Peter G. Szilagyi, M.D., M.P.H.

Dr. Szilagyi's directs one of the leading childhood immunization research centers in the nation. Studies include measuring the burden of vaccine-preventable diseases, studying new vaccines and their impact on health, adolescent immunization delivery, influenza vaccination, and strategies to improve immunization rates for impoverished children, adolescents, and adults. His studies of the uninsured and the impact of health insurance on children helped lead to the national implementation of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), and his recent evaluations of SCHIP have contributed to major health policy improvements for children. Multidisciplinary studies led by Dr. Szilagyi and colleagues have involved improving the care of urban children with asthma in both primary care and community settings, enhancing the detection and management of post-partum depression in primary care, improving the quality of care and health outcomes of children in foster care, and studies of the natural history, detection and management of childhood obesity. He is one of the medical center's leaders of the Clinical Translational Science Institute (CTSI) funded by an NIH CTSA grant, serving as co-leader of the practice-based research network program, a leader within the Community Engagement component, and a member of the Mentoring Committee.

Dr. Szilagyi is the author of more than 165 peer-reviewed manuscripts, numerous chapters and invited papers, and is the pediatric editor of several textbooks- the Bates Guide to Physical Examination and History Taking, the Merck Manual, the Merck Home Edition, and the Merck Manual of Children's Health. He is also the Editor, Academic Pediatrics and member of Board of Directors.

He spends substantial time each week mentoring faculty and fellows, directs the General Academic Pediatric Fellowship Program, and is the 2006 recipient of the University of Rochester's School of Medicine faculty mentoring award.

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Immunization delivery: In collaboration with many others, my studies helped refocus the nation on primary care practices for vaccinations, contributed to the Vaccines for Children Program (VFC), led to national guidelines for standards of care for vaccine delivery in medical homes, and have frequently contributed to ACIP/AAP/AAFP recommendations for new vaccines or new vaccine policies. Our translational research studies have contributed to understanding the burden of vaccine-preventable diseases for new vaccines, and thereby new vaccine recommendations (particularly for influenza and rotavirus), and to the new emphasis on adolescent vaccinations.

Healthcare Financing: In collaboration with a different set of researchers, my studies on healthcare financing for poor children contributed heavily to the passage of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) in 1998, the SCHIP reauthorization debate in 2008, and the expansion of SCHIP in the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA).

Primary Care for children with chronic diseases: In collaboration with local and national colleagues, our studies have led to improved financing of primary care for children with special healthcare needs; enhanced care of children with asthma in medical homes and schools; a focus on mental health problems of poor children, those in foster care, and mothers of poor children (post-partum depression); and an emerging focus on identification, management, and prevention of obesity among low-income populations. The common thread is improved primary care, using a chronic disease model of care.

A second major theme of my research career has been to mentor others in health services and clinical research. I have therefore spent considerable effort mentoring junior faculty within the Department of Pediatrics and other departments (e.g., Emergency Medicine, Psychiatry, Community and Preventive Medicine). Most studies have involved improving primary care for children and families, or care of children with chronic diseases. I have devoted considerable effort within our University's CTSA-funded Clinical Translational Science Institute (CTSI), and co-direct the Greater Rochester Practice-Based Research Network (GR-PBRN). As Co-PI of the National Children's Study Monroe County site, I hope to use this study as a platform for research by colleagues.

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