The Center for Autonomic Medicine in Pediatrics (CAMP) in the division of Autonomic Medicine at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital is the first of its kind in the world. The Center is an interdisciplinary program that studies infants, children and young adults with conditions that affect the autonomic nervous systems (ANS). The ANS controls the automatic regulation of breathing, body and skin temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, cerebral autoregulation, intestinal motility, pupillary response to light, and more. CAMP is an international leader in the study of congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) and rapid-onset obesity with hypothalamic dysfunction, hypoventilation and autonomic dysregulation (ROHHAD), and in the development of child-friendly, non-invasive autonomic testing of all organ systems served by the ANS with application to children with more common diseases.
Learn about our world-class treatment in this short documentary that details the life of a patient during a week's time in our program.
Nationally-Ranked Care
Lurie Children’s continues to be the #1 children's hospital in Illinois and is ranked in 11 specialties by U.S. News & World Report.
Approach
CAMP integrates the expertise of specialists from across the hospital to thoroughly evaluate each child and develop a treatment plan, specific to each child’s needs. The family and the referring physicians also play a critical role in each child’s treatment.
CAMP’s collaborating divisions include:
- Cardiovascular-Thoracic Surgery
- Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
- Endocrinology
- Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition (Digestive Disorders)
- General Pediatric Surgery
- Genetics, Genomics & Metabolism
- Heart Center
- Medical Imaging
- Neurology
- Neurosurgery
- Ophthalmology
- Otolaryngology (ENT)
- Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Urology
Conditions We Treat
Our physicians make every attempt to stay at the forefront of treatment advances, making sure they provide our patients with the best care possible. We take specialized and evidence-based approaches to diagnosing and treating children’s autonomic nervous system conditions. The following is a list of the conditions we treat.
Our Autonomic Medicine Team
Debra E. Weese-Mayer, MD
Chief, Center for Autonomic Medicine in Pediatrics (CAMP)
Ilya Khaytin, MD, PhD
Interim Medical Director, Sleep Medicine; Attending Physician, Autonomic Medicine, Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine
Susan Slattery, MD, HSOR
Attending Physician, Autonomic Medicine, Neonatology
Make an Appointment
Call to make an appointment with our autonomic medicine team.
Autonomic Medicine Research
CAMP is working with physicians and scientists around the world to advance research and care for our patients. Our multidisciplinary team conducts various research to advance understanding of rare autonomic diseases, including ROHHAD and CCHS. We hope our research efforts will lead to improved treatment options for our patients and other individuals with conditions that affect the autonomic nervous system.
Our Location
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
225 E. Chicago Ave.
Chicago, Illinois 60611
312.227.4000
Inpatient & Outpatient Treatment
Our highly-specialized team supports patients with autonomic conditions both inside and outside the hospital.
Family Resource Guide
Prepare for your visit with our CAMP Family Resource Guide.
Diaphragm Pacers
Diaphragm pacing, a form of artificial ventilation, relies on implanted phrenic nerve electrodes and receivers to help patients breathe. Lurie Children’s is one of only two institutions in the country using the advanced, minimally invasive technique for thoracoscopic diaphragm pacer implantation.
Gene Testing
We offer PHOX2B gene testing services for patients who are determined to be candidates.
CAMP in the News
- "Dr. Debra Weese-Mayer Awarded 2024 Natural History Studies Grant" - FDA
- "Wireless Device Eases Blood-Pressure Monitoring for Children in Intensive Care" - Physics World
- "Wireless Device Improves Real-Time Monitoring of Blood Flow, Oxygenation in the Brain" - Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine
- "Eleven Years of Misdiagnosis" - Medium
- "Rare Disease Experts: Worth the Cost?" - Medium
Center for Autonomic Medicine Patient Stories
Ellie, With Rare Genetic Breathing Disorder, Starts High School Trach-Free
Ellie was born with congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS), a rare condition that affects control of breathing.
No Longer Burdened with a Ventilator When Awake, Mariella Finds New Freedom
Mariella was born with a rare, life-threatening autonomic nervous system disorder called Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome.
Setting Norah Free
Discover how innovative treatments and dedicated care helped set Norah free from her medical challenges, offering hope and healing to families.
Philanthropy
Your support is vital in helping us continue to make a difference in the lives of patients and families. Lurie Children's relies on philanthropic funding to enhance its programs, services and research for children. To learn more, please e-mail the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago Foundation at foundation@luriechildrens.org or call 312.227.7500.