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 Specialists
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
Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine
Alisa K. Brennan, MD
Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine
Anat Brinkman, MD
Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine
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
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, MS
Master Clinician, Director of Quality-Division of Emergency Medicine
Colleen Fant, MD, MPH
Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine
Todd Florin, MD, MSCE
Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine; Associate Division Head for Academic Affairs & Research, Emergency Medicine; Scientific Director, Research Development, Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute
Susan M. Fuchs, MD
Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine
Peggy Gatsinos, MD
Attending Physician, Emergency Pediatrics
Arie L. Habis, MD
Site Leader, Pediatric Emergency Department, Lurie Children’s Hospital at Central DuPage Hospital
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; Associate Medical Director, Brave Voices Hospital Based Violence Intervention Program
Kristen M. Kester, MD, MPH
Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine
Joy M. Koopmans, MD
Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine
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 L. Macy, MD, MS
Associate Medical Director, Lurie Children's Pediatric Partners Clinically Integrated Network
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
Medical Director, Center for Transport Medicine; Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine
Deepa R. Nair, MD
Attending Physician, Emergency Pediatrics; Director of Emergency Pediatrics Medical Education, Emergency Medicine
Mary Clyde Pierce, MD
Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine
Zachary E. Pittsenbarger, MD
Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine
Erica Y. Popovsky, MD
Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine; Medical Director, Emergency Preparedness
Elizabeth C. Powell, MD, MPH
Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine
Daniel J. Rainwater, MD
Attending Physician, Emergency Pediatrics
Sriram Ramgopal, MD
Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine
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
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
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
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
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
Lindsey Harrigan, MSN, APRN, CPNP-PC
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
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
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, MSN, APRN, FNP-C
Family Nurse Practitioner, Emergency Medicine
Jennifer J. Staskowicz, MSN, APRN
Family Nurse Practitioner, Emergency Medicine
Kerry Zebold, APRN, MSN, CPNP
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
Lurie Children's at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital
25 N. Winfield Road
Winfield, Illinois 60190
630.933.2340
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.
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
Kids' Wellness Matters Podcast Ep. 23: Keeping Kids Safe in the Summer
Learn essential summer safety tips to keep kids healthy and injury-free—from water and sun protection to safe outdoor play and more.
Choking Risks for Kids
It's important for parents and caregivers to know the signs of choking and what to do in an emergency. Our expert answers some common questions about choking in children.
AI Models Predict Sepsis in Children, Allow Preemptive Care
Researchers from Lurie Children’s helped develop AI models that can predict which children in the Emergency Department are likely to develop sepsis within 48 hours, allowing doctors to deliver lifesaving care before symptoms appear.
Motivational and Mobile-Based Support Improved Child Passenger Safety Behaviors, Clinical Trial Finds
Parents improved use of appropriate child car seats after remote motivational counseling and mobile-based support, according to the results from a randomized clinical trial conducted by researchers at Lurie Children's
Timely Pain Treatment Linked to Reduced Hospitalizations for Children with Sickle Cell Disease
Study finds that prompt administration of opioid pain relief in emergency departments reduces the likelihood of hospitalization for children with sickle cell disease.
Nearly 70% of U.S. Children in Car Crashes with a Fatality Were Not Using Proper Child Passenger Restraints, Study Finds
A new study found that nearly 70% of children involved in fatal car crashes were not using proper restraints — highlighting the urgent need for targeted safety interventions. Researchers identified key age groups, communities, and geographic hotspots where improvements are most needed.