When your child or your patient needs a pediatrician, you can feel good about turning to St. Christopher's Hospital for Children. For the 100+ physicians, there is no calling more fulfilling than helping children get well. Every physician on our Department of Pediatrics staff is board certified in pediatrics or other subspecialties and serves on the faculty of Drexel University College of Medicine.
At St. Christopher's we are proud to offer a unified, collaborative approach to treating every child who comes to us or is referred to us for expert care. All of the physicians, nurses and support staff working within the Department of Pediatrics' various sections cooperate closely with each other and with referring physicians, patients and their families. Our physicians also are actively involved in medical education, community service, advocacy and research in the advancement of medicine.
Section of Allergy
Section of Cardiology
Section of Clinical Genetics and Dysmorphology
Section of Critical Care
Section of Developmental Pediatrics
Section of Endocrinology and Diabetes
Section of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition
Section of Allergy
The Section of Allergy provides comprehensive consultative services, including immediate and long-term care, for the evaluation and treatment of children with a wide spectrum of allergic diseases. The staff treats children with a variety of allergic conditions, including acute and chronic asthma, chronic cough, recurrent respiratory infections, allergic rhinitis, urticaria and drug hypersensitivity. The staff has a special interest in bronchial asthma. Services for all age groups, including infants, are:
Appointments: 215-427-8800
Section of Cardiology
The Section of Cardiology provides comprehensive diagnosis and treatment of infants, children and adolescents with congenital or acquired heart disease. The pediatric cardiology services are provided at the Heart Center for Children at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children and satellite pediatric cardiology outpatient facilities. The diagnostic services are provided for patients with cardiac dysrythmias, congenital cardiovascular malformations, acquired heart disease, hyperlipidemia and systemic hypertension.
Nonsurgical correction of certain cardiovascular malformations is provided by experts in interventional cardiology. Surgical correction of pediatric cardiovascular diseases and complex cardiovascular malformations of newborns and young infants are provided by a team of surgeons with expertise in pediatric cardiovascular surgery. Outpatient services are provided in clinics for cardiovascular disease of infants, children, and young adults with congenital cardiovascular disease:
Noninvasive laboratories offer:
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Echocardiography laboratories for transthoracic, transesophageal and prenatal echocardiology
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Ambulatory electrocardiography monitoring (Holter monitoring), transtelephonic event, electrocardiography monitoring, and pacemaker monitoring
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Exercise physiology and exercise electrocardiography
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Tilt table testing
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Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (cine MRI and MRA)
Invasive procedures include:
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Diagnostic cardiac catheterization and angiocardiography
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Interventional cardiac catheterization for balloon valvuloplasty and angioplasty
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Transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus and abnormal vessels using coils and devices
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Transcatheter closure of arterial septal defect, PFO and fenestrations using the Amplatzer Device
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Stent placement for correction of arterial and venous obstructions
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Transcatheter ablation to cure cardiac and rhythm disturbances
John Murphy, MD
Chief, Section of Cardiology
Professor of Pediatrics
Medical School: University of Vermont, College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
Special Training:
Residency: Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Fellowship: Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Boston, MA
Staff Appointment: 2005
Special Interests: Interventional cardiology
Appointments: 215-427-4820
Richard Kardon, DO
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Medical School: University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, (UMDNJ), New Brunswick, NJ
Special Training:
Residency: Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
Fellowship: Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH
Staff Appointment: 1999
Special Interests: Echocardiography
Appointments: 215-427-4820
Nandini Madan, MBBS, MD
Clinical Instructor, Cardiology
Medical School: Maulana Azud Medical College, New Delhi, India
Special Training:
Residency: Maulana Azad Medical College and LNJP Hospital, India; The Children's Hospital of New Jersey, Newark, NJ
Fellowship: Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH
Staff Appointment: 1999
Special Interests: Echocardiography, electrophysiology
Appointments: 215-427-4820
C. Igor Mesia, MD
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Medical School: Universidad Peruana Cavetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
Special Training:
Residency: Children’s Hospital at the University of Texas, Medical Branch, Galveston, TX
Fellowship: Medical College of Virginia and the Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
Staff Appointment: 2004
Special Interests: Cardiac catheterization
Appointments: 215-427-4820
Anna C. O’Riordan, MD
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Medical School: Hahnemann Medical College
Special Training:
Residency: St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children
Fellowship: St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children
Staff Appointment: 1961
Special Interests: Clinical cardiology, advanced cardiac life support
Appointments: 215-427-4820
Section of Clinical Genetics and Dysmorphology
The Section of Clinical Genetics and Dysmorphology provides comprehensive genetic evaluations of patients with birth defects, developmental delay, suspected genetic abnormalities, family histories of genetic disorders and adult onset genetic diseases. Advanced testing facilities available at St. Christopher’s include a cytogenetics laboratory.
