Pediatric Emergency Care

As the premier pediatric trauma center in the Chicago area, Lurie Children’s Kenneth & Anne Griffin Emergency Care Center provides acute care for ill and injured children, with more than 60,000 patient visits each year. The emergency care center is staffed 24 hours a day by board-certified pediatric emergency medicine specialists and fellows. It is supported by a broad range of pediatric medical and surgical subspecialties and state-of-the-art diagnostic services.

Visiting the Emergency Department

If your child’s injury or illness is serious or worsening, do not delay seeking care at our Emergency Department. Experienced physicians and nurses are poised around the clock to handle even the most complicated, life-threatening injuries or conditions, such as:

  • Newborns (under two months) with a fever of 100.4° F or higher
  • Severe chest pain, trouble breathing, passing out or fainting, coughing up blood
  • Severe asthma attacks
  • Severe dehydration (child is lethargic, has dry lips or mouth, hasn’t urinated in 4 to 6 hours, vomiting, diarrhea)
  • Serious allergic reactions (swelling, trouble breathing)
  • Injuries such as large and complex cuts or wounds, open or severe bone fractures, ingesting poison, serious burns
  • Sudden neurologic concerns such as changes in mental status (child is hard to wake up or is confused when you wake them up), seizures, high fevers with headache and a stiff neck, sudden changes in the ability to speak, see, walk or move
  • Safety concerns and thoughts of harming themselves or others

Find Out What to Expect During Your Visit

For non-emergencies and illnesses that are not life-threatening, we offer in-person and virtual Immediate Care services. Learn more about Lurie Children's Immediate Care

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.

Emergency Medicine S​pecialists

Our Emergency Medicine team includes the expertise of 10 board-certified pediatric emergency medicine specialists and six fellows (board-certified pediatricians pursuing advanced training in pediatric emergency medicine).

Elizabeth R. Alpern, MD MSCE, is head of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at Lurie Children’s and Professor of Pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Dr. Alpern’s special interests include quality of care, infectious disease, and clinical epidemiology.

Elizabeth R. Alpern, MD, MSCE

Division Head, Emergency Medicine; Vice Chair, Department of Pediatrics; Faculty Development

Mark D. Adler, MD

Director, kidSTAR Healthcare Education Program; Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine

Kavita G. Alford, MD

Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine

Megan M. Attridge, MD, MS

Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine

Erin M. Augustine, MD

Erin M. Augustine, MD

Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine

Alisa K. Brennan, MD

Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine

Anat Brinkman, MD

Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine

Rebecca R. Burns, MD

Rebecca R. Burns, MD

Medical Director, Emergency Pediatrics

Elizabeth E. Cameron, PA-C

Physician Assistant, Emergency Medicine

Meta L. Carroll, MD

Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine

Arati V. Chidi, DO

Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine

Kristine L. Cieslak, MD

Kristine L. Cieslak, MD

Section Chief, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Lurie Children's at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital

Jennifer Y. Colgan, MD

Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine

Jacqueline B. Corboy, MD

Jacqueline B. Corboy, MD, MS

Master Clinician, Director of Quality-Division of Emergency Medicine

Colleen Fant, MD, MPH

Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine

Todd Florin, MD, MSCE

Todd Florin, MD, MSCE

Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine; Director of Research, Emergency Medicine; Head, Grainger Research Program in Pediatric Emergency Medicine

Susan M. Fuchs, MD

Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine

Peggy Gatsinos, MD

Peggy Gatsinos, MD

Attending Physician, Emergency Pediatrics

Arie L. Habis, MD

Arie L. Habis, MD

Site Leader, Pediatric Emergency Department, Lurie Children’s Hospital at Central DuPage Hospital

Brian Hang Tho, MD

Brian T. Hang, MD

Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine

Jennifer Hoffmann, MD, MS

Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine; Co-Director of PEM Fellowship Research, Emergency Medicine; Behavioral Health Medical Director, Emergency Medicine

Russell Horowitz, MD, RDMS

Director, Emergency and Critical Care Ultrasound

Priya G. Jain, MD, MEd

Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine

Jean A. Junior, MD

Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine

Yiannis Katsogridakis, MD, MPH

Medical Director, Kenneth and Anne Griffin Emergency Care Center; Associate Division Head for Clinical Operations, Quality, and Safety, Emergency Medicine; Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine

