Pediatric Emergency Medicine Division

To provide outstanding, evidence-based and family-centered emergency care to all ill and injured children and young adults, in an equitable and unbiased manner, with an emphasis on communication, advocacy, compassion, and respect.

Welcome

Dr. Shari Platt

I’ve had the honor to lead the Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at NewYork-Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Medicine for the past 20 years.

We have grown in size and caliber, more than doubling our patient visits, and expanding our beautiful space. Our physicians are trained in pediatrics, emergency medicine, and pediatric emergency medicine and have expertise in managing children with diverse backgrounds, and all types and severities of illnesses or injury. We serve as faculty at Weill Cornell Medical College and are actively involved in medical student and resident education, scholarship, and clinical research in areas including COVID-19 in children, physician burnout, telemedicine, implicit bias, narrative medicine, education, and pediatric trauma. We strive to provide outstanding care to our community and to foster an environment where our patients and their families feel safe and supported. We recognize that emergency visits are unpredictable and unplanned, and thus inherently stressful to children and parents. We strive to optimize the emergency experience by enhancing communication and including the family in all aspects of the care plan. Our experienced pediatric emergency nurses are compassionate and skilled in caring for children of all ages. Our emergency child life specialists offer advocacy and support to the child and family during the visit. Our patients have access to all nationally and internationally recognized pediatric and surgical specialists at NewYork-Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Medicine. Our emergency department is staffed with emergency pharmacists, radiologists, social workers, and all allied health professionals. Child and emergency psychiatrists are available to evaluate patients with mental health crisis.

In the era of COVID-19, our pediatric ED has enhanced cleaning, social distancing, and use of protective equipment to ensure our patients are safe throughout their emergency visit. Safety and the patient experience are paramount to our mission and I could not be prouder of the care we provide to our community and to all children and families who enter our door.

Shari Platt, M.D., FAAP.
Vice Chair, Pediatric Emergency Medicine
Chief, Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine
Associate Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine
Department of Emergency Medicine

Our Services

The Pediatric Emergency Service

We offer sophisticated facilities equipped with state-of-the-art medical technology which include:

  • A uniquely designed resuscitation area enabling management and monitoring of the most critically ill or injured child
  • A dedicated procedure area, allowing our surgical specialists to treat minor trauma, orthopedic injuries and lacerations in a calm, safe arena, with the capability to sedate children in a monitored, controlled setting
  • A 3-bed observation area facilitating visual contact for children who require close monitoring

Child Life Services

An unexpected visit to pediatric emergency services can be an overwhelming and stressful experience. Our Child Life specialists are certified, trained professionals who offer patients and families a supportive environment, and employ tools that enable children to cope with a medical emergency. By providing play therapy, distraction, emotional support and coping techniques, we enable our young patients to feel more comfortable and aid their medical care and healing.

NYP/Lower Manhattan Hospital

Our Pediatric Emergency Medicine physicians care for children at NewYork-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital (enter at 83 Gold Street), in a full service, state-of-the-art Pediatric Emergency Service, open and available to our community in Lower Manhattan 24/7.  Children are seen in a separate, recently renovated, child-friendly area by pediatric emergency physicians, pediatricians, and skilled emergency nurses. Pediatric patients who require advanced specialty or surgical care are transferred to our Upper East Side location.

Pediatric OnDemand Virtual Urgent Care (Telehealth), 8 am-midnight

The Pediatric Emergency Service offers Pediatric OnDemand Virtual Urgent Care (Telehealth) from 6pm - midnight, seven days a week. Telehealth is a quick, convenient way to connect with one of our NYP-WCM Pediatric Emergency Medicine doctors via a Secure Online Video Chat. Telehealth allows for an uninterrupted evaluation from the comfort of your home, without having to travel to the Emergency Department. It allows the telemedicine provider to exam you or your child and offer guidance and recommendations for treatment. Telemedicine also provides the opportunity for the telemedicine provider to refer you or your child to be seen emergently in-person when necessary.

Faculty

michael alfonzo
Michael Alfonzo, M.D.
Assistant Director, ED Informatics & Analytics
Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine
Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics
Headshot of Mary Birmingham
Mary Birmingham, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine
Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics
Dr. Kevin Ching
Kevin Ching, M.D.
Medical Director, Weill Cornell Medicine/NewYork-Presbyterian Simulation Center
Associate Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine
Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics
Headshot of Robert Finkelstein
Robert Finkelstein, M.D.
Associate Pediatric Trauma Medical Director
Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine
Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics
Headshot of Susan Fraymovich
Susan Fraymovich, D.O.
Director of Education for Pediatric Emergency Medicine
Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine
Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics
Dr. Nicole Gerber
Nicole Gerber, M.D.
Director, Clinical Services for Pediatric Emergency Medicine
Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine
Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics
Headshot of Catherine Hicks
Catherine Hicks, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine
Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics
Headshot of Shweta Iyer
Shweta Iyer, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine
Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics
Anisha Khaitan
Anisha Khaitan, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine
Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics
Headshot of Ji Won Kim
Ji Won Kim, M.D.
Director, Pediatric Emergency Medicine Telemedicine
Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine
Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics
Headshot of Rachel Kowalsky
Rachel H. Kowalsky, M.D., M.P.H
Associate Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine
Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics
Maria Lame
Maria Lame, M.D.
Director, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Site Director of NYP-LMH Pediatric Emergency Department
Associate Director, Pediatric Emergency Medicine Telemedicine
Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine
Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics
Deborah Levine
Deborah Abramson Levine, M.D.
Associate Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine
Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Interim
Storm Liebling
Storm Liebling, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine
Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics
Headshot of Sophia Lin
Sophia Lin, M.D.
Director, Emergency Medicine Ultrasound
Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine
Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics
Headshot of Marie Lupica
Marie Lupica, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine
Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics
Dr. Shari Platt
Shari Platt, M.D., FAAP.
Vice Chair, Pediatric Emergency Medicine
Chief, Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine
Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine
Professor of Clinical Pediatrics
Headshot of Michele Rosenthal
Michele Rosenthal, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine
Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics
Alexander Stephan
Alexander Stephan, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine
Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics
Dr. Vincent Uy
Vincent Uy, M.D.
Associate Director of Clinical Services
Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine
Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics
Headshot of Yaffa Vitberg
Yaffa Vitberg, M.D.
Program Director, Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellowship
Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine
Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics

Mailing Address
New York-Presbyterian Hospital
Weill Cornell Medical Center
Department of Emergency Medicine
525 E. 68th St., Box 179
New York, NY 10065

Office of the Chair
Emergency Medicine
525 E. 68th St., M-130
New York, NY 10065
(212) 746-0780

Residency Office
530 E. 70th St., M-127
New York, NY 10021
(212) 746-0892
may2004@med.cornell.edu

Research Office
525 E. 68th St., M-130
New York, NY 10065
EMResearch@med.cornell.edu

Leading Emergency Care