Timothy P. Stevens, M.D., M.P.H.

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Dr. Stevens' primary research interest centers on pulmonary outcome of premature infants, focusing on the neonatal antecedents of later airway dysfunction that cause infants to require ongoing pulmonary care in childhood. Areas of clinical research include:

1) Risk of RSV-related hospitalization of formerly premature infants

2) Use of surfactant replacement therapy in the treatment of RDS

3) Outcome of infants with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia

4) Supplemental oxygen exposure, oxidant stress and risk of later wheezing in formerly premature infants

Investigative methods include meta-analysis of existing clinical research data, retrospective analysis of existing data sets as well as prospective clinical studies. Two prospective clinical research projects, a randomized clinical trial and a prospective cohort study, are planned to study the effect of supplemental oxygen exposure on risk of wheezing in later childhood.

The overarching hypothesis of the prospective trials is that premature infants exposed to supplemental oxygen in the immediate newborn period experience oxidant stress in the lung that results in impaired airway growth and development. These airway changes predispose premature infants to greater airway dysfunction and respiratory symptoms when challenged with subsequent environmental or infectious exposures.

Specialty

Neonatology

Current Appointments

• Associate Professor - Department of Pediatrics (SMD)