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Dr. Margaret “Magee” Leigh Lectureship Honors a Legacy of Pediatric Pulmonary Leadership

February 20, 2026
A newly established lectureship, the Department of Pediatrics Dr. Margaret W. Leigh Lectureship, will honor the legacy of Margaret “Magee” W. Leigh, MD, a now-retired physician in the UNC Division of Pediatric Pulmonology and a highly respected leader in the field. The new lectureship will bring world-renowned experts to UNC...

UNC Researchers Awarded $7.3 Million to Advance Research on Rare Bronchiectatic Diseases

February 4, 2026
UNC researchers have received ~$7.3M from NHLBI to lead the Rare Bronchiectatic Diseases Consortium, advancing research on four rare lung diseases that cause progressive bronchiectasis. The effort builds on UNC’s national leadership and aims to accelerate discovery, clinical trials, and new therapies for underserved patient populations.

Gentzsch Promoted to Professor of Pediatrics

February 1, 2026
Martina Gentzsch, PhD was promoted to Professor of Pediatrics effective February 1, 2026. Dr. Gentzsch’s research focuses on uncovering potential targets for therapy of chronic lung diseases

Welcome New Physician Faculty: Laura Dosier, MD

January 20, 2026
Dr. Dosier joined the Department of Pediatrics as an Associate Professor in the division of Pediatric Pulmonology on January 20, 2026. Dr. Dosier received her BS in 2005 from the University of Southern California, and earned her medical degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2010....

Stephenson Awarded $700,000 from The Duke Endowment to Expand Statewide Care for Infants and Children with Premature Lung Disease

December 16, 2025
UNC Children’s is proud to announce that The Duke Endowment has awarded $700,000 to launch “Expanding Care for Infants and Children with BPD across North Carolina – an Interdisciplinary Care and Outreach Program”, a new statewide initiative led by Nicole Stephenson, MD, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of...

Welcome New Physician Faculty: Alex Despotes, MD

July 31, 2025
Dr. Despotes joined the Department of Pediatrics as an Assistant Professor in the division of Pediatric Pulmonology on July 31, 2025. Dr. Despotes received her BS from the University of Notre Dame in 2011. She earned her medical degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2015....

Hoekstra Named Simmons Scholar

July 30, 2025
Dr. Nadia Hoekstra, Instructor in Pediatric Pulmonology, has been named a UNC School of Medicine Simmons Scholar. Congratulations!

2025 Children’s APP Excellence Awards Nominees

July 29, 2025
The APP Center has announced the nominees for the 2025 APP Excellence Awards, and we are proud to see so many of our Children's teammates recognized. Congratulations to all the nominees for your outstanding contributions and unwavering dedication.

Welcome New Physician Faculty: Nadia Hoekstra, MD

July 21, 2025
Dr. Hoekstra joined the Department of Pediatrics as an Instructor on July 21, 2025. She received her BA from Boston College in 2011. She earned her medical degree at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill in 2018. Dr. Hoekstra completed a pediatric internship at the UPMC Children's Hospital...

Welcome New Physician Faculty: Andre Espaillat, MD, MPH

July 21, 2025
Dr. Espaillat joined the Department of Pediatrics as an Instructor on July 21, 2025. He received his BS from the University of Florida in 2013. He remained in Gainesville and earned his medical degree in 2018. Dr. Espaillat completed his pediatric residency at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston,...