Welcome to the Stead Family Department of Pediatrics

Alexander G. Bassuk, MD, PhD

Chair and Department Executive Officer

Welcome to the University of Iowa's Stead Family Children's Hospital. We are proud to showcase our extraordinary clinical care, dedication to the education of students and young physicians, and our world-class research programs.

Our comprehensive medical, surgical, and nursing services span the full spectrum of pediatric care. The consistently high rankings we receive on national and international benchmarks attest to the exceptional quality of care we provide. With more than 127,000 annual outpatient visits and more than 10,000 admissions to the 165 beds at University of Iowa's Stead Family Children's Hospital, we draw patients regionally, nationally, and internationally. Our commitment to family-centered care and our outstanding facilities have been praised for their innovative and patient-friendly design.

We are dedicated to excellence in the education of medical students, residents, and fellows, as reflected by a competency-based curriculum that is designed to provide practitioners with comprehensive knowledge and outstanding skills. The clinical and research efforts of trainees are closely mentored and nurtured. Our graduates move on to successful careers in clinical practice and academic pediatrics.

From genomics to cancer biology, from clinical trials to outcomes research, the department consistently ranks among the top National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded Pediatric Departments nationally. Our faculty and staff are engaged in cutting edge basic science and patient-oriented research in our unwavering quest to improve the health and well-being of all children.

Meet our Division and Faculty

We have a diverse faculty with wide-ranging clinical and research interests. Many are internationally known and have been in the department for many years. We also have bright young faculty who bring new interests and enthusiasm to the practice and teaching of pediatric critical care. All clinical faculty participate in Fellow training, clinical practice, and research.

Sarah Haskell, DO
Division Chief

Aditya Badheka, MBBS, MS
Medical Director

Cody Tigges, DO, FAAP
Fellowship Program Director

Shilpa Balikai, DO, MSEd
Associate Fellowship Program Director

Kari Wellnitz, MD
Transport Director​

Our Faculty

  • Aditya Badheka, MBBS, MS
  • Shilpa Balikai, DO
  • Lauren Bodilly, MD
  • LeeAnne Flygt, MD
  • Sarah Haskell, DO
  • Nikki Kamps, MD
  • Mitchell Luangrath, MD
  • Elizabeth Newell, MD
  • Carolina Quintana Gijalba, MD
  • Mahil Rao, MD
  • Katharine Robb, MD
  • Cody Tigges, DO, FAAP
  • Kari Wellnitz, MD

Full listing

 

Nurse Practitioners

Jodi Bloxham
Susan Connolly
Heather Elmore
Katelin Hildreth
Danielle Hodge
Tricia Michna
Brittany Pechous
Megan VanderPloeg
Taryn Wisor
Casie Wagner
 

Nurse Managers

Jennifer Erdahl (Nurse Manager)
Lindsay Fayram (Assistant Nurse Manager)
Nicole Artioli (Assistant Nurse Manager)

Educators

Paula Levette
Mandi Houston