inspiring Hope for all children...

deJong Honored for Exceptional Cross-Institutional Bass Connections Team Leadership

April 16, 2026
Neal deJong, MD, MPH, General Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, was honored as a 2026 Bass Connections Leadership Award. This award recognizes outstanding faculty and staff team leaders for their creativity, intellectual vision and commitment to student mentoring on year-long Bass Connections projects. Congratulations Neal!

Pediatrics’ 2025 Annual Report

April 16, 2026
Take a look at the 2025 Department of Pediatrics Annual Report! We are happy to take a moment to congratulate everyone on their successes. Many thanks to our friends and colleagues for the work they do to promote children's health, to transform care, and inspire hope for all children!

Baumgardner Named Director of Pediatrics Track in Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship

March 24, 2026
Lauren Baumgardner, DO, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics has been named Director of the Pediatric Palliative Care Fellowship Track. With support from the Ho/Chiang Foundation, the Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship started a pediatrics track in 2021. Dr. Baumgardner joined the Pediatric Division of General Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine in 2023....

UNC Children’s Offering Sedation-Free Transnasal Endoscopy (TNE)

March 16, 2026
UNC Children’s is now offering Sedation-Free Transnasal Endoscopy (TNE) using the @EvoEndo Endoscopy System. Led by Dr. Sabina Mir and our team, this advanced option gives children a sedation-free experience, helping them spend less time in the hospital and more time at school, in sports, and enjoying time with family.

Three Elected to 2026 SOM Standing Committees

March 12, 2026
The 2026 standing committee election results are in. Drs. Laughon, Russell, and Vander Schaaf have won places on School of Medicine committees.

UNC Health Talk: What Parents of Babies Need to Know About Measles

March 12, 2026
The recent rise in cases of measles is especially frightening for parents of babies who cannot yet be vaccinated, and many are wondering if it’s safe to get on an airplane or go to the grocery store. In this article from UNC Health Talk, a pediatric infectious disease expert answers...

Kappelman Named in TBJ Health Care Leadership Awards

March 4, 2026
UNC Children's is proud to announce that Michael Kappelman, MD, MPH was honored by the Triangle Business Journal as the recipient of a 2026 Health Care Leadership Award.

Local news Highlights Stephens’ Family Journey and Muenzer’s Hunter Syndrome Research

March 2, 2026
A recent story from CBS 17 highlights the journey of Dr. Kim Stephens and her family’s experience living with Hunter syndrome (MPS II). The article also features ongoing research efforts at the UNC School of Medicine focused on developing new treatment approaches for rare genetic disorders.

Pirzadeh Receives Medical Staff Physician Clinical Excellence Award

March 1, 2026
Afsaneh Pirzadeh, MD, Associate Professor in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, has been awarded the Medical Staff Physician Excellence Committee (MSPEC) Award for Physician Excellence in Clinical Care

Hickman and Raffa Named 2026 TraCS K12 Scholars

February 26, 2026
Elise Hickman, PhD, in the Curriculum in Toxicology & Environmental Medicine working with Dr. Megan Rebuli in Pediatric Allergy/Immunology, and Brittany Raffa, MD, Assistant Professor in General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, have been named 2026 CTSA K12 Scholars as part of the Gene Orringer Junior Faculty Career Development Program (TraCS...