Endowed chairs at Norton Children’s Hospital are recognized for having made significant accomplishments in their field of study, and they continue to bring forth advancements to ensure a high level of care for our patients.
Erle H. Austin III, M.D. Endowed Chair in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery
Dr. Alsoufi is a pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon and director of pediatric cardiac surgery at Norton Children’s Heart Institute, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine. He also serves as chief of the UofL School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics Division of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery.
He joined Norton Children’s Heart Institute and the UofL School of Medicine in 2018 after serving as associate professor of surgery at Emory University and a congenital cardiac surgeon at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Dr. Alsoufi is certified by the American Board of Surgery, American Board of Thoracic Surgery, American Board of Thoracic Surgery Congenital Cardiac Surgery subspecialty and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, Cardiac Surgery Specialty.Dr. Alsoufi specializes in all aspects of pediatric and adult congenital cardiac surgery, with special interests in complex neonatal cardiac surgery, single ventricle palliation, pediatric valvular heart disease and heart transplantation. His research interests include mechanical circulatory support of the single ventricle, clinical outcome research including single ventricle palliation, neonatal surgery, pediatric valvular heart disease, and extracorporeal (ECMO) support. He is lead author or co-author on 150 peer-reviewed journal articles and has presented at more than 100 international, national, regional and institutional conferences. The Erle H. Austin III, M.D. Endowed Chair in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery is made possible through funding from the Norton Children’s Hospital Foundation and University of Louisville Foundation. It is named in honor of longtime Louisville pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon Erle H. Austin III, M.D.
Billy F. Andrews, M.D. Endowed Chair in Pediatrics
Dr. Boland is a pediatric hospital medicine specialist with Norton Children’s Inpatient Care, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, and practices at Norton Children’s Hospital. Dr. Boland currently serves as professor and chair for the Department of Pediatrics for the University of Louisville School of Medicine. She is also assistant dean of resident education and work environment in graduate medical education. She has served on numerous boards locally and nationally, focused on the improvement of medical education. She is a past president of the Kentucky Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics and current District IV representative to the National Nominating Committee, American Academy of Pediatrics.
Dr. Boland is involved in resident and student medical education and advocacy, with her most recent focus on development and evaluation of innovative curricula in areas such as advocacy, social justice, communication, procedural medicine, evidence-based medicine, crisis management and global health initiatives, as well as faculty development. Dr. Boland’s research includes medical education and advocacy, and her work has been featured in numerous publications.
The Billy F. Andrews, M.D. endowed chair in pediatrics was established by the University of Louisville in 1993 in honor of Dr. Andrews, who was a pioneer in clinical neonatology and served at the chairman of the Department of Pediatrics and then as a professor and chairman emeritus.
Endowed Chair in Pediatric Clinical and Translational Research
Dr. Brothers is a board-certified pediatrician who practices with Norton Children’s Medical Group, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, at Norton Children’s Hospital, and with Norton Children’s Medical Group – Novak Center. Dr. Brothers is an associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the UofL School of Medicine, where he is also affiliated with the Institute for Bioethics, Health Policy and Law. He was previously at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, Tennessee.
Dr. Brothers serves with several national groups involved in research, most notably the Clinical Sequencing Evidence-Generating Research Consortium, a multisite research program funded jointly by the National Human Genome Research Institute and National Cancer Institute that conducts translational research to evaluate the integration of genome and exome sequencing into clinical care.
He also serves as a member of the Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This committee advises the secretary of health and human services on federal newborn screening policy.
His research focuses on the translation of genomic technologies into pediatric clinical care. His research efforts have been funded virtually continuously since 2007, and he currently is involved in National Institutes of Health-sponsored research projects that are funded at a total of approximately $7 million.
In addition, he is an associate editor for the journal Genetics in Medicine, the official journal of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics, and has served as a reviewer for over 25 professional journals, including Science, PLOS One, Pediatrics, American Journal of Medical Genetics and others. He has authored over 60 peer-reviewed articles, and has been invited to lecture on ethical issues in genetics across the country and internationally.
