Medical College of Wisconsin Pediatric Residency Scholarly Opportunities and Research

Research Training Pathways

We offer special training pathways approved by the American Board of Pediatrics to allow individual residents to pursue academic subspecialty careers in a non-traditional sequence.

Integrated Research Pathway (IRP)
- Young physician-scientists
- Fosters transition to a career in academics
- Minimum 5 months of research during PGY-3 year, maximum 11 months total
Accelerated Research Pathway (ARP)
- 2 year residency, 4 year fellowship
R38 Research Pathway
- 18 months of dedicated research time in a 48-month program
- 80% protected time for research
- Extends residency by a year before entering fellowship

Sample schedule for residents in the Integrated Research pathway

Scholarly Opportunities

Ample individualized curriculum time to allow residents to take research electives during which they can develop and implement research projects.
Residents have access to a database of faculty interested in mentoring residents in a wide range of scholarly activities to help identify projects and mentors based on the resident’s individual interests and goals.
Residents can choose the subspecialty/research track which can be tailored to provide mentorship and elective experiences aimed at research goals and the opportunity to perform research as a scholarly project.
All physician-scientists of the CRI are available to serve as research mentors for residents. The Children's Research Institute (CRI) advances state-of-the-art pediatric health care through translational research programs to find life-saving discoveries and cures in the disease that affect children and interventions that enhance quality of life for children and families living with chronic health conditions.
Stipends provide funding for residents to travel to and present research at national meetings.
Annual resident research day is a yearly conference for residents to present any and all research which they have performed.
Annual Resident Quality Improvement Day is a yearly conference for residents to present their quality improvement projects.

Resident Research/QI Highlights

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2026 Resident Research Day Presentations

Placental Pathology Differences in Resuscitated Infants: A Comparative Study of Preterm vs. Late Preterm/Term Gestation
Nicholas Plachinski

A Characterization of Serum Sickness-Like Reaction in the Pediatric Emergency Department
Justin Egge

Impact of a Multidisciplinary Cancer Predisposition Program on Adherence to with Screening Guidelines for patients with Cancer Predisposition Syndromes
Rebecca Volmy

Building Trauma-Informed Pediatricians: Addressing Gaps in Trauma Informed Care Education in Pediatric Residency
KC Gouthro, Kathryn

Pediatric Hospital Medicine Providers' Perspectives on Caring for Patients with Mental and Behavioral Health Support Needs
Marilyn Perez

Seizure Monitoring in Preterm Infants with High Grade Intraventricular Hemorrhage
Lindsey Frisch

Incidence, Timing, and Mechanism of Injury of Tibial Spine Fractures within the Pediatric and Adolescent Populations at Children's Wisconsin
Emily Hendricks

Factors Associated with Poor Patient Outcomes in the First 24 Hours after Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest
Mikal Shankey

Enhancing Community Nutrition Through Healthy Cooking Classes
Macey Johnson

2026 Resident QI Day Presentations

There's No Place Like Home: Optimizing Resident Workflows to Improve Discharge Efficiency for Acute Care Asthma Admissions
Lana Mucalo Katunaric, Maya Giaquinta, Mikal Shankey, Julia Kellis, Aaron Mattix-Wand, Nicholas DiChristofano, Emily Nylen

Improving Adolescent Sensitive Note Documentation
Kenya Donovan, Mikal Shankey, Macey Johnson, Rebecca Volmy, Shannon Cherian, Jacob Morman, Sarah Anderson

Implementing Newborn Nursery Night Rounds
Kathryn Gouthro, Anne Lentino, William Davies, Marilyn Perez, Nicholas Plachinski, Sarah French

Use of caregiver preferred name during admissions
Ari Trautman, Justin Egge

Improving Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) to Pediatric Hospital Medicine (PHM) transfers
Joseph DiGuiseppi

2025 Resident Research Day Presentations

Risk Factors for Diabetic Ketoacidosis at Diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes in Wisconsin Youth
Lauren von Zabern

Provider Attitudes Toward Providing Long-Acting Reversible Contraception in a Pediatric Emergency Department
Lauren Coffey

Racial Disparities in the Diagnosis of Turner Syndrome
Julia Kellis

Assessing Responsiveness to Systemic Corticosteroids in Infants with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
Alex Kalinowski

