Lurie Children’s Division of Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine treats more children for lung and breathing-related (respiratory) diseases than any other hospital in Illinois. The division is nationally-ranked by U.S. News & World Report for pediatric pulmonary care, including asthma care.
We believe in family-centered care, which means we care for the whole family along with the patient and involve the whole family in a patient’s treatment plan. From bringing family members into care plan meetings, to providing support and distraction to a patient’s siblings, we do our best to help fit our care into your lifestyle. We offer many helpful family services.
A multidisciplinary team of experienced healthcare providers will care for your child. This team approach makes it easier for you to see every specialist your child needs under one roof and often in the same visit.
Our clinical care includes a full-service pulmonary physiology laboratory with state-of-the-art diagnostic testing. We are the only regional pulmonary service offering infant pulmonary function tests. The division offers many opportunities for patients to take part in clinical trials studying new treatments. We are a Therapeutics Development Network Center for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and a site for the Asthma Clinical Research Network and Asthmanet. Our physicians and scientists conduct many types of research that are improving the diagnosis and treatment of respiratory diseases.
In partnership with the Feinberg School, our division offers a pediatric pulmonology fellowship, one of only two accredited training programs for pediatric pulmonology in Chicago. This program teaches physicians the most effective ways of treating children with lung and breathing-related disorders.

Nationally-Ranked Care
Lurie Children's is nationally-ranked for pediatric pulmonary care, including asthma care, by U.S.News & World Report.
Conditions We Treat
We take specialized and evidence-based approaches to diagnosing and treating children’s lung-related conditions.
Pediatric Pulmonology Programs & Clinics
Our team has developed specialized programs to treat certain conditions in the most comprehensive way possible.
Pediatric Pulmonary Specialists
Our entire staff is dedicated to evaluating and treating infants, children and teenagers. The team includes:
- Pediatric pulmonologists
- Sleep medicine physicians
- Advanced practice nurses
- Pediatric pulmonary nurses
- Clinical exercise physiologist
- Pulmonary function technicians
- Respiratory therapists
- Social workers
- Dietitians
Pulmonologists also work with other experts at Lurie Children’s, including:
- Heart Center specialists in fetal/neonatal medicine and cardiac critical care
- Allergists and immunologists
- Multidisciplinary team in the Muscular Dystrophy Association Clinic

Maria L. Dowell, MD
Interim Division Head, Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine; Director, Cystic Fibrosis Center

Marco Almeda, MD
Attending Physician, Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine

Danielle C. Beachler, MD
Attending Physician, Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine

Kathleen L. Boyne, MD
Attending Physician, Pulmonary Medicine

Ilya Khaytin, MD, PhD
Interim Medical Director, Sleep Medicine; Attending Physician, Autonomic Medicine, Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine

Steven Lestrud, MD
Medical Director, Respiratory Care; Attending Physician, Critical Care and Pulmonary Medicine

Susanna McColley, MD
Attending Physician, Pulmonary Medicine

John B. Palla, MD
Associate Director, Cystic Fibrosis Center; Attending Physician, Pulmonary Medicine

Janaki Paskaradevan, MD
Clinical Practice Director, Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine; Associate Program Director, Pediatric Pulmonology Fellowship; Pulmonary Medical Director, Neuromuscular Program; Attending Physician, Pulmonary Medicine

Nicolas F. Porta, MD
Attending Physician, Neonatology; Co-Director, Pulmonary Hypertension Program; Associate Director, Lurie Children’s NICU

Avani V. Shah, MD
Attending Physician, Pulmonary Medicine

Irina Trosman, MD
Attending Physician, Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine

Stacy Bichl, APRN-NP
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Pulmonary Medicine/Cystic Fibrosis Center

Maria Elena Gonzalez, APRN-NP, FNP-BC
Family Nurse Practitioner, Pulmonary Medicine

Caroline Hodgson, APRN-NP, RN, DNP, CPNP-AC
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Critical Care

Alexandra Kacena, APRN-NP, CPNP-PC
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Pulmonary Medicine; Clinical Director, Mobile Asthma Clinic; High Risk Asthma Clinic

