FEATURE ber of patients . Currently working in the pediatric CF center are four physicians , two nurses , two respiratory therapists , one nutritionist , one social worker and one pharmacist . Furthermore , the CF center has also increased its research footprint as a member of the CF Therapeutics and Development Network .
The accomplishments of the Division of Pediatric Pulmonology continued as Dr . Eid grew the division . Dr . Ronald Morton joined him in 1998 , and they continued the crusade to establish a state-of-the-art division with their limited staffing . Dr . Morton took over the directorship of the pediatric rehabilitation unit and reached out to the Home of the Innocents , a pediatric long-term facility , where he established the first chronic mechanical ventilator unit for pediatrics in Kentucky . Later Dr . Morton expanded pediatric pulmonary care to Evansville , Indiana , where he still travels monthly . Dr . Adrian O ’ Hagan joined the division in 2010 from Phoenix Children ’ s Hospital , bringing expertise in both pediatric and adult CF care with his background in internal medicine and pediatrics .
In 2013 , the Division of Pediatric Pulmonology reached another milestone when the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education approved the start of a pediatric pulmonology fellowship program , the first in Kentucky . Dr . Eid served as its first program director for four years before passing the helm to Dr . O ’ Hagan . Dr . Eid oversaw the training of the first pediatric pulmonology fellow , Dr . Scott Bickel , who graduated from the program in 2016 and subsequently joined the Division as the fourth faculty member . Dr . Bickel has contributed tremendously to the growth of the division in many areas including translational research , medical education and outstanding patient care . In addition , he has served as the medical director of the Respiratory Therapy Department at Norton Children ’ s Hospital since 2020 , a task passed to him by Dr . Eid who had established the first modern pediatric pulmonary function laboratory in Kentucky in 1988 . The fifth faculty member , Dr . Erica Stevens , joined the Division in 2020 from Children ’ s Hospital of Pittsburgh and has contributed to the further growth of the division with her interest in neonatal respiratory diseases and primary ciliary dyskinesia .
While Dr . Eid has remained passionate about clinical care , he stayed active in academic endeavors , earning the rank of tenured Professor of Pediatrics in 2000 . He authored over 200 journal articles , abstracts , book chapters and monographs related to respiratory
Left to right , Dr . Mark Eid , Nata Eid , Dr . Sabine Eid , Dr . Nemr Eid , and Dr . Ryan Eid .
health . He also pioneered many national and international educational initiatives related to childhood asthma , infantile wheezing and other pulmonary conditions . Over his 35-year career , Dr . Eid remained focused on medical education and trained hundreds of pediatric residents and three pediatric pulmonology fellows . Dr . Eid ’ s influence on these physicians continues to impact children throughout Kentucky and the region . Also , as the Director for the Pediatric Pulmonology Board Review Course ( a joint program supported by the American College of Chest Physicians and the American Academy of Pediatrics ) for over 10 years , Dr . Eid ’ s imprint on the education of hundreds of board-certified pulmonologists throughout the nation is a notable distinction .
As Dr . Eid prepares for retirement , he feels grateful to have had the privilege and honor to serve UofL and Norton Children ’ s Hospital for 35 years . What began in 1988 as a Division of Pediatric Pulmonology with one dedicated physician has grown to a division of six physicians which supports an active fellowship program and provides outstanding care to children across the state . Dr Morton , who was instrumental in helping shape the Division with Dr . Eid over the years , now serves as the current Chief . With the Division now under Dr . Morton ’ s leadership and again just ranked as a top program nationally by US News and World Report in 2022 , Dr . Eid leaves knowing full well that the Division he established is in excellent standing and will continue his legacy for decades to come .
Dr . Boland is a Professor and Chair of Pediatrics at the University of Louisville School of Medicine and also serves as Chief of Staff at Norton Children ’ s Hospital .
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