Septic shock results from a dysregulated response to infection and often leads to life-threatening organ dysfunction. Since septic shock has a rate of mortality in children, in part linked to cardiac dysfunction, it is essential to research myocardial dysfunction in sepsis to develop targeted treatment and improve outcomes.

Sepsis-associated myocardial dysfunction is common in children with septic shock. However, the genetic and physiological features that influence children to develop sepsis-associated myocardial dysfunction are not well defined and current therapy for myocardial dysfunction only consists of supportive care.

Our research program is based on the bedside-to-bench method to solve clinically driven problems. In our laboratory, my team and I apply translational research methods to study the essential systems by which serum factors and cellular responses drive myocardial dysfunction in sepsis using both in vitro and in vivo modeling. Ultimately, we hope to bring results back to the bedside and reduce mortality in pediatric septic shock. Clinically, I specialize in pediatric critical care medicine. I feel fortunate to care for children when they are at their sickest and help lead families and patients through critical illness. My daily clinical experiences in the intensive care unit strongly motivate my research, which aims to improve the survival of children with septic shock.

I received the Child Health Research Career Development Award (CHRCDA) program K12 from 2017 to 2019 for my research in modeling the developmental effects of myocardial dysfunction in sepsis. My research has been published in multiple journals, including Critical Care Medicine, American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Critical Care Explorations, Academic Emergency Medicine, Hospital Pediatrics and Pediatrics.