Checchia, Paul A., M.D.

Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Medical Director, Cardiac Intensive Care Unit
Chief, Cardiac Intensive Care Service

Patient Oriented Research
Critical Care Medicine
Center for Critical Illness and Health Engineering 

 Congenital heart defects occur in approximately 3–8 of every 1000 births and are the most common type of birth defect. They contribute the largest proportion to infant mortality due to birth defects. Moreover, heart defects result in the most costly pediatric hospitalizations related to birth defects in the United States. However, heart disease in children is also acquired through other etiologies such as myocarditis, septic shock, and trauma. My clinical research efforts focus on studies aimed at further understanding the complex pathophysiology of all forms of cardiac disease and related insults in children, with the ultimate goal of developing useful diagnostic tools, protective strategies, and mechanism driven cardiac therapies.

I am currently the principal investigator for research on inhaled nitric oxide as an antiinflammatory agent to prevent cardiac injury related to cardiopulmonary bypass, and I am also involved in research that includes studies on cardiac biochemistry and pharmacokinetics, respiratory syncytial virus, and treatment of septic shock. Finally, my research focuses on the role of age and development on cardiac injury in an attempt to understand the differences in cardiac injury accross the spectrum of age; from the infant to the elderly. Additionally, I am interested in the complex interaction between the pathophysiology and the systems which deliver cardiac care to children. I serve as the Vice President of the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Society and hold mutliple committee responsibilities in the American Heart Association, Society of Critical Care Medicine, and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons.

Checchia, Paul A., M.D.

Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Medical Director, Cardiac Intensive Care Unit
Chief, Cardiac Intensive Care Service

Patient Oriented Research
Critical Care Medicine
Center for Critical Illness and Health Engineering 

 Congenital heart defects occur in approximately 3–8 of every 1000 births and are the most common type of birth defect. They contribute the largest proportion to infant mortality due to birth defects. Moreover, heart defects result in the most costly pediatric hospitalizations related to birth defects in the United States. However, heart disease in children is also acquired through other etiologies such as myocarditis, septic shock, and trauma. My clinical research efforts focus on studies aimed at further understanding the complex pathophysiology of all forms of cardiac disease and related insults in children, with the ultimate goal of developing useful diagnostic tools, protective strategies, and mechanism driven cardiac therapies.

I am currently the principal investigator for research on inhaled nitric oxide as an antiinflammatory agent to prevent cardiac injury related to cardiopulmonary bypass, and I am also involved in research that includes studies on cardiac biochemistry and pharmacokinetics, respiratory syncytial virus, and treatment of septic shock. Finally, my research focuses on the role of age and development on cardiac injury in an attempt to understand the differences in cardiac injury accross the spectrum of age; from the infant to the elderly. Additionally, I am interested in the complex interaction between the pathophysiology and the systems which deliver cardiac care to children. I serve as the Vice President of the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Society and hold mutliple committee responsibilities in the American Heart Association, Society of Critical Care Medicine, and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons.