Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine

The physicians are all board-certified in pediatric critical care medicine.

• Thomas Cholis, MD
• Alia Dennis, MD
• Christopher Foley, MD
• Robert Gomez, MD
• Santa Johnston, MD
• Chie Shih, MD

Critical Care Specialists (also called Intensivists) provide comprehensive, coordinated critical care in an intensive care setting. The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) is an 18 bed medical/surgical ICU. Admissions to the PICU are comprised of approximately 50% medical patients and 50% surgical patients, averaging almost 1000 admissions per year. The patients range in age from newborn through 21 years of age. Admission to the PICU is based upon specific criteria including patients requiring maximum observation, support of vital functions, and therapy of reversible, life-threatening conditions. The PICU is staffed by 5 board certified pediatric intensivists who provide 24-hour medical coverage for the PICU. The Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine provides consultation services including the placement of central venous lines, thoracentesis, and sedation/analgesia for children with burns and other injuries requiring specialized therapeutic intervention.

A highly skilled Pediatric Transport Team is available 24 hours a day to transport critically ill and injured patients to CHKD in specially equipped mobile intensive care transport units. Emergency referrals to the CHKD Pediatric Intensive Care Unit can be obtained by calling Doctor’s Direct at 757-668-9999.

Emergency referrals and transport can be arranged by physicians with the CHKD PICU by calling Doctors Direct at (757) 668-9999 or 1-800-207-2022. Other consultations are available by calling (757) 668-7315.