Prenatal Risk Factors and Delivery Room Resuscitation and Outcomes in Late Preterm and Term Infants
Nick Plachinski

A Rare Case of BRCA2-Associated High-Grade Pontine Embryonal Tumor and Concern for Fanconi Anemia
Kristine Schmeling

A Rare Paraneoplastic Phenomenon in Juvenile Dermatomyositis
Erika Comdohr

Characterization of Patients Boarding for Mental and Behavioral Health Reasons at Children’s Wisconsin
Katelyn Wray

Exploring Acute Pharmacologic Pain Management
Erin Whiteford

The Importance of Early Initiation of Enteral Nutrition in Critically Ill Children
Sonia Parikh

Improving Lactation Care through Implementation of a Breastfeeding Curriculum
Megan LaCroix

Institutional Variability of Discharge Instructions in the Pediatric Emergency Department
Abigail Georgescu

2025 Resident QI Day Presentations

Preparing for Success: A Quality Improvement Initiative for Visiting Residents' Epic, Voalte, and Badge Readiness
Evan Cross, Austin Cummings, Sarah Huisenga, Alex Kalinowski, Anna Mesec, Erin Whiteford

Dysmenorrhea Screening in IBD Patients
Katsiaryna Dubrouskaya

When Free Food Isn't Enough: A Quality Improvement Initiative to Increase Resident Noon Conference Attendance
Sarah Wagner; Erika Comdohr; Katelyn Wray; Lauren Von Zabern; Nidhi Suthar; Katherine Phalen

Transfer Troubles: Evaluation of Note Templates for a Smoother Transition of Care
Jason Cocjin, Lauren Coffey, Joshua Fields, Abigail Georgescu, Camila Pareja

Debriefs throughout the residency program and increase resident awareness of mental health resources
Kristine Schmeling; Shannon Allphin; Michaela Simpson; Sonia Parikh

Improving Resident Education & Comfort of Key Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant Topics
Emmanuel Aryee; Joana Oduro; Megan LaCroix

2024 Resident QI Day Presentations

Quality Improvement to Improve Inpatient Rotavirus Vaccination Rates; Bradley Julga, Isaac Marshall, Sarah Mooney, Matthew Munschauer, Julianna Patel

Decreasing Discrepancies in Qualitative and Quantitative Echocardiogram Assessments; Meaghan Boeker, Nam Jan, Kerri Golinghorst, Ana Menendez, Ian Wong, Sarah Dittmer, Andy Kim, Caitlin Pook

Increasing the Use of Oral Penicillin Challenges on Penicillin Allergy-Labeled Children at Children’s Wisconsin; Katie Haakana, Siri McCord, Cameron Hays, Alyssa Josephson, Christine Fernandez, Donald Allen

Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee WI Inclusive Identity; Alex Bryant, Caitlin Pook, Viane Faily, Nam Jan, Jennifer Weber

2024 Resident Research Day Presentations

Safe sedation in the Echo lab
Meaghan Boeker

Identification of genes associated with acute pain in individuals with Sickle Cell Disease
Lana Mucalo

The use of CPG to improve antimicrobial management of orbital cellulitis
Viane Faily

Meta-analysis and literature review of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation outcomes in neonates
Sarah Dittmer

The relationship between skin tone and NIRS using a melanin index
Nam Jan and Alex Bryant

Immunomodulatory therapy to improve mortality in infants with neonatal Marfan syndrome
Andy Kim

Neighborhood Social Vulnerability and Health Outcomes after Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation: A State-Based Sub-Analysis
Manny Ayree

2023 Resident QI Day Presentations

Holistic Approach to NICU Discharge Services (HANDS)
William Scott, Chondraah Holmes, Rafael Gutierrez

It’s Getting HOT in Here: Improving Resident Education & Comfort of Key Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant Topics, Part II
Hanna Heintz, Kathryn Mulligan, Andrew Velic, Nicole Welke

Improving the Adherence to the ADA Treatment Guidelines for New Onset Type 2 Diabetes
Jeries Said

Standardizing Neonatal Hypoglycemia Monitoring in the Newborn Nursery
Charlotte Formeller, Laura Stoddard, Emily Tomlinson, Shannon Vondra, Jesse White

