Pediatric Pulmonology
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
Lurie Children's Hospital Outpatient Center in Schaumburg (Opening Fall 2025)
1895 Arbor Glen Boulevard
Schaumburg, Illinois 60195
1.800.543.7362
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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.