Norton Children’s Hospital Foundation Chair for Pediatric Research
Dr. Cai serves a professor of pediatrics; radiation oncology; and pharmacology and toxicology for the UofL School of Medicine. He is also the director of the Pediatric Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, for the university. The Pediatric Research Institute’s mission is to improve children’s health, development and well-being through high-quality research. The institute currently houses research programs in sleep neurobiology and Type 1 diabetes.
Dr. Cai’s research interests include cardiovascular complications of diabetes and obesity; antioxidant metallothionein and its preventive effect on oxidative damage; trace element (zinc, copper, iron) homeostasis; and the biological effects of low-dose radiation. Learn more about Dr. Cai’s work and publications through his research biography.
The Norton Children’s Hospital Foundation chair for pediatric research has been made possible by the Norton Children’s Hospital
Hirikati S. Nagaraj, M.D. Endowed Chair in Pediatric Surgery
Dr. Downard is the surgeon-in-chief of Norton Children’s Hospital and division chief of pediatric surgery at the UofL School of Medicine. She is a pediatric surgeon with Norton Children’s Surgery, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine. She is a tenured professor of pediatric surgery and the program director of the Pediatric Surgery Fellowship Training Program. Dr. Downard joined UofL in 2007. She was previously the director of surgical critical care at Norton Children’s Hospital. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the American Pediatric Surgical Association. Her clinical expertise includes laparoscopy and thoracoscopy as well as neonates with congenital anomalies.
Dr. Downard has previously pursued research with the UofL Microvascular Control Research Laboratory, aimed at finding new solutions to difficult clinical situations with specific focus on necrotizing enterocolitis and congenital diaphragmatic hernia.
At Norton Children’s Surgery, our fellowship-trained and board-certified pediatric surgeons are available around the clock to help kids from Louisville, Southern Indiana and beyond. They have the experience and skills to conduct a wide variety of operations.
From the most straightforward to the most complex surgeries, you can be confident that your child will receive the highest quality treatment. In addition, every child who has surgery at our hospital is cared for by a fellowship-trained pediatric anesthesiologist. These specialists help provide the safest care for your child.
The Hirikati S. Nagaraj, M.D. endowed chair in pediatric surgery was established in 2009 and pays tribute to Dr. Nagaraj and his more than 30 years of service as a pioneering pediatric surgeon caring for children throughout the region. This endowed chair has been made possible by generous philanthropic support from The Robert W. Rounsavall Jr. Family Foundation as well as several local businesses, individuals and families.
Mary E. Fallat, M.D., pediatric surgeon with Norton Children’s Surgery, who was the previous division chief of pediatric surgery and a colleague of Dr. Nagaraj’s for many years, was selected as the inaugural chair upon Dr. Nagaraj’s retirement in 2009 and held the position until 2020.
Rounsavall Professorship of Neonatology
Dr. Duncan is a neonatologist with Norton Children’s Neonatology, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, and a Kentucky native whose career has exemplified medical excellence and compassionate care through his teaching and research. He currently serves as the division chief of neonatal medicine for the UofL School of Medicine. He is board certified in pediatrics and neonatal-perinatal medicine by the American Board of Pediatrics.
His areas of clinical interest include the use of near-infrared spectroscopy and pulmonary hypertension. His research includes health care finance and economic evaluations. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a member of the Section on Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, where he serves as a coding trainer.
Norton Children’s provides the comprehensive, highly skilled care that newborns may need. With a proven team of accomplished neonatal specialists, our two Norton Children’s neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) are dedicated to caring for babies born prematurely or in need of advanced care or surgery.
Our providers, like Dr. Duncan, offer highly skilled care for your child. These doctors are professors and active researchers helping to advance medical care in the 21st century with clinical research and education.
