Category: News

Dr. John Cotton, Professor of Pediatrics, has been named the Associate Vice Chair of Outreach Initiatives for the Department of Pediatrics. Dr. Cotton has been a Pediatric Cardiologist at UNC Children's since 1996, practicing in multiple sites across the state.  He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Chicago,...

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.

Jaimi McDonough joined the Division of Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics on June 2, 2025 as an Assistant Professor. Dr. McDonough received her BA in Psychology and Sociology from Clemson University in 2008 and earned her PhD in School Psychology from the University of Georgia in 2015. She has previously worked as...

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...

Dr. Sara Duffus has been named Associate Director of Medical Education in Pediatrics. Dr. Duffus is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology. Her role as associate director will include co-leadership of the Pediatrics Clerkship, recruitment and retainment of outpatient pediatric preceptors, integration of pediatric curricula...

Joseph Piven, MD, the Thomas E. Castelloe Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics and director of the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities was given the award for his fundamental contributions to research on autism spectrum disorders.