I am a Pediatric Infectious Diseases physician and scientist. Research in my laboratory is focused on understanding how viruses infect and cause pathogenesis in the pediatric brain. The approach that we take is to identify clinical viral isolates associated with pediatric infection and poor neurologic outcomes, and bring these isolates back to the lab to assess the mechanism by which this occurs. We use viral whole genome sequencing, human and murine neuronal in vitro models, and murine in vivo models, as well as reverse genetics to understand clinical viral virulence factors. The current focus of the lab is to determine virulence factors contributing to neonatal herpes simplex virus (HSV) encephalitis.

Academic Focus: Herpes simplex virus and other human herpesviruses; Neurologic viral infections; Neonatal viral infections; Viral genetic variation and impact on clinical manifestations.

Clinical Focus: All areas of pediatric infectious diseases, with a particular interest in neurologic infections, neonatal infections, and herpesvirus infections.

Board Certification: General Pediatrics, American Board of Pediatrics

Board Certification: Pediatric Infectious Diseases, American Board of Pediatrics

Resident: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Pediatrics (2014)

Fellow: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Pediatric Infectious Diseases (2017)