Samaa M. Kemal, MD, MPH

Attending Physicians, Emergency Medicine

Kristen M. Kester, MD, MPH

Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine

Joy M. Koopmans, MD

Joy M. Koopmans, MD

Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine

Steven E. Krug, MD

Steven E. Krug, MD

Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine

Anisha Kshetrapal, MD

Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine

Richard F. Latuska, MD

Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine

Mihaela Liker, APRN-NP

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Emergency Medicine

Kirsten V. Loftus, MD, MEd

Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine

Michelle Macy, MD

Michelle L. Macy, MD, MS

Associate Medical Director, Lurie Children's Pediatric Partners Clinically Integrated Network

Karen Mangold, MD

Karen Mangold, MD, MEd

Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine

Monika Martusiewicz, MD

Attending Physician, Emergency Pediatrics

Kenneth A. Michelson, MD, MPH

Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine

Helen Mulcahy, MD

Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine

Vishal V. Naik, MD, MEd

Interim Medical Director, Transport Team and Transfer Center; Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine; Associate Emergency Medical Services Medical Director, Emergency Medicine

Deepa R. Nair, MD

Attending Physician, Emergency Pediatrics; Director of Emergency Pediatrics Medical Education, Emergency Medicine

Sebastian Otto-Meyer, MD

Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine

Mary Clyde Pierce, MD

Mary Clyde Pierce, MD

Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine

Zachary E. Pittsenbarger, MD

Zachary E. Pittsenbarger, MD

Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine

Erica Y. Popovsky, MD

Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine; Associate Medical Director, Disaster Preparedness

Elizabeth C. Powell, MD, MPH

Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine

Daniel Rainwater, MD

Daniel J. Rainwater, MD

Attending Physician, Emergency Pediatrics

Sriram Ramgopal, MD

Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine

Sally L. Reynolds, MD

Sally L. Reynolds, MD

Medical Director, Risk Management; Medical Director, Emergency Preparedness; Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine

Christina R. Rojas, MD

Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine

Susan N. Samreth, MD

Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine

Dana A. Schinasi, MD, MSHI

Chief Medical Informatics Officer; Medical Director, Digital Health; Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine

Suzanne M. Schmidt, MD

Suzanne M. Schmidt, MD

Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine

Karen Sheehan, MD, MPH

Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine; Arnold-Gorter Family Professorship in Healthy Communities

Parul P. Soni, MD, MPH

Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine

Nichell Tidwell, MD

Nichell Tidwell, MD

Attending Physician, Emergency Pediatrics

Jennifer L. Trainor, MD

Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine

Selina Varma, MD, MPH

Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine

Xiao Xiao, MD

Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine

Tiffany A. Arenson, DNP, APRN, CPNP-AC

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Emergency Medicine

Carri A. Buerger, APRN-NP

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Emergency Medicine

Gianna Casali, APRN-NP, PNP

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Emergency Medicine

Claire Deane, APRN-NP, FNP

Family Nurse Practitioner, Emergency Medicine

Leslie M. Flament, APRN-NP

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Emergency Medicine

Jenna D. Gatziolis, DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Emergency Medicine

Savannah E. Guarneri, PA-C

Physician Assistant, Emergency Medicine

Melinda J. Hare, APRN-NP, PNP

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Emergency Medicine

Brittany K. Homon, MSN, APRN, CPNP-PC, TNS, AA-SANe, CPN

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Emergency Medicine

Kaitlin E. Johnson, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC

Family Nurse Practitioner, Emergency Medicine

Eliana Martinez, DNP, APRN-NP, CPNP-PC

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Emergency Medicine

Lisa Mathey, MSN, APRN-NP, FNP-BC, SANE-A, SANE-P

Advanced Practice Provider Manager, Emergency Medicine; Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Coordinator

