About UsRobin Steinhorn, M.D. 
Clinical/Research Interests
Dr. Robin Steinhorn, a specialist in neonatal-perinatal medicine and an expert in the area of extracorporeal life support (ECMO), is the chair of the Department of Pediatrics. Previous to coming to UC Davis, she was the Chief of the Division of Neonatology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Vice Chair of Pediatrics, and held the Raymond and Hazel Speck Berry endowed chair in Pediatrics.
The major focus of Dr. Steinhorn's academic interest has been the study of newborn vascular biology. She spent her fellowship and early faculty years studying ECMO in newborn infants when ECMO was innovative, heroic therapy. To better target the specific vascular pathophysiology of pulmonary hypertension, Dr. Steinhorn learned techniques to investigate basic mechanisms regulating vascular tone and has gone on to apply this knowledge to better understand the normal development of the perinatal pulmonary circulation, and to determine specific abnormalities that result in neonatal and pediatric pulmonary hypertension. Her interest in vascular biology remains firmly rooted in the high clinical morbidity and mortality associated with neonatal respiratory failure and one of her major goals for her research program has been to build a robust clinical research program to complement the basic work underway in the laboratory. Recently Dr. Steinhorn has served as the lead investigator for a Phase I/II trial of intravenous sildenafil for the treatment of PPHN.
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Specialty:
Center/Program Affiliation:
Education:
St. Louis, Missouri
M.D. 1980
University of Akron
Akron, OH
B.S. 1976
Internships:
St Louis, MO
1983
Residency:
Minneapolis, MN
1986
Pediatrics
Fellowships:
Minneapolis, MN
1988
Neonatology
Board Certifications:
American Board of Pediatrics, Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, 1989
Professional Memberships:
American Academy of Pediatrics (Perinatal Section)
American Heart Association
American Pediatric Society
American Thoracic Society
Extracorporeal Life Support Organization
Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Society
Perinatal Research Society
Society for Pediatric Research
Honors and Awards:
Listed in: Chicago Top Doctors, 2012
Listed in: America’s Top Doctors, 2012
Lung Club Lecture, Pediatric Academic Societies, 2008
March of Dimes Illinois Chapter, Jonas Salk Health Leadership Award for Research, 2007
Raymond and Hazel Speck Berry Chair in Neonatology (Northwestern University), 2002
Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce Service Award, 2000
Select Recent Publications:
Farrow KN, Steinhorn RH. Sildenafil therapy for bronchopulmonary dysplasia: Not quite yet. J Perinatol; 2012;32(1):1-3.
Wedgwood S, Lakshminrusimha S, Gugino SF, Soares F, Russell JA, Steinhorn, RH. Apocynin improves oxygenation and eNOS expression in lambs with persistent pulmonary hypertension. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2012; 302(6):L616-26.
Perez M, Lakshminrusimha S, Wedgwood S, Czech L, Gugino SF, Russell JA, Farrow KN, Steinhorn RH. Hydrocortisone normalizes oxygenation and cGMP regulation in lambs with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2012; 302(6): L595-603.
Porta NF, Steinhorn RH. Nitric oxide, sildenafil, and other pulmonary vasodilators. Clin Perinatol. 2012; 39(1): 149-164.
Farrow KN, Lee KJ, Lakshminrusimha S, Smith CL, Steinhorn RH, Schumacker PT. Brief hyperoxia increases mitochondrial oxidation and increases PDE5 activity in fetal pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. Antioxid Redox Signal 2012; 17(3): 460-470.
Ball MK, Steinhorn RH. Inhaled nitric oxide for preterm infants: A marksman’s approach. J Pediatr 2012;161(3):379-80.
Steinhorn RH. Pharmacotherapy for Pulmonary Hypertension. Pediatr Clin. 2012 59(5): 1129-46.
Weisman L, Thackray H, Steinhorn R, Walsh W, Lassiter H, Dhanireddy R, Brozinski B, Palmer K, Trautman M, Escobedo M, Meissner C, Sasidharan P, Fretz J, Kokai-Kun J, Kramer W, Fischer G, Mond J. A randomized study of amonoclonal antibody (pagibaximab) to prevent staphylococcal sepsis in premature infants. Pediatrics 2011; 128:271-279.
Robinson DT, Steinhorn RH. Preterm neonate with intestinal failure and feeding issues. Pediatr Ann 2011; 40:404-406.
Merrill JD, Ballard PL, Courtney SE, Durand DJ, Hamvas A, Hibbs AM, Lu KW, Ryan R, Reynolds AM, Spence K, Steinhorn RH, Truog WE, Eichenwald EC, Ballard RA. Pilot trial of late booster doses of surfactant for ventilated premature infants. J Perinatol 2011: 31(9): 599-606