The Rounsavall neonatology professorship was established in 2005 by a gift from the Robert W. Rounsavall Jr. Family Foundation as part of the Norton Children’s Hospital Foundation comprehensive campaign and the hospital’s growth plan. The Robert W. Rounsavall Jr. Family Foundation has been a loyal supporter of specialized pediatric health care since 2005. Other areas of the foundation’s philanthropic focus have included endowed positions in pediatric neuroscience/neurosurgery, neurology and general surgery, as well as an endowed chair in adult heart and vascular care.
Jack Henderson Chair of Pediatric Endocrinology
Dr. Foster has been a cornerstone for pediatric endocrine care in Louisville for more than 30 years. He is a pediatric endocrinologist with Norton Children’s Endocrinology, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, and holds a significant and influential leadership role as director of diabetes camps for the Wendy Novak Diabetes Institute. In addition to the center’s highest profile community leadership role, Dr. Foster also serves as medical director for Camp Hendon, the largest and longest-running camp for children with Type 1 diabetes in Kentucky. With Dr. Foster’s influence and leadership, Camp Hendon has grown annually, including a recent expansion to a second camp site near Ravenna, Kentucky to serve children with diabetes in Eastern Kentucky. In recognition for his service efforts, he has been named a “Top Doc” in pediatric endocrinology by Louisville Magazine over the past several years.
Dr. Foster is board certified in pediatrics and pediatric endocrinology by the American Board of Pediatrics. His clinical interests include growth disorders and diabetes. His research focuses on growth disorders. Dr. Foster’s work has been featured in numerous publications on topics including the impact of insurance coverage and the family on pediatric diabetes management, generalized anasarca, the rare pediatric brain disease Hashimoto’s encephalopathy and behavioral disorders associated with growth hormones.
Norton Children’s Hospital is the primary pediatric teaching hospital for the UofL School of Medicine, and the home of inpatient services for the Wendy Novak Diabetes Institute.
The Jack Henderson chair of pediatric endocrinology is made possible thanks the generosity of the Novak Family Foundation. In 2013, the foundation made a $5 million commitment to the Norton Children’s Hospital Foundation that funded the creation of a state-of-the-art comprehensive diabetes care center to offer education and treatment of Type 1 diabetes. The gift also provided support to endow and hire additional specialists and to enhance medical, technological and educational resources and programs available to families and improve inpatient and outpatient care facilities.
Norton Children’s Hospital Foundation Chair of Pediatric Neurosurgery
Dr. Moriarty is chief of pediatric neurosurgery at Norton Children’s Hospital and is a pediatric neurosurgeon with Norton Children’s Neuroscience Institute, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine. He is a gratis clinical professor of neurological surgery for the UofL School Of Medicine. Dr. Moriarty has practiced for more than 25 years and is certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery and the American Board of Pediatric Neurosurgery. He is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons/Congress of Neurological Surgeons Joint Section on Pediatrics, the American Society of Pediatric Neurosurgery and the International Society of Pediatric Neurosurgery. Dr. Moriarty was voted by his peers as one of Louisville Magazine’s Top Docs for 2019. He is also a Castle Connelly Top Doctor for many years.
Norton Children’s Neuroscience Institute is the current pediatric evolution of the neurosurgical program started in Louisville in 1927 by the neurosurgical pioneer Glen Spurling, M.D. Norton Children’s Neuroscience Institute now treats the entire range of pediatric neurosurgical conditions: trauma; brain and spine tumors; congenital brain and spine conditions; craniofacial disorders; hydrocephalus; vascular conditions; and functional neurosurgery.
Dr. Moriarty’s research efforts in Louisville have been focused on clinical effectiveness and innovation. Norton Healthcare was an early adopter of intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI) and was among the first centers in the world focused on iMRI for pediatric neurosurgery. Current research efforts are on best practices for surgical treatments for congenital brain and spine conditions.