Mary Kate McIntyre, MSN, APRN, CPN, CPNP-PC
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine

Emily R. Simmons, APRN-NP, CPNP-PC
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Pulmonary Medicine; Clinical Director, High Risk Asthma Clinic; Clinical Director, Mobile Asthma Clinic

Clare Spahr, PA
Physician Assistant, Pulmonary Medicine

Tiffany St. James, APRN-NP, PNP
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine

Jenifer L. Burke, NP
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Pulmonary Medicine

Neha Joshi, MD
Attending Physician, Pulmonary Medicine

Steven R. Boas, MD
Member, Children's Community Physicians Association

Luis Torero, MD
Pediatric Pulmonology, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital Pediatric Outpatient Center; Member, Children's Community Physicians Association

Alexander Ing, MS, CGC
Genetic Counselor III, Genetics, Genomics and Metabolism
Make an Appointment
We offer several scheduling options for your child's care needs.
Our Locations
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
225 E. Chicago Ave.
Chicago, Illinois 60611
312.227.4000
Lurie Children's Hospital Outpatient Center in Lincoln Park
2515 N. Clark Street/467 W. Deming Place
Chicago, Illinois 60614-3393
1.800.543.7362
Lurie Children's Hospital Outpatient Center in Arlington Heights
Busse Center for Specialty Medicine
880 W. Central Rd, Ste 6400
Arlington Heights, Illinois 60005
312.227.5410
Lurie Children's at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital Pediatric Outpatient Center
25 N. Winfield Road
East Entrance
Winfield, Illinois 60190
630.933.6631
Lurie Children's Hospital Outpatient Center in New Lenox
1870 N. Silver Cross Blvd. (formerly Clinton Street)
Suite 100
New Lenox, Illinois 60451
312.227.3620
Lurie Children’s Hospital Outpatient Center in Skokie
3722 W. Touhy Avenue
Skokie, Illinois 60076
312.227.5600
Related News

Research Uncovers Inequities in Diagnosis of Infants with Cystic Fibrosis
Research from Lurie Children's Dr. Susanna McColley and colleagues found that too many infants receive a delayed diagnosis of cystic fibrosis (CF), which leads to worse outcomes, and infants who are Black, Hispanic, Asian, or multiracial are particularly impacted.

Lurie Children’s Campaign Urges Parents to Follow Up Right Away if Newborn Screening Results are Abnormal
Lurie Children’s launched a newborn screening awareness campaign with signage on public transit and billboards across Chicago advocating for timely follow-up from parents which can improve outcomes for children.

Pediatric Sleep Apnea Treatments with Drs. Saied Ghadersohi and Taher Valika
In this episode of Precision, Drs. Saied Ghadersohi and Taher Valika discuss the importance of sleep for children and share insights on advanced treatments at Lurie Children’s which are helping kids get the rest they need.

All Infants, Regardless of Race or Ethnicity, Can Have Cystic Fibrosis
A new report on cystic fibrosis from Lurie Children’s, in partnership with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, highlights the need to improve awareness and practice to ensure that all babies with CF are diagnosed as soon as possible.

Newsweek Ranks Lurie Children’s Hospital #1 in Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery Nationally
Lurie Children’s ranked #1 in Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery in Newsweek’s list of 'America’s Best Children’s Hospitals 2024,' and was listed in the top 10 in three other specialties.

Survey of U.S. Parents Highlights Need for More Awareness About Newborn Screening, Cystic Fibrosis and What to Do if Results are Abnormal
A national survey led by Lurie Children’s found that parents have insufficient knowledge of newborn screening in general and of cystic fibrosis (CF) in particular.
Research
The Division of Pulmonary Medicine actively engages in several research projects.
Fellowships
Keeping with our belief that quality education is inseparable from our quality patient care, we partner with Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine to train tomorrow’s leading pediatric physicians. As the pediatric teaching hospital for the Feinberg School, we offer a fellowship for residents to further their education in a pediatric specialty.
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.