Departments
Pediatrics
The Department of Pediatrics is dedicated to providing the very best care for all children. The department's research, educational and clinical care programs are consistently recognized as among the best in the country.

From the Chair
“Welcome to the Department of Pediatrics. The department is proud of a nearly 50-year tradition of excellence in clinical care, education, research and service at Penn State College of Medicine.”
Yatin Vyas, MBBS, MD
Chair
Who We Are and What We Do
Partnerships
We collaborate with partners across our academic health system and health care industry:
Ramiah was born with an extremely rare developmental abnormality called tracheal agenesis, meaning she didn’t have a trachea or windpipe. She is one of only 11 known cases in the world. The Department of Pediatrics and other teams used cutting-edge 3D printing technology to build a splint, supporting what will eventually be a reconstructed airway using her esophagus. After almost a year spent in the hospital (most of her life), Ramiah was able to go home.
Dr. Giselle Saulnier-Sholler with patient Ford Bartle at Penn State Health Children's Hospital - Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and Infusion Clinic on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024.
Divisions in the Department of Pediatrics
Developing a New Treatment Strategy for Pediatric Leukemia
Sinisa Dovat, MD, PhD, professor of pediatrics and molecular and precision medicine, aims to use precision medicine to develop a new treatment strategy for a type of pediatric leukemia.

Responsive parenting interventions have lasting effects on child weight
Early life-responsive parenting can lead to healthier weight outcomes for children in their earliest years, with effects lasting but diminishing into middle childhood, according to a new study.

“It’s exciting to be back in a university health system again, where research is a top priority. Here, there are nine pediatric research labs funded by Four Diamonds doing innovative research that could be moved into clinical trials.”
Giselle Saulnier-Sholler, MD
Professor, Department of Pediatrics; Chief, Division of Hematology and Oncology

College of Medicine testing new drug combination in neuroblastoma
Penn State College of Medicine, the Beat Childhood Cancer Research Consortium and Four Diamonds are set to begin a clinical trial testing a new drug combination to treat relapsed and refractory neuroblastoma that has shown promising results in preclinical studies.