OFFICERS
COUNCIL MEMBERS
RITA RYAN
Dr. Rita Marie Ryan is a Professor of Pediatrics at Case Western Reserve University and UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, a top ten USNWR children’s hospital, in Cleveland, Ohio. This is the same hospital where Dr. Eleanor Molloy (former IAPS President) did part of her neonatology training years ago. Dr. Ryan is a physician-scientist who studies neonatal lung biology in the laboratory and also performs general neonatology clinical research. Her main disease of interest is bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), a chronic lung disease of premature infants. All four of Rita’s grandparents were born in Ireland and include Farry, Tully, Malone and Ryan. Her grandmother Malone and grandfather Ryan from county Kilkenny came through Ellis Island and Hoboken NJ respectively, met at a Kilkenny ceili in NYC, had eight children, and Dr. Ryan is the third oldest of their 26 grandchildren. Rita wants to get her Irish citizenship which her dad and sister have. Dr. Ryan is a former President and Council member for IAPS.
SHEENA DURNIN
Consultant in Paediatric Emergency Medicine in Children’s Health Ireland at Tallaght since March 2019. Undergraduate degree in Software Systems. Graduate of University of Wales (Cardiff and Swansea Schools of Medicine) with honours. Postgraduate cert in Sexual Assault Forensic Examination from University College Dublin. Masters of Health Sciences (Clinical Education) with honours from National University of Ireland, Galway. Previously worked for two years as paramedic with Health Service Executive. Completed paediatric higher specialist training in Ireland and undertook a fellowship including Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health GRID training in PEM in Birmingham Children’s Hospital, UK and Leicester Royal Infirmary, UK for two and a half years. Site lead on multiple PERUKI studies. Special interests in research, neurodiversity, procedural sedation, point of care ultrasound and echocardiography. Dr. Durnin is the current President of the IAPS.
JOHN MCLAUGHLIN
M.D., Dublin University, Dublin, IRL, 1974
Consultant Pediatric Pulmonologist , Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 1980.
Private Pediatric Practice, Boston, MA, 1986-present.
Immediate IAPS Past-President
WILLIAM (WILLIE) O'CONNOR
Born, Cork Ireland 12-28-1949
Medical School: University College Cork (UCC).
MB BCH BAO 1972.
Transitional Intern/Resident in Anatomic Pathology, USA.
Yale program, Waterbury CT; and Georgetown University ,Washington DC.
Faculty Pathologist University of Kentucky, Lexington 1977.
Member Irish and American Pediatric Society: joined 1978 (sponsor Dr Jackie Noonan) to present.
Interests: Education and research in Pediatrics, Pediatric Pathology and Cardiovascular disease in children.
Hobbies: Irish Silver makers especially provincial, and Irish Postal History.
MEREDITH KINOSHITA
Dr. Kinoshita is a Clinical Fellow in Neonatology at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. Her research is focused on breastfeeding in preterm infants. She has explored various methods to assess breastmilk volume during breastfeeding, including test weighing and the use of isotope-labeled water. Her work aims to improve breastfeeding practices and outcomes for preterm infants, addressing challenges such as accurate milk transfer measurement and the transition from nasogastric to oral feeding.
Dr. Echezona Maduekwe is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology at Stony Brook University. He is an expert in the specialized care of newborns, particularly those facing considerable health challenges or premature birth. After considerable medical training in Ireland, he chose to relocate to the United States in 2006, completing his Pediatric Residency at Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center, New York, and his fellowship in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, New York.
Dr. Maduekwe's contributions extend beyond clinical practice, encompassing significant research endeavors. His investigations span diverse areas such as oxygen toxicity, hematological measurements in umbilical cord blood, neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia, Hypoglycemia risk scores, Oxi-pneumogram and reflux, neonatal impact of prenatal magnesium exposure, Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, and neonatal endotracheal tube depth determination. A fervent advocate for evidence-based medicine, Dr. Maduekwe is deeply committed to research that advances outcomes for prematurely born infants.
COLM TRAVERS
Education
Medical School
University College in Dublin, Ireland
Pediatric Residency
Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Neonatal-Perinatal Fellowship
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Interests
Reducing major morbidities and mortality among preterm infants, long term outcomes in survivors of prematurity, implementation of evidence based practice, disparities in neonatal-perinatal care, and global neonatal health. Dr. Travers is the current Scientific Advisor for the IAPS.
AOIFE BRANAGAN
Dr. Aoife Branagan is Specialist Registrar from Dublin and is completing a neonatal fellowship at McGill in Montreal. Her research to date has focused on Neonatal Encephalopathy and interventions aimed at improving outcomes for affected infants. One of her notable projects, PUFFIN, investigates terminology and definitions in Neonatal Encephalopathy, and the use of immunomodulation in Neonatal Encephalopathy.
DECLAN QUINN
Dr. Quinn's research has focused on pharmacology with stimulants in ADHD. He has been involved in pharmacokinetic studies with different stimulants. This interest has now extended to animal models of ADHD. Current studies also involve continuous performance tests in adults with ADHD and controls and looking at the differential response to medication. Studies are also taking place, looking at the prevalence of ADHD in the correctional settings. There is also an extensive educational component around ADHD. He has been involved in the development of Canadian practice guidelines for ADHD.
LISA CLARK
Dr. Lisa M. Clark, DNP, is a Clinical Instructor of Pediatrics at Stony Brook Medicine. She is dual-certified as a community and acute care pediatric nurse practitioner and currently works as a pediatric hospitalist nurse practitioner at Stony Brook Children's Hospital. Dr. Clark has a Doctorate of Nursing Practice from SUNY Stony Brook, obtained in 2009. Dr. Clark is the President-elect of the IAPS.