Dr. Deborah Levine’s work in pediatric emergency medicine extends far beyond any single study or clinical encounter. As a physician‑scientist within the Department of Emergency Medicine’s Pediatric Emergency Medicine team, she is helping foster a setting in which scientific discovery, clinical care, and professional development are closely interconnected. Her research spans injury prevention, mental health innovation, and population‑level vaccine outcomes, each of which is driven by a shared commitment to improving care for children and families in their most uncertain moments. Weill Cornell Medicine children's health is committed to providing exceptional family-centered care for patients, supporting innovative research and educating the next generation of physicians and physician scientists. We are affiliated with Children’s Hospital of New York at NewYork-Presbyterian.
“At the end of the day, I’m always thinking about how we can make clinical care better,” Dr. Levine says. “Whether it’s diagnosis, management, or prevention, the goal is to do better for our patients.”
Bringing New Tools to the Bedside
A central focus of Dr. Levine’s research is pediatric traumatic brain injury and concussion, particularly in very young children, an age group in which recognition of injury can be especially challenging. She is currently leading a pilot study funded by the Emergency Medicine Foundation examining whether salivary micro‑RNA biomarkers can help identify elevated intracranial pressure in children with cerebrospinal fluid shunt obstruction. These children can present with subtle symptoms, closely resembling common viral illnesses, yet may signal serious risk.
In collaboration with laboratory partners at Penn State, the study seeks to identify biosignatures that could support earlier, noninvasive diagnosis and potentially alter the course of care. “These are exactly the patients where early detection could make a real difference,” Dr. Levine explains.
At the same time, she is addressing a longstanding gap in pediatric concussion care by studying the use of REACTIONS‑8, a brief screening tool designed specifically for children under eight years old in the acute period following injury. Completed in less than three minutes by a parent, caregiver, or healthcare professional, the tool documents observable post‑concussive symptoms within the first 48 hours and helps guide the initial evaluation process in the emergency department. “For our youngest patients, many existing concussion tools aren’t practical in the acute setting,” Dr. Levine says. “REACTIONS‑8 gives clinicians a fast, developmentally appropriate way to identify symptoms early and take the next right steps in care.”
Addressing Pediatric Mental Health in the Emergency Setting
Dr. Levine’s research portfolio also reflects the growing mental health needs seen in emergency departments nationwide. Working alongside pediatric and psychiatry colleagues, she is involved in a digital health intervention study designed for adolescents with suicidal ideation or attempts who are boarding in the emergency department.
With waits often prolonged, the intervention focuses on reducing stress and strengthening coping skills during a period that can be especially distressing for patients and families. “These are moments that are incredibly difficult,” she says. “Even while patients are waiting, there is an opportunity to offer meaningful support.”
She also serves as a co‑investigator in another study of adolescents with suicidal ideation or attempts that will compare two scalable evidence-based mental health interventions in the PCORI-funded Project HOPE.
Studying Vaccine Uptake and Outcomes at Scale
Additionally, Dr. Levine is deeply engaged in pediatric data health science research. She recently co‑authored a study with colleagues in pediatric infectious disease and obstetrics, published in JAMA Network Open. The study examined factors associated with the receipt of RSV immunization by maternal RSV vaccine or nirsavimab in infants, two new products introduced in 2023. The study was performed using large‑scale retrospective data from Weill Cornell Medicine to assess receipt of RSV protection identify disparities in uptake.
Building on this work, Dr. Levine is poised to evaluate clinical outcomes from these RSV protective measures using a national clinical research network to examine whether vaccination reduces illness severity and complications—critical questions as the vaccine becomes more widely integrated into clinical practice.
Building the Future of Emergency Medicine Research
Alongside her research efforts, Dr. Levine serves as Director of Voluntary Research Associate Program, where she has overseen the dramatic growth of the department’s research associate program. In recent years, the program has expanded from fewer than 15 participants to more than 40, supporting eight to 10 active studies at any given time. The program offers hands‑on experience, simulation‑based informed consent training, mentorship, and professional development opportunities.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to mentor these students,” Dr. Levine says. “They’re thoughtful, hardworking, and deeply invested in what they’re doing. Seeing that enthusiasm—and watching them grow—is one of the most meaningful parts of my work.”
Through her combined roles as investigator, mentor, and research leader, Dr. Levine is helping to strengthen the systems that make high‑quality emergency medicine research possible, ensuring that innovation at the bench and insights from big data translate into better care at the bedside.