For more information or to make an appointment, please call 215-427-8413.
Carol E. Anderson, MD
Chief, Section of Clinical Genetics and Dysmorphology
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Medical School: Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
Special Training:
Residency: Case Western Reserve,
Cleveland, OH
Fellowship: UCLA School of Medicine, Torrance, CA
Staff Appointment: 1997
Special Interests: Genetic evaluation and counseling for families with members afflicted with neurologic disorders, developmental disabilities, malformations, other chronic diseases
Appointments: 215-427-8413
Section of Critical Care
The Section of Critical Care is staffed by pediatric intensivists who provide medical direction of the acute and intermediate intensive care units. The pediatric intensivists staff the critical care service and provide either primary or concurrent care within these units. The pediatric intensivists work closely with other specialists, house staff, pediatric critical care nurses, pediatric respiratory therapists, pediatric social workers and pediatric rehabilitation specialists who meet the needs of the entire family after a critical illness, trauma or operative procedure.
Sharon F. Calaman, MD
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Medical School: New York State University School of Medicine, Brooklyn, NY
Special Training:
Residency: Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY
Fellowship: Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY
Staff Appointment: 2005
Special Interests: Pediatric critical care
Office: 215-427-5220
Christine Schlichting, MD
Department of Critical Care
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
Medical School: University of Oregon Health Sciences Center, Portland, OR
Special Training:
Residency: University of Oregon Health Sciences Center, Portland, OR
Fellowship: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Staff Appointment: 1983
Special Interests: Pediatric critical care, pediatric anesthesia
office: 215-427-5220
Christine Schlichting, MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
Medical School: University of Oregon Health Sciences Center, Portland, OR
Special Training:
Residency: University of Oregon Health Sciences Center, Portland, OR
Fellowship: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Staff Appointment: 1983
Special Interests: Pediatric critical care, pediatric anesthesia
Office: 215-427-5220
Section of Developmental Pediatrics
The Section of Developmental Pediatrics offers evaluations of children experiencing cognitive and/or motor difficulties. The population served includes children with suspected or diagnosed developmental problems such as spina bifida, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, autism spectrum disorders, pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), learning disabilities and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The Section provides medical assessment and treatment services that include:
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Assessments for learning problems in pre-school children
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Developmental evaluations of premature infants
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Assessment of children with cerebral palsy
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Ongoing monitoring of children with spina bifida
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Ongoing management of children with ADHD
Appointments: 215-427-5531
Maureen A. Fee, MD, JD
Chief, Section of Developmental Pediatrics
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Medical School: Medical College of Pennsylvania
Special Training:
Residency: Medical College of Pennsylvania Hospital
Fellowship: St. Christopher's Hospital for Children
Staff Appointment: 1987
Special Interests: Care of children with developmental disabilities, pervasive developmental disorder/autism; cerebral palsy, mental retardation, spina bifida, ADHD, school problems, legal issues and the disabled
Appointments: 215-427-5531
Beth Parrish, MD
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Medical School: Medical College of Pennsylvania
Special Training:
Residency: Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Cleveland, OH
Fellowship: Children's Seashore House/Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Staff Appointment: 1993
Special Interests: Care of children with developmental disabilities, including pervasive developmental disorder/autism, developmental delays/mental retardation, ADHD
Appointments: 215-427-5531
Section of Endocrinology and Diabetes
The Section of Endocrinology and Diabetes offers comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic services for children and adolescents with:
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Endocrine disorders such as pituitary disorders, thyroid diseases, adrenal diseases and disorders of growth and pubertal development
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Hypoglycemia
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Diabetes mellitus
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Rickets and other disorders of mineral metabolism
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Osteoporosis
Since diabetes can have a profound effect on the life of a child and family, a team of physicians, nurses, social workers and nutritionists uses a multidisciplinary approach to provide medical care, education and support to the patient with diabetes and to their families.