“Checking In” to Prevent Intern Wellness from “Checking Out”
Joseph Bartoletti, Victoria DeVere, Charlotte Formeller, Forum Patel

The Burden of Sepsis: Improving Documentation
Sabrina Carro, Francesca Devine, Eli Harman

Utilization of a Resident Resource Guide for Social Determinants of Health Screening
Kelsey Wilson, Marisa Roman, Sabrina Carro, Kaitlyn Miller, Allison Jhin

2023 Resident Research Day Presentations

Post-NICU Healthcare Utilization among Infants with Congenital Anomalies
Welke, Nicole

Chasing Equity in Toxicology Testing in the Newborn Nursery
Velic, Andrew

Pediatric Asthma Outcomes after COVID-associated Modifications to Prehospital Protocols
Heinz, Hanna

Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) Monitoring in Patients with Pediatric Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (PARDS)
Miller, Kaitlyn

Investigating differences between non-Hispanic Black and White mothers to assess equity gaps
Holmes, Chondraah

Acceptability of Qualitative Text-Based Assessment of Parent Coping in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Mulligan, Kathryn

20-year Follow-up of Infants post Norwood Managed with an Interstage Home Monitoring Program
Devine, Francesca

Hypokalemic Thyrotoxic Periodic Paralysis in an Adolescent Female
Bartoletti, Joseph

Respiratory Parent-Proxy Patient-Reported Outcomes Correlate with 1-Year Healthcare Utilization for Infants with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
Scott,William

Hospitalized Adolescents’ Perspectives of MyChart Bedside
Roman, Marisa

Resident Presentations at Regional, National, and International Meetings

Increasing the Administration of Nirsevimab on the Pediatric Inpatient Acute Care Floors. Risi Eddy, APA 15th Annual Quality Improvement Research Conference, Boston, MA, 2026

There's No Place Like Home: Optimizing Resident Workflows to Improve Discharge Efficiency for Acute Care Asthma Admissions, Aaron Mattix-Wand, Nick DiChristofano, Maya Giaquinta, Emily Hendricks, Julia Kellis, Lana Mucalo, Mikal Shankey, APPD, Denver CO, 2026

A Spore-adic Case of Botulism, Mary Claire Potter, Lubna Hashim, Society of Hospital Medicine Convergence, Nashville, TN, 2026

When Free Food Isn't Enough: A Quality Improvement Initiative to Increase Resident Noon Conference Attendance, Sarah Wagner, Erika Comdohr, Kate Wray, Lauren Von Zabern, Nidi Suthar, Katie Phalen, APPD, Atlanta, GA, 2025

Integrating Social Determinants of Health Screening into Resident Workflow in a Level IV NICU, Bethany Korom, Midwest Society for Pediatric Research Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, 2025

Placental Pathology Differences in Resuscitated Infants: A Comparative Study of Preterm vs. Late Preterm/Term Gestation, Nick Plachinski, Pediatric Academic Society, Honolulu, HI, 2025

Prenatal Risk Factors and Delivery Room Resuscitation and Outcomes in Late Preterm and Term Infants, Nick Plachinski, Pediatric Academic Society, Honolulu, HI, 2025

The Use of GLP-1's for Pediatric Obesity: A Double-Edged Sword, Japman Monga, Shelby Terrell, NASPGHAN Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, 2025

As easy as XYZ: Increasing wellness and reducing fatigue with a modified X + Y schedule, Aaron Mattix-Wand A, Nam Jan, Anna Menendez Bermudez, Sydney Miles, Charlotte Formeller, APPD, Atlanta, GA, 2025

Improving Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) to Pediatric Hospital Medicine (PHM) transfers, Joe DiGuiseppi, AAP National Conference, Denver, CO, 2025

Finding the Balance: Use practices and complications of umbilical lines in extremely premature infants, Anne Lentino, Wisconsin Neonatology Days, Madison, WI, 2025

Gender- Equity In Number of Publications for Promotion, APPD, Chicago, IL, 2024

Really...this again? Can lightning really strike twice?: A salmonella enterica infection complicated by bacteremia and meningitis with empyema clinical conundrum, Kate Wray, Pediatric Hospital Medicine, Minneapolis, MN, 2024

Comprehensive assessment of adequate nutrition in children and adults with sickle cell disease as determined by Dietary Guidelines for Americans, Lana Mucalo Katunaric, American Society of Hematology, San Diego, CA, 2024