The Norton Children’s Hospital Foundation chair of pediatric neurosurgery has been made possible by The Robert W. Rounsavall Jr. Family Foundation, which has been a loyal supporter of specialized pediatric health care since 2005. Other areas of its philanthropic focus have included endowed positions in neonatology, neurology and general surgery, as well as an endowed chair in adult heart and vascular care.
Cure CF Fellow in Pediatric Pulmonology
Dr. Orangias is a pediatric pulmonologist with Norton Children’s Pulmonology, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, and is the current Cure CF fellow in pediatric pulmonology through Norton Children’s Hospital and the UofL School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics. Dr. Orangias attended the UofL School of Medicine and completed his residency there.
The Norton Children’s Hospital Cystic Fibrosis Program is accredited by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
The CF program offers an interdisciplinary team approach to managing this complex disease and provides care for children and teens as they transition into adulthood. Each child’s care team includes physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, nutritionists, social workers and child life specialists. This team works together to provide a customized, family-centered care plan. Because CF affects the whole family, we also help coordinate home health services and other community resources.
The Cure CF fellow in pediatric pulmonology has been made possible by Cure CF Inc., a dedicated group of volunteers who work tirelessly to help cure cystic fibrosis in honor of those they love — children, family members and friends. Their mission is to fund research nationally and locally as well as create a center of excellence in our community, both of which will increase the quality of life for people with CF.
Gretchen C. Rounsavall Medical Director in Child Neurology
Dr. Puri is a child neurologist with Norton Children’s Neuroscience Institute, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, and a professor of neurology and pediatrics at the UofL School of Medicine. He has been on the faculty at the medical school since 1995 and is division chief for child neurology and the neurologist-in-chief at Norton Children’s Hospital. He is the founder of the division of child neurology, and under his direction the division has grown to 30 providers. The division also recruits and trains three child neurology residents a year. The division has multiple areas of subspecialization within child neurology and multidisciplinary clinics that include epilepsy, neuro-immunology, neuromuscular disorders, autism, cerebral palsy, stroke, movement disorders, neuro-oncology, tuberous sclerosis and neurofibromatosis.
Dr. Puri is a funded researcher and is the principal investigator for multiple clinical trials. He is a member of the American Academy of Neurology, Child Neurology Society, Professors of Child Neurology, Kentucky Medical Society and Commonwealth Neurological Society. He is well recognized for his commitment to education and to the community. He has served in multiple committees in the child neurology society, the University of Louisville and Norton Children’s Hospital. He serves on the board of directors for the Epilepsy Foundation of Kentuckiana.
Dr. Puri has received the Dean’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the UofL School of Medicine as well as other school and community awards. He has been voted as a Louisville “Top Doc” on multiple occasions by his peers as listed in Louisville Magazine.
He is most proud of mentoring multiple medical students who have pursued child neurology training at the most coveted programs in the country, many of who have come back and joined the division as faculty.
Dr. Puri has a special interest in inpatient and critical care neurology and in outpatient complex cases in child neurology. He is board certified in neurology with specialization in pediatric neurology as well as in neurodevelopmental disabilities by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. His work has been published in numerous journals. Select areas of study include juvenile myasthenia gravis, West Nile encephalitis, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome and pediatric migraines, among many others.
Norton Children’s Hospital offers outstanding neurological condition diagnosis, treatment and care through child neurology services provided by Norton Children’s Neuroscience Institute.
Our child neurologists treat conditions of the brain, spinal cord and all muscles, nerves and blood vessels in these two systems. Our team is dedicated to caring for children with some of the most complex neurological system and nervous system development disorders. We ensure that your family is part of the process and has answers and support along the way.
The Gretchen C. Rounsavall medical director in child neurology has been made possible by the generosity of the Robert W. Rounsavall Jr. Family Foundation, which has been a loyal supporter of specialized pediatric health care since 2005. Other areas of its philanthropic focus have included endowed positions in pediatric neuroscience/neurosurgery, neonatology and general surgery, as well as an endowed chair in adult heart and vascular care.