Appointments: 215-427-8100
Francesco De Luca, MD
Chief, Section of Endocrinology and Diabetes
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Medical School: Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
Special Training:
Residency: Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy; Albert Einstein Medical Center
Fellowship: St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
Staff Appointment: 2001
Special Interests: Growth disorders, metabolic syndrome and osteoporosis
Appointments: 215-427-8100
Elizabeth A. Suarez, MD
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Medical School: University of the East Ramon
Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center, Quezon City, Philippines
Special Training:
Residency: St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, NY; Schneider Children’s Hospital, New Hyde Park, NY
Fellowship: Schneider Children’s Hospital, New Hyde Park, NY
Staff Appointment: 2001
Special Interests: Adrenal disorders and abnormalities of bone and mineral metabolism
Appointments: 215-427-8100
Section of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition
The Section of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition provides inpatient and outpatient diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of gastrointestinal, liver and nutritional disorders in infants, children and adolescents.
Intestinal symptoms and diseases include abdominal pain, constipation, gastroesophageal reflux, diarrhea and malabsorption syndromes, inflammatory bowel disease and intestinal bleeding. One of the Section’s physicians leads a team especially dedicated to the treatment and support of families with inflammatory bowel disease.
Liver diseases include hyperbilirubinemia, viral and autoimmune hepatitis, liver failure, neonatal cholestasis and metabolic liver disease. A member of this Section is a hepatologist and the Medical Director of the Liver Transplant team.
Nutritional diseases include failure to thrive, feeding disorders, short bowel syndrome and obesity. Evaluations and treatment include specialized enteral and parental nutrition on both an inpatient and outpatient basis. A member of this Section co-directs the Healthy Weight Awareness Program.
Through the Gastroenterology (GI) Diagnostic Laboratory, the Section provides procedural services including upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy, intraesophageal pH probe monitoring and small bowel, liver and rectal biopsies. Other services include breath hydrogen testing for children with suspected lactose intolerance and breath testing for H. Pylorii infections. Section specialists are skilled at therapeutic endoscopic procedures including foreign body removal, polypectomy, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube placement and esophageal dilatation for esophageal strictures.
The liver transplant program, directed by Burckhardt Ringe, MD and Humberto Soriano, MD, is a multi specialty, multidisciplinary team providing comprehensive care for the child with end stage, severe, or life-threatening liver or metabolic disease.
Alan D. Baldridge, MD
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Medical School: Medical College of Virginia, Richmond, VA
Special Training:
Residency: Boston City Hospital, Boston, MA
Fellowship: Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA,
The Massachusetts General Hospital of Boston, Boston, MA
Staff Appointment: 2004
Special Interest: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), celiac disease
Appointments: 215-427-6778
Kathy D. Chen, MD
Medical Director, Healthy Weight Awareness Program
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Medical School: University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
Special Training:
Residency: Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY
Fellowship: Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY
Staff Appointment: 2004
Special Interest: Gastroesophageal reflux, childhood constipation, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), liver disease, child obesity, food allergies
Appointments: 215-427-6778
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