A female that's psychotic or a brain that's chaotic?: Acute psychosis in a 16 year-old female, Bethany Korom, PHM, Anaheim, CA, 2025

Optimizing Toxicology Testing in the Newborn Nursery, Sarah Wagner, AAP, Orlando, FL, 2024

Implementation of 2022 AAP Guideline Optimizes Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia Healthcare Utilization, Michaela Simpson, PAS, Toronto, CA, 2024

Occam's Razor meets Hickam's Dictum: A Case of Two Diagnoses Mimicking One; Joseph Diguiseppi, Megan LaCroix, Erin Whiteford, PHM Conference, Minneapolis MN, 2024

To Game or Not to Game? Gamification in Medical Education, CGEA, Milwaukee WI, 2024

Implementation of 2022 AAP Guideline Optimizes Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia Healthcare Utilization, Michaela Simpson, PAS, Toronto, ON, 2024

Is Dietician Consultation Important in Early Initiation of Enteral Nutrition in Critically Ill Children? Sonia Parikh, PAS, Toronto, ON, 2024

Assessment of Follow-Up After Discharge of Low-Risk Febrile Neonates, Jennifer Weber, PAS, Toronto, ON, 2024

Exclusive Enteral Nutrition as an Effective Method of Treatment for Orofacial Granulomatosis, Katsiaryna Dubrouskaya, NASPGHAN Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA 2023

Safe Sedation in the Echo Lab Using Intranasal Dexmedetomidine Does Not Require Fasting; Meagan Boeker, World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology, Washington DC, 2023

Via Zoom or in the room? Comparing Efficacy of a Pediatric Intern Communication Workshop in Virtual vs In-Person Formats, Ian Wong and Lauren Coffey, AAP Conference, Washington DC, 2023

Gene Transcription Data Are Correlated with Pain-Related Phenotypic Traits in Individuals with Sickle Cell Disease, Lana Mucalo, American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA, 2023

Observed Variability in Gene Expression in Individuals with Sickle Cell Disease during Baseline Health and Acute Pain, Lana Mucalo, American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA, 2023

Abdominal Exam Ambiguous: Right Ventricular Diverticulum In The Abdomen In A Patient With Heterotaxy Syndrome, Maria Pareja Zabala, 8th World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, Washington DC, 2023

Resident Publications

Mucalo Katunaric L, Jia S, Singh A, et al. Molecular inflammatory expression profiles associated with the frequency of pain in individuals with sickle cell disease. Blood Advances. 2025;9(15):3790-3800. doi:10.1182/bloodadvances.2024015085

Hoffman C, Harris M, Acharya K, Malnory M, Cohen S, Lagatta J. Impact of systematic screening for social determinants of health in a level IV neonatal intensive care unit. J Perinatol. 2025 Mar;45(3):365-371. doi: 10.1038/s41372-024-02096-x. Epub 2024 Sep 7. PMID: 39244612.

Vaithilingam SL, Garrison SR, Mahajan A, Kranz JF, Diener JT. A Rare Presentation of Hyperphagia and Parasomnias Associated With Chromosome 4q Deletion: A Case Report. Case Rep Psychiatry. 2025;2025:5061704. Published 2025 Apr 1. doi:10.1155/crps/5061704

Braun M, Frieden IJ, Siegel DH, etal. Multicenter Study of Long-Term Outcomes and Quality of Life in PHACE Syndrome after Age 10. J Pediatr. 2024;267:113907.doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2024.113907

Kuhn JE, Pareja Zabala MC, Chavez MM, et al. Utility of Brain Injury Biomarkers in Children With Congenital Heart Disease Undergoing Cardiac Surgery. Pediatr Neurol. 2023;148:44-53. doi:10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2023.06.024

Pareja-Zabala MJ, Aguirre C, Alí-MuniveA, et al. Association between erectile dysfunction and the severity of obstruction to airflow in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. RUC.2023;32(4):12340. doi:10.24875/RUC.23000041

Contact Us

Pediatrics Residency Program
Medical Education Office
Children's Corporate Center
999 N. 92nd St., Suite 730
Milwaukee, WI 53226

(414) 266-6800

(414) 337-7068 (fax)

pedsrecruitment@mcw.edu

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