Department of Pediatrics Research
The Department of Pediatrics at the University of Toledo is committed to advancing pediatric research and cultivating researchers who are driven to expand understanding in pediatric medicine. Through fostering innovative research initiatives and providing robust mentorship and resources, the department aims to develop the next generation of scientific leaders. Its overarching goal is to advance discoveries that can be rapidly translated into improved understanding, prevention, and treatment of pediatric diseases, ultimately enhancing the health and well-being of children.
Research Focus
- Examining how structural and system-level factors contribute to adverse health outcomes and healthcare disparities among maternal, child, and adolescent populations, particularly in underserved communities.
- Investigating vaccine uptake and hesitancy, with a focus on populations with limited access to care.
- Developing and evaluating digital health interventions, including telehealth platforms and patient portal systems.
- Training clinical providers to address social determinants of health within healthcare settings.
- Designing and implementing interprofessional training initiatives to enhance team-based care and clinical practice.
Current Projects
Understanding Social Determinants of Health and Their Influence on Pediatric Inpatient
Admissions听
Sharon T. Thomas, MD, Firzah Abdul Mujeeb, MD, Grace Kathryn Hamilton, MD, Mounika Polavarapu, MBBS, MPH, PhD, Shipra Singh, MBBS, MPH, PhD
Ambulatory and ED Utilization in Hospitalized Pediatric Patients听
Sharon T. Thomas, MD, Elizabeth Jean Dorsey, Elyssa Charlotte Feuer, David Sebastian Garcia, MD, Aaina
A. Gupta, MD, Mounika Polavarapu, MBBS, MPH, PhD, Shipra Singh, MBBS, MPH, PhD
Educating School Personnel Regarding Patients with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia
Syndrome (POTS)听
William Suarez, MD, Patricia Blazevic, Vincent Michael Smith, Kristina Lynn White
Standardization of Family-Centered Rounds听
Joseph S. Alecusan, MD, Rajat Kaul, MD, Ronitha Devi Madras Prakash Kumar, MD
From Bench to Breath: Next-Step Diagnostics and Therapeutic Development for Cyanotoxin
Exposure听
Steven Haller, PhD, David Kennedy, PhD, Deepa Mukundan, MD, Andrew Fribley, PhD, Deepak Malhotra, MD,
Apurva Lad, Neeraja Purandare, Erin Crawford, Bivek Timalsina
Perspectives on Changing Healthcare Trends for Special Needs Children among Providers
Practicing in the Midwest US听
Mounika Polavarapu, MBBS, MPH, PhD, Shipra Singh, MBBS, MPH, PhD, Syed Shehryar Azeem, MBBS, MPH, Hannah Almlie, Anika
Banerjee
Pediatric Meningitis Outcomes Study: Cross pathogen comparison of clinical and long-term
sequelae, including ICU utilization, length of stay, mortality, and hearing outcomes
Deepa Mukundan, MD, Joseph S. Alecusan, MD, Audrey G. Phillips, MD, Regis Charles Whiteside, MD, Eshita
Pramodini Kashaboina, Esha Damini Kashaboina
Understanding and Addressing Parental Vaccine Hesitancy to Improve Childhood Immunization
Rates in Northwest Ohio
Jennifer Fallon DeLucia, MD, Shipra Singh, MBBS, MPH, PhD, Mounika Polavarapu, MBBS, MPH, PhD, Tolani Are, MD,
Syed Shehryar Azeem, MBBS, MPH, Sarah Jadyn Lux, Ashlyn Dillingham, Savannah Holiday
Exploring Parents' Perceptions and Mistrust Toward Changing Healthcare Trends for
Children with Special Needs
Madeline Wolfe, Emily Gong, Deepa Mukundan, MD, Shipra Singh, MBBS, MPH, PhD, Mounika Polavarapu, MBBS, MPH, PhD, Syed Shehryar Azeem, MBBS, MPH
Collaborative for Children with Special Needs
The Collaborative for Children with Special Needs (CCSN) serves as an open forum and virtual community, connecting researchers across the region to foster idea-sharing, collaboration, and the advancement of pediatric research at UTCOMLS.听
Changing Trends in Healthcare - Parent鈥檚 Perspective
A research initiative dedicated to understanding how parents of children with special needs perceive and respond to evolving healthcare practices. This study explores parent鈥檚 trust, decision-making, and experiences related to vaccines, medications, nutrition, and the information sources they rely on to support their child鈥檚 health.听
Changing Trends in Healthcare - Provider鈥檚 Perspective
A complementary study focusing on healthcare providers鈥� experiences with emerging trends in the care of children with special needs. The project examines perspectives on communication, clinical practice, and patient satisfaction, offering insight into how 听 听 providers navigate an evolving healthcare landscape.听
Research Faculty and Staff
Mounika Polavarapu, Ph.D., MBBS, MPH, CPH
Associate Professor (Department of Population Health)
Research Faculty, Department of Pediatrics and Obstetrics and Gynecology
Mounika.polavarapu@utoledo.edu听
听
Shipra Singh, Ph.D., MBBS, MPH
Professor (Department of Population Health)
Director of the Interdisciplinary Health Research Center
Research Faculty, Department of Pediatrics and Obstetrics and Gynecology听
Shipra.singh2@utoledo.edu听
听
Helpful Links
兔子先生传媒文化作品 Institutional Review Boards & Human Research Protection Program
IRB - Biomed: Email: IRB.Biomed@兔子先生传媒文化作品.edu Office Phone: 419.383.6796
IRB - SBE: Email: IRB.SBE@兔子先生传媒文化作品.edu Office Phone: 419.530.6167
Email: phsirb@promedica.org Office Phone: 419.291.5362
TriNetX: is a global health research network that connects researchers to large, real time patient datasets to support study design, collaboration, and clinical trial development. At the University of Toledo, it enables investigators to analyze local patient populations and collaborate with institutions worldwide, supporting high quality, multi-site research. It is especially valuable for pediatric research by providing access to larger datasets, allowing the study of rare conditions and improving evidence-based care for children.听