Category: News

We are excited to announce that Laura Cannon, MD and Priyanka Rao, MD will join the education team as Associate Program Directors. They were chosen from a pool of excellent candidates, highlighting the strength of educators in the Department of Pediatrics.

With the goal of creating a brighter future for our children, North Carolina Children’s Health (NC Children’s) has chosen a location in Apex for its campus, which will include the only freestanding, independent children’s hospital in the Carolinas. NC Children’s, a partnership between UNC Health and Duke Health, will be...

Joseph “Joey” Tyron Bell, MD, passed away on June 16, 2025. Dr. Bell was the first Lumbee pediatrician and the first American Indian pediatrician in North Carolina. He dedicated his life to improving the health of Native children and providing culturally sensitive care to Native communities in North Carolina. Dr....

New knowledge of these protein functions will help researchers develop new drug targets for chronic pain, autism spectrum disorders, epilepsy, migraines, and other neurological conditions.

Sandeep Dhadvai, MD, Assistant Professor in the Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Sara Duffus, MD, Assistant Professor in the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, and Heather Williams, MD, Assistant Professor in the Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, were recently selected to participate in the 2025-2026 Leadership in...

At the UNC School of Medicine’s Academy of Educators 2025 Evening of Scholarship multiple Pediatrics faculty and trainees. Founded in 2006, the Academy of Educators is designed to emphasize teaching and support faculty development both in Chapel Hill and across the state. More information can be found at www.med.unc.edu/aoe. This year’s...

Congratulations to Dr. Amalia Lee, a fellow in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, and Dr. Lilly Segal, a Primary Care Pediatric resident - two of the 2025 Robert C. Cefalo Annual House Officer Award winners. These outstanding members of UNC Hospitals’ house staff are recognized for their exemplary service, professional performance and compassionate...

Dr. Jenny Boyd will serve as the next Chief Quality Officer for UNC Hospitals. During her 15 years working in pediatric critical care, hospital operations, and healthcare quality improvement, Dr. Boyd led transformative initiatives to enhance patient safety, clinical performance, and provider accountability.

Aliese Sarkissian, MD, MBOE was promoted to Associate Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Rheumatology, effective June 1, 2025. Dr. Sarkissian has been a faculty member in Pediatrics since August 2018. Dr. Sarkissian received a BA in Biology from DePauw University in Greencastle, IN in 2006 and a post...

Katlin Yokeley joined the Division of General Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine in May 2025 as the newest member of the Child Maltreatment Team. Elaina received her BS from Appalachian State University in 2008 and her BSN from North Carolina Central University in 2012. She earned her MSN from the University...