Carol B. McFerran Chair of Pediatric Diabetes Research
Yi Tan, Ph.D., serves as an associate professor of pediatrics for the UofL School of Medicine. His lab is focusing on studies related to signaling pathways and therapeutic strategies in diabetic complications including cardiomyopathy, vasculopathy, endothelial progenitor cell and ischemic angiogenesis, dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis. By using animal models with genetic manipulations and cutting-edge techniques in molecular and cell biology, his research seeks to develop effective strategies for preventing diabetic complications. One of the current research projects is supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). To see a research biography, click here.
The Carol B. McFerran chair of pediatric diabetes research has been made possibly by the Norton Children’s Hospital Foundation with support from the commonwealth of Kentucky.
Norton Children’s Hospital Foundation Chair for Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
Dr. Tse is a pediatric hematologist/oncologist with Norton Children’s Cancer Institute, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, and medical director of the pediatric Hanna Catherine Evans Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplant Program at Norton Children’s Hospital. He currently serves as associate professor in the University of Louisville School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics.
Dr. Tse provides outstanding leadership to the Norton Children’s blood and marrow transplant program team and helps bring innovation and excellence to the clinical program. He leads a dedicated team of medical providers, nurse clinicians and nurse practitioners who provide cutting-edge and comprehensive care to children and young adults with high-risk malignancies, immunodeficiencies and severe blood diseases.
His research activities focus on the development of effective next-generation cellular immunotherapies to treat childhood leukemia and solid tumors. His laboratory breaks new ground in delineating the cellular and molecular basis of the phenotypic heterogeneity of CAR T-cells, a novel form of targeted immunotherapy that shows great promise in combating hard-to-treat types of leukemia. His laboratory also leverages CRISPR-based genome editing technology to develop universal-donor, dual-specificity CAR T-cells to fight cancer and is pioneering the use of a new multiplex immunofluorescence imaging platform to profile the immune microenvironment surrounding pediatric solid tumors.
Dr. Tse volunteered as a lead clinical inspector for the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy and served as a member of its FACT-CIBMTR Data Audit Committee. He is a member of many national and international professional organizations, including the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, the American Society of Hematology, and the International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy.
Wendy L. Novak Chair of Pediatric Diabetes Care and Clinical Research
Dr. Wintergerst is a pediatric endocrinologist with Norton Children’s Endocrinology, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, and serves as the division chief of pediatric endocrinology for the UofL School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics, where he is professor of pediatrics. He also has served as director of the Wendy Novak Diabetes Institute since 2013. Dr. Wintergerst leads the center’s use of advanced technologies and therapeutics for advanced diabetes care, community and medical education, and innovative clinical research.
While continuing to care for patients in the clinical setting, he maintains a strong interest in teaching, community service, public health and clinical research and holds several local, regional and national leadership positions. His primary clinical and research focus is in the realm of diabetes mellitus; improving life, preventing, and, ultimately curing Type 1 diabetes. He became director of TrialNet Diabetes Studies, an international research consortium for the prevention of Type 1 diabetes mellitus, in 2011, and director of the Type 1 Diabetes Exchange and Pediatric Diabetes Consortium in 2015 and 2017.
Combining specialists from Norton Children’s and the UofL School of Medicine, the Wendy Novak Diabetes Institute works to provide the best possible care for children with diabetes. Our diabetes research team develops medical and technological innovations for a better future living with diabetes.
The Wendy L. Novak chair of pediatric diabetes care and clinical research is made possible thanks to the generosity of the Novak Family Foundation. In 2013, the foundation made a $5 million commitment to the Norton Children’s Hospital Foundation that funded the creation of a state-of-the-art comprehensive diabetes care center to offer education and treatment of Type 1 diabetes. The gift also provided support to endow and hire additional specialists; enhance medical, technological and educational resources and programs available to families; and improve inpatient and outpatient care facilities.