Meet Our SPROUT Specialists

Attending Physician, Pediatric Urologist

A co-founding director, Earl Y. Cheng, MD, is a board-certified pediatric urologist. Dr. Cheng completed his urology residency at Northwestern University and his pediatric urology fellowship at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago.  He is currently Professor of Urology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. He is a national expert in complex reconstructive urology and has a special interest in the medical and surgical management of individuals with sex development conditions. He also co-directs a basic science laboratory with Arun Sharma, PhD, that focuses on tissue engineering techniques for the urinary tract. Dr. Cheng provides direct clinical care as a member of our SPROUT team. View Dr. Cheng's profile video.

Co-Director, Medical; Endocrinologist 

Dr. Finlayson is a pediatric endocrinologist with specific clinical and research interests in conditions affecting reproductive and sex development in pediatrics. These include congenital adrenal hyperplasia, Klinefelter syndrome, differences of sex development (DSD) and intersex conditions. She is the Medical Director of the Lurie Children's SPROUT Program, the Medical Director of the Lurie Children’s Klinefelter Syndrome Program and a member of the Lurie Children’s Fertility Preservation & Hormone Restoration Program. Dr. Finlayson studies diagnosis of and ongoing care for these conditions with specific interest in fertility preservation.  She is engaged in many studies to further understanding of these topics and for industry studies of new therapies for congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

Behavioral Health Director; Psychiatry & Behavioral Health; Pediatric Psychologist

Diane Chen, PhD, ABPP, is a board-certified clinical child and adolescent psychologist and founding psychologist of the Gender Development Program and SPROUT. She is a Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Pediatrics, and Medical Social Sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Dr. Chen completed her doctoral training at Temple University, and pre-doctoral internship and post-doctoral fellowship at Lurie Children’s. Dr. Chen provides consultation, assessment, and therapeutic services as part of the SPROUT team. She maintains an active research program broadly focused on psychosocial functioning, reproductive health and fertility preservation, and medical decision-making among gender diverse youth and youth with differences of sex development.

Pediatric Surgeon

Dr. Grabowski is a board-certified pediatric surgeon with a special interest in the treatment of patients with anorectal malformations (imperforate anus, cloaca), Hirschsprung disease, colonic dysmotility and constipation, inflammatory bowel disease, and other colorectal and intestinal diseases.

Dr. Grabowski’s practice also includes the full breadth of pediatric surgery including hernias, gastrostomy tube placement, gallbladder disease, appendicitis, pilonidal disease, gastroesophageal malformations, traumatic injuries, and adolescent breast disease, among others.

Co-Director, Surgical; Pediatric Urologist

Emilie K. Johnson, MD, MPH, FACS, FAAP is an attending urologist at Lurie Children’s and an Associate Professor in Urology at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Dr. Johnson joined the faculty in 2014 from Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School, where she completed a joint fellowship in pediatric urology and pediatric health services research. Dr. Johnson is an active member of numerous professional societies and is on the Journal of Pediatric Urology editorial board. She is the author of >100 peer-reviewed publications and is frequently invited to speak regionally, nationally and internationally on topics related to her research, and to urologic clinical practice. She also has an interest in, and commitment to, clinical and health services research. These types of research aim to understand the patient and family experience, with a major goal of helping doctors provide the best treatments for each individual.

Genetic Counselor 

Elizabeth Leeth, MS, is a board-certified in genetic counselor. Elizabeth was previously on faculty as an educator and Assistant Director as the Northwestern University Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling. She has a specific interest in the genetics of sex development and has helped to develop genetic testing strategies for the Differences of Sexual Development clinic. 

Pediatric Psychologist

Jaclyn L. Papadakis, PhD, is a medical psychologist in the Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Lurie Children’s and an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She specializes in the mental/behavioral health of youth with chronic health conditions, specifically conditions that involve urology and endocrinology specialty care. As part of SPROUT, she provides consultation, psychotherapy, and assessment, both in the interdisciplinary clinic and her outpatient clinic. She has additional roles in the hospital, including working with the Spina Bifida Center. She leads several programs of research focused on topics such as psychosocial and family functioning, medical decision making, and the transition to adult health care. Dr. Papadakis received her PhD (2018), MA (2015), and BS (2010) in Clinical Psychology from Loyola University Chicago, and completed her pre-doctoral internship (2018) and post-doctoral training (2019) in Clinical Child and Pediatric Psychology at Lurie Children’s.

Genetic Counselor 

Allison Goetsch Weisman, MS, CGC (she/her), is a board-certified genetic counselor who has worked in pediatric genetics at Lurie Children’s Hospital since 2014. She is also an Assistant Research Professor at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. Allison’s clinical and research interests include the genetics of endocrinopathies, intersex variations, and complex medical conditions that may affect fertility. She is particularly interested in integrating genetics into multidisciplinary care to improve diagnostic clarity, guide medical management, and support patients and families in understanding genetic information and how it relates to their health and daily lives. In her role with SPROUT, she provides genetic counseling and coordinates genetic testing for patients and their families.

Interim Division Head, Urology

Elizabeth B. Yerkes, MD​, is a board-certified pediatric urologist. Dr. Yerkes completed her urology residency at Vanderbilt University and her Pediatric Urology fellowship at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. She is Associate Professor of Urology and has been on faculty at Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago since 2005. As a member of the Division of Pediatric Urology, she is Director of Pediatric and Adolescent Urogynecology and Co-Director of Complex Reconstruction. Dr. Yerkes has special interest in the medical and surgical care of individuals with sex development conditions and associated complex anomalies of the genitourinary tract.  

Program Coordinator

Danielle Lee, MBA, LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker and the clinical coordinator of the SPROUT Program at Lurie Children's. She holds a Master of Social Work from University of St. Thomas and a Master of Business Administration from National Louis University. Danielle is deeply committed to supporting the psychosocial needs of children and families. Through her work with the SPROUT program, she serves as a primary point of contact for families, providing guidance and developing family-centered events and initiatives designed to strengthen connection, education, and community.

Health Educator (they/them)

Adam Davies is a Health Educator for SPROUT at Lurie Children’s and a current first-year medical student at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine. Adam draws from their experience living with a difference of sex development to provide resources for patients and help develop educational materials to be used in clinic. They can be found attending clinic on Fridays or planning support group events. They have a passion for health equity, LGBTQ+ support and medical education. 

Health Educator (she/her/hers)

Adrienne Marks, is a dual-certified Family and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. She received her undergraduate nursing degree from the University of Portland and her graduate nursing training from the University of Southern California and the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Adrienne is a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community and an individual living with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH). In her role as health educator, she serves as an advocate for individuals living with CAH and helps to educate the community regarding all aspects of CAH. She has a passion for healthy policy, specifically adrenal crisis health care access and emergency medication training.