Kristen E. Mikula, APRN-NP, FNP

Family Nurse Practitioner, Emergency Medicine

Yuriy A. Olshannikov, DNP, APRN, CPNP

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Emergency Medicine

Gabrielle L. Pluym, PA-C

Physician Assistant, Emergency Medicine

Holly Jo Quirk, PA-C

Physician Assistant, Emergency Medicine

Nicole Schwab, APRN-NP

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Emergency Medicine

Randi D Selep, DNP, APRN, CPNP-AC

Advanced Practice Provider, Inpatient Cardiology

Britney M. Snodgrass, APRN-NP

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Emergency Medicine

Christopher R. Sorrell, APRN-NP

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Emergency Medicine

Jennifer J. Staskowicz, MSN, APRN

Family Nurse Practitioner, Emergency Medicine

Kathleen Zielinski, APRN-NP, PNP

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Emergency Medicine

Janis Zinanni, BSN, MSN, APRN-NP, CPNP, CSANE-A, CSANE-P

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Emergency Medicine

Emergency Department Locations & Contact Information

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

225 E. Chicago Ave.
Chicago, Illinois 60611
312.227.4000

Get Directions

Lurie Children's at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital

25 N. Winfield Road
Winfield, Illinois 60190
630.933.2340

Get Directions

Emergency Medicine Leadership Team

Elizabeth Alpern, MD, MSCE
Division Head

Yiannis Katsogridakis, MD, MPH
Associate Division Head for Clinical Operations, Quality, and Safety and Medical Director

Todd Florin, MD, MSCE
Associate Division Head for Academic Affairs and Research

Erin Augustine, MD
Associate Medical Director

Rebecca Burns, MD
Emergency Pediatrics Medical Director

Lisa Mathey, MSN, APRN-NP, FNP-BC, SANE-A, SANE-P
Advanced Practice Provider Manager

Arie Habis, MD
Site Leader, Pediatric Emergency Department, Lurie Children’s Hospital at Central DuPage Hospital

Jill Deferville, MBA, BSN, RN, CPN
Director, Emergency Services

Dusty Brinson, MS, BSN, RN-BC, CPEN, CPN, CEN
Manager, Patient Care Operations

James Scalissi, MSN, RN
Manager, Patient Care Operations

Rachel Schultz, RN, BSN, CPEN, CPN
Manager, Patient Care Operations

Kimberly Denicolo, MSN, RN, CNL, CPEN
Clinical Quality Coordinator

Patrick Hebert, MBA
Sr. Performance Improvement Consultant

Aleksandra “Ola” Rodriguez, RN, BSN, CPN, CHSE
Nursing Professional Development Practitioner

Lauren Mrozek, MSN, RN, CPN, CEN
Nursing Professional Development Associate

Mary Otting, BSN, RN, CEN
EMS Coordinator

Patricia Aquino, BSN, RN
Trauma Coordinator

Karen Allen, MSN,RN
Trauma Registrar Registered Nurse

Research

Emergency medicine-focused research at Lurie Children’s is conducted through the Grainger Research Program in Pediatric Emergency Medicine. Our physician-scientists conduct studies on an ongoing basis focusing on the health of ill and injured children

Emergency Medicine News & Stories

Most Parents Don’t Ask About Firearms in the Homes Their Kids Visit

 Over 60 percent of Illinois parents had never asked another parent about an unlocked firearm in their home before allowing their child to visit for a playdate, according to a survey from Lurie Children’s.

Read more

Understanding Walking Pneumonia in Kids

Learn all about the different between regular pneumonia and walking pneumonia in kids and when to take your child to the doctor.

Read more

Kids Miss Out on Learning to Swim During Pandemic, Widening Racial and Ethnic Disparities

Nearly three out of four kids in Chicago had no swimming lessons in summer of 2022, with significant racial and ethnic differences, according to a Lurie Children's parent survey.

Read more

Nonfatal Opioid Overdoses in Youth Spiked During Pandemic

Drug overdose mortality has risen faster among adolescents than the general population in recent years, largely due to fentanyl. A new study sheds light on trends in nonfatal opioid overdoses in youth – an area that was not as well characterized, but key to formulating prevention strategies to save lives.

Read more

Emergency Department Screening Identifies Suicide Risk in Nearly 80% of Transgender and Gender Diverse Youth

Transgender and gender diverse youth are more than five times more likely to screen positive for suicide risk compared to cisgender females, who tend to screen positive at higher rates than cisgender males, according to a new study from Lurie Children’s.

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Number of Pediatric Inpatient Psychiatric Beds in the U.S. Did Not Increase 2017-2020 Despite Youth Mental Health Crisis

U.S. pediatric inpatient psychiatric bed capacity did not change 2017 – 2020, despite increases in pediatric mental health emergency visits, according to findings from a new study.

Read more

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